SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INSTALLING SEPARATOR GRATES WITHIN AN AGRICULTURAL COMBINE

• US 20180132421A1
• Filed: 11/15/2016
• Published: 05/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blue Leaf IP Incorporated (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Original Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Inventors: Ohms, Travis J., Matway, Michael J., Murray, Craig E.
• Granted Patent: US 10,412,896 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01F 12/26 Multi-part threshing concaves
• CPC Class Codes: A01F 12/446 Sieving means

Abstract

A system for installing separator grates within a combine may include a grate frame having first and second frame members extending circumferentially between proximal and distal ends. The system may also include a first and second separator grate sections configured to be supported between the frame members along first and second circumferential frame sections of the grate frame, respectively. Additionally, the grate frame may include first and second guide rails extending between the frame members along at least a portion of the first circumferential frame section. When the first separator grate section is being installed from a side of the grate frame located adjacent to the proximal end, at least a portion of the first separator grate section may be configured to ride along the guide rails at a location between the frame member as the first separator grate section is moved towards the distal end of the grate frame.

Claims

1. A system for installing separator grates within an agricultural combine, the system comprising:

a grate frame including first and second frame members extending circumferentially between a proximal end of the grate frame and a distal end of the grate frame;

a first separator grate section configured to be supported between the first and second frame members along a first circumferential frame section of the grate frame; and

a second separator grate section configured to be supported between the first and second frame members along a second circumferential frame section of the grate frame;

wherein the grate frame further includes a first guide rail extending adjacent to the first frame member along at least a portion of the first circumferential frame section and a second guide rail extending adjacent to the second frame member along at least a portion of the first circumferential frame section;

wherein, when the first separator grate section is being installed from a side of the grate frame located adjacent to the proximal end, at least a portion of the first separator grate section is configured to ride along the first and second guide rails at a location between the first and second frame member as the first separator grate section is moved towards the distal end of the grate frame.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a first mounting plate positioned at the distal end of the grate frame, wherein a mounting end of the first separator grate section is configured to be coupled to the first mounting plate.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first mounting plate includes at least one alignment feature configured to be aligned with at least one corresponding alignment feature of the first separator grate section as the first separator gate section is moved towards the distal end of the grate frame.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one alignment feature corresponds to an alignment pin extending outwardly from the first mounting plate, the alignment pin configured to be received within a corresponding alignment opening defined through the mounting end of the first separator grate section.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one transverse support member extending between the first and second frame members within the first circumferential frame section of the grate frame.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the at least one traverse support member is configured to be received within at least one recess defined by the first separator grate section when the first separator grate section is installed relative to the grate frame.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the at least one transverse support member includes a first transverse support member positioned at or adjacent to one circumferential end of the first and second guide rails and a second transverse support member positioned at or adjacent to an opposed circumferential end of the first and second guide rails.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second separator grate sections including corresponding engagement features, the corresponding engagement features being configured to engage each another at adjacent interface ends of the first and second separator grate sections when the first and second separator grate sections are installed onto the grate frame.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the corresponding engagement features comprise at least one engagement pin and at least one engagement opening configured to receive the at least one engagement pin when the first and second separator grate sections are installed onto the grate frame.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first circumferential frame sections extend circumferentially from the distal end of the grate frame towards the proximal end of the grate frame and the second circumferential frame section extends circumferentially from the proximal end of the grate frame towards the distal end of the grate frame.

11. A method for installing separator grates relative to a grate frame positioned within an agricultural combine, the grate frame including first and second frame members extending circumferentially between a proximal end of the grate frame and a distal end of the grate frame, the grate frame defining a first circumferential frame section for supporting a first separator grate section and a second circumferential frame section for supporting a second separator grate section, the method comprising:

inserting the first separator grate section between the first and second frame members from a side of the grate frame located adjacent to the proximal end of the grate frame;

positioning at least a portion of the first separator grate section on first and second guide rails extending along at least a portion of the first circumferential frame section of the grate frame, the first guide rail extending adjacent to the first frame member and a second guide rail extending adjacent to the second frame member;

moving the first separator grate section between the first and second frame members towards the distal end of the grate frame while the at least a portion of the first separator grate section rides along the first and second guide rails; and

coupling a mounting end of the first separator grate section to the distal end of the grate frame.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein a first mounting plate is positioned at the distal end of the grate frame, wherein coupling the mounting end of the first separator grate section to the distal end of the grate frame comprises coupling the mounting end of the first separator grate section to the first mounting plate.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising aligning at least one alignment feature of the first mounting plate with at least one corresponding alignment feature of the first separator grate section as the first separator gate section is moved towards the distal end of the grate frame.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one alignment feature corresponds to an alignment pin extending outwardly from the first mounting plate, the alignment pin configured to be received within a corresponding alignment opening defined through the mounting end of the first separator grate section as the first separator gate section is moved towards the distal end of the grate frame.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein moving the first separator grate section between the first and second frame members towards the distal end of the grate frame comprises moving the first separator grate section between the first and second frame members towards the distal end of the grate frame until a transverse support member of the grate frame is received within a recess defined by the first separator grate section.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising inserting the second separator grate section between the first and second frame members from the side of the grate frame located adjacent to the proximal end of the grate frame.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising aligning corresponding engagement features provided at adjacent interface ends of the first and second separator grate sections.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the corresponding engagement features comprise at least one engagement pin and at least one engagement opening configured to receive the at least one engagement pin when the second separator grate section is positioned adjacent to the first separator grate section between the first and second frame members.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising coupling a mounting end of the second separator grate section to the proximal end of the grate frame

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the first circumferential frame sections extend circumferentially from the distal end of the grate frame towards the proximal end of the grate frame and the second circumferential frame section extends circumferentially from the proximal end of the grate frame towards the distal end of the grate frame.