Agricultural Harvester Concave System and Method

• US 20160295802A1
• Filed: 11/18/2014
• Published: 10/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blue Leaf IP Incorporated (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Original Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Inventors: De Witte, Joris, Van Der Haegen, Johan A., Somers, Tom N.N.
• Granted Patent: US 10,143,141 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 41/06 Combines with headers
• CPC Class Codes: A01F 12/22 Threshing cylinders with teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A01F 12/24 One-part threshing concaves
• CPC Class Codes: A01F 12/26 Multi-part threshing concaves
• CPC Class Codes: A01F 12/442 Rotary cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A01F 12/446 Sieving means
• CPC Class Codes: A01F 12/46 Mechanical grain conveyors
• CPC Class Codes: A01F 7/04 with axles transverse to the feeding direction

Abstract

A threshing section of an agricultural harvester. The threshing section includes a threshing drum and at least one concave assembly positioned proximate to the threshing drum. The concave assembly has a plurality of modularized assemblies, each modularized assembly being independently configurable.

Claims

1. A threshing section of an agricultural harvester, the threshing section comprising:

a threshing drum; and

at least one concave assembly positioned proximate to the threshing drum, the at least one concave assembly comprising a cylindrical frame and a plurality of modularized assemblies, each of the plurality of modularized assemblies being independently configurable and detachably connected to the frame of the at least one concave assembly.

2. The threshing section of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of modularized assemblies is constructed such that it can remain connected to the at least one concave assembly while the each of the plurality of modularized assemblies is reconfigured.

3. The threshing section of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of modularized assemblies includes at least one rod extending substantially from one end of the each of the plurality of modularized assemblies to an opposite end of the each of the plurality of modularized assemblies.

4. The threshing section of claim 3, wherein the at least one rod of each of the plurality of modularized assemblies is a plurality of rods, each extending substantially from one end of the each of the plurality of modularized assemblies to an opposite end of the each of the plurality of modularized assemblies.

5. The threshing section of claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of modularized includes assemblies comprises a structural member having a plurality of receiving members attached thereto, the at least one rod of the each of the plurality of modularized assemblies being supported by the plurality of receiving members of the structural member of the each of the plurality of modularized assemblies.

6. The threshing section of claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of receiving members of the structural member of each of the plurality of modularized assemblies comprises a plurality of openings, the at least one rod of the each of the plurality of modularized assemblies being positioned in one of the plurality of openings of the each of the plurality of receiving members of the structural member of the each of the plurality of modularized assemblies.

7. The threshing section of claim 6, wherein the plurality of openings of each of the plurality of receiving members of the structural member of each of the plurality of modularized assemblies are substantially uniformly separated.

8. The threshing section of claim 7, wherein the at least one rod of the each of the plurality of modularized assemblies has a circular cross section.

9. The threshing section claim 6, wherein the plurality of openings of each of the plurality of receiving members of the structural member of each of the plurality of modularized assemblies are configured to receive rods of differing diameters.

10. The threshing section of claim 5, further comprising at least one retaining plate removably coupled to the structural member of each of the plurality of modularized assemblies, the at least one retaining plate preventing a removal of the at least one rod of the each of the plurality of modularized assemblies from the structural member of the each of the plurality of modularized assemblies when the at least one retaining plate is coupled to the structural member of the each of the plurality of modularized assemblies.

11. The threshing section of claim 4, wherein the plurality of rods of each of the plurality of modularized assemblies is up to five rods.

12. The threshing section of claim 4, wherein the plurality of rods of each of the plurality of modularized assemblies are interchangeable.

13. The threshing section of claim 10, wherein the at least one retaining plate removably coupled to the structural member of each of the plurality of modularized assemblies of the at least one concave assembly is connected to the frame.

14. The threshing section of claim 5, wherein the at least one concave assembly and the threshing drum are adapted to be used in harvesting rice, and at least one of the at least one concave assembly and the threshing drum further comprises spikes extending therefrom.

15. A method of adjusting the threshing section according to claim 1, the method comprising steps of:

removing at least one of the plurality of modularized assemblies from the frame of the at least one concave assembly;

modifying at least one of a position of a rod and a number of rods in the at least one of the plurality of modularized assemblies; and

replacing the at least one of the plurality of modularized assemblies in the frame of the at least one concave assembly.

16. The method of claim 15, the method further comprising a step of replacing at least one receiving member on the at least one of the plurality of modularized assemblies.

17. A threshing section of an agricultural harvester, the threshing section comprising:

a threshing drum; and

at least one concave assembly positioned proximate to the threshing drum, the at least one concave assembly comprising a cylindrical frame and at least one modularized assembly, the at least one modularized assembly being independently configurable and detachably connected to the frame of the at least one concave assembly.

18. The threshing section of claim 17, wherein the at least one modularized assembly includes at least one rod extending substantially from one end of the at least one modularized assembly to an opposite end of the at least one modularized assembly.

19. The threshing section of claim 18, wherein the at least one modularized assembly comprises a structural member having at least one receiving member attached thereto, the at least one rod being supported by the at least one receiving member.

20. The threshing section of claim 19, wherein the at least one receiving member comprises a plurality of openings, the at least one rod being positioned in one of the plurality of openings.