AGGRESSIVE GRATE FOR COMBINE HARVESTER

• US 20140087793A1
• Filed: 09/19/2013
• Published: 03/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AGCO Corporation
• Original Assignee: AGCO Corporation
• Inventors: Regier, Bernard D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,215,845 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 460/59
• CPC Class Codes: A01F 12/22 Threshing cylinders with teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A01F 12/26 Multi-part threshing concaves
• CPC Class Codes: A01F 12/446 Sieving means
• CPC Class Codes: A01F 7/02 with rotating tools threshing cylinders or concaves A01F12/18

Abstract

A processing system for a combine harvester has a tubular rotor housing that concentrically receives a rotor used for threshing and separating crop materials. Concave and separator grate assemblies are arranged side-by-side axially along the processing system. Each grate assembly has laterally spaced apart side rails and a plurality of axial bars spanning the side rails. Each axial bar has a plurality of fingers extending therefrom toward an adjacent axial bar, the fingers defining apertures through which grain may pass. Each axial bar additionally has a plurality of disrupter walls placed between adjacent fingers, wherein an upper edge of each disrupter wall projects above the fingers on the same axial bar such that it is closer to the rotor to disrupt the axial flow of the crop material through the rotor housing.

Claims

1. A processing system for a combine harvester having a tubular rotor housing that concentrically receives a rotor used for threshing and separating grain in crop materials, the processing system comprising a plurality of grate assemblies arranged side-by-side axially along the processing system though which threshed grain may pass, each grate assembly comprising laterally spaced apart side rails and a plurality of axial bars spanning said side rails, wherein each axial bar has a plurality of fingers extending therefrom toward an adjacent axial bar, said fingers defining apertures through which grain may pass, and a plurality of disrupter walls placed between adjacent fingers, wherein an upper edge of each disrupter wall projects above the fingers on the same axial bar such that said upper edge is closer to the rotor to disrupt the axial flow of the crop material through the rotor housing.

2. The processing system for a combine harvester of claim 1 wherein said plurality fingers extend from a base portion of said axial bar, said fingers extending away from the base portion so as to point in the same direction as the direction of rotation of the rotor and have an axis that is generally perpendicular with the base portion.

3. The processing system for a combine harvester of claim 1 wherein said fingers extend away from the base portion of the axial bar toward an adjacent axial bar, but do not contact said adjacent axial bar.

4. The processing system for a combine harvester of claim 3 wherein a gap is left between a tip of each finger and a rear surface of the adjacent axial bar.

5. The processing system for a combine harvester of claim 4 wherein the gap has a distance between about 0.2 and 1.0 inches (0.5 and 2.5 cm).

6. The processing system for a combine harvester of claim 4 wherein an upper surface of the tip of each finger is elevated above an upper edge of the disrupter walls of the next adjacent axial bar.

7. The processing system for a combine harvester of claim 1 wherein said plurality fingers extend from a base portion of said axial bar, said fingers extending away from the base portion at an angle of between about 70 and 110 degrees.