Dual rotor deflector system and method
AssigneeDeere & Company
InventorJason R. Dehnke
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An agricultural machine includes a dual rotor threshing assembly having a first threshing rotor and a second threshing rotor that are each rotationally coupled to a frame and a deflector that is moveable relative to the frame and relative to the first threshing rotor and the second threshing rotor. The deflector increases an amount of harvested crop directed toward the first threshing rotor relative to the second threshing rotor, or toward the second threshing rotor relative to the first threshing rotor, depending on a position or direction of movement of the deflector. The deflector may be utilized to balance or otherwise change the amount of harvested crop processed by the first threshing rotor and the second threshing rotor.
Claims19
An agricultural machine for processing harvested crop comprising:
- a cutting head configured to harvest crop;
- and
- a dual rotor threshing assembly configured to process the harvested crop and including:
- a first threshing rotor rotationally coupled to a frame;
- a second threshing rotor rotationally coupled to the frame;
- and
- a deflector that is moveable relative to the frame to increase an amount of harvested crop directed toward the first threshing rotor or the second threshing rotor, wherein the deflector is positioned upstream of the first threshing rotor and the second threshing rotor.
An agricultural machine for processing harvested crop comprising:
- a cutting head configured to harvest crop;
- and
- a dual rotor threshing assembly configured to process the harvested crop and including:
- a first threshing rotor rotationally coupled to a frame;
- a second threshing rotor rotationally coupled to the frame;
- a deflector that is moveable relative to the frame to increase an amount of harvested crop directed toward the first threshing rotor or the second threshing rotor;
- and
- at least one sensor operatively coupled to a controller and configured to send signals to the controller that are used by the controller to determine a direction of movement for the deflector;
- wherein the at least one sensor is configured to measure a parameter indicative of crop load on the first threshing rotor and on the second threshing rotor;
- and
- wherein the controller is configured to send signals to an actuator causing movement of the deflector to increase the amount of harvested crop directed toward the first threshing rotor or the second threshing rotor depending on which of the first threshing rotor and the second threshing rotor has a lesser crop load.
An agricultural machine for processing harvested crop comprising:
- a first threshing rotor configured to rotate about a first axis to process the harvested crop;
- a second threshing rotor positioned adjacent to the first threshing rotor and configured to rotate about a second axis to process harvested crop;
- and
- a deflector positioned between the first axis and the second axis;
- wherein the deflector is moveable relative to the first axis and the second axis;
- and
- wherein the deflector is configured to increase an amount of harvested crop directed toward one of the first threshing rotor and the second threshing rotor via movement of the deflector relative to the first axis and the second axis.
A method of processing harvested crop with an agricultural machine comprising:
- harvesting crop as the agricultural machine moves along a ground surface;
- moving a deflector positioned upstream of the first threshing rotor and the second threshing rotor in one of a first direction and a second direction to increase an amount of harvested crop directed toward a first threshing rotor coupled to a frame or a second threshing rotor coupled to the frame and positioned adjacent to the first threshing rotor;
- wherein moving the deflector in one of the first direction and the second direction comprises at least one of:
- pivoting the deflector toward one of the first threshing rotor and the second threshing rotor;
- sliding the deflector toward one of the first threshing rotor and the second threshing rotor;
- and
- rotating the deflector about a rotational axis in one of a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.