초록 ▼

A re-threshing system for a combine includes a delivery mechanism for transporting tailings from the cleaning section of the combine to a re-threshing apparatus and a bypass that can be used to bypass the tailings around the re-threshing apparatus. The re-threshing apparatus includes a re-threshing

A re-threshing system for a combine includes a delivery mechanism for transporting tailings from the cleaning section of the combine to a re-threshing apparatus and a bypass that can be used to bypass the tailings around the re-threshing apparatus. The re-threshing apparatus includes a re-threshing housing that at least partially surrounds a re-threshing rotor. The rotor and housing have cooperating threshing elements that act to re-thresh the tailings delivered into the housing and deliver the re-threshed tailings out of a housing outlet into a discharge passage to be directed to the cleaning section of the combine harvester. The delivery mechanism is configured to throw or fling the tailings into an inlet opening of the housing in a direction substantially tangential to the rotor rotating direction. To bypass the re-threshing apparatus, a deflector can be deployed to block the inlet opening and deflect the tailings into a bypass passage that is open to the discharge passage.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A combine harvester comprising: a threshing section for threshing harvested crop material received into said combine; a cleaning section for separating threshed grain from incompletely threshed tailings; a re-threshing, section for receiving tailings through an inlet an

The invention claimed is: 1. A combine harvester comprising: a threshing section for threshing harvested crop material received into said combine; a cleaning section for separating threshed grain from incompletely threshed tailings; a re-threshing, section for receiving tailings through an inlet and delivering re-threshed tailings through an outlet; said threshing section occupying a first area, said re-threshing section occupying a second area, said first area is at least partially geometrically non-coextensive with said second area; a first delivery path for receiving tailings from the cleaning section and transporting the tailings to the inlet of the re-threshing section; a second delivery path for receiving re-threshed tailings from said outlet and delivering said re-threshed tailings to said cleaning section; said second delivery path also for receiving tailings from a bypass delivery path; said bypass delivery path connecting said first delivery path to said second delivery path; and a deflector arranged to selectively open or close said inlet. 2. The combine harvester according to claim 1, wherein said re-threshing section comprises a rotor having first threshing elements extending at least partially away from said rotor and a housing having a wall with second threshing elements facing said first threshing elements. 3. The combine harvester according to claim 2, wherein said first delivery path includes a mechanism configured to throw tailings into said housing between said first and second threshing elements in a direction substantially tangential to said rotor. 4. The combine harvester according to claim 3, wherein said mechanism is for sending tailings into said bypass delivery path when said inlet is closed by said deflector. 5. The combine harvester according to claim 2, wherein said first delivery path comprises a vertically arranged elevator that comprises paddles circulating around a chain, where at a top of said chain said paddles turn over to throw tailings into said housing. 6. The combine harvester according to claim to 2, wherein said deflector comprises a plate pivoted at one end to said housing. 7. The combine harvester according to claim 2, wherein said second delivery path comprises a vertical chute below said housing. 8. The combine harvester according o claim 7, wherein said bypass delivery path comprises a substantially vertical passage between said inlet and said vertical chute. 9. The combine harvester according to claim 1, wherein said re-threshing section comprises a rotor and a housing that at least partially surrounds said rotor, said rotor and said housing configured to thresh tailings therebetween, wherein said deflector is configured to be selectively moved between a standby position wherein tailings are delivered between said rotor and said housing by said first delivery path and a deployed position wherein tailings are deflected into said bypass delivery path. 10. The combine harvester according to claim 9, wherein said deflector comprises an arcuate plate that when moved to the deployed position closes the inlet and smoothly deflects tailings into said bypass delivery path. 11. A re-threshing mechanism for a combine comprising: a first delivery path configured to receive tailings and to transport tailings to an inlet of a re-threshing section; a second delivery path configured to receive re-threshed tailings from an outlet of said re-threshing section and to deliver said re-threshed tailings to a cleaning section; said second delivery path also configured to receive tailings from a bypass delivery path; said bypass delivery path connecting said first delivery path to said second delivery path; and, a deflector having and open and a closed position, in said closed position the deflector closes said inlet. 12. The re-threshing mechanism according to claim 11, wherein said re-threshing section comprises a rotor having first threshing elements extending at least partially away from a rotor surface and a housing having a wall with second threshing elements facing said first threshing elements. 13. The re-threshing mechanism according to claim 12, wherein said first delivery path includes a mechanism configured to throw tailings into said housing between said first and second threshing elements in a direction substantially tangential to said rotor. 14. The re-threshing mechanism according to claim 13, wherein said mechanism is for sending tailings into said bypass delivery path when said inlet is closed by said deflector. 15. The re-threshing mechanism according to claim 12, wherein said first delivery path computes a vertically arranged elevator that comprises paddles circulating around a chain, where at a top of said paddles turn over to throw tailings into said housing. 16. The re-threshing mechanism according to claim 12, wherein said deflector comprises a plate pivoted at one end to said housing. 17. The re-threshing mechanism according to claim 12, wherein said second delivery path comprises a vertical chute below said housing. 18. The re-threshing mechanism according to claim 17, wherein said bypass delivery path comprises a substantially vertical passage between said inlet and said vertical chute. 19. The re-threshing mechanism according to 11, wherein said re-threshing section comprises a housing at least partially surrounding a rotor, said rotor and said housing for threshing tailings therebetween, said deflector having a standby position for directing tailings into said re-threshing section between said rotor and said housing, and said deflector also having a deployed position for directing tailings into said bypass delivery path. 20. The re-threshing mechanism according to claim 19, wherein said deflector comprises an arcuate plate that when moved to the deployed position closes the inlet and smoothly deflects tailings into said bypass delivery path. 21. A method of selectively re-threshing tailings in a combine harvester comprising the steps of: providing a re-threshing section having an inlet and an outlet; providing a bypass path around said re-threshing section; throwing tailings at said inlet; selectively directing tailings into either said re-threshing section or into said bypass path to bypass said re-threshing section; re-threshing tailings that are delivered into said re-threshing section. 22. The method according to claim 21, wherein said re-threshing step is further defined by the steps of: providing a rotary re-threshing device that rotates within a housing, wherein re-threshing takes place between said rotary re-threshing device and said housing. 23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the step of throwing comprises the step of throwing tailings in a direction substantially tangential to said rotary threshing device. 24. The method according to claim 23, wherein said step of selectively directing is further defined by the steps of: providing a deflector having at least two positions, a standby position that allows tangential entry of tailings into said housing, and a deployed position that blocks entry of tailings into said housing and directs tailings into said bypass path.