Method and System for Conveying Material in a Combine Harvester
OwnerCasey Heiminventor
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a method and system of conveying harvested material within or out of a combine harvester using positive air pressure. The invention provides for a lighter, simpler process of material handling by using positive air pressure to pneumatically convey harvested material. As compared to conventional methods, the present invention incorporates lighter weight components and fewer moving parts. Systems of the present invention have more flexible layouts than conventional methods, which allows for the incorporation of different material types, easier cleaning, and potentially greater ease for process automation.
Claims20
A method of conveying grain comprising
- a) taking air into a first portion of a pneumatic conveying system that is inside a combine harvester, wherein the first portion of the pneumatic conveying system includes an air intake system, an originator of positive air pressure, a first channel through which air moves, a first gateway, and a second channel through which air and grain move;
- b) conveying grain into the first gateway;
- c) conveying the grain through the second channel to a diverter valve;
- d) directing the diverter valve to move the grain either (i) into a second portion of the pneumatic system that comprises a third channel through which the grain moves to an onboard storage tank, or (ii) into a third portion of the pneumatic system that includes a fourth channel through which grain is moved out of the combine harvester.
The method of claim 8, wherein the first gateway is an eductor, an airlock, a slide gate, or a combination thereof, and the second gateway is an eductor, an airlock, a slide gate, or a combination thereof.
A pneumatic conveying system for transporting grain within a combine harvester comprising
- a) a first portion that includes an air intake system, an originator of positive air pressure, a first channel through which air moves, a first gateway, and a second channel through which air and grain move;
- b) a diverter valve;
- c) a second portion that comprises a third channel through which grain moves to a storage tank on a combine harvester;
- and
- d) a third portion that includes a fourth channel through which grain moves out of the combine harvester, wherein the diverter valve separates the first portion from the second and third portions of the conveying system.
An improved method of harvesting grain comprising
- a) bringing collected plant material into a combine harvester;
- b) conveying the collected plant material to a processor inside the combine harvester, wherein grain and small plant material is separated from large plant material;
- c) conveying the grain and small plant material from the processor to a separator inside the combine harvester, wherein the grain is separated from the small plant material;
- and
- d) taking air into a first portion of a pneumatic conveying system, wherein the first portion of the pneumatic conveying system includes an air intake system, an originator of positive air pressure, a first channel through which air moves, a gateway, and a second channel through which air and separated grain move;
- e) conveying separated grain into the gateway;
- f) conveying the separated grain through the second channel to a diverter valve;
- and
- g) directing the diverter valve to either move the separated grain (i) into a second portion of the pneumatic conveying system, wherein this second portion of the pneumatic conveying system comprises a third channel through which the separated grain moves to an onboard storage tank, or (ii) into a third portion of the pneumatic conveying system, wherein this third portion of the pneumatic conveying system includes a fourth channel through which the separated grain is moved out of the combine harvester.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.