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US 11,497,171 B2Granted
Concave with adjustable openings
AssigneeKondex Corporation
InventorsAndrew J. Theisen, Keith A. Johnson, Neal J. Stoffel, Joseph W. Schaffer, Sr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A concave section for a harvester includes a concave body having an upstream side, a downstream side, a leading end and a trailing end. The concave body defines an arcuate crop engagement face facing radially inwardly. A plurality of crop passage openings are defined through the arcuate crop engagement face. A cover is configured to at least partially cover at least some of the crop passage openings. The cover is carried by the concave body and is movable thereon between at least two different positions to adjust a degree of openness of at least some of the crop passage openings.
Claims34
A concave section for a harvester, comprising:
- a concave body having an upstream side, a downstream side, a leading end and a trailing end, and defining an arcuate crop engagement face facing radially inwardly;
- a plurality of crop passage openings defined through the arcuate crop engagement face;
- a cover configured to at least partially cover at least some of the crop passage openings, the cover carried by the concave body and movable thereon in a circumferential direction between the leading end and the trailing end between at least two different positions to adjust a degree of openness of at least some of the crop passage openings;
- wherein the arcuate crop engagement face extends between the leading end and trailing end, the leading end and trailing extending transversely between the upstream side and the downstream side;
- the cover comprising a slotted arcuate plate arranged behind the arcuate crop engagement face;
- wherein retainers retain the slotted arcuate plate to the concave body, the slotted arcuate plate being slideable relative to concave body while retained thereto by the retainers.
3 more elements
A concave section for a harvester, comprising:
- a concave body having an upstream side, a downstream side, a leading end and a trailing end, and defining an arcuate crop engagement face facing radially inwardly;
- a plurality of crop passage openings defined through the arcuate crop engagement face:
- a cover configured to at least partially cover at least some of the crop passage openings, the cover carried by the concave body and movable thereon in a circumferential direction between the leading end and the trailing end between at least two different positions to adjust a degree of openness of at least some of the crop passage openings;
- wherein the arcuate crop engagement face extends between the leading end and trailing end, the leading end and trailing extending transversely between the upstream side and the downstream side;
- wherein the concave body comprises:
- an upstream side plate providing the upstream side,
- a downstream side plate providing the downstream side,
- a leading end assembly providing the leading end
- a trailing end assembly providing the trailing end,
- wherein the upstream side plate and the downstream side plate extend in parallel relation between the leading end assembly and the trailing end assembly, and wherein the arcuate crop engagement face extends laterally between the upstream side plate and the downstream side plate, the cover comprising a slotted arcuate plate arranged behind the arcuate crop engagement face;
- wherein retainers retain the slotted arcuate plate to the concave body, the slotted arcuate plate being slidable relative to concave body while retained thereto by the retainers.
8 more elements
A concave section for a harvester, comprising:
- a concave body having an upstream side, a downstream side, a leading end and a trailing end, and defining an arcuate crop engagement face facing radially inwardly;
- a plurality of crop passage openings defined through the arcuate crop engagement face;
- a cover configured to at least partially cover at least some of the crop passage openings, the cover carried by the concave body and movable thereon between at least two different positions to adjust a degree of openness of at least some of the crop passage openings, wherein the concave body comprises:
- an upstream side plate providing the upstream side,
- a downstream side plate providing the downstream side,
- a leading end assembly providing the leading end
- a trailing end assembly providing the trailing end,
- wherein the upstream side plate and the downstream side plate extend in parallel relation between the leading end assembly and the trailing end assembly, and wherein the arcuate crop engagement face extends laterally between the upstream side plate and the downstream side plate, the cover comprising a slotted arcuate plate arranged behind the arcuate crop engagement face;
- wherein the concave section comprises, retainers retaining the slotted arcuate plate to the concave body, the slotted arcuate plate being slidable relative to concave body while retained thereto by the retainers;
- and
- wherein the retainers comprise a plurality of shoulder bolts having head portions over the slotted arcuate plate to retain the slotted arcuate plate to the concave body, and a lock fastener releasably locking the slotted arcuate plate to the concave body.
8 more elements
A concave section for a harvester, comprising:
- a concave body having an upstream side, a downstream side, a leading end and a trailing end, the concave body defining a plurality of crop passage openings;
- a cover mounted to the concave body and moveable thereon in a circumferential direction between the leading end and the trailing end of the concave body of the concave section between a first position and a second position to selectively uncover or cover of at least some of the crop passage openings;
- the cover including a slotted arcuate plate, the concave section further comprising retainers retaining the slotted arcuate plate to the concave body, the slotted arcuate plate being slideable in the circumferential direction between the leading end and the trailing end relative to concave body while retained thereto by the retainers.
A concave section for a harvester, comprising:
- a concave body having an upstream side, a downstream side, a leading end and a trailing end, the concave body defining a plurality of crop passage openings;
- means for adjustably covering the crop passage openings in a circumferential direction between the leading end and the trailing end of the concave body of the concave section;
- wherein the means comprise:
- a cover mounted to the concave body and moveable thereon in the circumferential direction to provide an at least partial open position for the crop passage openings and a fully closed position for the crop passage openings;
- the cover including a slotted arcuate plate, the concave section further comprising retainers retaining the slotted arcuate plate to the concave body, the slotted arcuate plate being slideable relative to concave body while retained thereto by the retainers.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.