US 7,409,743 B2 · Apparatus for cleaning air discharge from agricultural harvester

Abstract

An apparatus for cleaning the air discharged from an agricultural harvester. A separation housing has inlet and outlet ends. The inlet end includes an upper chute, a lower chute, and a separation wall therebetween. The lower chute extends from the inlet end to a clean air discharge intermediate the inlet and outlet ends. Air entering the lower chute is relatively clean, and is discharged to the atmosphere through the clean air discharge. Air entering the upper chute is relatively dirty, and is routed through the upper chute to a separation chamber having an upper input end, a lower output end, and a downwardly inclined passageway extending therebetween. Small particles and dust precipitate from the air and collect on the floor of the passageway. Harvester movement urges the particles and dust to exit from the output end dropping onto the ground, and clean air exits directly therefrom into the atmosphere.

Claims22

Dependent claims

An apparatus for cleaning the air discharged from an agricultural harvester, comprising:

a. an elongated separation housing having an inlet end and a outlet end, said inlet end including an upper chute, a lower chute, and a separation wall therebetween, said upper chute and said separation wall extending within said housing from said inlet end to said outlet end, and said lower chute extending from said inlet end to a clean air discharge intermediate said inlet end and said outlet end;
and,
b. a separation chamber, said separation chamber having an upper input end, a lower output end, and a downwardly inclined passageway extending between said input end and said output end, said input end being interconnected to said outlet end of said housing, whereby air entering said upper chute of said inlet end is dirty, having a higher concentration of dirt and debris than air entering said lower chute of said inlet end and said separation wall prevents commingling of air passing through said upper and lower chutes.

An apparatus for cleaning the air discharged from an agricultural harvester, comprising:

a. first stage separator means for segregating dirty air from clean air, said first stage separator means having an inlet end and a outlet end, said inlet end including an upper chute, a lower chute, and a separation wall therebetween, said upper chute and said separation wall extending within said separator means from said inlet end to said outlet end, and said lower chute extending from said inlet end to a clean air discharge intermediate said inlet end and said outlet end;
and,
b. second stage separator means for settling out dirt and debris from dirty air, said second stage separator means including an upper input end, a lower output end, and a downwardly inclined passageway extending between said input end and said output end, said input end being interconnected to said outlet end of said housing, whereby air entering said upper chute of said inlet end of said first stage separator mean is dirty, having a higher concentration of dirt and debris than air entering said lower chute of said inlet end and said separation wall prevents commingling of air passing through said upper and lower chutes, and clean air is discharged into the atmosphere through said clean air discharge.

An agricultural harvester comprising:

a. a mobile frame;
b. a suction fan on said frame, said suction fan having a dirty air discharge;
c. an elongated separation housing on said frame having an inlet end and a outlet end, said inlet end being interconnected to said dirty air discharge of said suction fan, said inlet end further including an upper chute, a lower chute, and a separation wall therebetween, said upper chute and said separation wall extending within said housing from said inlet end to said outlet end, and said lower chute extending from said inlet end to a clean air discharge intermediate said inlet end and said outlet end;
and,
d. a separation chamber, said separation chamber having an upper input end, a lower output end, and a downwardly inclined passageway extending between said input end and said output end, said input end being interconnected to said outlet end of said housing, whereby air entering said upper chute of said inlet end is dirty, having a higher concentration of dirt and debris than air entering said lower chute of said inlet end and said separation wall prevents commingling of air passing through said upper and lower chutes.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus for cleaning air discharge from agricultural harvester

Life of this patent

Apparatus for cleaning air discharge from agricultural harvester

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22