A material processing cylinder and related material processing system

Abstract

A material handling system includes a barrel having a milled or impact surface and a central axis. The impact surface is impermeable and material cannot pass through the surface but is contained by the surface. An impact mechanism is located in the barrel and rotates about the central axis. The system has a first inlet opening and a second inlet opening formed in the barrel axially spaced along the central axis. At least one outlet opening is formed at an intermediate position of the inlet of the barrel. The impact mechanism includes a plurality of hammers mounted on a shaft that rotates about the central axis.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application discloses a material handling cylinder and a related material handling system. The cylinder and the system can be used to handle weed seeds, including those contained in husks. The cylinder and the system can be installed on a combine harvester to handle weed seeds while harvesting crops. Background Art

[0002] Weeds and weed control have always been one of the greatest constraints and costs to food production. Weeds are a long-standing problem that limits the ability of agricultural regions around the world to produce food. Weeds compete with cultivated crops for water, sunlight and nutrients. Over the past 50 years, there has been a shift away from tillage to the use of herbicides as the most useful tool for weed control. Herbicides, in general, provide better weed control than tillage methods and do not present significant problems such as soil erosion, water loss and damage to soil structure. The widespread use of and reliance on herbicides has led to the development of weed resistance to herbicides. Herbicide resistance is now widespread and is one of the greatest threats to global food security. Today, strategies to provide non-chemical weed control to complement herbicides are essential to reduce the selection pressure for herbicide resistance. One approach that has seen a great deal of renewed interest is the destruction of weed seeds at harvest to interrupt the weed cycle.

[0003] Many crop weeds have a similar life cycle to the harvested crop. When the crop matures and is harvested, many weeds have viable seeds remaining on the plant above the cutting height of the harvester. These weeds enter the harvester and their seeds either end up in the grain bin, discharged with the straw residue, or discharged with the chaff residue. Many factors, including moisture content, maturity, and harvester settings, determine where the weed seeds end up when harvested. The main factor that determines the seed's final location is the aerodynamic properties of the seed, or its terminal velocity. Typically, weed seeds are much lighter than the harvested grain. Crop cleaning systems used during harvesting use a winnowing action that uses airflow and mechanical sieving to remove light chaff material from the heavier grain. The light weed seeds are caught in the wind and can be discharged behind the harvester's screen. The residue and the weed seeds it contains are then spread on the ground and become a problem the following year. The residue also contains a portion of the grain that the harvester was unable to separate. This grain loss has the potential to become volunteer weeds after harvest. There is an opportunity to intercept and destroy weed seeds in the residue before they become a problem for next year's crop.

[0004] One way to destroy these weed seeds is to use comminution technology. Comminution technology has been used to reduce the particle size of some raw materials for more than a century. Comminution technology can be divided into crushing technology and impact technology.

[0005] The most common crushing and particle size reduction technology is the roller mill. There have been studies on roller mills for the purpose of destroying weed seeds at harvest. In patent US3448933 (Roy, Bailey, 1969), a roller shear mill for destroying weed seeds from clean grain screening is described. In patent US5059154 (Reyenga, 1991), the use of a separator and a roller mill to crush foreign matter such as weed seeds is described. The limitation of roller mills is the ability to handle large amounts of residual material containing weed seeds, so a separator is needed to reduce the residual material.

[0006] Impact mills use high impact velocities created by rotating elements to pulverize material. Impact mills are also associated with destroying weed seeds at harvest time.

[0007] A widely used impact mill is the hammer mill, which uses a rotor with impact elements to pulverize the material and a screen to classify the output particle size distribution. Hammer mills are versatile and can accept a variety of feed materials. Plant material such as crop residues is fibrous and difficult to handle. The use of hammer mills to inactivate weed seeds in crop residues has been well documented. The use of hammer mills on harvesters to inactivate weed seeds has been the subject of several patents (e.g. AU1996071759 (Wallis, 1995), FR2776468B1 (Bernard, 1998)).

[0008] One advantage of hammer mills is that, in addition to impact, they also generate crushing, shearing and abrasive forces, which makes them particularly suitable for size reduction of fibrous materials. Another advantage of hammer mills is that they usually have replaceable flexible impact elements and can handle some foreign matter without damage.

[0009] Another advantage of the hammer mill is that the screen size controls the particle fineness, which can control the proportion of weed inactivation. Controlling the output particle size distribution is particularly important in crop residue processing where the material type and moisture conditions vary significantly. Variations in material conditions result in a still similar output particle size distribution, and the dependence of weed material processing on material conditions is still lower than when no screen is used.

[0010] One disadvantage of current hammer mills is that the screen controlling the particle size distribution determines the production capacity. Usually, in order to inactivate the weed seeds, a small size screen is required, so the production capacity is limited. A hammer mill with concentric screens of different sizes has been described in patent US2557865 (Emmanouilidis, 1951). The Emmanouilidis mill has a central impact zone, and additional screens are used to separate the output material into portions of different sizes. The internal primary area of ​​the Emmanouilidis mill still determines the production capacity and the overall size reduction.

[0011] A cage mill is a different type of impact mill. Cage mills apply primarily impact forces, with the degree of size reduction being set by the rotational speed and the number of concentric bars. Cage mills do not have size classification. The impact forces in cage mills make them suitable for fragile or brittle materials and are not widely used for processing fibrous materials. However, an example is described in patent AU2001 / 038781 (Zani) which is proposed for the destruction of weed seeds. The Zani cage mill has rows of concentric impact elements supported by rings. The mill is driven at high impact speeds to destroy the weed seeds. The device can be cleverly integrated into a harvester. However, the device has a limited capacity and cannot process the entire chaff residue that leaves the harvester screen. Therefore, the Zani system relies on screening to concentrate the weed seeds for processing.

[0012] A cage mill with increased capacity that processes the entire chaff material portion to destroy weed seeds is described in patent WO2009 / 100500 (Harrington). The Harrington mill uses a large counter-rotating cage mill with fan blades similar to patent US4813619 (1989) to Tjumanok et al. to increase airflow and capacity. The cage mill is large and heavy, requires a complex counter-rotating drive, and requires considerable power to operate. The system has its own power unit, which is towed behind a grain harvester. The size, weight and drive limit the integration of the cage mill into the harvester. The mill uses cylindrical rods, which limit the impact velocity due to the oblique impact. Therefore, the impact velocity has a large distribution. In order for the weed seeds to obtain sufficient impact energy, the cage structure needs to be counter-rotated.

[0013] Prior art seed destroying grinding technology is described in patent PCT / AU2014 / 218502 (Berry Saunders). Berry Saunders uses a rotor stator cage mill which is easier to integrate into a grain harvester than a counter-rotating system. The Berry Saunders mill advances on the Zani cage mill by increasing the production capacity and seed killing performance of the mill system. It does this by using a central distribution element (also described in patent DE 10203502 (Isaak, 2003)) and angled static bars that are tilted relative to the rotation of the rotor. The novelty of the Berry Saunders mill is said to be that the spacing between the tilted impact bars determines whether the seed passes through the next row of impact bars or stays within the current impact bar row. The size of the seed does not determine whether it passes through the impact bar row or stays in that impact bar row.

[0014] The operation of a cage mill is relatively simple, primarily applying impacts without using size classification, which enables computer modeling techniques to be used to predict mill performance. The BerrySaunders mill has been optimized using computer modeling techniques to fit the ideal requirement of using only impacts to inactivate weed seeds. However, there is little concern about the airflow component of power consumption. The rotor bars are narrow and have sharp edges, resulting in a high drag coefficient and turbulence generation. The orientation of the stator bars results in torque converter or water brake dynamometer-like turbulence generation and waste heat generation.

[0015] One disadvantage of this approach is that the stator impact bars take up a lot of space in the radial direction. This in turn means that the rotating impact bars of adjacent rows are spaced far apart. For weed seed deactivation mills or particle destruction mills, impact velocity is critical. When the impact bars are spaced far apart, the difference in impact velocity between each subsequent row is significant.

[0016] The above references to the background art do not constitute an admission that this art forms part of the common general knowledge of the person skilled in the art. The above references are also not intended to limit the application of the material processing cartridge and related material processing system as disclosed in the present application. Summary of the invention

[0017] The general idea of ​​the disclosed cartridge and the corresponding processing system is to process the material by causing the inner surface of the cartridge structure to impact the material multiple times by the rotation of the impact mechanism about the axis of the cartridge structure. The rotation of the impact mechanism about the axis of the cartridge structure generates a spiral flow path for the material between an inlet opening and an outlet opening formed in the inner surface and spaced apart along the axis, the spiral flow path being longer than the axial distance between the inlet opening and the outlet opening, thereby effectively increasing the impact surface area of ​​the material.

[0018] A further concept of at least one embodiment of the disclosed barrel structure is to form a structure on the inner surface of the barrel structure that can process different components in a material containing two or more components differently. The difference in processing may come from differences in density, particle size or particle shape of the material components.

[0019] The cartridge and the corresponding processing system can be used in agriculture, especially to inactivate weed seeds during harvesting. In such applications, one or more of the following can be achieved by operating the cartridge and the system: particle size reduction, crushing, fracturing, crushing and grinding.

[0020] In a first aspect, the present application discloses a cartridge for a material processing system, comprising:

[0021] a cylindrical structure having a peripheral wall having an inner impact surface extending circumferentially about a central axis of the cylindrical structure;

[0022] at least one inlet of the cylindrical structure; and

[0023] at least one outlet of the cylindrical structure;

[0024] The inlet and the outlet are spaced apart along the central axis.

[0025] In one embodiment, the impact surface is used to guide or induce material entering from the at least one inlet to travel along a helical path around the central axis toward the at least one outlet.

[0026] In one embodiment, the impact surface is a textured surface having a plurality of valleys, protrusions, or both valleys and protrusions.

[0027] In one embodiment, the valley or the protrusion is in an inclined orientation relative to the central axis.

[0028] In one embodiment, the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet include: (a) corresponding inlets located at or near the opposite axial ends of the tubular structure, and an outlet located between the corresponding inlets; or, (b) corresponding outlets located at or near the opposite axial ends of the tubular structure, and an inlet located between the corresponding outlets.

[0029] In one embodiment, the valleys or protrusions are arranged into a first group and a second group, wherein the valleys or protrusions in the first group extend from or near the first axial end to the central radial plane of the cylindrical structure, and the valleys or protrusions in the second group extend from or near the second axial end to the central radial plane.

[0030] In an embodiment, the valleys or the protrusions in the first group and the second group are positioned symmetrically about the central radial plane.

[0031] In one embodiment, an aperture mechanism is included between one of the inlets and one of the outlets, the aperture mechanism being arranged to control the flow of material between one of the inlets and one of the outlets.

[0032] In one embodiment, the aperture mechanism is one of a set of a plurality of interchangeable aperture mechanisms, wherein at least two sets of the interchangeable aperture mechanisms have mutually different aperture areas.

[0033] In an embodiment, the aperture means comprises a central opening having a user selectable area.

[0034] In an embodiment, the cartridge further comprises one or more screens spanning the at least one outlet.

[0035] In an embodiment, the cartridge further comprises one or more louvers located in or across the at least one outlet and operable to vary the effective opening area of ​​the at least one outlet.

[0036] In one embodiment, the cylindrical structure includes a plurality of circumferential segments detachably connected together along the central axis, each segment having a circumferential wall portion with an inner impact surface portion; wherein the circumferential wall portions of the segments jointly form the circumferential wall of the cylindrical structure, and the inner impact surface portions of the segments jointly form the impact surface of the cylindrical structure.

[0037] In a second aspect, the present application discloses a cartridge for a material processing system, comprising:

[0038] A plurality of circumferential segments detachably connectable together along a common central axis, each segment having a circumferential wall with an inner impact surface, and wherein the circumferential walls of at least two of the segments are provided with openings to form at least one inlet and at least one outlet spaced apart from each other along the central axis.

[0039] In one embodiment, a respective segment provided with an opening is located at each axial end of the barrel.

[0040] In an embodiment, at least one further section provided with an opening is located between opposite axial ends of the barrel.

[0041] In one embodiment, (a) the openings at the axial ends are both inlets for enabling material to enter the barrel, and the opening of the at least one other segment is an outlet through which material can leave the barrel; or (b) the openings at the axial ends are both outlets for enabling material to leave the barrel, and the opening of the at least one other segment is an inlet for enabling material to enter the barrel.

[0042] In one embodiment, the opening comprises a combination of one or more inlets for material to enter the barrel and one or more outlets for material to exit the barrel or outlet.

[0043] In one embodiment, each peripheral wall provided with an opening comprises an inner impact surface extending continuously in the circumferential direction between opposite axial edges defining the opening.

[0044] In one embodiment, the inner impact surface of each peripheral wall provided with an opening extends at least 180° around the central axis.

[0045] In an embodiment, the cartridge comprises an aperture arrangement between two adjacent segments, the aperture arrangement being arranged to control the flow of material between the adjacent segments.

[0046] In one embodiment, the aperture mechanism is one of a set of a plurality of interchangeable aperture mechanisms, wherein at least two sets of the interchangeable aperture mechanisms have mutually different aperture areas.

[0047] In an embodiment, the aperture means comprises a central opening having a user selectable area.

[0048] In one embodiment, the cartridge further comprises one or more screens located at the outlet.

[0049] In one embodiment, the cartridge further comprises one or more louvers located in or across the outlet and operable to vary the effective opening area of ​​the outlet.

[0050] In one embodiment, the impact surface is an impermeable textured surface formed with a plurality of valleys, protrusions, or both valleys and protrusions.

[0051] In one embodiment, the valleys or protrusions are arranged into a first group and a second group, wherein the valleys or protrusions in the first group extend from or near the first axial end to the central radial plane of the cylindrical structure, and the valleys or protrusions in the second group extend from or near the second axial end to the central radial plane.

[0052] In one embodiment, the valley or the protrusion is located at an inclined position relative to the central axis.

[0053] In an embodiment, the valleys or the protrusions in the first group and the second group are positioned symmetrically about the central radial plane.

[0054] In a third aspect, the present application discloses a material processing system, comprising:

[0055] a cylindrical structure having a peripheral wall having an impermeable inner impact surface extending circumferentially around a central axis of the cylindrical structure,

[0056] at least one inlet of the cylindrical structure, and at least one outlet of the cylindrical structure, the inlet and the outlet being spaced apart along the central axis;

[0057] an impact mechanism rotatably supported to rotate about the central axis, the impact mechanism for impacting material entering the barrel and accelerating the material to impact the impact surface; and

[0058] One or more spiral flow mechanisms for directing movement of material entering through the at least one inlet to travel along a spiral path about the central axis toward the at least one outlet.

[0059] In one embodiment, the impact mechanism comprises a shaft and a plurality of hammers extending from the shaft; and wherein the one or more spiral flow mechanisms comprise grooves or ribs; or blades or fins on the shaft that follow a twisted path.

[0060] In an embodiment, the one or more spiral flow mechanisms include vanes or fins supported on the impact surface and extending radially inwardly from the impact surface.

[0061] In one embodiment, the impact mechanism comprises a shaft and a plurality of hammers extending from the shaft; and wherein the one or more spiral flow mechanisms comprise grooves or ribs; or blades or fins on the shaft that follow a twisted path.

[0062] In one embodiment, the spiral flow mechanism includes the configuration and / or angle of the hammer.

[0063] In a fourth aspect, the present application discloses a material processing system, comprising:

[0064] The cartridge according to the first aspect or the second aspect; and

[0065] An impact mechanism is rotatably supported to rotate about the central axis, the impact mechanism being used to impact material entering the barrel and accelerate the material to impact the impact surface.

[0066] In one embodiment, the impact mechanism includes a shaft and a plurality of hammers connected to the shaft.

[0067] In an embodiment, at least two of said hammers are axially displaced relative to each other.

[0068] In one embodiment, the hammer is pivotally or otherwise flexibly connected to the shaft so that the hammer can oscillate or deflect in a radial plane.

[0069] In an embodiment, at least some of the hammers are located adjacent the inlet and are bent in a forward direction with respect to the direction of rotation of the shaft.

[0070] In one embodiment, at least some of the hammers are located at or near the outlet and are bent in a direction rearward of the direction of rotation of the shaft.

[0071] In a fifth aspect, the present application discloses a material processing system, comprising:

[0072] The first cartridge and the second cartridge according to the first aspect or the second aspect of claim; and

[0073] a respective impact mechanism for each barrel, the impact mechanism being rotatably supported for rotation about the central axis of the respective barrel and for impacting material entering the respective barrel and accelerating the material to impact an impact surface of the respective barrel;

[0074] The first and second barrels are juxtaposed such that material exiting at least one outlet of one barrel is arranged to be fed to at least one inlet of the second barrel.

[0075] In a sixth aspect, the present application discloses a material processing system, comprising:

[0076] a barrel having an inner impact surface, a central axis, and opposing axial ends;

[0077] an impact mechanism capable of rotating about the central axis of the barrel, the impact mechanism and the barrel acting in cooperation to process the material by impacting the material to achieve one or more of particle size reduction, crushing, fracturing, crushing and grinding;

[0078] at least two first openings and at least one second opening, wherein each opposing axial end has a first opening and the at least one second opening is formed in the barrel between the opposing axial ends; and

[0079] Each of the at least two first openings is (a) an inlet that allows material to enter the barrel; or (b) an outlet that allows processed material to leave the barrel, and each of the at least one second opening is the other of the inlet and the outlet.

[0080] In a seventh aspect, the present application discloses a material processing system, comprising:

[0081] a barrel having an impact surface, a central axis, and opposing axial ends;

[0082] an impact mechanism rotatable about said central axis of said barrel;

[0083] A first opening and a second opening at each opposing axial end; and

[0084] at least one third opening formed in the barrel and intermediate the first opening and the second opening;

[0085] The first opening and the second opening are either an inlet or an outlet; and the at least one third opening is the other of the inlet and the outlet.

[0086] In one embodiment, the impact surface is a textured surface formed with a plurality of valleys, protrusions, or a combination of valleys and protrusions.

[0087] In one embodiment, the valleys or protrusions are arranged into a first group and a second group, wherein the valleys or protrusions in the first group extend from or near the first axial end to the central radial plane of the cylindrical structure, and the valleys or protrusions in the second group extend from or near the second axial end to the central radial plane.

[0088] In one embodiment, the valley or the protrusion is located at an inclined position relative to the central axis.

[0089] In an embodiment, the valleys or the protrusions in the first group and the second group are positioned symmetrically about the central radial plane.

[0090] In one embodiment, the system includes one or more shutters located in or across each outlet and operable to vary the effective opening area of ​​the outlet.

[0091] In one embodiment, the system comprises a material distributor for directing material entering the cartridge towards the inlet.

[0092] In one embodiment, the impact mechanism includes a shaft and a plurality of hammers connected to the shaft.

[0093] In an embodiment, at least two of said hammers are axially displaced relative to each other along said shaft.

[0094] In one embodiment, the hammer is pivotally or otherwise flexibly coupled to the shaft so as to be capable of oscillating or deflecting in a radial plane.

[0095] In an embodiment, at least some of the hammers are located adjacent the inlet and are bent in a forward direction with respect to the direction of rotation of the shaft.

[0096] In one embodiment, at least some of the hammers are located at or near the outlet and are bent in a direction rearward of the direction of rotation of the shaft.

[0097] In an eighth aspect, the present application discloses a combine harvester having a material handling system according to any one of the third to seventh aspects, wherein the material handling system is mounted on the combine harvester, wherein the central axis of the material handling system is horizontally oriented and located at a position for receiving chaff feed, and the material handling system is operable to process chaff.

[0098] In a ninth aspect, the present application discloses a material processing system, comprising:

[0099] a barrel having an inner surface, a central axis, and opposing axial ends;

[0100] an impact mechanism rotatable about the central axis of the barrel;

[0101] A first opening and a second opening are formed in the barrel and axially spaced from each other, wherein material can enter the barrel through one of the first opening and the second opening and when the impact mechanism rotates, at least part of the material is processed by the impact mechanism impacting and / or abutting against the inner surface, and is transported to the other of the first opening and the second opening along a spiral path around the central axis under the action of the impact mechanism and discharged.

[0102] In one embodiment, a third opening is located between the first opening and the second opening; wherein the first opening and the second opening are inlets, and the third opening is an outlet; or the first and second openings are outlets, and the third opening is an inlet.

[0103] In one embodiment, the cartridge comprises a plurality of annular segments coupled together in coaxial alignment with one another. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0104] Although other forms are possible within the scope of the material processing cartridge and related material processing system as described in the Summary of the Invention, specific embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0105] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of the disclosed cartridge and associated system, viewed from an inlet chute, of a dispenser that feeds material to an inlet at each end of the cartridge of the system;

[0106] Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the barrel and the system taken through a plane including the central axis of the barrel;

[0107] Figure 3 is a perspective schematic diagram of a portion of a cartridge and a system, including a portion of a dispenser, a cartridge, and an impact mechanism incorporated into the system;

[0108] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 a schematic diagram of the cartridge and a portion of the system shown;

[0109] Figure 5 It's from the opposite direction. Figure 3 a schematic perspective view of a portion of the cartridge system shown;

[0110] Figure 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the barrel of the system;

[0111] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the system's housing;

[0112] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the system;

[0113] Fig. 9shows a possible relationship between an embodiment of the system of the present disclosure and a rotator for spreading the emissions of the system when mounted on a combine harvester;

[0114] Fig.10 is a possible structural schematic diagram of the impact surface of the second embodiment of the cartridge of the present disclosure when laid flat;

[0115] Fig.11 yes Fig.10 AA section view;

[0116] Fig.12 yes Fig.10 an enlarged view of a portion of the impact surface shown;

[0117] Fig.13 is a photographic schematic diagram of a construction prototype of the disclosed system, which has Figure 10-12 The barrel of the impact surface shown;

[0118] Fig.14 is a schematic diagram of a third embodiment of a cartridge that may be incorporated into a hammer system;

[0119] Fig.15 yes Fig.14 a cross-sectional view of the cartridge shown;

[0120] Fig.16 It's from the opposite angle. Fig.14 A schematic diagram of the cartridge shown;

[0121] Fig.17 Can be used to construct Figure 14-16 A schematic diagram of a portion of a segment of a cartridge described in;

[0122] Fig.18 yes Figure 14-16 An end view of one embodiment of the cartridge is shown;

[0123] Fig.19 is a schematic diagram of a possible arrangement of cartridges in a fourth embodiment of the disclosed system;

[0124] Fig. 20 is a schematic diagram of a possible material handling arrangement consisting of two systems according to a fifth embodiment of the disclosed system;

[0125] Fig.21a and 21b is a schematic diagram of a first bypass mechanism that enables material to selectively enter the system for processing or bypass the system, which may be incorporated in various embodiments of the disclosed system;

[0126] Fig.22a and 22bis a schematic diagram of a second bypass mechanism, which enables materials to selectively enter the system for processing or bypass the system;

[0127] Fig.23a is a photograph of a spreader on a combine harvester that has been modified by the addition of a plate and is shown in a raised position to accommodate an embodiment of the disclosed cartridge and system;

[0128] Figure 23b yes Fig.23a A photograph of the diffuser shown in is taken from another angle, but also shows an embodiment of a system wherein, when the diffuser is lowered to its operating position, the system is capable of directing its discharge into a modified diffuser to enhance the performance of the diffuser;

[0129] Figures 24a-24d A sixth embodiment of the disclosed cartridge is depicted, the cartridge comprising a central portion and opposing end portions coupled together and an outlet control system operable to vary the overall area of ​​an outlet of the cartridge. Figures 24a-24d Shows the exit control system in different locations, from Fig.24a The minimum exit area shown gradually opens to Fig.24d The location of the maximum exit area shown;

[0130] Fig.25 yes Figures 24a-24d a perspective view of an embodiment of the cartridge shown;

[0131] Figures 26a-26c They are Figures 24a-25 perspective, side and top views of an end of an embodiment of the disclosed cartridge shown;

[0132] Fig. 27 yes Figures 24a-26c A perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosed cartridge from another angle as shown in FIG. 1 and depicting the addition of an exit deflector and a portion of a drive system for an impact mechanism within the cartridge; and

[0133] Fig.28a yes Figure 24a-27 An angled schematic diagram of an embodiment of the disclosed drum shown in , the drum being integrated into a combine harvester to form a material handling system, a rotator or other downstream handling equipment that may be mounted to the combine harvester to help direct the flow of processed material and air from the drum into the combine harvester, and a drive system for driving the disclosed material handling system;

[0134] Fig.28b yes Fig.28a a front view of the system shown with the material flow directed from the page toward the viewer;

[0135] Fig.28c is from Fig.28a A perspective view of the disclosed system from another angle is shown;

[0136] Fig.28d yes Fig.28a A side view of the disclosed system is shown;

[0137] Fig.28e Shows Figures 28a-28d A variation of the system wherein a rubber or flexible cover is located over the feed distributor of the system;

[0138] Fig.29 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosed system including a tailgate positioned in a generally horizontal plane and having adjustable fins oriented to diffuse material and air from an outlet of an associated barrel;

[0139] Fig.30 yes Fig.29 Side view of the embodiment shown.

[0140] Fig.31 Yes Fig.29 A schematic perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosed system is shown, but with the fins of the tail plate reconfigured to converge material and air from the outlet of the associated barrel;

[0141] Fig.32 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosed system and shows how material flow is integrated into downstream equipment of a combine harvester, such as a rotator in this embodiment. The figure also shows a tailgate that is tilted upward from the horizontal to enable the system to feed downstream equipment from below;

[0142] Fig.33 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosed system having an associated tailgate lowered from a horizontal plane to supply material and air from above to a downstream device of a combine, such as a rotator of the present embodiment;

[0143] Fig.34 yes Fig.33 a side view of the disclosed system and associated side panels shown, but without the spinner;

[0144] Fig.35 is a schematic diagram of the disclosed system integrated into a combine harvester having a vertically disposed downstream processing device (a rotator in this embodiment) wherein an associated tailgate with fins is used to provide a dispersed material flow to the vertical rotator;

[0145] Fig.36 yes Fig.35 A schematic diagram of the disclosed system is shown, wherein the fins of the tailgate are configured to provide a converging flow of material to the area between the rotors;

[0146] Fig.37 is a photograph of a baffle mounted in a combine harvester at the end of a grain pan that may be used in conjunction with embodiments of the disclosed system to help throw straw out of the system and thereby reduce the risk of straw entering the system;

[0147] Fig.38 is a photograph of a guide or deflector plate mounted to one side of a screen atop a combine harvester that may be used to direct chaff inward as it falls downwardly so that it engages a dispenser in an embodiment of the disclosed system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0148] The following description of an embodiment of the disclosed material handling system 10 (hereinafter also referred to as “system 10”) and associated drum 12 is provided in the context of an agricultural application, wherein the system 10 is mounted on a combine harvester for processing chaff, and in particular for devitalizing seeds (such as, but not limited to, weed seeds) contained in the chaff. For crops harvested by a combine harvester, the chaff may typically include a combination of small portions of straw, target chaff, and seeds from weeds or volunteer plants.

[0149] Referring to the accompanying drawings, an embodiment of the disclosed system 10 includes a cylindrical structure or body 12 for material processing (hereinafter also more simply referred to as "barrel 12") having a milled or impact surface 14 and a central axis 16. The impact surface 14 is impermeable because the material cannot pass through the impact surface 14, but is contained by the impact surface. The impact mechanism 18 is located within the barrel and is capable of rotating about the central axis 16. In the broadest and most general embodiment, the system 10 has at least two openings, one forming an inlet and the other forming an outlet. The openings are spaced apart along the axis 16. As explained in more detail later, when the material processed by the system 10 flows from the inlet to the outlet, it can travel in a spiral path along the axis 16. The openings, whether inlet or outlet, can be located at the axial end of the barrel 12, or, as shown in the present embodiment, formed in the circumferential surface of the barrel 12.

[0150] Various mechanisms may be used alone or in any combination of two or more to form a spiral flow path for the material (and air entraining the material) from the inlet to the outlet. These mechanisms may include:

[0151] protrusions 24, such as ribs or rasp strips, incorporated into the impact surface 14;

[0152] blades or fins supported on and extending radially inwardly from the impact surface 14;

[0153] Longitudinal grooves or ribs along a tortuous path; or by connecting blades or fins; on the shaft 52 of the impact mechanism 18;

[0154] • The configuration and / or angle of the hammer 54 included in the impact mechanism 18 .

[0155] exist Figure 1-9 In the illustrated embodiment, the system 10 has an opening 20a and an opening 20b formed in the barrel 12 (i.e., the surface 14) at positions axially spaced along the axis 16. In this example, the openings 20a and 20b are located at opposite axial ends of the barrel 12. In this but not all embodiments, the inlet served or formed by the opening is generally referred to as "inlet 20" hereinafter. At least one additional opening 22 is formed in the barrel 12 at a position intermediate the inlet 20 (i.e., between the opposite axial ends of the barrel 12). In this embodiment, the opening 22 is an outlet and is referred to as "outlet 22" hereinafter.

[0156] In this embodiment, the impact surface is an impermeable impact surface 14. The impact surface is a textured surface. The texture can take many forms, such as a plurality of surface reliefs, such as surface valleys, pits or grooves and / or surface protrusions, such as ridges, ribs, bumps, protrusions and ridges; or other irregular shapes. In this embodiment, the impact surface is formed by Figure 3-6 It can be clearly seen that the texture of the impact surface 14 comprises a plurality of alternatingly arranged protrusions or ridges 24 and valleys 26. The alternating arrangement is in the circumferential direction of the barrel 12, ie about the central axis 16.

[0157] In this embodiment, the protrusions 24 are in the form of ribs, hereinafter referred to as "ribs 24". Figure 2 , the ribs 24 are arranged in two groups, rib group 24a and rib group 24b. The ribs 24 in the first rib group 24a extend from or near the first inlet 20a to a median transverse plane 28 of the barrel 12, which passes through a midpoint 30 of the central axis 16 and is transverse to the central axis 16. The ribs 24 in the second rib group 24b extend from or near the second inlet 20b to the median plane 28. In this but not all embodiments, the ribs 24 are inclined relative to the central axis 16. The rib groups 24a and rib groups 24b are symmetrical about the orientation of the median plane 28.

[0158] In a general sense, the flow path of the protrusion 24 is either (a) oblique relative to the central axis 16, or (b) along a helical path about the axis 16. However, in this particular embodiment, as shown in FIG. Figure 2As shown, each rib 24 extends from its respective inlet 20 along a continuous straight line L1 to a mid-plane 28. In this embodiment, the rib 24 (i.e., straight line L1) extends at an angle θ of about 5°-15° relative to the axis L2 on the impact surface 14. However, in other embodiments, the ribs 24 can be extended at different angles to change the residence time of the material in the system 10. The angle of the ribs 24 can be manually changed by replacing the surface in the barrel; or by having ribs 24 that are movably coupled so that their angle with the axis 16 can be changed by an actuator (e.g., a linear actuator). The actuator can be controlled from the cab of the combine harvester. Optimal processing can be achieved by automatically adjusting the control system of the actuator and machine learning, which may be mechanically simple for the barrel described later and the embodiment of the system in which the barrel is composed of multiple individual segments 70.

[0159] The system 10 has a housing 32 that includes the cartridge 12 . Figure 7 As best shown in FIG. 1 , the housing 32 has an inlet chute 34. The inlet chute 34 is formed between opposing side walls 36 and 38 and between opposing top and bottom walls 40 and 42 of the housing 32. Within the inlet chute 34 is a distributor 44 for supplying material entering the inlet chute 34 to each inlet 20. Assuming that the inlet chute 34 is evenly fed, the distributor 44 supplies substantially equal amounts of material to each inlet 20a and 20b. This is achieved by forming the distributor 44 with respective sliding surfaces or ramp surfaces 46a and 46b (hereinafter collectively referred to as "sliding surfaces 46") that are inclined from a common ridge 48 that is aligned with the median plane 28 and the midpoint 30.

[0160] The outlet 22 is formed as a cut-out or removed portion of the barrel 12. The outlet 22 is symmetrical about the midplane 28. The circumferential extent of the outlet 22 may be within a range between about 30° and about 90°. One or more shutters or gates 50 may be provided in the outlet 22. The shutter 50 may be located in or across the outlet 22 and the shutter 50 may be operable to change or control the opening area of ​​the outlet 22. Specifically, the shutter 50 may swing between a fully open position in which the shutter 50 extends in respective radial planes relative to the axis 16 and a fully closed position in which the shutter 50 is substantially tangential to the radius of the central axis 16. Changing the position of the shutter 50 may change the outlet area of ​​the outlet 22, thereby changing the residence time of the material in the system 10.

[0161] The outlet 22 can be located anywhere around the outer circumference of the barrel 12. The location of the outlet 22 can be determined by the nature of the machine to which the system 10 is mounted, including the relative position of the system 10 and the downstream system or the relative position of the system 10 and the mechanism receiving the output of the system 10, such as a chaff spreader, tailgate, or straw chopper. For example, if it is desired to feed the output of the system 10 to the straw chopper from a position where the inlet of the straw chopper is roughly flush with the bottom of the horizontally oriented system 10, the outlet 22 can extend from about 4 o'clock position through a 60° arc to 6 o'clock position around the axis of rotation 16. In another example, assuming that the horizontally mounted system 10 needs to deliver its output to a chaff spreader or straw chopper having an inlet located vertically above the axis 18, the outlet 22 can extend from about 12 o'clock position through about 60° to 2 o'clock position. Shutters 50 and / or fairings 23 (described later) can also be used to help guide the output of the system 10.

[0162] The impact mechanism 18 includes a central shaft 52 and a plurality of hammers 54 coupled to and extending generally radially from the central shaft 52. The shaft 52 may also be used to provide axial movement of the material and air flowing through the barrel 12. This may be achieved, for example, by configuring the outer circumferential surface of the shaft 52, for example, with longitudinal grooves or ribs along a twisted path, or by attaching blades or fins for directing the material and air to flow in a desired direction, such as from an inlet to an outlet.

[0163] Each hammer 54 has an arm 56 that can be pivotally or otherwise flexibly coupled to the shaft 52. In this way, the hammer acts as a flail. With this coupling, if impacted by a hard foreign object within the mill, the hammer 54 can swing, deflect, or otherwise yield to a certain extent in the radial plane, thereby reducing the risk of significant damage to the hammer 54 and the system 10.

[0164] Each hammer 54 has a radially outer edge 58 located at a small clearance from the impact / milling surface 14. The edge 58 has a plurality of spaced grooves or grooves 60. The grooves 60 are used to help break up elongated material such as straw into the system 10 from the inlet 20 and reduce the tailing of the material on the impact surface 14. In addition, the grooves 60 can comb the straw from the chaff, thereby further helping to differentiate the straw from the weed seeds in the chaff during movement or processing. In this embodiment, the impact side 62 of the hammer 54 is substantially planar and lies in the axial plane. The rear surface 64 of the hammer is scalloped to balance the impact mechanism 18. Without the scalloping, the center of gravity of the hammer 54 would be offset from the center of gravity of the shaft 52, which could cause instability and increased bearing wear and heating.

[0165] The hammers 54 are distributed circumferentially and axially around the shaft 52. Thus, there are at least two hammers that move axially relative to each other along the shaft. The hammers 54 can have different distribution patterns. For example, the hammers can be arranged in rings with the same number of hammers 54 (e.g., 6 hammers in each ring), wherein the hammers in each ring are evenly spaced circumferentially around the shaft 52, and the hammers in axially adjacent rings are axially aligned with each other. However, in another embodiment, the hammers can be arranged in rings as in the previous example, but the hammers in axially adjacent rings are offset from each other in the circumferential direction. In yet another embodiment, the hammers can be arranged in a spiral path from one end of the shaft 52 to the other end.

[0166] In yet another embodiment, the hammer 54 may be rigidly fixed to the central hub rather than being pivotally coupled. In addition, the hammer may have a single arm rather than the bifurcated arms shown, and / or have simple flat surfaces on opposite sides. The radially outer axial edge of the hammer may also have a simple straight edge rather than the groove 60.

[0167] The general operation of the system 10 is as follows, and the system 10 can be conveniently mounted on a combine harvester near the end of a grain screen, with the axis 16 oriented horizontally. The function of the grain screen is to separate the target grain from the chaff. The target grain may fall into a trough and then be moved to a storage bin by an auger. The remaining chaff advances toward the end of the screen and is fed from the end of the screen into the inlet chute 34 of the disclosed system 10. (In the absence of the configuration in this embodiment or in another case, the chaff ground from the grain screen is typically fed into a chaff spreader.)

[0168] Some chaff near the inside of the side walls 36 and 38 can fall directly into the inlets 20a, 20b. The remaining chaff falls to the distributor 44, which then supplies the chaff to the inlets 20a and 20b of the drum 12.

[0169] The chaff in the drum is processed by the impact of the hammer 54 and is accelerated to move onto the impact surface 14. The chaff struck by the hammer and accelerated to the impact surface 14 is pulverized. The weed seeds contained in the chaff are also broken and inactivated.

[0170] Material entering the barrel 12 from the inlet 20 can be conveyed to the outlet 22 by one or both of two effects of the system 10. One of the two effects is the pressure differential created by the rotation of the hammer 54 about the axis 16. This rotation increases the air pressure within the barrel relative to the ambient pressure. If the outlet 22 is open to at least a certain degree, the outlet 22 forms a low pressure area within the barrel 12. Thus, the system 10 creates an air flow from the inlet 20 to the central outlet 22 that entrains the milled material. The other of the two effects is created by configuring the impact surface 14 to guide or otherwise cause the material entering through the inlet 20 to travel in a spiral path about the axis 16 toward the outlet 22, which in this embodiment is achieved by the configuration of the protrusions / ribs 24. The angle of the ribs 24 relative to the axis 16, together with the rotation of the hammer 54, creates a spiral or auger effect that helps move the material, thereby helping the material move in a spiral path about the axis 16 toward the outlet 22.

[0171] As described above, different embodiments of the system 10 can be provided with ribs 24 having different inclination angles θ to adjust the residence time of the material within the system 10, thereby changing the degree of fragmentation and particle size reduction. In terms of the spiral flow path, changing the angle θ changes the induced axial component of the velocity of the material, thereby changing the spiral path between the inlet and the outlet. For example, increasing the angle θ increases the induced axial component to reduce the distance from the inlet to the outlet, thereby reducing the residence time. From another perspective, the effective contact area of ​​the material with the impact surface is increased, thereby enhancing the treatment of the weed seeds, i.e., fragmentation or inactivation.

[0172] The tilt angle θ can be actively varied by an actuator controlled by the cab of the combine harvester. This requires the ribs 24 to be connected to the body of the drum 12 so that the two move in unison to vary the angle θ, which in turn varies the pitch of the helical path about the axis 16 of material and air.

[0173] The material discharged from the outlet 22 can be fed into two rotors 66 rotating on respective vertical axes 68 (see Fig. 9 ), the vertical axis 68 is at the same distance from the rotation axis 16 and is located on the opposite side of the outlet 22. The two rotators 66 rotate in opposite directions to each other, so that the material discharged from the outlet 22 between the rotation axes 68 is brought to a place farther from the outlet 22. Alternatively, the material discharged from the outlet can be directed to another device, such as a straw chopper. In another application, the discharge can be used to help spread other materials, such as by directing the discharge to the straw tail plate or into the straw spreader to spread straw on the combine harvester. In each alternative application, the airflow generated by the system 10 is used to enhance the function of the equipment to guide it to or into the location where it is guided.

[0174] Fig.23a and23b An embodiment of the system 10 is shown with CASE IH TM Integration of a spreader 100 in a combine harvester. Fig.23a , the diffuser 100 is shown in a raised position. Figure 23b The diffuser 100 is also shown in a raised position, with the outlet 22 of the system 10 mounted on the combine visible from the side of the combine harvester. The diffuser 100 here has been modified by installing a blind plate 102 spanning from opposite sides of the diffuser toward its central region, and an integral flange 104 formed with an arcuate edge 106 having a radius substantially the same as the outer radius of the barrel 12, and the flanges 104 are spaced apart from each other to be positioned around the outlet 22. When the diffuser 100 is thus swung downward to its operating position indicated by arrow 108, the exhaust from the outlet 22 is fed into the diffuser 100 between the flanges 104. The blind plate 102 with the integral flange 104 helps to generate more wind / airflow and enhance the turbocharging of the diffuser 100.

[0175] The system 10 may be implemented in many different ways and may be modified and varied without departing from the broad underlying structure and method of operation. For example, the barrel 12 may be manufactured by texturing a planar metal surface and then rolling the surface into a single cylindrical shape that may be joined. In such a configuration, expandable or otherwise resilient axial joints may be formed so that the barrel 12 has some curvature and may bend in a radial or circumferential direction, which may aid in passing through hard foreign objects, and to enhance this effect, the barrel may be formed of two or more segments that, when joined about a common axis, together form a barrel with expandable or resilient joints between each segment.

[0176] As one way to form an expandable or elastic joint, the barrel 12 may be constructed from two generally semi-cylindrical components connected together to form a generally cylindrical shape. Each component may extend slightly more than 180° to form a degree of overlap, for example, each component extends 185° to form a 5° overlap along the opposing axial edges of the components. The components may be connected together by a spring mechanism such as a pneumatic spring or a mechanical spring so that the components move radially away from each other against the bias of the spring.

[0177] In another variation of the system 10, the protrusions 24 of the impact surface 14 need not be in the form of straight ribs extending the full length from the axial end of the barrel 12 to the midplane 28, but rather the protrusions may be in the form of shorter ribs that are spaced apart from one another and arranged in a straight line from the end of the barrel 12 to the midplane 28. In another example, the impact surface 14 may have a surface effect such as a bump, a dome, a platform, or a Figure 10-13 A plurality of valleys or recesses are formed in the smooth circumferential surface shown as the impact surface 14t.

[0178] Figure 10-13 The impact / milling surface 14t is shown in a flat position, Fig.13 1 is a photographic representation of a barrel system 10t of the disclosed working aperture type, wherein the barrel 12t has a textured impact surface 14t. Generally speaking, the impact surface 14t is a surface having a plurality of surface asperities such as surface valleys, pits or grooves and / or surface protrusions such as ridges, ribs, bumps, protrusions or other irregular shapes. In this embodiment, the impact surface 14t includes a plurality of valleys 128. At least some of the valleys 128 have two orthogonal axes 130 and 132 of unequal length. The shorter orthogonal axis 130 extends in a circumferential direction relative to the rotation axis 16. The longer orthogonal axis 132 extends parallel to the rotation axis 16. In other embodiments, the axis 132 may be inclined to the rotation axis 16. The unequal length axes 130 and 132 give the valley 128 a generally elliptical shape.

[0179] Between the valleys 128, the surface 14t acts as a plurality of plateaus 134 that are "flat" relative to the axis of rotation 16, such that each point on the plateau 134 lies on a corresponding plateau radius of the same length, i.e., if the surface 14t is as Figure 10-12 , then all platforms 134 are flat and located on a common plane. In addition, the valleys 128 have edges 137 located on corresponding edge radii of the same length from the axis of rotation. Therefore, in this configuration, the edges 137 are all located on a radius of the same length as the platforms 134.

[0180] The valleys 128 are arranged in rows R1, R2, R3, and R4 of the circumference of the stack in a generally uniform pattern. In rows R1-R3, the valleys 128 have respective axes 132 of the same length. However, in row R4, the valleys are semi-elliptical and have shorter axes 132. The number of rows of valleys on the surface 124 may vary. The ends of the valleys 128 in one row may be located between the ends of adjacent valleys in an adjacent row as shown in this embodiment.

[0181] When the impact surface 14t is used in connection with chaff, different material flows may be induced depending on the type of material in the chaff (e.g., straw fragments as distinguished from weed seeds), resulting in different residence times in the grinder. The straw fragments may flow along the platform 134 and pass through the edge 137 of the valley 128, while the weed seeds in the chaff are affected by the valley 128 and thus travel more slowly and stay longer in the impact area than the straw fragments, although this theory is not intended to limit the present invention.

[0182] Fig.13 An example of a system 10t is shown, which has Figure 10-12 The milled surface 14t is shown. The system 10t also labels the impact mechanism 18, hammer 54, valley 128 and platform 134.

[0183] Figure 14-18 A further embodiment of the system 10 is depicted having an alternative cartridge 12a and showing a possible method of construction.

[0184] Figure 1-9 The tube 12 and Figure 14-18 The substantial difference between the barrel 12a is that Figure 14-18 In the embodiment shown (actually Fig.13 The barrel 12a is composed of a plurality of circumferential segments 70a-70j (hereinafter collectively referred to as "segments 70") detachably connected together along a common central axis 16, each segment 70 having a corresponding peripheral wall 72a-72j (hereinafter collectively referred to as "peripheral wall 72"), the peripheral wall 72 having an inner impermeable impact surface 14s. When the segments 70 are coupled together along the axis 16, the individual inner impermeable impact surfaces 14s of each segment 70 together form the impermeable impact surface 14 of the barrel 12a. In addition, the peripheral walls 72 of at least two segments are provided with openings 20 to form at least one inlet 20 and at least one outlet 22 spaced apart along the central axis.

[0185] exist Fig.15 and 16 In the embodiment shown, each segment 70 has the same axial length. Segments 70a and 70b are adjacent to each other at one end of the barrel 12a, while segments 70i and 70j are adjacent to each other at the other end of the barrel 12a. Openings are formed on the respective circumferential walls 72 of the segments 70a, 70b, 70i and 70j, which, in this embodiment, form the inlet 20 of the barrel 12a. Thus, an opening (in this case serving as an inlet) is formed at each opposite axial end of the barrel 12a.

[0186] Segments 70e and 70f are located between the opposite axial ends of the barrel 12a. The respective peripheral walls 72e and 72f of these segments are formed with openings that serve as the outlet 22. The outlet is formed with a respective fixed fairing 23 in place of or in addition to the louver 50 to assist in directing the processed material to a rotator or other device, such as a chopper (not shown). Segment 70 may be formed as a short cylinder or ring, and when provided with an opening, the opening may serve as a cut-out or removed portion of the cylinder or ring.

[0187] Alternatively, the peripheral wall 72 may be formed of individual segments 73 (see Fig.17 ), for example, each segment extending a fraction of 360°, forming a full 360° ring when coupled together about a common axis. Fig.17 In the embodiment, the section 73 extends 180°. However, in other embodiments, the section 73 can extend other angular portions, such as 90°. The peripheral wall 72 can also be composed of several sections 72 of different circumferential extents, such as one 180° section and two other 90° sections; or, three 90° sections and two 45° sections. If the section 70 needs to have an opening with a 90° circumferential extent, the corresponding peripheral wall 72 of the section 70 can be composed of only 180° sections and 90° sections, leaving a 90° opening.

[0188] Each segment 73 may have an associated support frame 75. The frame 75 may have radially extending curved flange portions 77 and axially extending flanges 79 extending between the flanges 77. The flanges 79 of two or more segments 73 (depending on their extension angle, e.g., 45°, 60°, 90°, or 180°) are connected together to form a segment 70. The flanges 77 of adjacent segments 70 are coupled together to form the barrel 12a.

[0189] In one variation, flexible or resilient joints may be provided (a) between each segment 73 in the segment 70 and / or (b) between adjacent segments 70 in the barrel 12. For example, rubber mounts may be provided between flanges 79 of the segments 72 to assemble the segments 70. Additionally or alternatively, rubber mounts may be provided between flanges 77 of adjacent segments 70. Flexible or resilient joints are provided along the barrel 12 in the axial and / or radial directions, which may help to pass blockages or minimize the possibility of damage due to entrainment of hard foreign matter in the processed material.

[0190] In one embodiment, the peripheral wall 73 can be fixed to the frame 75. In an alternative embodiment, the peripheral wall 73 can be removably supported or movably supported within the frame 75. When removably supported, the peripheral wall 73 can be removed to form an opening in the corresponding barrel 12a. When movably supported, the peripheral wall 73 rotates on a pivot to switch between a closed position and an open position. When in the closed position, such as Fig.13As shown, the peripheral wall 73 follows the curvature of the corresponding frame 75 and, when in the open position, the peripheral wall 73 is still supported by the frame 75 but deviates from axial alignment with the frame 75.

[0191] An opening (as an inlet or outlet) can be provided for the segment 70 by simply removing or omitting one or more sections. Whether it is an inlet or an outlet, the circumferential extent of the opening can be fixed or variable. For example, as explained in more detail later in the specification, the circumferential extent of the opening can be changed by using a movable door (e.g., a sliding pivot). In an example of a barrel 12 with a fixed or static opening of the system 10, the circumferential extent can be in the range of, but not limited to, from about 45° to about 180°.

[0192] Segments 70c, 70d, 70g and 70h (see Fig.16 ) The respective circumferential walls have no openings, so their corresponding internal impermeable impact surfaces 14s extend a full 360°. For the segments 70 with openings, the corresponding impermeable impact surfaces 14s extend 360° minus the circumferential extent of the openings.

[0193] The individual impermeable strike surfaces 14s may be textured, and thus the texture of the entire composite strike surface 14 of the cartridge 12a may be in any of the forms described above with respect to the first embodiment of the cartridge 12 .

[0194] Although not shown in the drawings, in this embodiment, louvers the same or similar to those described above with respect to the first embodiment may be located in or across the outlet 22 and be operable to vary the opening area of ​​the outlet.

[0195] This embodiment facilitates the incorporation of a hole mechanism 74 located between two adjacent segments 70 (see Fig.14 , 16 and 18). For convenience, the aperture mechanism 74 can be connected between the frames 75 of adjacent segments 70. The mechanism 74 can control the flow of material between adjacent segments. The aperture mechanism 74 controls the residence time of the material in the mill by changing the flow area between adjacent segments. Without the aperture mechanism 74, the flow area between adjacent segments is actually πr2, where "r" is the inner radius of the segment 70. This flow area can be reduced by using the aperture mechanism 74.

[0196] In the illustrated embodiment, the orifice mechanism 74 is a set of one or more plates 76 having inner edges 78 that are movable radially inward and outward to vary the effective flow area between adjacent segments 70 . Fig.18Shows a segment 70 having a radius "r" and a hole mechanism 74 including two opposing plates 76 coupled to the segment 70. When the hole mechanism 74 retracts such that the edge 78 lies on the radius r, the plates 76 have moved radially inwardly such that their inner edges 78 are at a radius r1 < r, thereby reducing the flow area from a maximum of πr 2 to a smaller area.

[0197] The position of the hole mechanism 74 can be changed by removing the mechanical coupling between adjacent segments 70, moving the hole mechanism 74 to produce the desired flow area, and then reinstalling the mechanical coupling.

[0198] In different embodiments, the hole mechanism 74 can be provided as one of a set of multiple interchangeable hole mechanisms, where at least two of the hole mechanisms have central openings of different areas. For example, the hole mechanisms 74 in a set can each include an annular plate having a different inner diameter. In an alternative arrangement, the hole mechanism 74 can include multiple plates that slide or rotate relative to each other, such as similar to the aperture of a camera. Thus, once the hole mechanism 74 has been installed in the cylinder 12a, the size of the flow area can be changed by operating an actuator and associated mechanisms such as levers, cams, or gears. When installed on a combine harvester for threshing chaff, the operator in the cab of the combine harvester can operate the controls to adjust the flow area. Regardless of its physical form, the hole mechanism 74 is capable of controlling the residence time and thus the degree of processing of the material.

[0199] As a supplement or alternative to the hole mechanism 74, the present embodiment and other embodiments of the disclosed system 10 and cylinder 12 can be provided with internal vanes or fins that extend radially inwardly from the impact surface 14. The vanes are used to increase or decrease the pitch length of the helical flow path in a manner similar to that described above for the ribs 24. To this end, the vanes or ribs are coupled to the cylinder 12 in such a way that their angle relative to the axis 16 can be varied. For example, a linear actuator located outside the cylinder 12 can be connected to the cylinder body and the vanes or fins. The actuator can be controlled by the combine harvester operator in the cab of the combine harvester.

[0200] If a desired screen can be set across the opening, the opening can be the inlet 20 or the outlet 22, although the most likely scenario is to set the screen across the outlet 22. For the outlet 22, the screen can be used with or in place of the shutter 50.

[0201] Figure 14-18 (and Fig.13 ) The impact mechanism 18 for the cylinder 12a (and 12t) as shown in can have the same form as that described for the first embodiment shown in Figure 1-9 as shown in.

[0202] In each of the disclosed embodiments, the inlet 20 and the outlet 22 are rotationally offset from one another about the axis of rotation 16. Thus, a piece of material entering through the inlet 2 (or its corresponding fragments after impacting the impact mechanism 18 and / or the impact surface 14) must travel along a path about the axis of rotation to reach the outlet 22. Furthermore, when the inlet 20 and the outlet 22 are offset from one another along the axis of rotation 16, the material (or its fragments) must move along a spiral path from the inlet to the outlet. The path may be more than one full turn around the axis 16. It should be understood that, due to the configuration of the system 10, the material being processed can be directed to flow in a spiral path regardless of whether the inlet 20 and the outlet 22 are rotationally offset.

[0203] The number of turns can be controlled by any one or any combination of two or more of the following:

[0204] The form or configuration of the texture on the impact surface 14 as in the first embodiment described above;

[0205] Increase the residence time of the material in the barrel 12a through the operating hole 74;

[0206] The axial distance between the inlet and outlet along the axis 16 of the barrel 12a;

[0207] The inclination angle θ of the rib 24; and

[0208] • The pitch angle / pitch of the blades or fins extending radially inwards from the impact surface 14 .

[0209] The above-described manner of controlling the number of turns is applicable to all embodiments of the disclosed system 10 and cartridge 12 .

[0210] Combination Figure 14-18 The mill of the drum 12a shown may include those described above and as Figure 1-9 The impact mechanism 18, housing 32 and dispenser 44 are shown rotatably supported within the cartridge 12a.

[0211] Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment, the hammer 54 is depicted as having generally flat surfaces 62 and 64 extending in a radial direction to an axial edge 58. However, the impact side 62 may be curved. Furthermore, the impact side 62 may be curved in different directions depending on the axial position of the hammer, particularly their axial distance relative to the inlet 20 and the outlet 22. For example, the impact side 62 may be curved or hooked in a forward direction relative to the direction of rotation about the axis 16 near the inlet 20 to help scoop material and air into the barrel 12. However, near the outlet 22 and the intermediate plane 28, the impact side 62 may be: flat as in the illustrated embodiment; or curved or hooked in a rearward direction relative to the direction of rotation about the axis 16 to increase radial exit velocity. In fact, in a more general sense, the system 10 may incorporate different hammers 54 along the axis therebetween. These differences may be in one or more of the length, shape, and configuration of the hammer. Furthermore, in this and all other embodiments of the disclosed system 10 and barrel 12, the distance between the edge 58 and the impact surface of the hammer 54 may vary. Such changes may be controlled by a control system operable by a driver from within the cab of a combine equipped with the disclosed system 10 .

[0212] The shape, configuration and / or orientation of the hammers also affects the air flow and can be designed to have a specific effect on the air flow to cause the material to flow through the system 10. The shaping can include bending the hammers 58 as in the previous paragraph. Alternatively, the hammers can be oriented so that they remain flat but lie in a plane that is inclined relative to the radius of the mill. The hammers 58 can be positioned symmetrically about opposite sides of the central radial plane 28 in the inclined plane. In yet another variation, the hammers can be twisted or tilted like fan blades or provided with an aerodynamic profile like a propeller to produce airflow in a specific direction, such as from the inlet 20 to the outlet 22.

[0213] In further variations, the distributor 44 may be coupled to or otherwise operably associated with a pivoting or self-leveling cleanroom of a combine harvester so as to provide an even distribution of feed to the inlet chute 34 and inlet 20 when the combine harvester traverses sloped or uneven terrain. Figures 28a-28e As shown in , the distributor 44 is connected to the clean grain chamber 29 (described in more detail later) of the barrel 12v. In some embodiments, the distributor 44 can reciprocate back and forth in the horizontal plane. In addition, due to the coupling of the distributor 44 with the clean grain chamber, the vibration of the clean grain chamber is also transmitted to the distributor 44.

[0214] In the illustrated embodiment of the barrels 12, 12t and 12a, the openings forming the inlet and outlet are arranged symmetrically about the midplane 28. However, as will be explained later, this is not a necessary requirement and may vary depending on the combine harvester on which the grinder is mounted, the relative position of the combine harvester screen, and the inlet of the mechanism to which the output of the system 10 is fed. Furthermore, while in the illustrated embodiment the openings serving as inlets are provided at the axial ends of the barrels 12, 12a and the outlets are provided between the axial ends, the arrangement may be reversed so that the milled material flows out of one axial end or two opposing axial ends.

[0215] As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the basic function of the disclosed cartridge embodiments is to allow material to pass without strict size control. The amount of seed damage / deactivation is controlled by the wrap angle around the shaft 16 and the number of rotations around the shaft 16, the rotational speed of the impact mechanism, and the configuration of the impact surface 14. As previously described, the surface has the ability to separate and destroy seeds while causing no or less damage to straw, or otherwise provide differential flow and / or treatment of weed seeds and straw.

[0216] exist Fig.19 In yet another variation shown, a plurality of barrels 12x, 12y may be arranged side by side with their respective axes 16 arranged parallel to one another so that the discharge from one barrel 12x is fed directly into the inlet of an adjacent barrel 12y. In this embodiment, each of the barrels 12x, 12y has an inlet 20 and an outlet 22, with the outlets 22 extending substantially the entire length of the barrels 12x, y but spaced 180° from one another circumferentially. Thus, material entering the inlet 20 of a barrel 12x will travel approximately 180° to the outlet 22, then flow into the inlet 20 of an adjacent barrel 12y and travel another 180° before reaching the outlet 22 of the barrel. Thus, in effect, the material will make a full rotation about the axis 16 of any one barrel and be ground between the impact mechanism and the impermeable impact surface 14. Fig.19 A potential advantage of a mill combining two (or more) drums 12 side by side in the manner shown in FIG. 1 is increased production.

[0217] Fig. 20Depicted is a barrel system 10d with two barrels 12d arranged side by side. Each barrel 12d receives about half of the total chaff flow and supplies the crushed chaff to a pair of side by side chaff spreaders (not shown). System 10d has an inlet 20 at an axial end and an outlet 22 at a relative axial end. In addition, system inlet 20 includes a separate inlet 20d, and each inlet 20d is located in each barrel 12d. Similarly, system outlet 22 includes a separate outlet 22d, and each outlet 22d is located in each barrel 12d. Therefore, compared with the previously illustrated embodiment, barrel system 10d does not have an inlet 20 at the relative axial end. Therefore, each system 10d does not need or provide a distributor 44. However, a distributor 44 or an equivalent structure for feeding substantially equal amounts of chaff flow to each inlet 20 can be provided.

[0218] The drums 12d are mounted side by side with their respective axes 16 parallel to one another and with their respective inlets 20 and respective outlets 22 radially adjacent one another so as to process the chaff streams in parallel. In a conceptual sense, the system 10d may be considered to be Fig.15 and 16 , i.e., the system 10 is cut in half in the mid-plane 28 between the two outlets 22 and folded back on itself so that the two halves lie parallel to each other, their inlets 22 are adjacent to each other and their inlets 20 are adjacent to each other. In this embodiment, the grinder 10d can be mounted in a north-south orientation instead of Figure 1 , 2 , 9 and the east-west direction shown in 13-19.

[0219] exist Fig. 20 In a variation of the embodiment shown, the inlet 20d may be formed at the axial end of each barrel 12v, rather than in the peripheral surface of the barrel 12v. This may simplify the feed arrangement and the input flow of material into the barrel 12v, because, for example, chaff may be fed directly into the barrel 12v in the axial direction, so that the chaff feed from the sieve does not need to be changed in direction to enter the barrel 12v. However, this may require moving the bearings for the corresponding shafts in the barrel 12v.

[0220] Alternatively, inlet 20d can remain in the peripheral wall of tube 12v, and outlet 22d moves to adjacent axial end from the peripheral wall. In fact, as suggested in the previous part of this specification, inlet 20d and outlet 22d can be located at the relative axial end of corresponding tube 12v. In each modification of the above-mentioned inlet and outlet positions, the processed material advances in the spiral path between the axially spaced inlet and outlet. For example, shown in 2,7,9,16,20,22a,22b and 27-28b, when the axial end was closed by plate or other structures, the axial end was not used as inlet or outlet.

[0221] Figures 24a-28dYet another alternative configuration and construction of a barrel is depicted, designated 12v and associated system 10v. The barrel 12v has a central portion 120 and opposing ends 122. The portions 120 and 122 are connected together and are concentric with the central axis 16. In this embodiment, each portion 122 is provided with an inlet opening 20 so that material can be fed into the barrel 12v. The portions 122 are tapered, with their outer diameter increasing in the axial direction toward the center or mid-transverse plane 28 of the barrel 12v. The inner surface of the tapered portion 122 at the axial innermost end 124 has the same inner diameter as the central portion 120. Optionally, the tapered portion has a truncated plate 139 that can be angled with the flow direction. The plate 139 slows down the circumferential velocity and increases the axial velocity component to prevent the material from moving around and move the material toward the center of the machine.

[0222] In yet another variation (not shown) applicable to this and all other disclosed embodiments of the cartridge, the taper may extend to the center plane 28 of the cartridge, or indeed to the entire length of the cartridge, rather than just the length of the cartridge commensurate with the tapered inlet. Or indeed to the entire length of the cartridge may be applicable, for example, to embodiments in which the cartridge has an inlet at one end and an outlet at the opposite end, such as similar to Fig. 20 Such a taper will reduce the pressure from the small diameter end to the large diameter end of the taper, thereby facilitating the flow of materials and air.

[0223] As in Fig.24d As best seen in the figure, the central portion 120 has an outlet 22 extending substantially its entire length. The central portion 120 is comprised of a plurality of individual segments 70a-70f (hereinafter collectively referred to as "segments 70") connected side by side along the central axis 16. In each segment 70, the outlet 22v is comprised of an individual outlet 22.

[0224] The barrel 12v includes an outlet control system 126, which is operable to change the distance between the inlet 20 and the outlet 22v, thereby changing the path length and residence time of the material flowing through the barrel 12v. The outlet control system 126 changes the axial distance between the inlet 20 and the outlet 22v. In this embodiment, the outlet control system 126 includes two gates 129, which are slidably supported on the barrel 12v and can move toward and away from each other in the axial direction. (Although in other embodiments, the same effect can be achieved by providing multiple doors, these doors together can cover the entire outlet 22 and can be moved separately by: pivoting or swinging action; or, sliding in the circumferential direction, that is, sliding around the axis 16 direction.) The circumferential width of each gate 129 is at least equal to the circumferential width of the outlet 22v (and therefore also equal to the circumferential width of each individual outlet 22). An actuator (not shown) may be controlled from the cab of a combine equipped with the drum 12v and system 10v to control the position of the gate 129 and thus the distance from the inlet 20 to the outlet 22v.

[0225] In this embodiment, the outlet control system 126 enables the distance between the inlet 20 and the outlet 22v to be adjusted as follows: Fig.24d The gates 129 are shown in their respective axially outermost positions and expose the minimum value of the entire outlet 22v as shown. Fig.24a The gate 129 shown varies between a maximum value when each gate 129 moves in an axially inward direction (ie, toward each other) and each gate 129 covers approximately one-third of the outlet 22v. Fig.24d In the configuration shown, with the distance between inlet 20 and outlet 22v minimized, system 10v and cartridge 12v provide minimal material handling, in effect acting as a chaff spreader, which may also be considered a "bypass" configuration of system 10v and cartridge 12v.

[0226] By operating the outlet control system 126 to vary the distance between the inlet 20 and the outlet 22v, the path length and the number of revolutions of the material about the axis 16 can be varied from Fig.24d The minimum value shown varies to Fig.24a The maximum value shown. Proportionately, as the percentage of seed inactivation increases, power consumption also increases. When the distance is minimized, the cartridge 12v and corresponding system 10v essentially act as a blower, creating airflow instead of entraining weed seeds. This additional airflow can be fed to downstream equipment, such as Figure 29-36 A material spreader or spreader, or a straw chopper or tailgate is shown directing the material.

[0227] Figures 26a-26cOne of the ends 122 of the barrel 12v is shown in more detail. The inlet 20 of the portion 122 includes a hopper 130 and a frustoconical portion 132. The frustoconical portion 132 has an opening that cooperates with the hopper 130. The opening extends over the axial length of the portion 132. The hopper 130 has at least a first inclined wall 134a for directing the feed of the barrel 12v toward the central axis 16. In this embodiment, the hopper 130 also has a second inclined wall 134b that is inclined to help direct the feed of the barrel 12v toward the central axis 16 and is perpendicular to the wall 134a. In practice, the hopper 130 can be provided with additional inclined walls 134c and 134d that together with the walls 134a and 134b define the mouth 136 of the hopper 130, forming an inwardly inclined surface around the entire inner circumference of the mouth 136. The inlet 20 has a conical cut-off guide 139 that pushes the material in an axially inward direction. The guide may be fixed to the wall 134a. Fig.26a and 26c , assuming that the shaft 52 rotates in the clockwise direction, when viewed from below ( Fig.26c When the material strikes the guide 139 on the left side, at least some of the material is guided to flow by the mechanical action of the air and the hammer.

[0228] Optionally, a hammer 54a or other feed arm / mechanism (hereinafter generally referred to as a "hammer 54a") may be attached to the portion of the shaft 52 that extends through each section 122. The hammer 54a is primarily used to help direct feed from the hopper 130 through the interior of the end 122 into the central section 120. The hammer 54a provides an axial air flow in a direction toward the middle or central section 120 of the shaft 52 through a combination of physical impact and imparting momentum to the weed seeds. Due to the tapered nature of the end 122, the hammer 54a extends radially to a shorter length than the hammer 54 in the central section 120.

[0229] refer to Fig. 27 , the outlet deflector 138 can be connected to the outside of the barrel 12v and guide the processed materials discharged from the barrel 12v in a specific direction. In the embodiment shown in the figure, the length of the deflector 138 extension is two-thirds of the length of the outlet 22v. More specifically, the deflector 38 extends to form a part of the outlet 22v between the segments 70b and 70e, including 70b and 70e. An actuator (not shown) that can be controlled from the cab of the combine harvester to change the angle of the deflector 138 can also be provided. The actuator outlet deflector 138 can be used together with other embodiments of the barrel 12 described in the specification.

[0230] Figure 1-27 Each barrel of the described embodiment has their entire length ( Figure 1-2 3) or most of their length between opposite inlets with a constant inner diameter ( Figure 24a-Figure 27). However, in further possible variations of these embodiments, these lengths may be tapered in nature so that their inner diameters vary along the length of the axis 16, thereby inducing or enhancing the flow of material and air through the barrel, particularly from the inlet to the outlet.

[0231] Figures 28a-28e Depicted are embodiments of system 10v and corresponding cartridge 12v integrated into a combine harvester. These figures depict mechanisms and systems that enable embodiments of system 10v to work with and in a typical combine harvester with minimal or no interference or detrimental effect on the operation of the combine harvester. In these figures, cartridge 12v is shown as a simple cylinder for visual simplicity.

[0232] Figures 28a-28d How the system 10v works to integrate the material flow of the entire combine harvester is shown. Material from the cleanroom 29 of the combine harvester, such as chaff containing weed seeds, is fed to the distributor 44. The distributor 44 directs the chaff laterally to the inlet 20 at the opposite axial end of the drum 12v. The distributor 44 reciprocates back and forth in a horizontal plane and vibrates through its connection with the cleanroom 29. This movement serves to prevent or at least minimize the risk of chaff adhering or accumulating on the surface of the distributor 44, which may otherwise cause blockage or uneven distribution of material at the opposite inlet 20.

[0233] Fig.28e Another variation is shown in which the dispenser 44 is stationary or otherwise fixed relative to the barrel 12, but is provided with a rubber or other flexible material cover 145 that covers the surface of the dispenser 44 and can move or vibrate relative to the barrel, for example, by connecting the cover 145 to a top screen, or by connecting the cover 145 to a pulley 147 of a drive system 150 of the system 10 via an eccentrically connected arm 149.

[0234] The material after processing in the system 10v and the barrel 12v is discharged to the deflector 138 through the outlet. The deflector 138 deflects the discharged material into the feed pipe 140. The feed pipe 140 can be combined with the structure of the combine harvester or other equipment. However, the feed pipe 140 is a part of the overall material flow integration provided by this embodiment and other embodiments of the disclosed barrel and related systems. In this embodiment, the feed pipe 140 is generally a rectangular tube with a funnel-shaped inlet 142. The discharge diverter 144 divides the material flow through the pipe 140 into two separate, divergent streams. These streams can be supplied to other processing equipment of a part of the combine harvester, such as a group of rotators, which are used to throw the receiving material along the width of the combine harvester head onto the ground. The general flow of material / husk is described by the dotted arrow F in the figure. In this way, the feed pipe 140 acts as a link or conduit in the flow path of the processed material, helping to constrain and guide the material and air flow to the rotator or other downstream system / equipment with minimum diffusion or loss. The material flow can also provide additional material and air energy (velocity and pressure) to improve the propagation of the system. Optionally, the feed pipe can be completely sealed.

[0235] Figures 28a-28d Also shown is a possible drive system 150 for transmitting drive from the combine's engine / high-speed pulse train output (PTO) to the shaft 52 of the system 10v. A belt (not shown) is used to transmit torque from the engine / PTO to a pulley 152 of the OEM (which is not part of the drive system 150). Fig.28b As shown, without the drive system 150, if the shaft 52 is extended to the left to reach the plane 154, the drive belt can be engaged to the pulley 156 coupled to the shaft 52 in the plane 154 (indicated by the dashed line). Instead, the drive system 150 is configured to move the plane inwardly toward the center of the combine harvester to coincide with the plane 154. Fig.28b The effect on the combine harvester may depend on its turning circle and overall maneuverability because embodiments of the system 10 are likely to be mounted in the same area of ​​the combine harvester as the steering axle and associated wheels. By configuring the drive system 150 to shift the coupling plane 158 inwardly toward the center of the combine harvester, interference with the turning circle and steering of the combine harvester may be eliminated or at least minimized.

[0236] The drive system 150 includes an idler / jack shaft 160 connected to a pulley 156 by a belt 162. The pulley 160 rotates about an axis parallel to the shaft 52. A tensioner 164 may be disposed between the pulleys 156 and 160 to adjust the tension in the belt 162. The pulley 160 is provided with a plurality of grooves (e.g., 6-8 grooves) extending from an end coplanar with the pulley 156 on the shaft 52 toward the plane 154. In addition, the pulley 160 is formed with an axial length such that one of its grooves is located in the same plane as the transmission pulley 166. The transmission pulley 166 is connected to the same shaft as the OEM pulley 152. A belt 168 is connected between the pulleys 166 and 160. A tensioning pulley 170 may be disposed between the pulleys 166 and 160 to adjust the tension of the belt 168.

[0237] like Figure 29-36 As shown, embodiments of the system 10 can be integrated into a combine harvester with a rotator or straw chopper of various configurations, thereby feeding the rotator or chopper directly from above or below or directly on the ground. This integration can be combined with the use of a tail plate with tail wings at different positions to achieve divergent distribution, or centrally convergent distribution. Depending on the configuration of the combine harvester integrated with the system 10, the relative position of one or both of the inlet 20 and the outlet 22 can be moved in a circumferential direction around the central axis 16.

[0238] Fig.29 and 30 An embodiment of a system 10v is shown that incorporates a tailgate 172 instead of Figures 28a-28d The tail plate 172 has a plurality of fins 174 for directing the flow of material and air present at the outlet 22. The position of the fin 174 can be adjusted by fixing one end of the fin in a corresponding one of the plurality of holes 176 and fixing the other end at a position along the slot 178. Fig.29 In the embodiment of the invention, fins 174 are used to provide a divergent flow of material and air. In addition, the tail plate is slightly inclined to project material and air upward.

[0239] The tailgate 172 is pivotally coupled to a respective curved bracket 182 by a pivot pin 180 (only one is visible) at the opposite side, the end closest to the barrel 12v. An adjustment arm 184 is also pivotally coupled at one end to the respective side of the tailgate 172, and the other end is coupled in one of a plurality of holes formed in the curved bracket 182. This coupling arrangement of the tailgate 172 enables the inclination of the tailgate 172 to be adjusted, which can be done manually or remotely by using an actuator (not shown) that can be controlled from the cab of the combine harvester.

[0240] Fig.31 Shows Fig.29 and 30A variation of the arrangement of , in which the tail plate 172 is again generally horizontal, but the arrangement of the fins 174 has been changed so that they direct the material and air from the outlet 22 in a converging rather than diverging manner. This configuration of the fins 174 is useful when the material is fed into downstream equipment such as a rotator or shredder.

[0241] Fig.32 An embodiment of the system 10v is shown with a tailgate 172 that slopes upward from the horizontal to feed from below a set of spinners 66. Fins 174 are used to provide converging flows of material and air through an optional intermediate feed tube 140.

[0242] Fig.33 An embodiment of the system 10v is shown positioned above a set of spinners 66. Material from the outlet 22 is converged due to the orientation of the fins 174 and directed below the tailgate 172 into the spinners 66, so here the tailgate 172 is angled below the horizontal plane to feed material and air into the spinners 66. In this embodiment, there is no intervening feed pipe 140 as in the previous embodiment. However, if it is deemed necessary or desirable to maintain pressurization, the pipe 140 can be included. Fig.34 Shown from the side Fig.33 The system 10v (but without the rotator) highlights the downward inclination of the tailgate 172 to facilitate feeding material to the rotator from above.

[0243] Fig.35 and 36 An embodiment of the disclosed system 10v is shown juxtaposed with respect to a vertically oriented rotor 66. The difference between the two embodiments is the configuration of the fins 174 on their respective transoms 172. Fig.35 In the embodiment, the fins 174 are used to generate a diverging material flow toward the spinner 66. Here the spinner rotates to throw the material outward, i.e., toward the opposite side of the associated combine harvester. Fig.36 In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 , the fins 174 are used to create a converging flow of material to the area between the two rotors 66 .

[0244] Figure 29-36 The arrangement shown in the figure is not exhaustive of the disclosed system 10 and the embodiment of the drum 12 that can be combined with a combine harvester. The system and the drum can be installed and arranged to transport the processed material and the generated airflow to other downstream equipment, such as a shredder.

[0245] By using a configuration change of tailgates and fins tilted in a particular manner or by otherwise orienting the barrel 12 and outlet 22, the outlet material is directed, for example: (a) directly into a shredder through a rotator; (b) directly into a rotator; (c) directly onto the ground. In addition, the rotator 66 can be oriented in any plane from horizontal to vertical, from above or below the barrel 12. The material flow from the outlet can be pressure fed using, for example, a sealed tube or conduit similar to the above-mentioned feed pipe 140. In some embodiments, the pipeline 140 can be directly connected to the barrel 12 or a part of the system 10 and thus become a part of the system 10 itself.

[0246] Fig.37 Other modifications to the combination are shown to enhance the integration and / or performance of all embodiments of the disclosed system. Such modifications may include, but are not limited to:

[0247] a) Add an upstream separator 300 on the top screen 302 (only the frontmost edge is shown in this figure) of the combine harvester equipped with the system / drum. The separator 300 is used to separate and spread the flow of chaff falling from the top screen onto the distributor 44.

[0248] b) Add inwardly directed guide plates 304 on the opposite side of the top screen 302 to direct the chaff more centrally to the distributor 44 below. The guide plates 304 can replace the separator 300 or be used in conjunction with the separator 300. Fig.37 The dashed arrow F in the figure indicates the flow of chaff from the top screen to the system 10, which attempts to show that the chaff flow traveling along the central area of ​​the screen is diverted to the left or right by the separator 300 to the distributor 44 below when it approaches the rear edge of the screen 302, while the chaff traveling along the left or right edge of the top screen 302 is diverted inward by the guide plate 304 to the distributor 44 below.

[0249] c) A baffle 306 may be mounted downstream of the drum 12v and the inlet 20 of the distributor 44. The baffle 306 may include a curtain of rubber or other flexible material. The baffle 306 may be connected to a lifting mechanism so that it can move up or down in a vertical plane to balance the airflow of the clean room with the drum. The baffle 306 may allow air to pass without affecting the airflow.

[0250] In addition to the above, it is also possible to install an extension plate or baffle 310 (see Fig.38 ) to improve the integration of embodiments of the system 10 with a combine harvester. The baffle 310 extends beyond the normal throw of the overhead beater. The baffle 310 can reduce the likelihood of straw entering the system 10. Fig.38 An example is shown in which the baffle 310 is inclined from a horizontal direction and extends from an end of a rice pan of a combine harvester.

[0251] The system 10 may be mounted in a combine harvester by a powered or manually operated mechanism that enables the system 10 to slide (e.g., vertically) or to fold / swing between a use position, in which the system 10 actively inactivates weed seeds and is integrated into the overall material flow through the combine harvester, and a maintenance or access configuration that allows for easier access to the system 10 or other portions of the combine harvester.

[0252] Embodiments of the system 10 may be mounted so that the central axis 16 is oriented vertically rather than horizontally. Such embodiments may utilize gravity to control the residence time within the associated cartridge 12.

[0253] In addition, all embodiments of the system 10 can be connected to the frame or other structural member of the combine harvester via a pivot or articulated joint and provided with an actuator to enable the system 10 to be moved between various positions, which makes it easier to maintain various parts of the system 10 or the combine harvester, and also helps to direct the discharge of the outlet 22 to achieve different effects, such as directly discharging onto the ground, discharging to a straw chopper or chaff spreader, or discharging onto the tailgate.

[0254] System 10 can be mechanically coupled to the power take-off of the combine, such as through pulleys and belts, or drive shafts, gearboxes and universal joints. Alternatively, system 10 can be driven by a hydraulic motor or electric motor connected to the combine's hydraulic system (assuming it has one, of course).

[0255] The disclosed embodiments of the drum 12 and system 10 may be modified in structure and operation in order to incorporate various sensors to monitor the performance of the system 10 and the harvester mounted thereon. Information obtained from the sensors may also be used to automatically adjust the performance of the grinder or harvester, some of which will be briefly discussed below.

[0256] A gate or trap door may be provided on the inlet chute 34 or distributor 44, which may be opened and closed by an actuator controlled from the harvester cab, to capture a downstream chaff sample before it flows into the inlet 20. Optionally, automatic sampling may be incorporated. Collecting chaff samples may monitor or measure grain loss in the separation system of the combine harvester. Figure 4Examples of two alternative positions of a trap door 80 are shown, which can be selectively opened and closed to obtain chaff samples. Such a trap door can lead to a small container for storing samples for later testing, or the samples can be fed into an onboard measurement system that can perform real-time measurements of grain loss for samples collected at the upstream end of an associated shaft / stalk separation system (e.g., a thresher). The measurement system can include an optical or vision-based system for comparing upstream and downstream samples. A control system that can include artificial intelligence processing can automatically adjust the head parameters of the combine harvester through the information obtained in these measurements. In addition, as described later, the sample measurement information obtained from the trap door 80 can be used for weed mapping.

[0257] In addition to providing a trap door 80 in the inlet chute 34 or dispenser 44, a segment 70 may be formed at the inlet 20 with a section 73 of the wall 72 that can be selectively pivoted between sampling and processing or operating positions. In the processing position, the section 73 forms part of the circumferential impact surface of the cartridge 12. In the sampling position, the section 73 pivots or swings away from the remainder of the wall 72 to form an opening through which some chaff enters the inlet 20 and is diverted to a sample collection container or measurement system, and although the chaff sample collected in this position may be processed (i.e., ground) to a small extent, the degree of processing / grinding is small enough that the percentage of grain in the chaff cannot be measured.

[0258] Samples of the processed / ground material may also be collected at the outlet 22 and compared to the samples collected at the downstream end through the trap door 80 or the inlet 20 as described above. Comparison of these samples may provide a measure of the degree of processing / grinding, and in particular the degree of weed seed inactivation, of the system 10. This, in turn, may be compared to a specified target and communicated to an in-cabin monitoring and control system, or an autonomous control system. In either case, the control system may be used to alter the configuration or operating characteristics of the system 10 so as to achieve the target degree of processing / weed seed inactivation. For example, the control system may be used to alter one or any combination of two or more of the following:

[0259] ○ The rotation speed of the impact mechanism 18;

[0260] ○ Torque transmitted to the impact mechanism 18;

[0261] ○ The position of the shutter 50;

[0262] o The position or opening degree of the hole 74;

[0263] ○The travel speed of the combine harvester.

[0264] A power measurement sensor may also be incorporated into the system 10 to measure the power (i.e., torque) loss on the system 10, thereby providing an indication of how well the system 10 is handling / milling the material. The control system described above may be used to control one or more operating characteristics or settings of a mill or combine harvester. The power sensor may be in the form of an inductive encoder that measures the torque input and output of the system 10.

[0265] In yet another design variation, the system 10, and in particular the drum 12, may have a bypass feature whereby the drum 12 may be opened along its entire length before the material rotates about the axis 16 beyond a set rotation fraction. Fig.18 , the cartridge 12 may be configured so that each segment 70 has a wall portion 73a having a pivot connection Pa at the 12 o'clock position and a wall portion 73b having a pivot connection Pb at the 6 o'clock position. An actuator (not shown) is provided to move the wall portions 73a, b from Fig.18 The segments are pivoted from the closed position shown to an open or bypass position in which the segments are pivoted away from each other about their respective pivot connections, thereby opening the barrel 12 along its entire axial length.

[0266] Thus, material entering the mill 10 undergoes minimal processing (e.g., contacting the impact surface 14 at most 90° about the axis 16) before exiting. In this manner, the system 10 in this bypass configuration acts more like a chaff spreader than a mill. The bypass characteristics of the system 10 are further enhanced by configuring the system 10 so that the segments 73 of the segments 70 can be selectively opened on opposite sides to act as additional inlets. The final configuration is that the system 10 can actually have an actuatable inlet and a bypass outlet / opening, both extending the entire axial length of the system 10 and rotationally offset from each other by 30°-180° (or any sub-range therein).

[0267] • The drum mill embodiment consisting of multiple segments 70 can be adapted by providing a specialized "exit segment" that can be reconfigured to any circumferential position and opened to any angle as required.

[0268] For example, refer to Fig.15, segments 70e and 70f can be replaced with "export segments". These segments can be provided with a wall 72, which includes, for example, twelve separate wall portions, each of which is pivotally mounted to a segment frame 75, each of which can extend slightly more than 30 °, for example, about 35 °, which makes each wall portion have an overlap of about 5 °, in order to install, for example, a hinge or a pivot pin. An individually controllable actuator can be provided for each wall portion, by which the wall portion can be swung between a closed position in which it forms a part of the inner peripheral wall of the cylinder and an open position in which it forms an outlet opening. Therefore, if the actuator of two or three such mutually adjacent wall portions is activated so that the wall portion moves to the open position, the corresponding segment will form an outlet of 60 ° or 90 °, so. Similarly, the position of the outlet around the axis of rotation 16 can be controlled by operating an appropriate actuator.

[0269] The inlet chute 34 and / or the diverter 44 may be provided in a Figure 1-5 , 7 and 8 to direct feed into the drum 12 to a bypass configuration. Otherwise in the bypass configuration, the material fed to the drum 12 will bypass the drum 12 / system 10 and be directed to flow to other processing or processing systems such as a spreader, shredder or tailgate. In one example, as Fig.21a and 21b As shown, a roll-up door 82 can be mounted on the entry chute 34. The roll-up door 82 can be moved between a punch position, in which the chute 34 is fully open, and a fully closed position depicted in the figure, in which the roll-up door 82 closes the entry chute 34, thereby bypassing the grinder / drum and diverting the material to an alternate processing device, such as a rotator, shredder or tailgate, or directly diverting the material to the ground.

[0270] There are other ways to achieve the same bypass effect as described above. For example, the dispenser 44 can be redesigned to include a plurality of panels 84, 86, 88, 90, 92 and 94 and a foldable side panel 96, all of which are connected together to be reconfigurable in a manner such as Fig.22a and 22b Move between the first configuration shown. Fig.22a In the embodiment, the diverter plates 84, 86, 88, 90, 92 and 94 are diverter structures for diverting the material to the inlet 20, and the foldable side plate 96 is upright, so that the material flows into the inlet 20. Figure 22b In the embodiment, diverter plates 84, 86, 88, 90, 92 and 94 are folded down into a ramp-like configuration, and side plate 96 is folded down to cover inlet 20, and material directed to system 10 bypasses inlet 20 flowing through the folded-down diverter plates 84-94 and side plate 96.

[0271] In addition to the torque sensors described above, other sensors may be provided to provide operational data and signals to the processor and / or communication system. Sensors may include:

[0272] 1. One or more clogging sensors for detecting a clogging or reduced material mass flow rate in the material passing through the system 10;

[0273] 2. One or more vibration sensors for sensing vibrations generated by the rotation of the impact mechanism 18;

[0274] 3. A temperature sensor for sensing the bearing temperature associated with the impact mechanism 18;

[0275] 4. One or more proximity sensors for providing or triggering a warning when a person is within a specified distance of the impact mechanism while it is rotating. Such sensors may also be arranged to directly or indirectly activate a light and / or sound signal generator to indicate or otherwise display that the impact mechanism 18 is still rotating, thereby warning the person that it is unsafe for the machine to continue operating;

[0276] 5. Air pressure sensors 12 at various locations along the barrel.

[0277] These sensors can feed their output signals / data to a data processor associated with the system 10 or a combine harvester or other agricultural machinery incorporating the disclosed system 10. The system 10 or a combine harvester or other agricultural machinery incorporating the disclosed system 10 can also be configured with a communication system. The communication system or the data processor can also include a Global Positioning System (GPS).

[0278] The data processing and communication system can transmit the data, signal or information of any one or more sensors to a remote location and / or the cab of the combine harvester through a communication network (including but not limited to the Internet or the Internet of Things). The data, signal or information from the sensor can be provided directly by the sensor, or it can be processed by the data processor and provided as processed data, signal or information, or both.

[0279] The performance of the grinding machine 10 and the combine harvester can be remotely monitored by transmitting data, signals or information. Remote monitoring can manually or automatically communicate the performance characteristics of the system 10 and / or the combine harvester to the operator or service department of the combine harvester. The performance characteristics may include: wear of various components, maintenance requirements, or provide warnings or alarms of potentially dangerous performance characteristics (such as bearing temperature) to the operator of the combine harvester in real time.

[0280] The sensor data, signals or information may also be combined with other operational information (e.g., combine forward speed and GPS data) via a communications system to calculate the amount of material processed by the system 40 / associated combine and geo-tag the data. A weed map with weed volume or density may be obtained by sampling the sample material obtained from the trap door 80 after processing by the grinder or by optically detecting the weeds by a detector on the combine prior to harvesting and tagged to the corresponding GPS data. Biomass mapping may also be achieved by using the torque sensor described above, which may facilitate commercialization of the system 40 and / or combine with different business or revenue models, such as leasing fees that may be paid based on the calculated amount of material processed by the combine.

[0281] The processed data, signals or information from the sensors may be used in real time or otherwise to:

[0282] • Alert the operator of the combine harvester of various operating characteristics of the system 10 (component / subsystem level) and / or the harvester;

[0283] ●Indicates the need for maintenance and / or repair;

[0284] Determining performance characteristics of the system 10 and / or the combine harvester;

[0285] • Ability to calculate throughput of material handled by the system 10 and / or combine harvester.

[0286] The data, signals, and information transmitted to the remote location may be stored locally or on a cloud-based system. In any case, the data, signals, and information may be fed to a machine learning / artificial intelligence system, which in turn may be used to predict the expected life of components, the throughput of the system 10, and / or suggest potential adjustments to system or combine parameters to improve operational efficiency.

[0287] The sensor may be operably coupled to a data processor that is programmed to take one or more specific actions when a blockage or abnormal change in material flow is detected. These actions may include, but are not limited to: operating a high pressure air compressor to direct a jet of air to the location where a change in material flow or blockage is detected; and / or reducing the ground speed of the system 10 or the combine to reduce the volume of material directed to the blockage, in which case the data processor may alert the operator if and when the blockage has been cleared so that normal travel speed can be resumed.

[0288] Embodiments of the disclosed system may also include actuators or structures capable of changing the configuration, position, or relationship of the components to facilitate control of aspects such as the residence time of the material within the system 10. For example, the position and angle of the flail (axial component) may be manually changed prior to operation or automatically changed through the use of an actuator. For example, the position and angle of the flail (axial component) may be manually changed prior to operation or automatically changed through the use of an actuator. Additionally or alternatively, the following characteristics may be changed: the aggressiveness / roughness of the impact surface 14 (e.g., Figure 10-12 The shape, depth and configuration of the ribs 24 or the valleys 128 of the surface 14t shown in the figure will not only change the degree of deactivation, but also change the flow path of the material, thereby changing the residence time, and in addition, it can also be changed by Figures 24a-25 The control system 129 shown in FIG. 1 controls the degree to which the outlet 22 is opened or closed.

[0289] Wear sensors may also be installed in and as part of the system 10, providing signals to the overall system control and monitoring system to indicate wear of the impact surface 14 of the drum 12 or wear of the hammer 54. For example, the wear sensor may be in the form of a plurality of conductors or one or more conductive meshes that may be impregnated into the impact surface 14, which, when worn, breaks up thereby changing a measurable electrical characteristic such as current, resistance, or capacitance. Other examples may include a load cell on a sacrificial wear plate, or an ultrasonic thickness or surface roughness sensor. The distance from the surface 14 to the flail / hammer 54 may be measured by a proximity sensor to measure wear. Signals from the wear sensor may provide feedback through an IoT system for global mapping and continuous improvement of wear.

[0290] With respect to the overall control of the system 10, the aforementioned torque sensor may be provided to sense the torque in the shaft 52 to determine the power applied to the material flowing through the system 10, whereby a control algorithm may be implemented to automatically adjust the settings of the system 10 based on the torque to optimize seed inactivation, optimize power for the engine, and optimize the optimal allocation of power for seed destruction, straw chopping, and seed and straw spreading.

[0291] In the claims and foregoing description, unless the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" and variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" are used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of stated features, but not to exclude the presence or addition of further features in the various embodiments of the systems and methods disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A weed seed treatment system for inactivating weed seeds in husks by impacting the weed seeds in the husks, comprising: a cylindrical structure having a peripheral wall having an inner impact surface extending circumferentially about a central axis of the cylindrical structure; and an impact mechanism rotatably supported to rotate about the central axis, the impact mechanism for impacting weed seeds and chaff entering the drum and accelerating the weed seeds and chaff to impact the impact surface and generate an airflow from the inlet to the outlet that entrains the ground weed seeds and chaff; wherein the cylindrical structure has (a) respective inlets located at or near opposite axial ends of the cylindrical structure, and an outlet located between the respective inlets; or (b) respective outlets located at or near opposite axial ends of the cylindrical structure, and an inlet located between the respective outlets; Wherein, one or both of the impact surface and the impact mechanism are configured to guide or otherwise direct weed seeds and chaff entering through at least one of the inlets to move in an airflow along a spiral path about the central axis toward at least one of the outlets.

2. The weed seed treatment system according to claim 1, characterized in that: A plate is positioned in at least one of the inlets and angled with respect to the central axis, the plate being operable to slow the peripheral velocity and add an axial velocity component to the weed seeds and chaff within the cylindrical structure to encourage the weed seeds and chaff to flow toward the center of the cylindrical structure.

3. The weed seed treatment system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The impact surface is a textured surface formed with a plurality of valleys, protrusions, or both valleys and protrusions.

4. The weed seed treatment system according to claim 3, characterized in that: The valleys or protrusions are located in a longitudinal extension extending obliquely relative to the central axis.

5. The weed seed treatment system according to claim 4, characterized in that: The valleys or protrusions are arranged into a first group and a second group, wherein the valleys or protrusions in the first group extend from or near the first axial end to the central radial plane of the cylindrical structure, and the valleys or protrusions in the second group extend from or near the second axial end to the central radial plane.

6. The weed seed treatment system according to claim 5, characterized in that: The valleys or protrusions in the first and second groups are positioned symmetrically about the central radial plane.

7. The weed seed treatment system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: An aperture mechanism is included between one of the inlets and one of the outlets, the aperture mechanism being arranged to control the flow of weed seeds and chaff between one of the inlets and one of the outlets.

8. The weed seed treatment system according to claim 7, characterized in that: The aperture mechanism is one of a set of a plurality of interchangeable aperture mechanisms, wherein at least two sets of the interchangeable aperture mechanisms have mutually different aperture areas.

9. The weed seed treatment system according to claim 7, characterized in that: The aperture arrangement includes a central opening having a user-selectable area.

10. The weed seed treatment system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: Also included is one or more screens spanning at least one of the outlets.

11. The weed seed treatment system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: Also included is one or more louvers located in or across at least one of the outlets and operable to vary the effective opening area of ​​at least one of the outlets.

12. The weed seed treatment system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The cylindrical structure includes one or more resilient axial joints to enable the cylinder to flex in radial or circumferential directions.

13. The weed seed treatment system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The cylindrical structure includes a plurality of circumferential segments detachably connected together along the central axis, each segment having a circumferential wall portion with an inner impact surface portion; wherein the circumferential wall portions of the segments jointly form the circumferential wall of the cylindrical structure, and the inner impact surface portions of the segments jointly form the impact surface of the cylindrical structure.

14. A weed seed treatment system according to claim 13, comprising: wherein at least the peripheral wall of each of the first section, the second section and the third section is provided with an opening, wherein the first section and the second section are located at opposite ends of the central axis, respectively, and the third section is located between the first section and the second section; wherein (a) the openings of the first section and the second section form the inlet, and the opening of the third section forms the outlet; or (b) the openings of the first section and the second section form the outlet, and the opening of the third section forms the inlet; and Weed seeds and chaff entering through the inlet are processed on the inner impact surface before exiting through the outlet.

15. The weed seed treatment system according to claim 13, characterized in that: Each segment is composed of a plurality of sections that are bent a portion of 360° around the central axis and connected together in an end-to-end manner to form the respective segment.

16. The weed seed treatment system according to claim 13, characterized in that: Included are flexible joints formed between axially adjacent segments.

17. The weed seed treatment system according to claim 15, characterized in that: Included are flexible joints formed between two or more nodes in a segment, wherein the segment and corresponding barrel are capable of bending or expanding in radial or circumferential directions.

18. The weed seed treatment system according to claim 13, characterized in that: An aperture arrangement is included between two adjacent segments, the aperture arrangement being arranged to control the flow of weed seeds and chaff between the adjacent segments.

19. The weed seed treatment system according to claim 18, characterized in that: The aperture mechanism is one of a set of a plurality of interchangeable aperture mechanisms, wherein at least two sets of the interchangeable aperture mechanisms have mutually different aperture areas.

20. The weed seed treatment system according to claim 18, characterized in that: The aperture arrangement includes a central opening having a user-selectable area.

21. The weed seed treatment system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: An outlet control system is included that is operable to vary the axial distance from the inlet to the outlet.

22. The weed seed treatment system according to claim 21, characterized in that: The outlet control system includes one or more movable covers for selectively moving between different positions covering or uncovering portions of the outlet.

23. The weed seed treatment system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The impact mechanism includes a shaft and a plurality of hammers connected to the shaft.

24. The weed seed treatment system according to claim 23, characterized in that: At least two of the hammers are axially displaced relative to each other.

25. The weed seed treatment system of claim 23, wherein: The hammer may be pivotally or otherwise flexibly connected to the shaft so that the hammer can oscillate or deflect in a radial plane.

26. The weed seed treatment system of claim 23, wherein: At least some of the hammers are located adjacent the inlet and are bent in a forward direction with respect to the direction of rotation of the shaft.

27. The weed seed treatment system of claim 23, wherein: At least some of the hammers are located at or near the outlet and are bent in a direction rearward of the direction of rotation of the shaft.

28. The weed seed treatment system of claim 23, wherein: An aperture mechanism is included between one of the inlets and one of the outlets, the aperture mechanism being arranged to control the flow of weed seeds and chaff between one of the inlets and one of the outlets.

29. The weed seed treatment system of claim 23, wherein: The cylindrical structure includes a plurality of circumferential segments detachably connected together along the central axis, each segment having a circumferential wall portion with an inner impact surface portion; wherein the circumferential wall portions of the segments jointly form the circumferential wall of the cylindrical structure, and the inner impact surface portions of the segments jointly form the impact surface of the cylindrical structure.

30. A combine harvester having the weed seed treatment system of any one of claims 1 to 6, the weed seed treatment system being used to inactivate weed seeds contained in a chaff stream generated by the combine harvester during harvesting of crops; and A drive system is provided for transmitting drive from an engine or power take-off of a combine harvester to the weed seed treatment system to rotate the impact mechanism.

31. The combine harvester according to claim 30, characterized in that The impact mechanism includes a shaft and a plurality of hammers connected to the shaft.

32. The combine harvester according to claim 31, characterized in that At least two of the hammers are axially displaced relative to each other along the shaft.

33. The combine harvester according to claim 31, characterized in that The hammer may be pivotally or otherwise flexibly coupled to the shaft so as to be capable of oscillating or deflecting in a radial plane.

34. The combine harvester according to claim 31, characterized in that At least some of the hammers are located adjacent the inlet and are bent in a forward direction with respect to the direction of rotation of the shaft.

35. The combine harvester according to claim 31, characterized in that At least some of the hammers are located at or near the outlet and are bent upwardly and rearwardly of the direction of rotation of the shaft.

36. The combine harvester according to claim 31, characterized in that The hammers are twisted or angled or otherwise aerodynamically profiled to create airflow in a direction from the inlet to the outlet.

37. The combine harvester according to claim 31, characterized in that The outer peripheral surface of the shaft is provided with longitudinal grooves or ribs along a tortuous path, or vanes or fins with a profile that directs the flow of weed seeds and chaff and air in a direction from the inlet to the outlet.

38. The combine harvester according to claim 30, characterized in that An aperture mechanism is included between one of the inlets and one of the outlets, the aperture mechanism being arranged to control the flow of weed seeds and chaff between one of the inlets and one of the outlets.

39. The combine harvester according to claim 30, characterized in that The cylindrical structure includes a plurality of circumferential segments detachably connected together along the central axis, each segment having a circumferential wall portion with an inner impact surface portion; wherein the circumferential wall portions of the segments jointly form the circumferential wall of the cylindrical structure, and the inner impact surface portions of the segments jointly form the impact surface of the cylindrical structure.

40. A combine harvester having a weed seed treatment system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the weed seed treatment system is used to inactivate weed seeds contained in a chaff stream generated by the combine harvester during harvesting of crops, characterized in that: in, The weed seed treatment system is mounted on the combine harvester with the central axis of the weed seed treatment system oriented horizontally and positioned to receive a feed of chaff, the weed seed treatment system being operable to treat chaff by inactivating weed seeds contained therein.

41. The combine harvester according to claim 40, characterized in that Included is an inlet chute or diverter configurable between a feed configuration, wherein the inlet chute or diverter operates to direct chaff into an inlet, and a bypass configuration, wherein the inlet chute or diverter operates to direct the chaff around the inlet and direct the chaff to flow to other treatment or processing systems or directly to the ground.

42. The combine harvester according to claim 40, characterized in that The weed seed treatment system is coupled to a frame or other structural member of the combine harvester and is provided with an actuator that enables the weed seed treatment system to be moved between various positions to enable maintenance of various portions of the weed seed treatment system or the combine harvester.

43. The combine harvester according to claim 40, characterized in that The weed seed treatment system is connected to the frame or other structural member of the combine harvester and is provided with an actuator that enables the weed seed treatment system to move between various positions, so that the processed weed seeds and chaff flowing out of the weed seed treatment system can be discharged directly onto the ground, or discharged into a straw chopper or chaff spreader, or discharged onto a tailgate.

44. The combine harvester according to claim 40, characterized in that A tailgate is included that is coupled to the cylindrical structure for directing processed weed seeds and chaff and air away from the outlet.

45. The combine harvester according to claim 44, characterized in that The transom is connected to the cylindrical structure in such a manner that the inclination of the transom can be adjusted.

46. ​​The combine harvester according to claim 40, characterized in that A feed pipe is included for receiving the weed seeds and chaff and air exiting through the outlet and directing the weed seeds and chaff and air to a spinner or other downstream system / equipment.

47. The combine harvester according to claim 46, characterized in that The feed pipe is provided with a flow splitter for dividing the weed seeds, husks and air flowing through the feed pipe into two separate and divergent flows.

48. The combine harvester according to claim 40, characterized in that Also included is a drive system for transmitting drive from an engine or power output of the combine harvester to the weed seed treatment system to rotate the impact mechanism, the drive system including one or more pulleys and one or more flexible belts engaged with the one or more pulleys.

49. The combine harvester according to claim 40, characterized in that An aperture mechanism is included between one of the inlets and one of the outlets, the aperture mechanism being arranged to control the flow of weed seeds and chaff between one of the inlets and one of the outlets.

50. The combine harvester according to claim 40, characterized in that The cylindrical structure includes a plurality of circumferential segments detachably connected together along the central axis, each segment having a circumferential wall portion with an inner impact surface portion; wherein the circumferential wall portions of the segments jointly form the circumferential wall of the cylindrical structure, and the inner impact surface portions of the segments jointly form the impact surface of the cylindrical structure.

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