Air movement unit for biomass conveyance, separation, or combine performance enhancement

A harvesting machine, comprising:

• a self-propelled vehicle adapted for separating grain from non-grain material, the self-propelled vehicle having a forward portion and a rearward portion;
• a cleaning shoe;
• a chopper operatively connected to the vehicle and adapted for receiving the non-grain material and chopping the non-grain material, wherein the non-grain material includes heavier non-grain material and lighter non-grain material;
• a blower adapted for assisting in conveying the heavier non-grain material from the chopper;
• a fan positioned between the chopper and the blower;
• an air inlet for providing air to the fan;
• an air outlet for providing air from the fan;
• the fan being configured to assist in separating the lighter non-grain material from the heavier non-grain material by air flow after chopping the non-grain material;
• and
• the blower positioned after the chopper at the rearward portion of the self-propelled vehicle.

A method, comprising:

• providing a harvesting machine comprising (a) a self-propelled vehicle adapted for separating grain from non-grain material, the self-propelled vehicle having a forward portion and a rearward portion (b) a cleaning shoe, (c) a fan, the fan positioned downstream of the cleaning shoe and the fan having an air inlet and an air outlet, (d) a chopper operatively connected to the self-propelled vehicle configured for receiving the non-grain material and chopping the non-grain material, (e) a blower positioned after the chopper at the rearward portion of the self-propelled vehicle, (f) the fan being positioned between the chopper and the blower;
• intaking air though the air inlet of the fan;
• chopping the non-grain material;
• and
• aspirating air though the air outlet of the fan to assist in separating light portions and heavy portions of the non-grain material after chopping the non-grain material.

A harvesting machine, comprising:

• a self-propelled vehicle for separating grain from non-grain material, the self-propelled vehicle having a forward portion and a rearward portion;
• a cleaning shoe;
• a chopper operatively connected to the vehicle and adapted to receive the non-grain material and chop the non-grain material;
• a fan positioned after the chopper and before a blower, the fan configured to assist in separating a heavier portion of the non-grain material from a lighter portion of the non-grain material after chopping of the non-grain material;
• and
• the blower positioned after the chopper at the rearward portion of the self-propelled vehicle.

A harvesting machine, comprising:

• a self-propelled vehicle for separating grain from non-grain material, the self-propelled vehicle having a forward portion and a rearward portion;
• a cleaning shoe;
• a chopper operatively connected to the vehicle and configured to receive the non-grain material and chop the non-grain material;
• a blower positioned after the chopper at the rearward portion of the self-propelled vehicle;
• a fan positioned after the chopper at the rearward portion of the self-propelled vehicle;
• the fan positioned to provide air flow to assist in separating a heavier portion of the non-grain material from a lighter portion of the non-grain material after chopping of the non-grain material.