Belted grain accelerator for a threshing machine

A self-propelled agricultural combine for harvesting a crop from a field and threshing the crop to separate grain from the straw and chaff, the self-propelled combine comprising:

• a supporting structure having ground engaging wheels for supporting the supporting structure and driving the supporting structure across a field;
• a propulsion means for driving the ground engaging wheels;
• a thresholding and separator means mounted on the supporting structure for separating grain from straw and chaff;
• a harvesting means for collecting crop from a field and directing it to the threshing and separating means, the harvesting means and the threshing and separating means are all powered by the propulsion means;
• an accelerator means for accelerating the grain and chaff falling from the threshing and separator means, the accelerator means comprising two belted endless conveyors extending beneath the threshing and separating means for receiving grain and chaff falling from therefrom, the conveyors are driven in opposite directions by the propulsion means whereby the grain and chaff deposited on the conveyors are directed to an opening between the conveyors through which the chaff and grain is accelerated in a downward and forward direction and a diverter having two concave portions that intersect forming a vertex, the vertex of the diverter is positioned in the opening between the two conveyors and each concave portion extends over one of the conveyors;
• and
• a blower means directing a substantially horizontal flow of air rearwardly through the accelerated chaff and grain to blow the falling chaff away from the falling grain.

An agricultural combine for harvesting a crop from a field and threshing and separating the grain contained in that crop from straw and chaff, the combine comprising:

• a supporting structure having ground engaging wheels for supporting the supporting structure;
• a threshing and separator means mounted on the supporting structure for separating grain from straw and chaff;
• a harvesting means for collecting crop from a field and directing it to the threshing and separating means, the harvesting means and the threshing and separating means are all powered by the propulsion means;
• an accelerator means for accelerating the grain and chaff falling from the threshing an separator means, the accelerator means comprising at least one belted endless conveyor extending beneath the threshing and separating means for receiving grain and chaff falling from therefrom, the conveyor is provided with transverse paddles and is driven by a power means whereby the grain and chaff deposited on the conveyor is directed through an opening by the conveyor and the transverse paddles, through which the chaff and the grain is accelerated in a substantially downwardly direction and a diverter having a concave wing which is positioned in the opening adjacent to the conveyor so that the concave wing extends over the conveyor, and the transverse paddles pass the diverter;
• and
• a blower means directing an air stream through the accelerated chaff and grain to blow the falling chaff away from the falling grain.