Crop threshing or separating – With feeder
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-19
2001-06-12
Pezzuto, Robert E. (Department: 3671)
Crop threshing or separating
With feeder
C460S025000, C460S114000, C460S081000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06244955
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to a rotary tine conveyor having a rotating body having a plurality of tines. The rotating body is provided with a substantially closed outer circumferential surface and recessed regions through which the tines project. The freely rotatable tines are eccentrically supported in bearings. The recessed regions are provided with tine guides through which the tines project.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Several methods are known for the loosening and distributing a threshed crop mat in a combine. One example comprises grasping the crop and distributing it with a rotary conveyor equipped with rigid fingers. The rotary conveyor being located above the straw walkers of a combine. Known combines employ conveyors equipped with tines that perform undershot conveying or conveyors equipped with toothed rails that perform overshot conveying. DE-OS-41 27 118 proposes a rapidly rotating crop processing arrangement in the form of a conveyor belt equipped with tines that should supplement a following transverse straw walker in tearing apart the mat of threshed crop material.
The transverse straw walker can also be replaced by a rotary conveyor with movable tines that are supported eccentrically in bearings, as is known from DE-PS-1 904 406. In all cases the straw is loosened more intensively and for a longer period of time for a thorough separation of the remaining kernels. Due to the tearing apart of the mat of the threshed crop material, heavier crop components such as grain can escape through the gaps thus created.
SUMMARY
It is an object of the present invention to provide a rotary conveyor which eliminates numerous projections which can carry along the crop, for example, stalks, that can wrap itself around the rotary conveyor which limits the conveying capacity and the crop material is treated very harshly.
The rotary conveyor of the present invention comprises a rotating body with at least one tine supported in bearings eccentrically to it which can move radially with respect to the rotating body. The rotating body is provided an outer circumferential surface and recessed regions offset radially towards the interior of the rotating body. These recessed regions extend parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the rotating body. Tine guides are arranged in these recessed regions. The danger of wrapping by the crop is reduced, since the surface of the rotary conveyor exhibits fewer projections. Between the recessed regions the outer circumferential surface of the rotating body is configured with a circular contour being curved and smooth.
In the radially inward position of the tines, the free end of the tines is located below the outer circumferential surface defined by the rotating body. That is, the tines are retracted behind the circumferential surface of the rotating body, so that on the side on which the conveyed crop is delivered by the rotary conveyor the crop is not carried along. Thereby the material is treated very gently. The creation of recessed regions offset radially inward eliminates a radially inward extension of the tine guides, which leads to a clear saving of material, if the tine guides must be replaced after severe wear or damage by the crop.
The surface of the rotating body is formed by at least one metallic cover that is curved in such a way that it forms the outer circumferential surface and the recessed regions. The edges of the metallic cover extending parallel to the longitudinal centerline are accommodated on the shadow side located in the direction of rotation of the drum conveyor of the recessed regions. This reduces the danger that the crop can snag. If the surface of the rotating body is provided with several metallic covers, only one cover needs to be removeable for maintenance or repair work.
The tines are freely supported in bearings on a stationary axle that is coupled to two stub shafts by support arms. One of the stub shafts is supported in bearings in the drive flange of the rotating body. The fastening of the drive flange to one of the end faces of the rotating body automatically centers the stub shaft.
The tines are arranged at distances to each other in the direction of the axis of rotation of the rotary conveyor, in particular in such a way that starting with the first tine each three tines form a group and successive tines are offset to each other by 120 degrees. The offset of successive tines may vary depending on the application and may, for example, conform to the width of the straw walkers when used in a combine.
The rotary conveyor is installed above the straw walkers in such a way that above each individual straw walker a group of three tines is positioned.
The tines are alternately extended and retracted during one rotation of the rotating body about its longitudinal centerline. In this way the tines are able to take up and deliver the crop to be conveyed, for example, performing undershot conveying above the straw walkers of a combine.
In order to further reduce the danger that crop to be conveyed wraps itself around the rotary conveyor, a sheet metal deflector can be positioned on the rotating body. Due to the submergence of the tines it is possible to maintain a very small gap between the sheet metal deflector and the surface of the rotating body, so that crop to be conveyed is deflected efficiently. The sheet metal deflector can extend over the entire length of the side of the rotating body or it may consist of strips that keep the crop away from the surface of the rotating body only between the tines. The sheet metal deflector may also be positioned so close to the drum, that it can also tear off stalks that adhere to the drum.
If the sheet metal deflector is supported in bearings so as to pivot on the frame of a harvesting vehicle, it may be folded back by material that possibly nevertheless adheres and actuate a switch which releases a warning signal.
The rotary conveyor can be arranged in such a way that it is able to transport crop material both in overshot and in undershot conveying. In overshot conveying, for example, above the mower beam of a combine, the advantages resulting from the elimination of projections, such as the tine guides, become equally apparent as during undershot conveying.
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Bischoff Lutz
Lauer Fritz
Deere & Company
Kováacs ÁArpáad Fáabiáan
Pezzuto Robert E.
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