Back to results
US 2022/0174878 A1Published application
Fan hub cover
AssigneeDeere & Company
InventorBlain J. Cazenave
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fan hub for an extractor for a harvesting machine that harvests a crop. The fan hub having a hub cover positioned along a rotation axis of a fan of the extractor. The hub cover is adjustable to alter the profile of the hub cover relative to the rotation axis.
Claims20
A fan hub for an extractor for a harvesting machine, comprising:
- a hub cover positioned along a rotation axis of a fan;
- wherein, the hub cover is adjustable to alter the profile of the hub cover relative to the rotation axis.
A harvesting machine, comprising:
- a ground engaging mechanism configured to selectively move the harvesting machine along an underlying surface;
- a prime mover configured to selectively power the ground engaging mechanism;
- a harvesting head configured to harvest a crop from the underlying surface;
- a processing assembly configured to separate debris from the crop;
- an extractor assembly in the processing assembly, the extractor assembly comprising:
- a fan for separating debris from the crop, the fan having an inlet side and an exhaust side and selectively powered by a motor to rotate about a rotation axis;
- and
- a hub cover positioned along the rotation axis and extending at least partially into the inlet side of the fan;
- wherein, the hub cover is adjustable to alter a volume of displacement to agitate crop and debris presented to the inlet side of the fan.
6 more elements
A method for improving crop capture in a harvesting machine, comprising:
- providing a harvesting head, a processing assembly with an extractor assembly, the extractor assembly comprising a fan, the fan having an inlet side and being selectively powered by a motor to rotate about a rotation axis and a hub cover positioned along the rotation axis and extending at least partially into the inlet side of the fan, the hub cover configured to be variably sized to accommodate different crop conditions;
- adjusting the hub cover to alter a volume of displacement along the inlet side to agitate crop and debris presented to the inlet side of the fan;
- wherein, the adjusting the hub is configured to be performed one or more of manually, through user inputs on a user interface, or automatically by a controller responsive to inputs from sensors on the harvesting machine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.