US 4,178,944 A · Tailings return for an axial flow combine

Abstract

Grain and other small particles are separated from the stalks in a transverse cage and cylinder of an axial flow combine and pass through the concave and small radial openings in the cage. Distribution augers below the cage convey the threshed material to a pair of accelerator rolls, by way of a feeder slot, which accelerate the threshed material downwardly across a layer of rearwardly directed air. The grain is separated from the chaff in the cleaning section where clean grain auger delivers the clean grain to an appropriate elevator which in turn delivers the grain to a grain bin. The heavy material or tailings which does not pass through the sieves, such as grain or seed not completely removed from the hulls or pods, moves to a tailings auger which connects to a tailings elevator. The tailings elevator moves the tailings upwardly to one end of one of the distribution augers. The tailings are conveyed to the accelerator rolls by the distribution auger by way of the accelerator rolls feeder slot thus avoiding a second pass through the threshing cylinder and the attendant cracking of seed or grain.

Claims11

Dependent claims

In an axial flow combine for harvesting seed, the combination comprising:

a threshing section including
a housing having walls including a pair of lateral spaced vertical sidewalls extending in the longitudinal direction of the combine and a transversely extending discharge opening permitting discharge of threshed material from the threshing section,
a foraminous cylindrical cage extending between said sidewalls,
a threshing cylinder disposed within said cage, said cage and cylinder being disposed on a horizontal axis disposed transverse to the direction of travel of said combine, and
a transversely disposed distribution auger in said housing for conveying some of the threshed material passing through said cage to said discharge opening,
a cleaning section receiving threshed material discharged from said threshing section by way of said discharge opening, said cleaning section including means or separating light particles and tailings from the seed and
a tailings elevator connected at its lower end to said cleaning section to receive said tailings and having its upper end disposed in delivery relation to said distribution auger.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Tailings return for an axial flow combine

Life of this patent

Tailings return for an axial flow combine

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11