Harvested goods processing unit with capacity-dependant revolution count

p0001The invention relates to a crop processing unit having a rotor and a surrounding the rotor rotor housing comprising a lid member, under the first group are mounted on helical rails and a second group of helical guide rails, said guide rails of the two groups, respectively, follow one another alternately and in rotational direction of the rotor leading end and having a trailing end and the leading ends of the guide rails of the first group towards the leading ends of the guide rails of the second group are arranged offset in the direction of rotation of the rotor to the rear.

State of the art

p0002Agricultural combines are large machines that agriculturally planted harvested material, carrying the grain, harvest, thresh, separate and clean. The resulting clean grain is stored in a grain tank located on the combine. Rotary combines have a crop processing one or two arranged in a rotor housing rotors for threshing and separating the harvested crop. The rotors, a threshing section for threshing the obtained from the infeed section crop and a separating section for dissolving out grain equipped with a charging section for accepting the crop, which was harvested from the field, which is contained in the threshed crop still obtained from the threshing section. During rotation of the rotor, the crop material is moved to the separating portion in the longitudinal direction from the Beschickungssabschnitt by the threshing section of the rotor. In the separation section, the axial movement of the crop material is achieved by helical rails, which are arranged beneath the cover element of the rotor housing. Also known are hybrid combine in which a transverse, working in tangential flow threshing cylinder upstream of one or two separating rotors arranged that serve to separate the grain from the threshed crop and in structure and function as the separating portion of the rotors of the rotary combine are comparable.

p0003The residence time of the crop in the separating rotor or separator portion of the crop processing unit depends on the slope of the guide rails from, ie, the angle between the guide rails and the radius of the rotor. The number and the pitch of the guide rails to be optimized for a certain volume of throughput of crop material, so that when a predetermined volume flow rate, a maximum separation capacity can be achieved. Because some types of crops can have significantly less straw content than other types of crops, and the straw content also depends on the variable cutting height, in many cases, not the predetermined volume throughput is achieved. If less than the predetermined volume throughput through the separating rotor or the separating section runs through it, the crop can pass through more quickly than desired until the end of the separating rotor or the separating section and a high grain content are lost as grain the harvesting process. It may be useful at low straw proportions or Erntegutdurchsätzen therefore, replace the cover elements of the separating rotor or the separating section (s.<patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="EP0631716A"><text>EP 0631716 A</text></patcit>changing), or the slope of the guide rails or the length over which they are in engagement with the crop, (s. <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="US4244380A"><text>US 4244380 A</text></patcit>. <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="US4258726A"><text>US 4258726 A</text></patcit> and the subsequently <patcit id="pcit0004" dnum="DE102006040979A"><text>DE 10 2006 040 979 A</text></patcit>). Both options are technically complex and prone to operator error.

p0004The respected as a class-forming <patcit id="pcit0005" dnum="DE3537959A"><text>DE 35 37 959 A</text></patcit> describes a combine with a Tangentialdreschtrommel and their subsequent separation rotor comprising two in alternating sequence successive sets of rails. To avoid resulting in the rails congestion on impact of the crop, the upstream casserole ends of a group of guide rails in the circumferential direction of the rotor are offset from one another, while the outlet ends of both groups lie on one line. The slope of the guide rails is such that the outlet ends of the guide rails each of the groups in the axial direction of the rotor coincide with the emergence ends of subsequent guardrail same group.

Object of the invention

p0005The object of the invention underlying is seen to provide a crop processing the aforementioned type that allows a simple way that even smaller than a predetermined volumetric flow rate corresponding Erntegutdurchsätze over a sufficient residence time remaining in the harvested crop.

p0006This object is achieved by the teaching of claim 1, wherein in the further patent claims cite characteristics that further develop the solution in an advantageous manner.

p0007An executed in particular as a separating rotor of a hybrid combine or axial threshing and separating portion of a separator of a axial combine crop processing unit comprises a rotor and a rotor housing, which is equipped with a cover element, on the underside, two groups of helical guide rails are located. The rails of both groups follow each other alternately. The leading end of all guide rails of the first group is offset from the leading end of all guide rails of the second group in the direction of rotation of the rotor to the rear. The trailing ends of the guide rails of the first group are aligned in the axial direction of the rotor housing with the leading ends of following in the axial direction of the rotor guide rails of the second group. This may be the immediately following guardrail of the second group or the transferred, third, etc. act next guardrail of the second group.

p0008In this way ensures that the crop is conveyed in smaller, below a threshold volume throughputs alternately through the guide rails of the first group and the second group in the axial direction of the rotor to the rear, as it at its trailing end of the guide rails of the first group is passed (after one revolution of the rotor bottom) at the leading end of the guide rails of the second group. Since the leading end of the guide rails of the second group is in the direction of rotation of the rotor from the leading end of the guide rails of the first group, the guide rails of the second group gather at above the threshold volume throughputs part of the case of smaller volume throughputs to the guide rails of the first group entering crop so that this part of the crop then not cooperating with the guide rails of the first group and therefore a (lying opposite below the threshold volume throughputs) reduced number of rounds performs through the rotor housing. The threshold is determined by the axial distance between the leading ends of the guide rails of the first group and the guide rails of the second group. In other words, the crop stream widens with increasing throughputs and the guide rails of the second group intersect after exceeding the threshold part of it off, the faster access to the outlet, since it only with the guide rails of the second group, but not with the rails first group cooperates.

p0009One reaches therefore, that under the threshold lying volume throughputs volt lead a predetermined number of rotations by the harvested crop. For larger volume throughputs, the guide rails of the second group carry a share of the crop at a lower circulation rate and therefore higher axial velocity to the outlet of the harvested crop. This overloading of the rotor housing is avoided with crop or straw and achieved a suitable separation behavior and Erntegutverluste avoided. An adjustment of guide rails or a detection of the current crop throughput is not required.

p0010In a possible embodiment a third group of guide rails is provided, whose leading ends are oriented in the axial direction of the rotor housing with the trailing ends of the guide rails of the second group, and their trailing ends in the axial direction of the rotor housing with the leading ends of the guide rails of the first group are aligned. The rails of the third group act as a kind of extension of the guide rails of the first group.

p0011Alternatively, the third group of guide rails omitted. Then, the trailing ends of the guide rails of the second group are preferably aligned in the axial direction of the rotor housing with the leading ends of each following guide rails of the first group.

p0012The slope of the guide rails of the first group preferably matches the pitch of the guide rails of the second group and, if necessary, with the slope of the guide rails of the third group. However, it can also have different pitches for the individual groups or even for the guide rails within the groups may be used.

embodiment

p0013The illustrations show three embodiments of the invention are explained. Show it:<dl id="dl0001"><dt>Fig. 1</dt><dd>a partially sectioned lateral view of a combine with an axial crop processing unit,</dd><dt>FIG. 2</dt><dd>a perspective view of the housing of the crop processing unit,</dd><dt>Fig. 3</dt><dd>a perspective view of the rotor,</dd><dt>Fig. 4</dt><dd>a plan view of a first embodiment of a cover of the rotor housing with a relatively small flow of harvested crop,</dd><dt>Fig. 5</dt><dd>a frontal view of the mounted below the cover rails, </dd><dt>Fig. 6</dt><dd>a plan view of the cover of the <figref idrefs="f0004">figure 4</figref> with a larger flow of material,</dd><dt>Fig. 7</dt><dd>a plan view of a second embodiment of a cover of the rotor housing, and</dd><dt>Fig. 8</dt><dd>a plan view of a third embodiment of a cover of the rotor housing.</dd></dl>

p0014The <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref> shows an agricultural combine 10 comprising a supporting structure 12 with the engaged with the ground wheels 14, which are fixed to the structure 12th The operation of the combine 10 is controlled from operator cab 16. A cutter 18 is used to harvest grain crops containing it and to a feederhouse 20th The harvested crop is directed by the feederhouse 20 to a beater 22nd The beater 22 directs the crop through an inlet transition section 24 to an axial crop processing unit 26th

p0015The crop processing unit 26 comprises a rotor housing 34 and a rotor disposed therein, 36. The rotor 36 comprises a hollow drum 38, are fastened to the crop processing elements for the infeed section 40, a threshing section 42 and a separating portion 44th The feed portion 40 is disposed at the front of the axial crop processing unit 26th In longitudinally downstream and rear of the infeed section 40 of the threshing section are 42 and the separating section 44. The drum 38 is in the feed section 40 frustoconical. The threshing 42 includes a tapered front portion and a cylindrical rear section. At the end of the axial crop processing unit 26 is the cylindrical separating section 44 of the drum 38th

p0016Grain and chaff that fall through a threshing basket 46 and a separating grate 48 are a cleaning system 28 is supplied with a fan and in a swinging motion displaceable slats Seven. The cleaning system 28 removes the chaff and directs the clean grain to a clean grain elevator (not shown). The clean grain elevator deposits the clean grain in a grain tank 30th The clean grain in grain tank 30 can be unloaded by an unloading 32 to a grain wagon, trailer or truck. Threshed and the separating section straw leaving is discharged through an outlet from the crop processor 26 and supplied to a conveyor drum 34th The conveying drum 34 propels the straw out the rear of the combine 10 from, optionally after passage of a straw chopper (not shown).

p0017Referring now to the <figref idrefs="f0002">figure 2</figref> Referring. The bottom of the rotor housing 34 points below the threshing section 42 to a designated as a concave 46 rust. The separating grate 48 is located at the separating section 44. Below the section 40 feed, the rotor housing 34 is closed. At the top of the rotor housing 34 are cover elements 50, 52, 54 are arranged with a semicircular cross section, which are respectively assigned to the feed section 40, the threshing section 42 and separating section 44th The lid member 52 of the threshing section 42 is arranged eccentrically to the axis of rotation of the rotor 36, as well as the lid member 54 of the separating section 44, the eccentricity is greater than that of the lid member 52 of the threshing 42nd are helical guide rails 56 on the underside of the lid member 54 of the partition portion 44th

p0018Like in the <figref idrefs="f0003">figure 3</figref> shown, the infeed section 40 of the rotor 36 is provided with helical infeed elements 59 to engage in the guide drum 22 obtained by the crop. The threshing 42 of the crop processing unit 26 is equipped with a number of Dreschzinken 60, 62 to thresh the obtained from the infeed section crop in the separating section 44 is the grain that has been threshed and broken out in the threshing section 42, separated by separating finger 64 from the various grain crops, the the lifting of various grain crops from grain continued and disconnect.

p0019The <figref idrefs="f0004">Figures 4 and 5</figref> show a plan view and a vertical section transverse to the direction of travel by the lid member 54 of the separating section 44. The direction of rotation of the rotor 36 is indicated by the arrow 70, and the flow direction of the harvested crop in the crop processing unit 26 with the arrow 68th

p0020Immediately below the lid member 54 guide rails 56, 56 'and 66 are arranged. There are three sets of rails available: a first set of guide rails 56, which extends approximately over the downstream in the rotational direction of the rotor 36 third of the lid member 54, a second set of guide rails 56 'which alternately with the guide rails 56 of the first group is disposed and extends over slightly more than half of downstream (in the illustrated example about 60%) of the lid member 54, and a third group of guide rails 66 extending approximately over the upstream in the rotation direction of the rotor 36/4 of the lid member 54 ,

p0021The upstream in the direction of rotation of the rotor 36 ends of the rails 66 of the third group are (with the exception of the front guide rail 66) in the axial direction of the rotor housing 34 at the level of the downstream ends of the guide rails 56 'of the second group. The downstream in the direction of rotation of the rotor 36 ends of the rails 66 of the third group are (except for the rearmost n guardrail 66) in the axial direction of the rotor housing 34 at the level of the upstream ends of the guide rails 56 of the first group. The downstream in the direction of rotation of the rotor 36 ends of the guide rails 56 of the first group are in the axial direction of the rotor housing 34 at the level of the upstream ends of the guide rails 56 'of the second group. The slopes of all the guide rails 56, 56 ', 66 are identical.

p0022The operation of the rails is based on the <figref idrefs="f0004">figures 4</figref> and <figref idrefs="f0005">6</figref> recognizable. In<figref idrefs="f0004">figure 4</figref> The situation is shown at a relatively small flow of harvested crop; The crop is indicated by reference mark 72nd It is apparent that the crop is always guided by the guide rails 72 in turn 66 of the third group, the guide rails 56 of the first group and the guide rails 56 'of the second group in the axial direction of the rotor housing 34 to the rear. When not shown in the figures, part of its circulation through the lower part of the rotor housing 34, the harvested material 72 is not supported in the axial direction of the rotor 36 but only guided tangentially on the separating grating 48 along. The crop performs a total of 8 rounds through the rotor housing 34th

p0023As soon as the volumetric flow rate exceeds a threshold value which is determined by the distance between the leading ends of the guide rails 56 of the first group and the leading ends of the guide rails 56 'of the second group in the axial direction of the rotor housing 34, resulting in the <figref idrefs="f0005">figure 6</figref> illustrated situation. It can be seen that a portion of the incoming crop material flow 72 from the front guide rail 66 of the third group emitted and - since the leading ends of the guide rails 56 'of the second group in the direction of rotation of the rotor 36 with respect to the leading ends of the guide rails 56 of the first group to the front adjoin each other and aligned with the trailing ends of the guide rails 56 of the first group - taken directly from the front guide rail 56 'of the second group (and thus is not covered by the front guide rail 56 of the first group) is. The exceeding the threshold percentage of the crop 72 therefore acts together with the guide rails 56 'of the second group and performs only 4 rounds through the rotor housing. For larger Erntegutdurchsätzen thus overloading of the crop processing unit 26 is avoided, while smaller Erntegutdurchsätze remain sufficiently long in order to achieve an optimal separation result.

p0024A second embodiment of a lid member 54 is in the <figref idrefs="f0006">figure 7</figref> shown. There are only two groups of guide rails 56, 56 'are present, wherein the guide rails 56 of the first group extend over the entire width of the cover element 54, while the guide rails 56' of the second group only cover the middle third of the lid member 54th The downstream in the direction of rotation of the rotor 36 ends of the guide rails 56 of the first group are in the axial direction of the rotor housing 34 at the level of the upstream ends of the guide rails 56 'of the second group. The downstream in the direction of rotation of the rotor 36 ends of the guide rails 56 'of the second group are in the axial direction of the rotor housing 34 at the level of the upstream ends of the guide rails 56 of the first group. The slopes of all the guide rails 56, 56 ', 66 are identical.

p0025The operation of the second embodiment corresponds to that of the first embodiment, so that when under a threshold value of the volume flow rate defined by the distance between the leading ends of the guide rails 56 of the first group and the leading ends of the guide rails 56 'of the second group in the axial direction of the rotor housing 34 determines the crop is alternately guided to the outlet by the guide rails 56 of the first group and the guide rails 56 'of the second group to the rear. If the threshold is exceeded, a part of the crop material is conveyed only by the guide rails 56 'of the second group, so that the residence time in the crop processing unit 26 is smaller than in the rest of the crop.

p0026The third embodiment according to <figref idrefs="f0007">figure 8</figref> differs from the second embodiment only in that the guide rails 56 'of the second group extend over the downstream 2/3 of the lid member 54th