Concave adjust assembly including a torsion axle for damping crop threshing impulse loads

A shock load damping concave adjust assembly for a threshing system of an agricultural combine, comprising:

• an elongate inner element defining a longitudinal direction, the inner element having an angular sectional shape and opposite longitudinal ends including laterally extending cantilever arms configured for connection to longitudinally spaced apart portions of a concave of the threshing system, respectively, an elongate tubular outer element disposed about the inner element along at least a substantial portion of the length thereof, the outer element having an angular sectional shape having a larger sectional extent than a sectional extent of the inner element and being oriented relative thereto such that corner portions of an inner surface of the outer element are disposed in generally opposing relation to flat portions of an outer surface of the inner element and define spaces therebetween and such that the outer element and the inner element are laterally relatively rotatable, and elongate resilient damping elements disposed in the spaces, respectively, and configured for opposing the lateral relative rotation of the inner element and the outer element to damp any lateral shock loads exerted therebetween;
• and
• a drive including a gear mounted on an outer surface of the outer element and enmeshed with a gear on an output shaft of a motor fixedly mountable to structure of a combine such that operation of the motor will relatively rotate the enmeshed gears.

An impulse load absorbing concave adjust assembly for a threshing system of an agricultural combine, comprising:

• an elongate inner element defining a longitudinal direction, the inner element having an angular sectional shape and opposite longitudinal ends including laterally extending cantilever arms connected to longitudinally spaced portions of a concave of the threshing system, respectively;
• an elongate tubular outer element disposed about the inner element along a substantial portion of the length thereof, the tubular outer element having an angular sectional shape having an extent larger than a sectional extent of the inner element and being oriented relative thereto such that corner portions of an inner surface of the outer element are disposed in generally opposing relation to flat portions of an outer surface of the inner element and define spaces therebetween and such that the inner element and the outer element are relatively rotatable about a longitudinal axis, and elongate resilient damping elements disposed in the spaces, respectively, and configured for opposing the relative rotation of the inner element and the outer element while absorbing lateral impulse loads exerted therebetween;
• and
• a drive fixedly mounted to the combine and supporting the outer element, the drive including a gear mounted on an outer surface of the outer element and enmeshed with a gear on an output shaft of a motor such that operation of the motor will relatively rotate the enmeshed gears, the damping elements being configured such that the operation of the motor in one manner will rotate the enmeshed gears in a first lateral direction for lifting the concave with only minimal or no compression of the damping elements, while the damping elements will laterally compress to a limited extent when lateral impulse loads are exerted thereagainst by the inner element for damping and dissipating the impulse loads and reducing transmittal thereof to the drive.