Return pan grain presentation to a sensor
AssigneeDeere & Company
InventorsNathan R. Vandike, Adam J. Donohoe, Michael T. Meschke
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A return pan for an agricultural harvester has an inclined upper surface portion, disposed to receive grain from a threshing or separating mechanism and laterally convey grain under the force of gravity to an inlet of a grain flow sensor.
Claims14
A return pan for an agricultural harvester having a threshing mechanism, a separating mechanism and a grain cleaning mechanism, and a chassis, the return pan comprising:
- a generally planar and rectangular upper surface disposed in a generally horizontal orientation underneath the separating mechanism and above the grain cleaning mechanism, wherein the upper surface defines a rear end of the return pan and is configured to receive grain from the separating mechanism and to convey the received grain forwardly, and wherein the upper surface further defines a front end of the return pan configured to discharge forwardly conveyed grain onto the cleaning mechanism;
- and
- a first sensor supported at the upper surface and extending only partway across the width of the return pan wherein the first sensor generates a signal indicating a relative quantity of grain passing adjacent the first sensor;
- wherein the upper surface is upstream of the first sensor and comprises a first region with a first inclined surface that uses gravity to steer grain laterally toward an inlet of the first sensor.
A return pan for an agricultural harvester having a rotor for threshing and separating grain, a cleaning shoe, and a chassis supporting the cleaning shoe and the rotor, the return pan comprising:
- a generally flat and horizontal upper surface disposed underneath the rotor and above the cleaning shoe, wherein the upper surface is adjacent a rear end of the return pan, wherein the upper surface is disposed to receive grain from the rotor and to convey the received grain forwardly, and wherein the upper surface further defines a front end of the return pan that is configured to discharge forwardly conveyed grain into the cleaning shoe;
- and
- a first sensor supported at the upper surface and extending only partway across the width of the return pan wherein the first sensor generates a signal indicating a relative quantity of grain passing over the upper surface of the first sensor;
- wherein at least a portion of the upper surface is upstream of the first sensor and comprises a first region with a first inclined surface that uses gravity to steer grain laterally across the upper surface and toward an inlet of the first sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.