Concave adjustment mechanism
AssigneeAGCO Corporation
InventorsBernard D. Regier, Bryan Scott Claerhout
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A combine harvester where opposing concaves on either side of a rotor of a processing system substantially simultaneously travel symmetrical paths. The concaves of the processing system may be pivotally supported on a rockshaft where the axis of the rockshaft moves in a generally vertical manner so that the concaves then move generally radially toward or away from the rotor.
Claims37
A combine harvester having a crop processing rotor, comprising:
- a pair of opposite facing concaves extending at least partially beneath the rotor in a circumferential manner and moveable generally in a symmetrical and concentric manner therefrom;
- a rockshaft having rotational movement about an axis and substantially radial movement relative the rotor, wherein both rotational and radial movement of said rockshaft causes said pair of concaves pivotally coupled thereon to move in a generally vertical direction to move said pair of concaves toward or away from the rotor;
- and
- a guide for movement of said rockshaft in a generally vertical direction, wherein said guide comprises a guide plate having a generally vertical slot for moveably receiving and retaining said rockshaft, wherein said rockshaft translates up and down in said slot when said pair of concaves move toward or away from the rotor.
A combine harvester having a crop processing rotor, comprising:
- a pair of opposite facing concaves extending at least partially beneath the rotor in a circumferential manner and moveable generally in a symmetrical and concentric manner therefrom;
- a rockshaft having rotational movement about an axis and substantially radial movement relative the rotor, wherein both rotational and radial movement of said rockshaft causes said pair of concaves pivotally coupled thereon to move in a generally vertical direction to move said pair of concaves toward or away from the rotor;
- and
- a hold down member cooperating with said rockshaft to detachably retain said concaves resting on said rockshaft, wherein said concaves of said pair of concaves comprise side rails having distal ends defining a circumferentially extending hook-shaped lug received on said rockshaft to provide pivoting movement of said concaves about said rockshaft.
The combine harvester 17 wherein said concaves are detachably coupled to said rockshaft.
A combine harvester having a crop processing rotor, comprising:
- a pair of opposite facing concaves extending at least partially beneath the rotor in a circumferential manner and moveable generally in a symmetrical and concentric manner therefrom;
- a rockshaft having rotational movement about an axis and substantially radial movement relative the rotor, wherein both rotational and radial movement of said rockshaft causes said pair of concaves pivotally coupled thereon to move in a generally vertical direction to move said pair of concaves toward or away from the rotor;
- and
- a spring coupled to said pair of concaves, wherein said spring is compressed when said concaves are moved away from the rotor as a foreign object passes between at least one of said concaves and the rotor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.