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US 12,660,757 B2Granted
Grain cleaning system for a combine harvester
AssigneeAGCO Corporation
InventorsKye J. Kurkowski, Tyler Gleason, Eric Wane Bolton, Clay Reinecke
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A grain cleaning apparatus for a combine harvester has a linkage system for moving a grain pan or sieve with an oscillatory movement. A configuration of the linkage system is adjusted for example in dependence on a lateral inclination of the combine harvester, in particular by setting the position of a pair of arms of the linkage system, so that some points within the linkage system are fixed and other points are adjustable depending on the angle of inclination (but then remain static for a constant angle of inclination).
Claims19
A grain cleaning apparatus for a combine harvester, comprising:
- a grain pan or sieve;
- a linkage system for moving the grain pan or sieve with an oscillatory movement;
- a driver for inducing the oscillatory movement to the grain pan or sieve;
- an actuator for setting a configuration of the linkage system in dependence on a lateral inclination of the combine harvester;
- wherein the linkage system comprises:
- a first fixed point;
- a first arm between the first fixed point and a first adjustable point;
- a second fixed point;
- a second arm between the second fixed point and a second adjustable point;
- three linkages in series between the first adjustable point and the second adjustable point, wherein the motion of the grain pan or sieve is constrained by the movement of a middle one of the three linkages,
- and wherein the first and second adjustable points have a position which is adjusted by the actuator, with the first and second adjustable points stationary for a constant angle of inclination, and wherein the first and second adjustable points have a position which is adjusted by the actuator in dependence on the angle of inclination.
8 more elements
A grain cleaning apparatus for a combine harvester, comprising:
- a grain pan or sieve;
- a linkage system for moving the grain pan or sieve with an oscillatory movement;
- an actuator for setting a configuration of the linkage system in dependence on a lateral inclination of the combine harvester;
- wherein the linkage system comprises:
- a first fixed point;
- a first arm between the first fixed point and a first adjustable point;
- a second fixed point;
- a second arm between the second fixed point and a second adjustable point;
- three linkages in series between the first adjustable point and the second adjustable point, wherein the motion of the grain pan or sieve is constrained by the movement of a middle one of the three linkages,
- wherein the first and second adjustable points have a position which is adjusted by the actuator, and wherein the first and second adjustable points have a position which is adjusted by the actuator in dependence on the angle of inclination;
- and
- wherein the second arm has a control end at an opposite side of the second fixed point to the second adjustable point, wherein the linkage system comprises a control arm between the first adjustable point and the control end, wherein the actuator comprises a position controller for setting a position of the control arm in dependence on the angle of inclination, thereby to set the positions of the first and second adjustable points.
9 more elements
A grain cleaning apparatus for a combine harvester, comprising:
- a grain pan or sieve;
- a linkage system for moving the grain pan or sieve with an oscillatory movement;
- an actuator for setting a configuration of the linkage system in dependence on a lateral inclination of the combine harvester;
- wherein the linkage system comprises:
- a first fixed point;
- a first arm between the first fixed point and a first adjustable point;
- a second fixed point;
- a second arm between the second fixed point and a second adjustable point;
- three linkages in series between the first adjustable point and the second adjustable point, wherein the motion of the grain pan or sieve is constrained by the movement of a middle one of the three linkages,
- wherein the first and second adjustable points have a position which is adjusted by the actuator, and wherein the first and second adjustable points have a position which is adjusted by the actuator in dependence on the angle of inclination;
- and
- wherein the first and second adjustable points (104, 204) are adjustable between first and second end positions, wherein the first end position is for inclination in one lateral direction and the second end position is for inclination in an opposite lateral direction.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.