Harvester with adjustable separator

#The present disclosure relates to a harvester, such as a sugarcane harvester, and more particularly a separator of a sugarcane harvester.

#In one aspect, the disclosure provides a harvester. The harvester includes a main frame supported on a ground surface for transport along the ground surface, an inlet for receiving a crop, and a separator for separating the crop into a first portion and a second portion. The separator includes a hood having an outlet, and a fan operable to generate an airflow through the outlet. The hood of the separator is movable relative to the main frame between a transport position and a harvest position. In the transport position, the hood is positioned at a first height above the ground surface. In the harvest position, the hood is positioned at a second height, greater than the first height, above the ground surface.

#In another aspect the disclosure provides a method of operating a harvester. A hood of a separator of the harvester is positioned in a transport position. The hood is repositioned from the transport position to a harvest position such that the height of the hood above a ground surface is greater than in the transport position. A crop is separated into a first portion and a second portion. A fan coupled to the hood is actuated to move the second portion of the crop into the hood, through the hood, and out to the ground surface through an outlet of the hood.

#FIG. 1 is a side view of a harvester, such as a sugarcane harvester, in accordance with one implementation of the present disclosure.

#FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of a separator of the sugarcane harvester of FIG. 1, the separator shown in a first position.

#FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the separator shown in a second position.

#Before any embodiments of the disclosure are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The disclosure is capable of supporting other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways.

#FIG. 1 illustrates a harvester 10, such as a sugarcane chopper harvester, including a main frame 12 supported on wheels 14 having continuous tracks 16, tires, or other traction devices that engage a support surface 18 (e.g., the ground or field). The tracks 16 interact directly with the support surface 18 and are responsible for harvester 10 movement and tractive effort in a direction of travel; although in other embodiments the harvester 10 is provided with wheels having tires (rather than tracks as illustrated). During operation, the harvester 10 travels in a forward direction of travel A towards un-cut crop 11 in an un-harvested area of the field 18. A front 17 of the harvester 10 generally faces into the forward direction of travel A, while a rear 19 of the harvester 10 is generally opposite the front 17 and generally faces a rearward direction B, away from the forward direction A, towards a harvested area of the field 18.

#An operator's cab 20 is mounted on the frame 12 and contains a seat (not shown) for an operator. A pair of crop lifters 22 having side by side augers or scrolls is mounted to the front 17 of the frame 12 and operate on opposite sides of a row of crop to be harvested. The crop lifters 22 cooperate with a base cutter (not shown) having counter-rotating discs which cut off the stalks of crop close to the support surface 18 (e.g., first portions 13 of the crop). The crop lifters 22 and the base cutter generally define an inlet 23 for receiving the crop into the harvester 10 for processing, as will be described below. A topper 24 extends from the front 17 of the frame 12 on a boom 26. The boom 26 extends forwardly from the front 17 of the frame 12 and includes a first arm 28 and a second arm 30.