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US 7,118,475 B2Granted
Mechanism and method for automatically transversely positioning the pinch-point of a concave
AssigneeCHN America LLC
InventorCharles R. Schenk
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device and method is disclosed for allowing a combine operator, from the operator's station, to automatically transversely position a pinch-point of a concave relative to a rotor of a combine in accordance with the clearance spacing set between the concave and the rotor, thereby minimizing operator effort without sacrificing combine performance.
Claims42
A transverse pivot assembly mechanism for automatically positioning a pinch-point of a concave relative to a rotor of a combine, the mechanism comprising:
- a remotely operative adjustment mechanism coupled to one end of said concave;
- and
- a linking assembly pivotally coupling another end of said concave to said combine, said linking assembly defining at least one transverse pivot axis, said transverse pivot axis allowing automatic remotely operative adjustment mechanism providing selective transverse pivoting of said concave along said transverse pivot axis and relative to said rotor in accordance with selectively defined clearance spacing between said concave and said rotor, wherein said linking assembly includes at least a first linking member and a second linking member, said first linking member and said second linking member substantially similar in shape, said first linking member being positioned substantially angular relative to said second linking member, wherein said substantially angular positioning of said first linking member relative to said second linking member defines a generally “X-shaped” configuration.
A transverse pivot assembly mechanism for automatically positioning a pinch-point of a concave relative to a rotor of a combine, the mechanism comprising:
- a linking assembly pivotally coupling said concave to said combine, said linking assembly defining at least one transverse pivot axis, said transverse pivot axis allowing automatic transverse pivot of said concave relative to said rotor in accordance with adjustably set clearance spacing between said concave and said rotor, said linking assembly including at least a first linking member and a second linking member, said first linking member and said second linking member being substantially similar in shape, said first linking member including a first end and a second end and said second linking member including a first end and a second end, at least a first mounting bracket mounted to said combine, said first mounting bracket including a plurality of mounting apertures, said mounting apertures allowing accommodation of varying dimensions of linking members, concaves, and rotors, wherein said first end of said first linking member is pivotally coupled to said concave and said second end of said first linking member is pivotally coupled to said first mounting bracket, and wherein said first end of said second linking member is pivotally coupled to said concave and said second end of said second linking member is pivotally coupled to said first mounting bracket, said first linking member being positioned substantially angular relative to said second linking member, wherein said substantially angular positioning of said first linking member relative to said second linking menber defines a generally “X-shaped” configuration.
A transverse pivot assembly mechanism for automatically positioning a pinch-point of a concave relative to a rotor of a combine, the mechanism comprising:
- a linking assembly pivotally coupling said concave to said combine, said linking assembly defining at least one transverse pivot axis, said transverse pivot axis allowing automatic transverse pivot of said concave relative to said rotor in accordance with adjustably set clearance spacing between said concave and said rotor, said linking assembly including at least a first linking member and a second linking member, said first linking member and said second linking member being substantially similar in shape, said first linking member including a first end and a second end and said second linking member including a first end and a second end, at least a first mounting bracket mounted to said combine, said first mounting bracket including a plurality of mounting apertures, said mounting apertures allowing accommodation of varying dimensions of linking members, concaves, and rotors, wherein said first end of said first linking member is pivotally coupled to said concave and said second end of said first linking member is pivotally coupled to said first mounting bracket, and wherein said first end of said second linking member is pivotally coupled to said concave and said second end of said second linking member is pivotally coupled to said first mounting bracket, said pivotal coupling of said first end of said first linking member to said concave being located in a different horizontal plane than said pivotal coupling of said first end of said second linking member to said concave, said pivotal coupling of said second end of said first linking member to said first mounting bracket being located in a different horizontal plane than said pivotal coupling of said second end of said second linking member to said first mounting bracket, said first linking member being positioned substantially angular relative to said second linking member, said substantially angular positioning of said first linking member relative to said second linking member defining a generally “X-shaped” configuration.
A rotary combine comprising:
- a rotor having a longitudinal axis of rotation;
- a concave including a first side and a second side, said concave spaced circumferentially around said rotor and comprising a plurality of concave inserts outwardly removable away from said rotor in a direction transverse to said longitudinal axis of said rotor;
- a transverse pivot assembly mechanism coupling said first side of said concave to said combine, said transverse pivot assembly mechanism comprising:
- a linking assembly pivotally coupling said concave to said combine, said linking assembly defining at least one transverse pivot axis, said transverse pivot axis allowing automatic transverse pivot of said concave relative to said rotor in accordance with adjustably set clearance spacing between said concave and said rotor, said linking assembly including at least a first linking member and a second linking member, said first linking member and said second linking member being substantially similar in shape, said first linking member being positioned substantially angular relative to said second linking member, wherein said substantially angular positioning of said first linking member relative to said second linking member defines a generally “X-shaped” configuration;
- and
- an adjustment mechanism coupling said second side of said concave to said combine, said adjustment mechanism allowing adjustment of clearance spacing between said concave and said rotor.
3 more elements
A method for automatically transversely pivoting and positioning a pinch-point of a concave relative to a rotor of a combine, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a rotor having a longitudinal axis of rotation;
- providing at least one concave, said concave including a first side and a second side spaced circumferentially around said rotor and including a plurality of concave inserts outwardly removable away from said rotor in a direction transverse to said longitudinal axis of said rotor;
- providing a transverse pivot assembly mechanism, said transverse pivot assembly mechanism coupling said first side of said concave to said combine, said transverse pivot assembly mechanism comprising:
- a linking assembly pivotally coupling said first side of said concave to said combine, said linking assembly defining at least one transverse pivot axis, said transverse pivot axis allowing automatic transverse pivot of said concave relative to said rotor in accordance with adjustably set clearance spacing between said concave and said rotor, said linking assembly including at least a first linking member and a second linking member, said first linking member and said second linking member being substantially similar in shape, said first linking member being positioned substantially angular relative to said second linking member, wherein said substantially angular positioning of said first linking member relative to said second linking member defines a generally “X-shaped” configuration;
- providing a remotely operative adjustment mechanism, said remotely operative adjustment mechanism adjustably coupling said second side of said concave to said combine for effecting movement and clearance spacing of said concave relative to said rotor of said combine;
- and
- selectively actuating said remotely operative adjustment mechanism to effect movement and clearance spacing of said concave relative to said rotor of said combine.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.