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US 12,628,743 B2Granted
Combine harvester separation system
AssigneeDeere & Company
InventorsMichael T. Meschke, Michael L. Vandeven, Brian Gorge, Martin Rittershofer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Combine harvesters may include crop processing systems having a grate subassemblies with flaps that, in some instances, are divided into groups that are independently movable and moveable in opposite directions between a fully open position and a fully closed position. Further, each of the grate assemblies may include an actuator that is operable to actuate simultaneously a portion of the flaps on each of the grate assemblies.
Claims20
A grate assembly of a crop processing system for an agricultural machine comprising:
- a grate comprising:
- opposing sidewalls that define an arc shape and a central longitudinal axis that defines a center of the arc shape;
- an opening defined between the opposing sidewalls;
- a plurality of crossbars extending across the opening between the opposing sidewalls, the crossbars distributed to respective positions along the opposing sidewalls;
- and
- a plurality of grate fingers extending from at least one of the plurality of crossbars;
- and
- a plurality of flaps comprising a first group of flaps located on a first side of a vertical line passing through the central longitudinal axis and a second group of flaps located on a second side of the vertical line, a flap of the plurality of flaps being provided at an end of each of the plurality of the crossbars, each flap of the plurality of flaps comprising:
- a leading end portion defining a first end of the flap;
- a bore formed in the leading end and defining a pivot axis;
- and
- a second portion of the flap extending from the leading end portion,
- each of the plurality of flaps being pivotable over a range of motion between a first position and a second position about the respective pivot axis, the grate being oriented relative to a horizontal plane such that a line, parallel to the horizontal plane, passing through the pivot axis of each flap of the plurality of flaps, and perpendicular to the pivot axis of each flap of the plurality of flaps, is not intersected by the second portion of the flap of the plurality of flaps that is pivotable about the pivot axis through which the line parallel to the horizontal plane passes over an entirety of the range of motion, the vertical line oriented perpendicularly to the horizontal plane.
10 more elements
A combine harvester comprising:
- a body;
- traction components configured to transport the body over the ground;
- and
- a crop processing system disposed in the body, the crop processing system comprising:
- a first rotor rotatable about a first longitudinal axis;
- and
- a grate assembly disposed adjacent to the first rotor and operable, in cooperation with the first rotor, to process harvested crop material, the grate assembly comprising:
- a first grate comprising:
- opposing first sidewalls that define an arc shape, the first sidewalls configured to conform to a profile of the first rotor;
- a first opening defined between the opposing first sidewalls;
- a plurality of first crossbars extending across the first opening, the first crossbars distributed along the opposing first sidewalls;
- and
- a first plurality of grate fingers extending from at least one of the first crossbars;
- and
- a plurality of first flaps comprising a first group of first flaps located on a first side of a vertical line passing through the first longitudinal axis and a second group of first flaps located on an opposite side of the vertical line, one of the plurality of first flaps being provided at an end of each of the plurality of first crossbars with each of the plurality of first flaps pivotable over a first angular range between a first position and a second position, each of the first flaps of the plurality of first flaps comprising:
- a leading end portion defining a first end of the first flap;
- a bore formed in the leading end and defining a pivot axis;
- and
- a second portion of the first flap extending from the leading end portion,
- each of the first flaps of the plurality of first flaps pivotable about a respective first axis, and a line, parallel to level ground, passing through the first pivot axis of each first flap of the plurality of first flaps, and perpendicular to the pivot axis of each first flap of the plurality of the first flaps, is not intersected by the second portion of the first flap of the plurality of first flaps that is pivotable about the pivot axis through which the line parallel to the horizontal plane passes over an entirety of the first angular range when the combine harvester is sitting on the level ground, the vertical line being perpendicular to the level ground.
17 more elements
A method of actuating flaps of a grate of a crop processing system for an agricultural machine, the method comprising:
- providing a first grate comprising a plurality of crossbars arranged along an arc shape defining a central longitudinal axis and a plurality of flaps in which each flap of the plurality of flaps is located at an end of a respective crossbar and in which each flap of the plurality of flaps is pivotable over an angular range between a first position and a second position, each flap of the plurality of flaps comprising:
- a leading end portion defining a first end of the flap;
- a bore formed in the leading end and defining a pivot axis;
- and
- a second portion of the flap extending from the leading end portion,
- the plurality of flaps divided into a first group of flaps disposed on a first side of a vertical line passing through the central longitudinal axis and a second group of flaps disposed on a second side of the vertical line, the first grate oriented relative to a horizontal plane such that a line, parallel to the horizontal plane, passing through a pivot axis of each flap of the plurality of flaps, and perpendicular to the pivot axis of each flap of the plurality of flaps, is not intersected by the second portion of the flap of the plurality of flaps that is pivotable about the pivot axis through which the line parallel to the horizontal plane passes over an entirety of the angular range, the vertical line being perpendicular to the horizontal plane;
- and
- pivoting the first group of flaps in a first rotational direction over at least a portion of the angular range or the second group of flaps in a second rotational direction, opposite the first rotational direction, over at least a portion of the angular range.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.