Back to results
US 12,102,041 B2Granted
Methods and systems for threshing/separating grains and legumes utilizing concaves
AssigneeCalmer Holding Company, LLC
InventorsMarion Calmer, Daniel Wallerstedt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems utilize multiple components to improve the threshing operation within an agricultural combine. The methods and systems include a unique concave design, open valley rasp bars, and restrictor plates. Application of the methods and systems' components allows more efficient threshing operations for large grains such as corn and, also, for small grains such as soybeans resulting in an increased capture and retention of seed from the threshing operation.
Claims18
A threshing/separation method comprising:
- utilizing a series of threshing and separating apparatuses, sequentially arranged, comprising at least:
- (i) a straight bar concave having straight bars with a rectangular cross-section,
- (ii) a plurality of round bar concaves each having round bars with an elliptical cross-section, and
- (iii) a plurality of separating grates to thresh and separate grain from harvested material;
- to thresh and separate grains from material other than grain (MOG), wherein the size of MOG in the series of threshing and separating apparatuses progressively decreases throughout said sequence as the sequence increases in position;
- allowing threshed and separated grain to first pass through openings in the straight bar concave;
- allowing threshed and separated grain to then pass through openings in the plurality of round bar concaves;
- allowing threshed and separated grain to finally pass through openings in the plurality of separating grates;
- and
- correlating an open area of the straight bar concave and each of the plurality of round bar concaves through each of the threshing and separating apparatuses to an anticipated size of the MOG at each position.
7 more elements
A method for harvesting grain comprising:
- utilizing a series of threshing and separating apparatuses, sequentially arranged, comprising at least:
- (i) a straight bar concave having straight bars with a rectangular cross-section,
- (ii) a plurality of round bar concaves each having round bars with an elliptical cross-section, and
- (iii) a plurality of separating grates to thresh and separate grain from harvested material;
- to thresh and separate grains from material other than grain (MOG), wherein the size of MOG in the series of threshing and separating apparatuses progressively decreases throughout said sequence as the sequence increases in position;
- collecting threshed and separated grain that pass through openings in the straight bar concave;
- collecting threshed and separated grain that pass through openings in the plurality of round bar concaves;
- and
- collecting threshed and separated grain that pass through openings in the plurality of separating grates;
- and
- correlating an open area of the straight bar concave and each of the plurality of round bar concaves through each of the threshing and separating apparatuses to an anticipated size of the MOG at each position,
- wherein a ratio of grain harvested by collecting threshed and separated grain through the openings in the straight bar concave and the plurality of round bar concaves over the grain harvested by collecting threshed and separated grain through the openings in the plurality of separating grates is at least 3:1.
9 more elements
A system for threshing and separating apparatuses threshing and separating grains from material other than grain (MOG) comprising:
- a series of threshing and separating apparatuses, sequentially arranged, comprising at least:
- (i) a threshing chamber having a straight bar concave and a plurality of round bar concaves having straight bars with a rectangular cross-section, and
- (ii) a plurality of separating grates to thresh and separate grain from harvested material each having round bars with an elliptical cross-section;
- and
- an auger bed assembly positioned to continuously carry grain and other material dropping down out of the threshing chamber, onto a grain pan, and back to a chaffer or top sieve then dropping downward onto a cleaning or shoe sieve which further cleans and separates the harvested grain;
- wherein the size of MOG in the series of threshing and separating apparatuses progressively decreases throughout said sequence as the sequence increases in position;
- wherein an open area of the straight bar concave and each of the plurality of round bar concaves through each of the threshing and separating apparatuses is correlated to an anticipated size of the MOG at each position.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.