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US 11,771,009 B2Granted
Method and system for conveying material in a combine harvester
OwnerCasey Heiminventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and system of a pneumatic conveying system for moving separated grain and small plant material to an onboard storage tank or out of the combine harvester. The pneumatic conveying system having a gateway for introducing the material into an air flow channel, and with a diverter valve or an airlock directing separated grain and small plant material to the tank or outside of the harvester.
Claims20
A method of conveying grain comprising
- a) taking air into a first portion of a pneumatic conveying system that is inside a combine harvester, wherein the first portion of the pneumatic conveying system includes an air intake system, an originator of positive air pressure, a first channel through which air moves, a first gateway, and a second channel through which air and grain move;
- b) conveying grain into the first gateway;
- c) conveying the grain through the second channel to a diverter valve;
- d) directing the diverter valve to move the grain either (i) into a second portion of the pneumatic system that comprises a third channel through which the grain moves to an onboard storage tank, or (ii) into a third portion of the pneumatic system that includes a fourth channel through which grain is moved out of the combine harvester.
1 more element
A pneumatic conveying system for transporting grain within a combine harvester comprising
- a) a first portion that includes an air intake system, an originator of positive air pressure, a first channel through which air moves, a first gateway, and a second channel through which air and grain move;
- b) a diverter valve;
- c) a second portion that comprises a third channel through which grain moves to a storage tank on a combine harvester;
- and
- d) a third portion that includes a fourth channel through which grain moves out of the combine harvester, wherein the diverter valve separates the first portion from the second and third portions of the conveying system.
2 more elements
A method of harvesting grain comprising
- a) bringing collected plant material into a combine harvester;
- b) conveying the collected plant material to a processor inside the combine harvester, wherein grain and small plant material is separated from large plant material;
- c) conveying the grain and small plant material from the processor to a separator inside the combine harvester, wherein the grain is separated from the small plant material;
- and
- d) taking air into a first portion of a pneumatic conveying system, wherein the first portion of the pneumatic conveying system includes an air intake system, an originator of positive air pressure, a first channel through which air moves, a gateway, and a second channel through which air and separated grain move;
- e) conveying separated grain into the gateway;
- f) conveying the separated grain through the second channel to a diverter valve;
- and
- g) directing the diverter valve to either move the separated grain (i) into a second portion of the pneumatic conveying system, wherein this second portion of the pneumatic conveying system comprises a third channel through which the separated grain moves to an onboard storage tank, or (ii) into a third portion of the pneumatic conveying system, wherein this third portion of the pneumatic conveying system includes a fourth channel through which the separated grain is moved out of the combine harvester.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.