Segmented sieve lining for a concave

• US 6,398,639 B1
• Filed: 06/09/2000
• Issued: 06/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Claas Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH (CLAAS KGaA mbH)
• Original Assignee: Claas Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH (CLAAS KGaA mbH)
• Inventors: Heidjann, Franz, Dammann, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Will, Thomas B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PETRAVICK, MEREDITH C
• Application Number:
  US09/591,287
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 460/75, 460/107, 460/108, 460/109, 460/119
• US Class Current: 460/107
• CPC Class Codes: A01F 12/26 Multi-part threshing concaves

Abstract

A sieve lining for a concave in a threshing mechanism of a harvesting machine accommodates larger threshing cylinders while still allowing the sieve lining segments to be removed through an inspection opening in a threshing mechanism housing and includes an extension formed by either a single piece or segments; a plurality of sieve lining segments; and an articulated connection between the extension and the sieve lining segments.

Claims

1. In a combine harvester with a threshing cylinder and a concave within a threshing mechanism housing which has an inspection opening, the concave having a plurality of abutting segmented front portions and a laterally extending rear portion, each of the front portions having a width less than the inspection opening whereby the front portions are removable through the inspection opening, the laterally extending rear portion being constructed and arranged so that it is not removable through the inspection opening, the abutting front portions having a total width that is equal to the width of the concave, the rear portion having a laterally extending width equal to the total width of the front portions of the concave, and means for releasably connecting the abutting front portions to the rear portion.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein the means for releasably connecting is formed by an interaction between a U-shaped edge and an angled edge which is designed to engage in the U-shaped edge.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2, wherein the U-shaped edge is associated with the front portions and the angled edge is associated with the rear portion.

4. In a combine harvester with a threshing cylinder and a concave within a threshing mechanism housing which has an inspection opening, the concave having a plurality of segmented front portions and of laterally extending segmented rear portions equal in number to the front portions, each of the front portions being of a width less than the inspection opening while the total width of all of the front portions is equal to the width of the concave, each rear portion having a width equal to the width of the corresponding front portion, and an articulated connection interconnecting each rear portion to the corresponding one of the front portions, whereby each front portion and its connected rear portion are together removable through the inspection opening.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 4, wherein the articulated connections are permanent.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 5, wherein the permanent articulated connections are hinges.