Adjustment device of a cleaning element of a combine

The invention relates to a setting device of a Cleaning element of a combine harvester, the variety of a adjustable slats, coupled with the blades Adjusting rod which is arranged perpendicular to the lamellae and in its longitudinal direction is movable, and a power operated includes actuator having an output member, the is attached to the adjusting rod, with a control system of the Actuator.

In a combine are after threshing and separating typically still chaff and straw mixed with the grain. The Cleaner removes these impurities from the Corn. In most combines includes the cleaning device three main components: a blower, an upper sieve and a bottom wire. The blower has its own housing, while the Chaffer and are attached to the cleaning shoe.

The fan includes a multi-blade fan, the front of the Screen box is located. The air flow generated by the fan removes most of the chaff and straw from grain, by the chaff and the straw to the rear of the combine be blown out. The air flow can be achieved by setting the fan speed or by changing the Fan opening are regulated. The grain falls through the Chaffer and a screw conveyor for clean grain and is conveyed into the grain tank.

The screen box containing the chaffer and is attached to the supporting structure of the combine below the separator. The bottom of the sieve box contains the Tailings auger and the auger for clean Corn.

The chaffer and are hung on hangers, which are attached to the sides of the combine. There are three Species typical movements of the screen box: reciprocating, Shaking and cascading. If reciprocate reciprocating Screenbox move the chaffer and in mutually opposite directions. In a shaking Screenbox move the chaffer and in the same direction. In a cascading screen box (eng. "Cascading") the chaffer and arranged so that the material of a sieve into a waterfall-like or rolling motion on the other screen falls.

The upper sieves and lower sieves are either adjustable or not adjustable. An adjustable top or bottom wire is of a series of transversely extending slats with rows of up teeth. Each of these lamellae is on a crankshaft attached, which has a crank arm which in itself engagement is with an axially extending adjusting bar. By an axial displacement of the adjusting rod are all Slats simultaneously moved to adjacent the gap between Lamellae between fully open and fully closed to change positions. Each element is typically individually adjusted, although an actuator with the adjusting rods of two could be coupled to or more elements.

The adjustable upper screen and lower screen are dependent on the Crop conditions set. The fins of the upper sieve are just so far opened or closed, that the grain falls through the upper sieve before it is of the length Chaffer has moved. When the upper screen is opened too wide, it can overload the bottom wire with chaff. If the top wire is not open enough, excess grain on the go rear of the combine lost. If the bottom wire is not open enough, excess grain the Tailings auger fed. The fins of the bottom wire must be opened far enough to the grains of cereals to enable, easy to fall through them, but not so far that straw and chaff can fall through. On Combine can with a pre-wash before the top wire that signals yet another with slats includes fitted cleaning element. The following applies the term "cleaning element" on any item with adjustable louvres, regardless of whether it is in a pre-wash, a top wire or a bottom wire is.

In many combine harvesters, an operator at the rear of the must Combine between the side panels engage to each element adjust. This makes the settings and cumbersome time consuming. Various remote-controlled adjustment mechanisms have been proposed. The US 4,897,027 discloses a Cable drive mechanism that allows an operator to set the angle the slats set off an operator from. The US 5,586,033 discloses a device that the slats by a motor-driven cable mechanism for automatic Control drives. The motor is on the frame of the combine harvester attached. Other adjustment mechanisms use actuators that on Under the top or bottom wire attached. The actuators can be operated electrically. Each element can be a own actuator associated with it (DE 101 11 531 A) or single actuator can with the adjusting rods of several elements the top and bottom wire coupled (EP 1068793 A).

A problem with the use of a cable drive for Remote adjustment of the cleaning elements is the hysteresis Sequence of Kabelverwindungen and play in the joints the Einstellkopplungen is. A solution to this problem is, the actuator directly to the frame of the top or bottom wire to install. The difficulty of mounting the actuator on Frame is the vibration and shock loading of the actuator, as the top and bottom wire against the harvesters move, to play in the coupling between the actuator and the Adjusting rod is added. Another problem area is in a correct feedback of the position of the blades to the Operator.

The object underlying the invention is seen in an improved adjustment of a cleaning element provide a combine.

This object is achieved according to the teaching of the claims 1 and 10 is released, whereby further in the Claims cite characteristics that in the solution evolve advantageously.

The invention provides a compact actuator for Cleaning element of a combine ready. The actuator has a linearly movable output element directly to the Each control rod element is attached. The output member moves the adjusting rod, to cause the opening of the Slats is set. The actuator includes a preferably electric power operated motor to the output member to move. Two are usually non-contact sensors used to determine the position of the output member. Of the Motor and the sensors are preferably within a Housing sealed arranged to these components before protect environmental contaminants. The first sensor sends a signal to a control system, if the Output member is in a known position. The known position of the output member corresponds to a known Spacing between the slats of the cleaning element. The second Sensor sends a signal to the control system of the dependent movement of the output member. By tracking or observing the movement of the output member of the known position is the current position of the Output element known reference to the opening of the slats determined based on the known geometry of the slats becomes. The position of the blades can be displayed and / or used feedback signal automatic control will.

An operator input device that by itself in a Cleaning element spaced location is, includes Switch, or other input mechanisms to the operator Activation of the actuator can be used. Several Input devices are used. An input device in the cabin the combine allows the operator during harvesting make adjustments. Another, on the side of Combine arranged input device allows make adjustments to the cleaning elements to perform clean or small adjustments when the Machine is not harvesting. The opening of the slats can also an automatic control are set.

The speed with which the lamellae are moved, can by the operator or automatically by a controller be selectable.

The use of non-contact sensors, preferably Hall effect sensors, improves the durability the position feedback. If the output member directly to the The adjusting rod is fastened, said setting means is almost completely exempt from backlash and hysteresis, which an accurate Feedback of the position of the blades to the operator or to the control system allows, without the position of the blades with to detect sensors or in the flow path of the crop the contaminants are.

In the drawings is a detail hereinafter described embodiment of the invention represented. It shows:<dl tsize="6"><dt>Fig. 1</dt><dd>a side view of an agricultural Combine, in the threshing, separating and Reinigungszusammenbauten are shown,</dd><dt>FIG. 2</dt><dd>a view of part of a Cleaning element with an inventive Actuator from below,</dd><dt>Fig. 3</dt><dd>a side view of a portion of Figure 2 shown cleaning element, </dd><dt>Fig. 4</dt><dd>a side view of the internal components of the Actuator, and</dd><dt>Fig. 5</dt><dd>a block diagram of the control system.</dd></dl>

Estimates should be emphasized that under the present disclosure axial direction, the forward direction of travel of the combine harvester is understood. Figure 1 shows a side view of a self-propelled agricultural combine 10. The Combine 10 includes a support structure 12 with wheels 14th The supporting structure 12 comprises two axially extending Side plates, between which the various Verarbeitungszusammenbauten arranged for the crop. A cutting 16 is attached to the front of the combine 10 and leads harvested crop to a feederhouse 18th Of the Inclined conveyor 18 includes a conveyor to the harvested crop feed the threshing, separating and cleaning, the are disposed between the side sheets of the combine 10th Although the present invention than on a combine harvester with discloses a longitudinally arranged separating device attached is, it can also be combines with threshing drums and Straw walkers and other Mähdrescherkonfigurationen with a used with slats equipped cleaner will.

At the combine shown feederhouse leads 18 the harvested crop a transversely extending beater 20 to which the good one through an inlet transition region 22 axial threshing and separating assembly 24 feeds. Grain and chaff are the axial threshing and separating assembly 24 a Cleaning assembly 26 supplied. The cleaning assembly 26 directs the clean grain turn a grain tank 28 to and the Chaff is the cleaning blower 30 at the rear of Combine blown out. Crop, which still neither grain is chaff, is the axial threshing and separating assembly 24 a transverse guide drum 32 supplied to the Material abuts the rear of the combine 10 addition.

At times, in the grain tank 28 stored clean grain can be obtained by Actuating a Entladeförderschnecke 36 by an operator be unloaded in the operator's cab 34th The threshing and Separation assembly 24 and the cleaning assembly 26 are disposed between the side plates of the superstructure 12th The cleaning assembly 26 includes a screen box 38 again a top wire 40 and a bottom wire 42 includes.

The top wire 40 and the bottom wire 42 are connected to one or several elements fitted each transverse, have adjustable vanes 44, which in Figures 2 and 3 are shown. The present invention relates to a Actuator for adjustment of the slats in the elements of the Cleaning. The vanes 44 are mounted in a frame 45, carried by the cleaning shoe 38th Reference is made to Figure 3 referred to, according to which each of the vanes 44 with a crankshaft 46 is provided, which is curved to a crank arm 48 to to form. Each crank arm 48 is in a slot 50 of an axial Adjusting rod 52 is arranged. By moving the Adjusting rod 52 in the longitudinal direction, ie, along its length the angular position of all louvres 44 of the element be adjusted. This is the gap "G" between adjacent slats 44 changed. The gap can in selected positions between a fully open and a fully closed position can be adjusted. The Adjusting rod 52 is in an axially extending housing 53 added in the form of an inverted U.

The adjustment mechanism includes an actuator 56 to the frame 45 is fixed and moveable a linear or longitudinally has output element 58th The output member 58 has a with Threaded plunger 60, the one by a nut Bracket 62 is fixed. The bracket 62 is rigidly connected to the Adjusting rod 52. When the output member 58 moves, as shown by the arrow 64, also moves the Adjusting rod 52, with the result that the crank arms 46 Turn to change the angular position of the slats 44th A Rotation of the vanes 44 changes the gap "G" between adjacent slats 44th

The internal components of the actuator 56 are detailed in Figure 4 is illustrated, the housing of the actuator 56 is not will be shown. The actuator 56 includes a power-supplied Motor 66 having a rotatable output shaft 68, the gear a 70 drives. In the preferred embodiment, the motor an electric motor. Other types of motors can be used be such as hydraulic, pneumatic, etc .. A Speed ​​reduction gear train 72 couples the Output of the engine 66 with the rotatable input shaft 74 a Linear actuator 76. When the input shaft 74 rotates, cause internal screw thread in the linear actuator 76, that in the Housing of the actuator 56 rotatably fixed output member 58 moved linearly or longitudinally, as indicated by arrow 64 shown. The input shaft 74 is hexagonal with a, square, or similar, non-circular fitting 78 formed, the extends from the housing of the actuator 56 also, as in the Figures 2 and 3. The fitting 78 may be used, the input shaft 74 to rotate with a key, if it is in Event of a failure of the electric drive system or a Damage to the speed reduction gear train 72 is required.

The control system for the adjustment mechanism is shown schematically in the figure 5 shown. Two actuators 56 are shown, one for the finned element 44 of the upper sieve 40 and a Another 42 of the cleaning element of the bottom wire If the Have top wire 40 and the bottom wire 42 more than one element, is for each element of an actuator 56 provided. The control system operates through a CAN-based network controllers to allow the to enable operator settings while driving from the Cabin 34 from making. A controller 90 with a Microprocessor is the core of the control system and receives inputs from each of the sensors 80 and 84. Another Input to the controller 90 is from the operator input device 92, which is arranged in the operator's cab 34, spaced from the Actuator 56. The operator of the combine 10 uses the Operator input device 92 to settings of the slat position make. A second input device (not shown) may be provided on the side of the combine 10 to make adjustments when the combine 10 is not harvesting.

The outputs of the controller 90 include signals to the actuators 56, to operate the respective motors 66 to the slats 44 to open or close. In addition, shows a Display device 94 the operator o is a number. Ä. For which the Size of the gap "G" corresponds. The elements of the upper sieve 40 and the bottom wire 42 are each independently by a separate switch on the operator input device 92 adjustable. When the upper sieve 40 and / or the bottom wire 42 more elements comprise the control system can be set up, the elements separately or jointly set.

The control system further comprises a first sensor 80, the is arranged on the length of the output member 58th A magnet 82 causes the sensor 80 to generate a signal when the Output element 58 is in a known position. In the known position of the gap "G" between adjacent known slats. The gap "G" in the known position is measured in the factory and in the memory of the control system stored. A second sensor 84 is a magnetic ring 86 the input shaft 74 of the linear actuator 76 adjacent positioned. The sensor 84 generates a signal when a respective the poles of the magnet ring 86 on the sensor 84 passes. each from the sensor 84 generated signal to the output member has 58 moved over a known distance, known a Angular rotation of the crankshaft 46 corresponds to what the gap "G" between adjacent slats 44 conditionally. When the Output element 58 of the known position in any moving direction, the amount of movement is based on the known output of the second sensor 84th Both sensors 80, 84 are preferably non-contact sensor types, such as Hall effect sensors. This improves the durability of the sensors and the overall function of the control system. The controller 90 also known direction of rotation of the motor 66 can also be taken into account in order to recognize whether the vanes 44 are each opened or closed.

The motor 66 is a pulse width modulated control signal controlled. The motor 66 may to slow speed be modulated when small adjustments of the slat position be carried out, and on high speed when large Adjustments are performed or the blades 44 to Clean the elements are fully open. The Operator input device 92 is provided with a pair of switches 96, 98 shown with a switch to the top wire and the Bottom wire is assigned. Other switch arrangements can be used. A two speed operation can on ways be accomplished. Several switch on Input device can be verwednet, wherein a number of Switches for low speed, that is fine-tuning, and the different number of switches for quick adjustments be used. Alternatively, a Speed ​​selector switch for slow or fast Speed ​​together with a number of switches for the Cleaning elements are used. An operation with two Speeds can the controller 90 using various schemes are given. For example, a Mode can be activated at high speed, after the Switch for a predetermined period of time has been pressed. On Another scheme allows the operator settings low carry out speed, and if the actuator in a Combine 10 with automatic Mähdreschereinstellungsoption is used, a high speed is used to the Settings between preset positions for different Gutarten (maize, soybeans, wheat, etc.) change and also to the slats 44 in a wide open to spend cleaning position. The thoughts, the slats 44 to adjust at different speeds, comes independent inventive rank to.

The actuator 56 drives the element directly, without any Gears or couplings between the output member 58 and the Slats 44. This reduces the dead game and the hysteresis. In addition to open or close the slats 44 of the elements directly related to the activation of the motor 66. The Position sensing system of the slat opening in both directions very accurate. The Hall effect sensors have no touching Parts, so that they will be shaking around the elements of the Screen box 38 may survive. The first sensor 80 is on 44 calibrated a known opening of the slats in the factory and can then be used, the accuracy of the Feedback signal to track over time. This system can both automatically and on in this known position Command by the operator via the operator input device 92 be recalibrated.

While the invention actuator 56 in the context of Cleaning elements of an upper sieve 40 and a lower sieve 42 has been described, it can also be a lamellar used-equipped cleaning member of a pre-wash will.