Axial flow combine separator upper guide cover with fin pitch angle

• US 6,447,394 B1
• Filed: 06/11/2001
• Issued: 09/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Blue Leaf IP Incorporated (CNH Industrial N.V.), CNH Industrial America LLC (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Original Assignee: New Holland North America Incorporated (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Inventors: Gryspeerdt, José G. T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Will, Thomas B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FABIAN-KOVACS, ARPAD
• Application Number:
  US09/857,810
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• Field of Search: 460/66, 460/69, 460/71, 460/16, 460/108, 460/107, 460/25, 460/32, 460/34, 460/35, 460/45, 460/58, 56/146
• US Class Current: 460/109
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 41/1271 for measuring crop flow
• CPC Class Codes: A01F 12/26 Multi-part threshing concaves
• CPC Class Codes: A01F 12/442 Rotary cleaners

Abstract

A combine harvester comprises a threshing and separating arrangement mounted to a main frame, which includes a generally cylindrical chamber having a generally longitudinal axis and comprising a separating concave assembly and an upper guide cover provided with fins arranged to move harvested crop material along a helical path inside the chamber. The threshing and separating arrangement further comprises a rotor assembly mounted for rotation in the chamber and comprising a generally cylindrical rotor body with a separating section associated with the separating concave assembly and having a circumscribed diameter D. The pitch angle α of the rotor fins has been optimized with respect to power requirements and rotor losses.

Claims

1. A combine harvester comprising:

a main frame;

a threshing and separating arrangement mounted to said main frame further comprising;

a generally cylindrical chamber having a generally longitudinal axis and comprising a lower separating concave assembly and an upper guide cover provided with a series of fins arranged to move harvested crop material along a helical path inside said chamber; and

a rotor assembly mounted for rotation in said chamber and comprising a generally cylindrical rotor body with a separating section associated with said lower separating concave assembly and having a circumscribed diameter D, wherein said fins are arranged at a pitch angle α

substantially equal to the angle following from a formula (tan α

)⁴×

D=7.6 mm.

2. The combine harvester described in claim 1, wherein said diameter D is substantially equal to 432 mm and α

is substantially equal to 20°

.

3. The combine harvester described in claim 2, wherein said diameter D is substantially equal to 559 mm and α

is substantially equal to 19°

.