Crop threshing or separating – Threshing – Axial flow through threshing section
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-21
2001-12-04
Will, Thomas B. (Department: 3671)
Crop threshing or separating
Threshing
Axial flow through threshing section
C460S108000, C460S119000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06325713
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a harvesting machine having a rotary crop processing unit and in particular to a harvesting machine having access openings on the sides thereof and cover panels that extend from side sheets of the harvesting machine inward to the crop processing unit to close the access openings.
2. Description of the Related Art
Harvesting machines, such as combines, having a rotary crop processing unit located between a pair of upright, longitudinally extending side sheets are well known. Such harvesting machines may have openings in the side sheets that are closed with removable cover panels. When the cover panels are removed, access to the threshing and/or separating sections of the crop processing unit is provided for service and cleaning. Typically, the access openings are relatively small in size or, if larger, have large metal covers that are difficult to remove and reinstall. When access openings are provided, they are usually on the left side of the machine.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The harvesting machine of the present invention has side sheets on both sides with upper portions that are open between the structural members of the side sheets to provide access to the crop processing unit and cleaning system. Access is provided to the threshing concaves and the separating grates as well as to the crop engaging members on the rotor when the concaves and grates are removed. With openings on both side sheets, servicability and cleanability of the crop processing unit and cleaning system is greatly improved as compared with prior harvesting machines.
The access openings are closed by cover panels that extend from the side sheets inwardly to the axially extending side rails of the crop processing unit, above the concaves and grates. Multiple cover panels are used on each side to reduce the size of each individual cover panel. Preferably, all the cover panels on the left side of the harvesting machine are identical to one another while all the cover panels on the right side of the harvesting machine are identical to one another. The cover panels are arranged to overlap one another at the front and rear edges of the cover panels. The overlap enables the cover panels to compensate for manufacturing variations in the size of the access openings by varying the extent of the overlap. Preferably the cover panels are a double wall, plastic molded component to provide durable cover panels that are lightweight and easily manipulated.
The cover panels are held in place by tucking the upper edge of the cover panel under a lip on the crop processing unit and pressing the bottom edge of the cover panel inward to insert tabs projecting from the side sheet into slots along the bottom edge of the cover panels. A quick-lock pin or other type of fastener is inserted through an aperture in the projecting tab to retain the cover panels in place. At the front and rear sides of the access openings, the cover panels are provided with gaskets to seal against the machine structure to close the openings.
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patent: 5829209 (1998-11-01), Keyl
patent: 5951395 (1999-09-01), Peter
patent: 6085485 (2000-07-01), Murdock
Haar Thomas B.
Olson Jay Harold
Deere & Company
Petravick Meredith
Will Thomas B.
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