Airflow-Controlled Combine Shoe

Abstract

A sealing system for the shoe (20) in a combine harvester is disclosed wherein the separate flow areas in the shoe (20) are sealed from one another. The sealing system (1110) discourages air from traveling through the components of the shoe other than the sieve system, thereby providing flow of air to the sieves (25). The positive differential and the containment of air in the shoe (20) are accomplished by providing one or more seals (114, 116) between the moving shoe components and the stationary frame components. In those combines including self-leveling shoe assemblies, the distance between the shoe assembly (20) rolls to maintain level operation. Various embodiment of this invention provide for sealing this change in the dimensions as the shoe moves.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60 / 496,213, filed Aug. 19, 2003, incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The invention relates to methods and apparatus for controlling the flow of air in a combine, especially a combine with a self-leveling shoe assembly. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] A significant advance in the field of harvesting farm products is the addition of a reciprocating shoe assembly to a combine. A quantity of air is blown over a pair of reciprocating sieves. The combination of reciprocating motion and airflow separates the harvested product from unwanted chaff. By careful control of the flow of air, the oscillating motion of the sieves, and the location of the shoes, the separated product is fed into one auger, and the unwanted chaff is discharged. [0004] However, as the combine traverses along the side of a hill, the efficiency of separation by the ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] It is another aspect of some embodiments of this invention to allow for the separation of the areas as described without impeding the ‘double action’ of the show whereby the upper sieve moves in the opposite direction of the lower sieve.

[0012] It is another aspect of some embodiments of this invention to seal off areas and thereby prevent both air and grain movement between certain components.

Problems solved by technology

However, as the combine traverses along the side of a hill, the efficiency of separation by the shoes is affected by the inclination of the combine.

However, one problem with some self-leveling shoe assemblies is inadequate control of air flowing within the combine.

Separation is thus made less efficient.

Further, in some self-leveling shoes there are largely unsealed gaps on the lateral sides of the shoe assembly (gaps between the lateral sides of the pivoting structure and the non-pivoting, static structure that faces the pivoting structure).

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