Crop threshing or separating – Threshing – With bar
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-07
2001-12-04
Will, Thomas B. (Department: 3671)
Crop threshing or separating
Threshing
With bar
C460S072000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06325714
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to a rotor assembly for an agricultural combine. It relates particularly to the construction and arrangement of thresher elements on a rotor for threshing and separating crop material that is fed into the rotor assembly.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A conventional agricultural combine generally includes a header mechanism that severs and collects crop material as the combine is driven through a field, and a feeder mechanism that feeds the crop material to a threshing mechanism in the combine. The threshing mechanism includes a rotor assembly. The crop material is threshed as it passes between a rotor and a cylindrical housing of the rotor assembly.
Typically, the rotor has a front portion, a rear portion and an outer surface that is proximate the cylindrical housing. Generally, a number of thresher elements are secured to the outer surface. As the rotor rotates, crop material enters the rotor assembly and the thresher elements facilitate the flow of the crop material towards the rear portion and separate the seeds from the remaining plant material.
The thresher elements typically include both short elements and elongated thresher elements which are arranged in particular patterns or arrays to form helical paths. The crop material flows along these helical paths. Typically, the thresher elements are arranged so that the crop material will strike one short thresher element and then proceed to impact an elongated thresher element. Further, in a conventional rotor assembly two elongated thresher elements may be secured so that they lie along a common line parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rotor.
Crop material sometimes has a tendency to form clumps against elongated thresher elements. In addition, in the configuration where two elongated thresher elements are arranged along the same line, a roll of crop material may form against the multiple elongated thresher elements. Such clumping and formation of rolls can affect the capacity of the rotor assembly. Further, when the rotor encounters clumps or rolls of material, increased horsepower may be required to maintain a normal threshing operation. This increased horsepower requirement can result in a torque spike in the rotor, which generally tends to decrease the effective life of the rotor and, possibly, of the rotor drive.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved rotor assembly that overcomes the disadvantages described above and prevents clumps or rolls of material from forming along elongated threshing elements during the course of a threshing operation.
In one aspect of the invention, the rotor assembly includes a rotor and a plurality of short thresher elements and elongated thresher elements that are arranged on the rotor so that the crop material contacts at least two short thresher elements before contacting an elongated thresher element. As a result, clumps of crop material are broken up before they contact an elongated element.
In another aspect of the invention, a rotor assembly for an agricultural combine includes a rotor having a front portion, a rear portion, and a plurality of elongated thresher elements. Each elongated thresher element is aligned along a separate longitudinal line which extends from the front portion to the rear portion, to prevent a band of material from building across multiple elongated thresher elements.
The invention includes the foregoing and other features, and the advantages of the invention will become further apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The detailed description and drawings are merely illustrative of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4362168 (1982-12-01), Hengen et al.
patent: 4889517 (1989-12-01), Strong et al.
patent: 4936810 (1990-06-01), Strong et al.
patent: 4946419 (1990-08-01), Cromheecke et al.
patent: 5035675 (1991-07-01), Dunn et al.
patent: 5125871 (1992-06-01), Gorden
patent: 5192245 (1993-03-01), Francis et al.
patent: 5192246 (1993-03-01), Francis et al.
patent: 5376047 (1994-12-01), Harden et al.
patent: 5413531 (1995-05-01), Tanis
Ricketts Jonathan E.
Tanis Dale R.
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
Case Corporation
Lione Richard G.
Mammen Nathan
Will Thomas B.
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