Separating device, separation process and harvesting machine

Abstract

The invention, which relates to a separation device (1), a separation method and a harvesting machine, is based on the objective of providing a solution with which a reduction in losses of threshed crops or an improved separation of residual crops (19) from the discharge of the cleaning of a harvesting machine during the harvesting of threshed crops and an improvement in field hygiene can be achieved.This problem is solved by the arrangement in that the separating device (1) has a substantially cylindrical base body (2) with a back wall (3), that a rotor (9) with inner blade segments (10) and outer blade segments (11) is rotatably mounted in the separating device (1), wherein the inner blade segments (10) are arranged on a first circular path (12) and the outer blade segments (11) are arranged on a second circular path (13) acting in opposite directions, and wherein the rotor (9) is arranged on a drive shaft (14) which is mounted vertically, centrally and rotatably in the back wall (3).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a separating device for a harvesting machine, which has an inlet opening for introducing an inlet-side material flow with residual crops to be separated, wherein the inlet-side material flow is discharged from an outlet of a cleaning device of the harvesting machine, and at least one first outlet opening for discharging the separated residual crops from the separating device.

[0002] The invention also relates to a separation method for a harvesting machine, in which residual crops are separated from a waste stream of a cleaning process of the harvesting machine.

[0003] The invention also relates to a harvesting machine such as a combine harvester.

[0004] The invention relates in particular to a separation device and a separation method with which a separation of so-called harvested crops or threshed crops, which are still contained in the output of the cleaning of a harvesting machine and are referred to as residual crops, takes place.

[0005] Threshed crops are the fruits of a threshed plant, whereby, for the purposes of the present invention, threshed plants are understood to be the above-ground biomass of threshed plants. Examples of such threshed plants are cereal plants, legumes, or oil plants.

[0006] Although the separating device according to the invention, the separating method and the harvesting machine generally relate to a harvesting process for threshed plants, for the sake of simplicity the terms threshed crops or grain, straw and chaff which are customary in the harvesting of cereal plants are used below, without being restricted to the harvesting of cereal plants.

[0007] The general standard for conventional harvesting methods of cereal crops is to divide the cereal crops picked up by a harvester into three parts: stalks or a straw fraction, chaff or a chaff fraction, and threshed crops or a grain fraction. The aim of conventional harvesting methods is generally to harvest the threshed crops in a clean state. The stalks or straw fraction are either laid in swaths on the field for collection, shredded and recovered in shredded form, or evenly distributed over the harvested area to maintain the humus stability of the soil. With conventional harvesting methods, the chaff or chaff fraction is predominantly distributed evenly over the harvested area.

[0008] In addition to the threshed grain and straw typically intended for harvesting cereal crops, there are also so-called non-grain components (NCB) that arise as byproducts during harvesting. In this description, these non-grain components (NCB) include, for example, short straw, chaff, weed seeds, plant parts, or pods, which are discharged from the threshed drum of a harvester along with the threshed grain, separate from the straw.

[0009] The crops intended for harvesting can be, for example, cereal grains such as wheat, barley, rye, oats or triticale.

[0010] From the prior art, such as DE 42 09 503 C2, it is known to transport cereal plants, comprising, for example, an ear and a stalk, via a conveyor belt to a threshing drum using a harvesting machine such as a self-propelled combine harvester, which has a mower with a hay rack. In this threshing drum, the cereal plants are separated into the threshed crop components, such as grain kernels, along with the non-grain components and stalk material of the threshed crops, such as straw.

[0011] To achieve the goal of harvesting, which is to collect the threshed crop in a clean state, the threshed crop, along with the non-grain components, is then fed into a cleaning system where the threshed crop is separated from the non-grain components. Such a state-of-the-art cleaning process can be achieved, for example, using appropriate sieves and a generated air stream.

[0012] The threshed crops leaving the cleaning process are collected and conveyed into a collection container, such as a bunker in the combine harvester. From this bunker, the threshed crops, such as grains, are discharged via an emptying device and transported away, for example, by a transport and transfer wagon and a tractor. The components leaving the cleaning process—short straw, chaff, weed seeds, plant parts, or pods—are referred to as cleaning waste and are discharged, for example, into the field.

[0013] The straw removed from the threshing drum, for example, is spread on the harvested field.

[0014] After the threshed crop is separated from the non-grain components in the harvester's cleaning system, a portion of the threshed crop remains in the cleaning outlet. This cleaning outlet is also referred to as chaff mixture. The portion of the threshed crop remaining in the cleaning outlet is referred to as residual crop.

[0015] In addition to the remaining crops and chaff, this chaff mixture may also contain other parts of the cereal plant, such as short straw, but also weed seeds from non-cereal plants and other small plant parts or pods.

[0016] The proportion of residual fruit remaining in the cleaning process can be, for example, 0.5% under optimal harvest conditions. In practice, harvest conditions are usually not optimal, so the proportion of residual fruit, which is also referred to as harvest loss, can range from 3.0% to 5.0%.

[0017] Often, the entire waste from the cleaning process is spread onto the harvested field. Spreading the plant parts onto the harvested field is usually easy, as such plant parts can contribute to humus formation, for example.

[0018] The spreading of residual crops or grains from cereal plants is undesirable, but can only be prevented to a limited extent with current technology. On the one hand, these residual crops represent losses during the harvest, and on the other hand, in the case of alternating sowing or crop rotation on the soil, it is undesirable for new plants to grow from the previous year's residual crops the following year.

[0019] The spreading of weed seeds onto harvested fields is also undesirable, as this can result in increased effort in preparing the soil to eliminate unwanted weeds through appropriate soil cultivation and / or the necessary use of pesticides. Experts refer to this as field hygiene.

[0020] According to the state of the art, various harvesting machines are known which attempt to achieve the best possible separation of the components of the cereal plants intended for harvest, such as the grain, from the non-grain components.

[0021] DE 42 09 503 C2 discloses a device for self-propelled combine harvesters. The problem to be solved is to create a device for self-propelled combine harvesters that largely captures the weed seeds and threshing waste generated during grain threshing and prevents them from reaching the field.

[0022] The proposed solution is a device that separates and collects the weed seeds and threshing waste generated during grain threshing and transports them to a designated residue tank. This prevents weed seeds and threshing waste from being blown into the field and preventing weed growth in subsequent crops. The threshing waste, weed seeds, dust, and chaff residues collected by the device are thus separated from the grain and can be used as animal feed or for oil production.

[0023] The solution involves installing an additional sieve combination behind the last cleaning sieve in addition to the cleaning sieves typically used in self-propelled combine harvesters. This additional sieve combination is designed so that its beginning is positioned slightly below the last cleaning sieve, thus creating a small overlap. The additional sieve combination is intended to extend across the entire width of the outlet channel of the usual cleaning sieves. The additional sieve combination can consist of one or more sieves stacked one above the other. The individual sieves can be metal sheets with holes approximately the same size as the holes in the grain cleaning sieves.

[0024] This solution requires additional space within the combine harvester and only partially improves the separation of harvested components, such as grain, from non-grain components. Any residual grains or crops not captured by this solution are discharged back into the harvested field.

[0025] DE 10 2020 134 150 A1 discloses a separation device and a separation method for separating weed seeds and lost crops from the cleaning discharge of a harvesting machine. The problem to be solved is to specify a separation device and a separation method with which weed seeds and lost crops can be separated directly from the cleaning discharge of a harvesting machine.

[0026] To achieve this objective, a separation device is provided, which is arranged at the cleaning outlet of the harvesting machine. The separation device has at least one rotating separation element, to which a material stream, essentially consisting of weed seeds and lost crops, is fed from the cleaning outlet of the harvesting machine. The separation device generates a residual material stream, which essentially consists of non-grain components and is applied directly to the field, while the material stream separated by the separation device, essentially consisting of weed seeds and lost crops, can first be collected and, for example, rendered germ-incapable.

[0027] The disadvantages of this solution are, on the one hand, the additional installation space required within the harvesting machine due to the additional structural units required and, on the other hand, the high technical effort for the specified separating device, since such units also have to be adapted to specific fruit shapes or sizes and are sensitive to moist harvested crops.

[0028] Furthermore, additional conveyor systems are required to transport the weed seeds and lost crops from the separator to a collection area, as well as to transport the non-grain components to the field. Furthermore, the purpose of this separator is to separate weed seeds and lost crops from the cleaning waste stream and dispose of them separately. The primary goal of this separator is not to reduce crop losses.

[0029] DE 10 2017 120 674 A1 describes a separation device and a separation method in which grain is separated from the non-grain components of a harvested product containing predominantly grain by preferably combined sieving and sifting in a rotatable sieving device by superimposing a rotary movement and oscillating movement of the sieve jacket.

[0030] Since in this solution the main crop stream consisting of grain and non-grain components is processed in the combine harvester, such a separation device is structurally very complex and does not solve the problems of screening in humid conditions or when the requirements of the grain properties change.

[0031] A controllable superimposed oscillation of the vertically rotating screen axis and screen surfaces is also technically complex.

[0032] The separation device described in DE 10 2017 120 674 A1 and the separation process described in DE 10 2017 120 674 A1 are unsuitable as a supplementary unit for the subsequent separation of residual grains, since the necessary technical and structural effort can hardly be reduced due to the practically unchanged volume of the non-grain components.

[0033] Finally, EP 3 412 139 A1 proposes a grain cleaner for the post-cleaning of the grain stream after the actual main cleaning in the combine harvester of any type.

[0034] The operating principle of this solution requires that the grain stream contains only small amounts of non-grain components. This is also legally required for the acceptance of the grain harvest for further processing in the commercial sector. The proportion of substandard grains, referred to here as impurities, is less than 2% and the proportion of husks is a maximum of 1%.

[0035] The grain cleaner described in EP 3 412 139 A1 is not suitable for a proportion of 3% to 5% residual grains which often occurs in practice with known harvesting machines.

[0036] Thus, there is a need for an improved separating device for a harvesting machine and an improved separating method for a harvesting machine to overcome the disadvantages known from the prior art. There is also a need for an improved harvesting machine, such as a combine harvester.

[0037] The object of the invention is to provide a separating device for a harvesting machine, a separating method for a harvesting machine and a harvesting machine, whereby a reduction in the losses of threshed crops or an improved separation of residual crops from the waste from the cleaning of a harvesting machine during the harvest of threshed crops as well as an improvement in field hygiene can be achieved.

[0038] In addition, the effort required to manufacture the separating device for a harvesting machine, as well as the required installation space and manufacturing costs, are to be reduced, and the reliability of the separating device in separating residual crops from the waste stream of a harvesting machine's cleaning process is to be improved.

[0039] The problem is solved by a separating device for a harvesting machine having the features according to claim 1 of the independent claims. Further developments are specified in the claims that refer back to claim 1.

[0040] The problem is also solved by a separation method for a harvesting machine having the features according to claim 8 of the independent claims. Further developments are specified in the claims referring back to claim 8.

[0041] The problem is also solved by a harvesting machine having the features according to claim 12 of the independent patent claims.

[0042] The object is achieved by a separating device for a harvesting machine, which has a substantially cylindrical base body with a rear wall, wherein a wing rotor with inner wing segments with first profiles and outer wing segments with second profiles is rotatably mounted in the separating device, wherein the inner wing segments are arranged on a first circular path and the outer wing segments on a second circular path, wherein both circular paths are arranged concentrically to the drive shaft.The first profiles of the inner wing segments have an opposite alignment of their profiles, deviating from the second profiles of the outer wing segments, such that a first angle of attack of a first profile of an inner wing segment in the direction of a rotation direction, generating a material flow in the separation device in a first transport direction, has a value between 10 degrees and 55 degrees, and a second angle of attack of a second profile of an outer wing segment in the direction of rotation, generating the material flow in the separation device in a second transport direction, has a value between 125 degrees and 170 degrees. The wing rotor is arranged on a drive shaft, which is arranged vertically, centrally and rotatably mounted in the rear wall.

[0043] This design of the first profiles of the inner wing segments and the second profiles of the outer wing segments with their associated angles of attack means that when the inner wing segments move along the first circular path, a material flow in the separating device is first generated in a first transport direction in the direction of the rear wall of the separating device and when the outer wing segments move along the second circular path, the material flow in the separating device is subsequently generated in a second transport direction opposite to the first transport direction.

[0044] The object is also achieved by a separation method for a harvesting machine, in which a separation device is provided which essentially has a cylindrical base body, an inlet opening and a rear wall and has a vane rotor arranged on a drive shaft with inner vane segments and outer vane segments, that the waste from a cleaning process of a harvesting machine is fed to the separation device as an inlet-side material flow via the inlet opening and merges into a material flow in the separation device, that the first profiles of the inner vane segments move the material flow in the separation device towards the rear wall of the separation device in a first transport direction in a center of the separation device and around the drive shaft in a spiral movement,that in the region of the rear wall, the direction of the material flow in the separating device changes and the material flow is moved in the radial transport direction away from the drive shaft over the rear wall and the residual fruits contained in the inlet-side material flow are deposited in a depression in the bottom, that the second profiles of the outer wing segments move the material flow, which is essentially freed from residual fruits, in the separating device in a second transport direction essentially opposite to the first transport direction, away from the center in the region of a lateral surface of the base body and the material flow merges into a second outlet-side material flow of the separating device.

[0045] Due to the transport of the material flow in the separation device in different transport directions in the separation device caused by the profiles of the wing segments in the separation device, the inlet-side material flow is divided into a first outlet-side material flow with separated residual fruit and a second outlet-side material flow of non-grain components that is essentially free of residual fruit, and the first outlet-side material flow with the residual fruit deposited in a bottom depression is discharged from the separation device separately from the second outlet-side material flow.

[0046] According to the process, the inlet-side material stream, from the outlet of a cleaning plant, transitions into a material stream in the separation device, which is moved within the separation device first in a first transport direction, subsequently in a radial transport direction, and finally in a second transport direction within the separation device. The residual crops contained in the inlet-side material stream are deposited in a bottom depression at a lowest point within the separation device. The process generates a first outlet-side material stream containing separated residual crops, which are deposited in the bottom depression, and a second material stream freed of residual crops and containing non-grain components.

[0047] The separating device according to the invention is intended to be arranged at the exit of a cleaning system of a harvesting machine such as a combine harvester and within this harvester. This description will hereinafter refer only to the combine harvester, without thereby limiting the use of the separating device according to the invention to a combine harvester.

[0048] It is provided that the separating device according to the invention is arranged at the outlet of the cleaning process of a harvesting machine at a location at which chaff spreaders known from the prior art, which spread the chaff mixture produced after a cleaning process onto the harvested field, are arranged in a combine harvester.

[0049] The separating device according to the invention has a substantially cylindrical base body, a so-called lateral surface, with a substantially smooth base surface or rear wall and a cover surface arranged opposite the rear wall with an inlet opening.

[0050] It is provided that a longitudinal axis of the separating device, on which the drive shaft of the vane rotor is arranged in alignment, is arranged in a range between 0 degrees and 90 degrees, in particular in a range between 3 degrees and 87 degrees, further in particular in a range between 5 degrees and 85 degrees, aligned to a vertical line.

[0051] The separating device is arranged with its imaginary longitudinal axis, which corresponds to the alignment of the drive shaft in the separating device, in such a way that the longitudinal axis has a deviation from a vertical in a range between 0 degrees and 90 degrees, in particular in a range between 3 degrees and 87 degrees, and more particularly in a range between 5 degrees and 85 degrees. In this way, the arrangement or orientation of the separating device in a harvesting machine is very flexible. This allows the separating device to be adapted to different company philosophies or design conditions of harvesting machines such as combine harvesters. In order to guide the crop flow or the outflow from the cleaning process of the harvesting machine to the inlet opening of the separating device according to the invention, mechanical deflection aids known from the prior art, such as angle plates, impact cloths or others, are used.Thus, the waste from the harvesting machine cleaning process is transferred into the inlet-side material flow of the separating device.

[0052] The entrance area of ​​the separator has an inlet through which the incoming material flow is fed into the separator. This incoming material flow, the chaff mixture, contains chaff, short straws, weed seeds, and other plant parts, as well as the residual crops to be separated by the separator.

[0053] To promote and support the movement of this input-side material flow, which transitions from the input-side material flow into a material flow within the separation device at the inlet opening of the separation device, a vane rotor is arranged at the inlet opening of the separation device. The vane rotor has inner vane segments with first profiles and outer vane segments with second profiles. The inner vane segments are arranged on a first circular path of the vane rotor, which has, for example, 2 to 6 vanes. The outer vane segments are arranged on a second circular path surrounding the first circular path. The first circular path and the second circular path are arranged concentrically or coaxially.

[0054] The vane rotor is connected to a drive shaft located centrally within the separating device and along the imaginary longitudinal axis. The drive shaft runs through the rear wall of the separating device and is rotatably mounted centrally within the rear wall. To drive the vane rotor, the drive shaft is connected to a drive unit outside the cylindrical separating device. In one version, this drive unit is an electric motor. In an alternative version, a hydraulic drive is provided.

[0055] It is provided that the first outlet opening in the separating device is arranged in the rear wall, adjacent to a lateral surface of the cylindrical base body, or in the lateral surface of the cylindrical base body, adjacent to the rear wall, or extending over a part of the lateral surface of the cylindrical base body and the rear wall.

[0056] Depending on the orientation of the separation device's longitudinal axis, the position of a lowest point within the cylindrical separation device changes. According to the process, the residual fruit contained in the inlet stream is deposited. This lowest point is also referred to as the bottom depression. The first outlet opening is located in the area of ​​this lowest point, or bottom depression, through which a first outlet stream containing separated residual fruit is discharged from the separation device.

[0057] Furthermore, it is provided according to the invention that a sieve body and / or an endless nub belt is arranged at the first outlet opening.

[0058] In a first variant, a sieve body is arranged at the first outlet opening. This sieve body has several openings that allow the residual crop separated in the soil depression to pass through the sieve body. Generally, the diameter of the several openings of the sieve body is selected in a range between 6 mm and 15 mm. For example, if the residual crop is wheat grains, the diameter of the several openings of the sieve body is selected in a range between 6 mm and 8 mm. This allows these wheat grains to leave the separation device in the first output stream.

[0059] The residual crop discharged from the separator via the first outlet opening can be collected and transported via an endless dimpled belt, either alternatively or in addition to the arranged sieve body. This allows the residual crop to be transported, for example, to a bunker of the harvester.

[0060] For example, an endless dimpled belt is arranged at the first outlet opening of the separator. Its dimpled surface closes the first outlet opening. This prevents the residual crops accumulated in the deepest area of ​​the separator, i.e., in the depression in the ground, from moving through the first outlet opening and leaving the separator. The dimples of the endless dimpled belt are designed and dimensioned in such a way that the residual crops can settle between these dimples, protected from airflow. Due to the close spacing between the adjacent dimples, harvest byproducts, such as short straw, cannot settle between these dimples or be placed in a position protected from airflow.Thus, the non-grain components are captured by the air flow or material flow in the separator, transported further in the second transport direction, and discharged from the separator via the second outlet opening. Light chaff particles, in particular, cannot find a hold between the nubs and are captured by the air flow or material flow in the separator and transported further in the second transport direction.

[0061] It is also intended that the separated residual fruit contained in the first output stream be removed continuously or at specified times via the dimpled belt provided at the first outlet opening of the separator. In this way, the residual fruit can be removed from the separator in batches and conveyed further, for example.

[0062] It has proven particularly advantageous that a perforated disc arrangement is arranged at the first outlet opening of the separating device.

[0063] Such a perforated disc arrangement essentially consists of a first round disc and a second round disc, preferably of the same diameter, which are arranged parallel to one another and sliding on one another. The first disc, which is located on top, is arranged so as to be rotatable about its center point, while the second disc, which is located on the bottom, is arranged so as to be non-rotatable. The first disc, similar to the sieve body, has a plurality of openings whose diameters are adapted to the respective residual fruit, so that the residual fruit from the bottom depression passes through the first outlet opening into the plurality of openings in the first disc. The openings in the first disc have a diameter in the range between 4 mm and 15 mm. The thickness of this first disc is designed such that several residual fruit can be placed in one of the openings in the first disc. For this purpose, the first disc has a thickness of between 2 mm and 15 mm.

[0064] The second disc located below has a third outlet opening through which the residual fruit that has entered the openings of the first disc is removed. This third outlet opening has a diameter that is several times the diameter of one of the openings in the first disc of the perforated disc arrangement, so that several residual fruits can pass through the third outlet opening simultaneously. The outlet opening of the second disc of the perforated disc arrangement can be round, oval, or circular sector-shaped.

[0065] Furthermore, it is intended to transport the residual crops to a bunker in the harvesting machine by means known from the state of the art, such as a rotary valve and corresponding transport means, from which they are removed from the harvesting machine as usual at the appropriate time.

[0066] It is also provided that a second outlet opening is arranged in the lateral surface of the base body of the separating device for discharging a second output-side material stream of by-products from the separating device, which is essentially freed from residual fruit.

[0067] This second outlet opening is located in the lateral surface of the base body of the separation device in an area opposite the rear wall, close to the area of ​​the cover surface with an inlet opening. The output stream of by-products generated by the process, freed from residual fruit, is discharged from the separation device via this second outlet opening.

[0068] It is also provided according to the invention that a circular ring element covering the outer wing segments is arranged with a ring arranged between the inner wing segments and the outer wing segments.

[0069] By means of the circular ring element covering the outer wing segments, which can also be described as a cylindrical or inwardly conically tapering cylinder ring, the second material flow of the non-grain components, freed from the residual crops, is guided to the second outlet opening arranged in the lateral surface or the movement in the direction of the second outlet opening is supported.

[0070] The ring arranged between the inner and outer vane segments ensures fluidic decoupling between the inner and outer vane segments of the vane rotor. This allows the different vane segments of the vane rotor to create different transport directions for the material flow within the separation device.

[0071] The separation method for a harvesting machine is explained in more detail below. The inner vane segments arranged on the first circular path are aligned with their first angles of attack such that, according to the present method, with a corresponding rotational movement of the vane rotor in one direction of rotation, they transfer the inlet-side material flow into the material flow within the separation device and initially move or transport this within the separation device towards the rear wall of the separation device in the first transport direction. The movement of the material flow within the separation device initially or initially occurs in the first transport direction in the immediate vicinity of the drive shaft and in a spiral movement of the first material flow around this drive shaft until the material flow within the separation device reaches the rear wall of the separation device.

[0072] Upon reaching the rear wall of the separator, the direction of movement of the material flow in the separator changes and no longer runs close to the drive shaft. The material flow in the separator is then moved away from the center of the rear wall or the drive shaft in a radial transport direction, i.e., from the center of the rear wall toward the outer surface of the separator across the rear wall of the separator. The material flow in the separator is distributed or diluted and is guided outward across the entire surface of the rear wall.

[0073] The residual crops, such as grains, contained in the inlet-side material flow collide with the material flow in the separation device in the first transport direction against the rear wall. Due to the weight acting on these residual crops, most of them slide down over the rear wall into the lowest area of ​​the separation device, referred to here as the bottom depression. The residual crops in the material flow collect in this bottom depression, which, depending on the orientation of the longitudinal axis of the separation device, is located in the area of ​​the outer surface, in the area of ​​the rear wall, or in an area of ​​the outer surface and the rear wall of the cylindrical separation device.According to the present method, the residual crops separated in the soil depression form a first output-side material flow with separated residual crops, referred to briefly as the first output-side material flow, which is discharged from the region of the soil depression via a first outlet opening arranged in this region from the separation device.

[0074] The material flow in the separating device, freed from the residual fruit, after having reached the edge areas of the rear wall, then moves along the outer surface of the essentially cylindrical base body of the separating device in a second transport direction close to the outer surface away from the rear wall in the direction of the vane rotor.

[0075] To support the movement of the material flow, freed of residual crops, in the separation device, the outer blade segments of the blade rotor, arranged on the second concentric circular path, generate a suction through the second angle of attack of the second profiles, the direction of which is opposite to the first transport direction. When generating this suction, the blade rotor also rotates in the same direction of rotation.

[0076] Thus, the blade rotor, in its direction of rotation, uses its inner blade segments to move the supplied inlet-side material flow from the cleaning outlet containing a chaff mixture, which merges into the material flow in the separation device, a material flow in the separation device in the center of the separation device or in an area around the drive shaft in a first direction of movement towards the rear wall of the separation device. At the same time, its outer blade segments cause a material flow freed of residual fruit in the separation device away from the center in the area of ​​the lateral surface of the base body of the separation device in a second transport direction. The first transport direction is opposite to the second transport direction.

[0077] Due to the suction acting in the second transport direction, the components of the chaff mixture such as chaff, plant parts of the cereal plant such as short straw, weed seeds of non-cereal plants and other small plant parts or pods, i.e. the non-grain components, are moved further as a material flow in the second transport direction, while the remaining crops are deposited in a depression in the ground in the area of ​​the rear wall of the separation arrangement due to the weight force acting on them.

[0078] The second material stream in the separation device, which has essentially been freed of residual fruit, is deflected radially outward from the second transport direction in the region of the outer vane segments of the vane rotor, or in a direction away from the drive shaft. A second outlet opening is provided in a segment of the lateral surface of the cylindrical separation arrangement, through which the second material stream, freed of residual fruit, is discharged radially from the separation arrangement as a second outlet-side material stream.

[0079] To guide the outwardly directed second material flow and to provide fluidic decoupling from the inlet-side material flow, which merges into the material flow in the separation device in the area of ​​the inlet opening, a circular ring element is arranged that covers the outer blade segments of the blade rotor. This circular ring element covers the outer blade segments of the blade rotor and, on the other hand, has a ring arranged between the inner blade segments of the blade rotor and the outer blade segments of the blade rotor for fluidic decoupling. The circular ring element can also be described as a cylindrical or inwardly tapered cylindrical ring.

[0080] The second material stream of non-grain components, freed from the residual fruit, is guided in a rotating movement along the shell surface through the circular ring element until the second material stream reaches the outlet opening in the shell surface and is discharged from the separation device as a second output-side material stream.

[0081] Thus, by means of the provided separation device, an input-side material flow fed to the separation device is divided by the separation device into a first output-side material flow with separated residual fruits and into a second output-side material flow of non-grain components that is essentially freed from residual fruits.

[0082] According to the invention, the separated residual crops contained in the first output-side material flow are discharged via a first outlet opening of the separating device and fed to a bunker of the harvesting machine.

[0083] The separated residual crops contained in the first output-side material stream are discharged from the separation device via the first outlet opening of the separation device as the first output-side material stream and conveyed or transported into a collection container using conventional conveyors or transport means known from the state of the art. Such a collection container is, for example, a bunker in the harvester, into which the threshed crops separated during the harvester's cleaning process are also fed. This reduces threshed crop losses during harvesting by adding the residual crops separated by the separation process to the overall harvest.

[0084] It is also planned that the separated residual crops will be threshed crops such as wheat, barley, rye, oats or triticale.

[0085] The method according to the invention, which is implemented with the separation device according to the invention, is particularly suitable for separating residual crops, which are threshed crops such as wheat, barley, rye, oats, or triticale. There is no restriction to the threshed crops listed here.

[0086] It is also provided that the residual crops separated in the first output-side material stream are fed continuously or in batches to a weighing device in the harvester. This makes it possible to record the mass of the residual crops, such as wheat grains, separated from a chaff mixture by the separation device or separation method according to the invention, for example. The online measured values ​​of the separated residual crops generated by such a weighing device are taken into account when calculating the throughput of the harvester, the losses, or the characteristic curve of the harvester such as a combine harvester, and improve the accuracy of the calculated combine harvester variables. Using these variables, current setting parameters of the combine harvester are optimized in order to improve the combine harvester's performance during harvesting and to reduce harvesting losses.

[0087] It is also intended that the second output-side material stream, freed of residual crops, is spread onto the harvested field. The separation assembly is arranged at the cleaning exit and in the rear area of ​​the combine harvester in such a way that the second output-side material stream, radially discharged via the second outlet opening, is spread directly onto the harvested field. Thus, the separation assembly according to the invention assumes the function of a chaff spreader known from the prior art.

[0088] It is provided that a second separation device is provided in the harvesting machine, that the inlet-side material flow, which is provided by an outlet of a cleaning system of the harvesting machine, is divided as an inlet-side material flow between both inlet openings of the separation devices and is transferred into the material flow in the respective separation device and that both separation devices each produce a first outlet-side material flow with separated residual fruit and each produce a second outlet-side material flow of non-grain components, which is essentially free of residual fruit, and discharge them separately from the separation device.

[0089] In order to improve the quality of the separation device and / or to increase the quantity of the inlet-side material flow to be processed, i.e. the quantity of waste from the cleaning process of the harvesting machine, two separation devices are arranged, for example, next to each other in a structural unit in the harvesting machine.

[0090] The drive shafts of the two separating devices, with their respective vane rotors, can be connected to a common drive unit. A separate drive unit for each drive shaft can also be provided.

[0091] The separating devices each correspond to the above description with their design, mode of operation, and individual elements. In this arrangement of two separating devices, they are arranged mirror-symmetrically to each other, with the vane rotor of a first separating device rotating in a mathematically positive direction of rotation, while the second vane rotor of the second separating device rotates in a mathematically negative direction of rotation.

[0092] In this arrangement or design, the inlet-side material flow provided as the outlet of a purification process is divided between both separation devices. Thus, a first portion of the inlet-side material flow is fed to the first separation device, and a second portion of the inlet-side material flow is fed to the second separation device, with both portions together constituting the inlet-side material flow provided by the outlet of a purification process.

[0093] It is planned to divide the inlet-side material flow provided by the outlet of a cleaning plant in half between the two separation devices.

[0094] Both separation devices process their respective input material streams in such a way that each separation device produces a first output material stream containing separated residual crops and a second output material stream containing non-grain components, essentially free of residual crops. The second output material streams are applied, for example, to the harvested field via the second outlet openings of the separation devices.

[0095] The first output material streams with separated residual crops are each discharged via a first outlet opening of the corresponding separation device, thus reducing the resulting harvest losses.

[0096] Even in the version with two separation units in one structural unit in the harvester, a sieve body and / or an endless dimpled belt is arranged at the first outlet openings of each of the separation units. Alternatively, a perforated disc can be arranged at each of the first outlet openings of the separation units.

[0097] It is also planned to install a sieve body at the first outlet opening, closing the outlet opening. This sieve body has several openings designed accordingly or adapted to the residual crop, which create a sieving effect and thus allow only the residual crop to pass through, while retaining larger particles such as stones, short straws, or weeds.

[0098] Thus, a further advantage of the invention is that, for example, stones are not ejected via a chaff spreader of the harvester, as is known from the prior art, since they are retained in the separating device. This prevents personal injury or damage to transport equipment, for example, a vehicle traveling parallel to the harvester during grain unloading, such as a combine harvester.

[0099] Since foreign objects such as stones accumulate in the separating device in the area of ​​the ground depression, the screening body and / or the endless dimpled belt are arranged to pivot about an axis. This allows the screening body and / or the endless dimpled belt to be pivoted away from the first outlet opening, thereby exposing the first outlet opening. In this position, foreign objects can be removed from the separating device while the separating device is at a standstill, and the separating device can be cleaned.

[0100] The separated residual crops from the first output material stream are conveyed by the self-propelled combine harvester into a bunker for residual crops located within the combine harvester, into which the threshed crops separated during cleaning were also conveyed. The process of removing the separated residual crops from the separating device can be timed and, for example, synchronized with a process of emptying the bunker using an emptying device. During this emptying process, the threshed crops and residual crops are conveyed from the bunker using an emptying device and transported away from the harvest site or field, for example, using a transport and transfer wagon and a tractor.

[0101] By separating residual crops from the chaff mixture spread on the field, harvest losses are reduced and yield and performance during combine harvesting are increased.

[0102] It has proven particularly advantageous that an amount of a first area formed by the first outlet opening lies in a range of less than 20% of an amount of a second area formed by the inlet opening of the separating device.

[0103] To prevent the air flow generated by the blade segments in the separation device from being negatively impacted, the area of ​​the extraction opening, i.e., the area of ​​the first outlet opening, is dimensioned such that it is less than 20% of the area of ​​the round inlet opening of the separation device. This prevents interference caused by so-called secondary air, which could flow into or out of the separation device via the first outlet opening, or at least significantly reduces it to such an extent that the process according to the invention is not affected.

[0104] It has also proven advantageous that an amount of a third area, which is formed in total by the multiple openings of a sieve body or the multiple openings of a perforated disc, which are located in the region of the diameter of the first outlet opening, is in a range of less than 10% of the amount of the second area, which is formed by the inlet opening of the separating device.

[0105] The third area is calculated from the sum of the individual diameters of the openings in the sieve flap or perforated disc. When calculating the third area, only those openings in the sieve flap or perforated disc located in the area of ​​the first outlet opening are included—that is, only those openings through which residual crop can be discharged from the separator. Only through these openings can air flow into or out of the separator.

[0106] To prevent the air flow generated by the blade segments in the separation device from being negatively impacted, the third area, which is formed by the multiple openings of a sieve body or the multiple openings of a perforated disc, is dimensioned such that it is less than 10% of the area of ​​the round inlet opening of the separation device. Thus, disturbances caused by so-called secondary air, which could flow into or out of the separation device via the first outlet opening and the openings of the sieve body or the perforated disc, are avoided or at least reduced to such an extent that the process according to the invention is not affected.

[0107] It is intended that one or two separating devices are arranged in a harvesting machine at an exit of a cleaning system of the harvesting machine and within this harvesting machine in a structural unit.

[0108] An advantage of this arrangement is in particular that the installation space otherwise usually used for a chaff spreader is used for the separating device according to the invention and the function of the chaff spreader is also taken over by the separating device according to the invention.

[0109] The above-explained features and advantages of this invention will be better understood and appreciated after careful study of the following detailed description of the preferred, non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the invention with the accompanying drawings, which show: Fig. 1: a schematic diagram of the separating device according to the invention in a sectional view, Fig. 2: a variant of the invention in which two separating devices are arranged in a structural unit in a plan view, Fig. 3: an embodiment of the invention according to Fig. 2 in a perspective view, Fig. 4a, Fig. 4b: a partial representation of the area of ​​the first outlet opening of the separating device, Fig. 5: a partial view of the endless studded band with studs, Fig. 6a, Fig. 6b, Fig. 6c: a representation of the vane rotor according to the invention in a plan view, a sectional view and a perspective view, Fig. 7a, Fig. 7b: exemplary profiles of the wing segments of the wing rotor, Fig. 8a, Fig. 8b, Fig. 8c: an embodiment of the invention in which a perforated disc is arranged at the first outlet opening of the separating device and Fig. 9: a basic sequence of the separation process according to the invention.

[0110] The Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of the separating device 1 according to the invention in a sectional view. The separating device 1 has a substantially cylindrical base body 2 with a cylindrical outer surface 38. The cylindrical base body 2 has a substantially smooth base surface or rear wall 3 and a cover surface 4 opposite the rear wall 3 with an inlet opening 5. The inlet opening 5 of the separating device 1 is oriented, for example, in a direction of travel 6, while the rear wall 3 of the separating device 1 is oriented opposite the direction of travel 6 of the harvesting machine (not shown), such as a combine harvester, in the harvesting machine.

[0111] The longitudinal axis 7 of the separating device 1 is generally arranged in a range between 0 degrees and 90 degrees to a vertical, this angle 8 in the example of the Fig. 1 is approximately 80 degrees. Thus, the essentially cylindrical base body 2 in the case of the arrangement in the Fig. 1 arranged as an example with a backward inclination in the harvester.

[0112] At the inlet opening 5 of the separating device 1, a vane rotor 9 is arranged, which has inner vane segments 10 and outer vane segments 11. The inner vane segments 10 are arranged on a first circular path 12 of the vane rotor 9, which has, for example, 2 to 6 vanes. The outer vane segments 11 are arranged on a second circular path 13 concentrically or coaxially surrounding the first circular path 12. The first circular path 12 and the second circular path 13 are concentric and in the Fig. 1 not shown.

[0113] The vane rotor 9 is connected to a drive shaft 14 arranged centrally in the separating device 1, which is rotatably mounted through the rear wall 3 of the separating device 1. To drive the vane rotor 9, the drive shaft 14 is connected to a drive unit 15, such as an electric motor, outside the cylindrical separating device 1.

[0114] The inner vane segments 10 arranged on the first circular path 12 have a first angle of attack of the vanes of, for example, 40 degrees and are thus arranged in such a way that, with a corresponding rotational movement of the vane rotor 9 in a direction of rotation 31, they move or transport the inlet-side material flow 16, which merges into the material flow 34 in the separation device 1 at the inlet opening 5, in the direction of the rear wall 3 of the separation device 1 in a first transport direction 17.

[0115] The movement of the material flow 34 into the separating device 1 takes place in the first transport direction 17 in the immediate vicinity of the drive shaft 14 in the center of the separating device 1 or close to the center and in a spiral movement 18 of the material flow 34 around this drive shaft 14 until the material flow 34 reaches the rear wall 3 of the separating device 1.

[0116] When reaching the area of ​​the rear wall 3 of the separating device 1, the direction of movement of the material flow 34 within the separating device 1 is changed, as shown by the arrows in the Fig. 1. The material flow now moves from the center of the rear wall 3 or away from the drive shaft 14 in the direction of the edge of the circular rear wall 3 or in the direction of the outer surface of the separating device 1 in a radial transport direction 35. Two exemplary paths for the material flow 34 within the separating device 1 are shown by means of several arrows arranged in a row.

[0117] The residual fruits 19 such as grains contained in the inlet-side material flow 16, guided with the material flow 34 in the separating device 1, collide with the rear wall 3 and slide over the rear wall 3 downwards into the lowest point or area of ​​the separating device 1, which is referred to here as the bottom depression 20.

[0118] In this depression 20, which in the example of Fig. 1 in the lower area of ​​the lateral surface 38 or the base body 2 of the cylindrical separating device 1, the residual fruits 19 collect. The area of ​​the bottom depression 20 is in the Fig. 1 is marked by a dashed line. From the material flow 34 in the separation device 1, a first output-side material flow 36 is formed with separated residual crops 19, which are discharged from the area of ​​the bottom depression 20 via a first outlet opening 21.

[0119] The material stream 34, freed from the residual fruit 19, is subsequently moved further in the separation device 1 as a second material stream 34, essentially freed from the residual fruit 19. The material stream 34, which now contains only non-grain components, moves, after reaching the edge regions of the rear wall 3, along the lateral surface 38 of the essentially cylindrical base body 2 of the separation device 1 in a second transport direction 22 near the almond surface 38 away from the rear wall 3.

[0120] To support the movement of the material flow 34 freed of the residual crops 19, the outer blade segments 11 of the blade rotor 9 arranged on the second circular path 13 generate a suction in the second transport direction 22 through their second blade angle of attack, for example, 140 degrees, the direction of which is opposite to the first transport direction 17. When generating this suction, the blade rotor 9 also rotates in the rotation direction 31.

[0121] Thus, the vane rotor 9 in the direction of rotation 31 causes a material flow 34 in the separating device 1 in an area around the drive shaft 14 in a substantially first transport direction 17 and at the same time a material flow 34 freed from the residual fruit 19 in the separating device 1 substantially remote from the center in the area of ​​the lateral surface 38 of the separating device 1 in a second transport direction 22 which is oriented substantially opposite to the first transport direction 17.

[0122] Due to this suction acting in the second transport direction 22, the non-grain components in the material flow 34 are moved further in the second transport direction 22, while the residual crops 19 slide over the rear wall 3 to the bottom depression 20.

[0123] The material flow 34 freed from the residual fruits 19 is deflected radially outwards from the second transport direction 22 in the region of the outer vane segments 11 of the vane rotor 9, or in a direction away from the drive shaft 14, and is discharged from the separation arrangement 1 via a second outlet opening 23 as a second output-side material flow 37.

[0124] To guide the material flow 34 and to provide fluidic decoupling from the inlet-side material flow 16, a circular ring element 24 covering the outer vane segments 11 of the vane rotor 9 is arranged.

[0125] This circular ring element 24 covers the outer wing segments 11 of the wing rotor 9 and has a ring 25 which is arranged for fluidic decoupling between the inner wing segments 10 of the wing rotor 9 and the outer wing segments 11 of the wing rotor 9.

[0126] The material flow 34 freed from the residual fruits 19 is guided in the separating device 1 in a rotating movement along the jacket surface 38 by the circular ring element 24 until the material flow 34 reaches the second outlet opening 23 and is discharged from the separating device 1 as a second output-side material flow 37, which in the Fig. 1 by means of two arrows arranged at the second outlet opening 23.

[0127] The separated residual fruits 19 contained in the first output-side material flow 36 are processed in the execution of the Fig. 1, for example, via an endless nub belt 26 arranged at the first outlet opening 21 and conveyed into a collection container (not shown), such as a bunker, or to another means of transport (not shown).

[0128] The endless nubbed belt 26 arranged at the first outlet opening 21 of the separating device 1 is arranged with its surface equipped with nubs 27 in such a way that it closes the first outlet opening 21. Thus, the residual crop 19 collecting in the deepest area of ​​the separating device 1, i.e., in the ground depression, cannot move through the first outlet opening 21. The nubs 27 of the endless nubbed belt 26 are designed and dimensioned such that the residual crop 19 can settle between these nubs 27, protected from the air flow. Due to the close spacing of the adjacent nubs 27, other components, such as harvest by-products, cannot settle between these nubs 27 in the separating device, protected from the air flow. Thus, the non-grain components are captured by the air flow or second material flow 35 in the separating device 1 and transported further in the second transport direction 22.

[0129] The residual fruits 19 of the first output-side material flow 36 of the separating device 1, which are discharged via the endless knobbed belt 27, can be Fig. 1 not shown weighing device for recording the quantity of the first material flow of residual fruits 19.

[0130] The Fig. 2 and the Fig. 3 each show an embodiment of the invention in which two separating devices 1 are arranged in a structural unit. Fig. 2 is a plan view of this structural unit with the two separating devices 1 and in the Fig. 3 shows a perspective view.

[0131] To improve the quality of the separating device 1 and the separating process as well as to increase the processable only in the Fig. 3, i.e. the amount of the purification waste which can be fed to the separation process according to the invention, two separation devices 1 are arranged next to one another in a common structural unit in such a way that their longitudinal axes 7 or their drive shafts 14, for example as in the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, are aligned parallel to each other.

[0132] The drive shafts 14 of the two separating devices 1 can be connected to a common drive unit 15 (not shown). A separate drive unit 15 for each drive shaft 14 can also be provided.

[0133] Both separating devices 1 have a substantially cylindrical base body 2, which in this embodiment has a shape in the region of the second outlet opening 23, i.e. a deviation from a cylindrical basic shape, which does not influence the separating process.

[0134] In the representations of the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, the inner wing segments 10 of the wing rotors 9 can be seen within the inlet openings 5, which are arranged on the first circular path 12. Furthermore, the rear wall 3 can be seen. Also shown are the outer wing segments 11 of the wing rotors 9, which are located below the circular ring elements 24 and are arranged on the concentric second circular path 13. Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 the circular paths 12 and 13 are shown by dashed lines.

[0135] The input-side material flow 16 is preferably divided evenly into the partial material flows 16a and 16b by a corresponding means not shown and is shown in the illustration of the Fig. 2 from above or in the viewing direction of the observer via the inlet openings 5 ​​to the two separating devices 1, wherein the inlet-side material flows 16a and 16b merge in the region of the openings 5 ​​into the material flows 34a and 34b in the respective separating devices 1. The material flows 34a and 34b are in the respective separating devices 1 in the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 is not shown. The not included in the Fig. The first transport direction 17 shown in Figure 2 is directed into the separating arrangements 1 in the viewing direction of the observer. The first transport direction 17 and the opposite second transport direction 22 are in the Fig. 3 are shown by means of corresponding dash-dash arrows, since they run inside the two separating devices 1.

[0136] The second output-side material flows 37a and 37b of harvest by-products, which are essentially freed from residual crops and are discharged via the second outlet openings 23, are each represented by two arrows in the area of ​​the second outlet openings 23.

[0137] The vane rotors 9 of the separating devices 1 have opposite directions of rotation 31. Thus, the second output-side material flows 37a and 37b, which are essentially freed from residual crops 19 and from non-grain components, are discharged in different directions via the second outlet openings 23. The Fig. 2 or in the Fig. 3 separating devices 1 arranged in a common structural unit are arranged at the outlet of the cleaning system of a combine harvester (not shown) in such a way that the second output-side material flows 37a and 37b discharged via the second outlet openings 23 are applied directly to the harvested field.

[0138] Both separation arrangements 1 each have a bottom depression 20, which is again marked by a dash-dash line and in which the separated residual fruits 19 collect, since the bottom depression 20 is the lowest-lying area in the respective separation device 1. The first outlet openings 21 arranged in the area of ​​the bottom depressions 20 are in the examples of Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 each covered by a sieve body 28.

[0139] These sieve bodies 28 each have several correspondingly dimensioned openings which create a sieving effect and thus only allow residual fruit 19, which collect in the bottom depressions 20, to pass through, while larger particles such as stones are retained.

[0140] The residual fruits 19 separated in the respective first output-side material streams 36a and 36b pass through the openings or sieve meshes of the sieve bodies 28 onto a respective endless dimpled belt 26. The residual fruits 19 are deposited between the dimples 27 on the surfaces of the endless dimpled belts 26 and are transported away from the first outlet openings 21 by these moving endless dimpled belts 26. The endless dimpled belts 26 are shown in the illustration of Fig. 2 each equipped with a drive roller 29 and a deflection roller 30. In the Fig. 2 also shows the directions of rotation of the drive rollers 29 as well as the transport process of the residual fruits 19 by the endless knobbed belt 26.

[0141] It is intended that the sieve bodies 28 can be pivoted away from the first outlet opening 21 by means of a swivel hydraulic 32 in order to release the outlet openings 21, which in the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 is not shown. The endless knobbed bands 26 can also be pivoted away from the first outlet openings 21 by suitable means in order to release the outlet openings 21, which is shown in the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 is also not shown.

[0142] The Fig. 4a and Fig. 4b each show a partial representation of the area of ​​the first outlet opening 21 of the separating device 1. While in the variant of the Fig. 4a the sieve body 28 is closed, was in the Fig. 4b the sieve body 28 is shown in the open state. In a similar way, the endless knobbed belt 26 is shown in the Fig. 4a is arranged with its surface adjacent to the first outlet opening 21 and is shown in the illustration of Fig. 4b as the sieve flap 28 is pivoted away from the first outlet opening 21.

[0143] The opening of the first outlet opening 21 by pivoting away the sieve body 28 and the endless knobbed belt 26 serves to clean the separating device 1. In this state, foreign bodies such as stones which cannot pass through the openings of the sieve flap 28 can be removed from the separating device 1.

[0144] For this opening of the first outlet opening 21 by pivoting away the sieve flap 28 and the endless nubbed belt 26, a pivoting hydraulic system 32 is provided which can move the sieve body 28 and the endless nubbed belt 26.

[0145] In the representations of the Fig. 4a and Fig. 4b also shows the studs 27 of the endless studded band 26, the area of ​​the bottom depressions 20, a part of the base body 2, a part of an inner wing segment 10, a part of an outer wing segment 11, the rings 25, the circular ring elements 24 and the deflection rollers 30.

[0146] In the Fig. 5 shows a partial illustration of an exemplary endless studded belt 26 with its studs 27 arranged on the surface of the endless studded belt 26. The studs 27 can, for example, be arranged in rows and columns on the surface of the endless studded belt 26, as shown in the Fig. 5 is shown.

[0147] The dimensions of the knobs 27 are adapted to the residual fruits 19 contained in the first output-side material flow 36, which are Fig. 5 are not shown. In an example of a threshed crop 19, such as wheat grains, the nubs 27 have a diameter of 3 mm to 6 mm, a height of 4 mm to 15 mm, and an at least partially conical shape.

[0148] The spaces between the studs arranged in rows and columns range from 4 mm to 15 mm.

[0149] For an example size comparison, the illustration of the Fig. 5 a measuring tape is arranged on the surface of the endless knobbed belt 26.

[0150] The Fig. 6a to 6c show the vane rotor 9 according to the invention, each without the separating device 1.

[0151] While the wing rotor 9 in the Fig. 6a is shown in a plan view, shows the Fig. 6b the vane rotor 9 in a sectional view along the Fig. 6a shown section line AA and the Fig. 6c the wing rotor 9 in a perspective view.

[0152] Using these three representations of the Fig. 6a to 6c are intended to provide a better understanding of the structure and operation of the vane rotor 9.

[0153] The vane rotor 9 arranged on the drive shaft 14 has, in the example shown, the Fig. 6a to 6c, for example, have three blades. On each blade, the inner blade segments 10 are arranged on a first circular path 12. Further outward, or further away from the drive shaft 14, than the inner blade segments 10, the outer blade segments 11 are arranged on the concentric second circular path 13.

[0154] The inner wing segments 10 have an oblique alignment of the elements or profiles opposite to the outer wing segments 11.Thus, the inner wing segments 10, during their rotation in the direction of rotation 31, generate a movement of the air or of the supplied input-side material flow 16, which merges into the material flow 34 in the separation device 1, in the first transport direction 17 through a first angle of attack 40 of the first profiles of the inner wing segments 10, which lies in the direction of rotation 31 from a plane imaginary in the direction of rotation 31 in a range between 10 degrees and 55 degrees, and the outer wing segments 11, during their rotation in the direction of rotation 31, generate a movement of the air or of a material flow 34 in the separation device 1 in a second transport direction opposite to the first transport direction 17 through their second angle of attack 41 of the second profiles of the outer wing segments 11, which lies in the direction of rotation 31 from a plane imaginary in the direction of rotation 31 in a range between 125 degrees and 170 degrees. 22.In the example of the . Fig. 6a to 6c, the first angle of attack 40 of the first profiles of the inner wing segments 10 is 35 degrees and the second angle of attack 41 of the second profiles of the outer wing segments 11 is 145 degrees.

[0155] In the presentation of the Fig. 6a to 6c, additional vane segments 33 are arranged to assist in generating movement of the air or the supplied inlet-side material flow 16. Such additional vane segments 33 thus represent an extension or enlargement of a profile and can be used both in addition to the inner vane segments 10 and in addition to the outer vane segments 11.

[0156] In the Fig. 7a and Fig. 7b shows exemplary profiles of the blade segments of the blade rotor. Fig. Figure 7a is the first profile of an inner wing segment 10 in a sectional view along the Fig. 6a shown section line BB, while the Fig. 7b the second profile of an outer wing segment 11 in a sectional view along the Fig. 6a shows the section line CC.

[0157] The cut in the Fig. 7a shows, by way of example, a first profile of the inner wing segment 10 consisting of two parts. For example, a star-shaped fastening means 42 is arranged on the drive shaft 14 (not shown), on which the first profile is formed or arranged. It is clear to a person skilled in the art that such a first profile can be manufactured from one part and that such a first profile can be designed differently in its shape, as long as rotation of the first profile in the rotation direction 31 causes a movement of an air flow or material flow 34 in the separating device 1 in the first transport direction 17.

[0158] The first profile has a first angle of attack 40, which, viewed in the direction of rotation 31, lies in a range between 10 degrees and 55 degrees, in the example of Fig. 7a at about 45 degrees.

[0159] In the Fig. 7a also shows an additional wing segment 33, which can optionally also be arranged on the fastening means 42 and further improves the effect of the first profile. Even in such an embodiment, it is possible for the first profile to be manufactured from a single part comprising the inner wing segment 10 and the additional wing segment 33.

[0160] The cut in the Fig. 7b shows, by way of example, a second profile of the outer wing segment 11 consisting of two parts. For example, a star-shaped fastening means 42 is arranged on the drive shaft 14 (not shown), on which the second profile is formed or arranged. It is clear to a person skilled in the art that such a second profile can also be manufactured from one part and that such a second profile can be designed differently in its shape, as long as rotation of the second profile in the rotation direction 31 causes a movement of an air flow or material flow 34 in the separating device 1 in the second transport direction 22.

[0161] The second profile has a second angle of attack 41, which, viewed in the direction of rotation 31, lies in a range between 125 degrees and 170 degrees, in the example of Fig. 7b at about 135 degrees.

[0162] In the Fig. 7b, no additional wing segment 33 is shown, which could optionally also be arranged on the fastening means 42.

[0163] The Fig. 8a, Fig. 8b and Fig. 8c show an embodiment of the invention in which a perforated disc arrangement 39 is arranged at the first outlet opening 21 of the separating device 1. Here, the Fig. 8a a perspective view showing Fig. 8b a side view and the Fig. 8c a top view of the separating device 1.

[0164] The Fig. 8a, Fig. 8b and Fig. 8c show the already known separating device 1 with its base body 2. Furthermore, the drive shaft 14 and the inner wing segments 10 can be seen, which are arranged on the star-shaped fastening means 42. In the example of Fig. 8a, Fig. 8b and Fig. 8c, the longitudinal axis 7 of the separating device 1 (not shown), on which the drive shaft 14 of the vane rotor 9 is arranged in alignment, has an angle to the vertical of approximately 5 degrees.

[0165] Also shown is the first outlet opening 21, which is located in the lowest area of ​​the separating device 1. In this area lies the bottom depression 20 (not shown), in which the residual crop 19 is deposited according to the process. Also visible is the second outlet opening 23. The first outlet opening 21 has a diameter of 300 mm, for example.

[0166] In the embodiment of the separating device 1 according to the Fig. 8a, Fig. 8b and Fig. 8c, a perforated disc arrangement 39 is arranged at the first outlet opening 21.

[0167] Such a perforated disc arrangement 39 essentially consists of a first round disc 43 and a second round disc 44 of the same diameter, which are arranged parallel to each other and slide on one another. The first upper disc 43 is mounted so as to be rotatable about its center point 45 and rotates, for example, in the direction indicated by the arrow. A second drive unit 47 is provided to impart this rotary movement to the first upper disc 43.

[0168] The second, lower disc 44 is non-rotatable. The first disc 43, similar to the sieve body 28, has a plurality of openings whose diameters are adapted to the respective residual crops 19, so that the residual crops 19 pass from the bottom depression 20 via the first outlet opening 21 into the plurality of openings of the first disc 43. For example, if the residual crops 19 are wheat grains, the diameter of the plurality of openings of the first disc 43 is selected in a range between 6 mm and 8 mm.

[0169] The second, lower disc 44 has a third outlet opening 46, through which the residual fruit 19 that has entered the openings of the first disc 43 is removed from these openings. This third outlet opening 46 has a diameter that is a multiple of the diameter of one of the several openings in the first disc 43 of the perforated disc arrangement 39, so that several residual fruit 19 can pass through the third outlet opening 46 simultaneously.

[0170] One possibility for removing the residual fruit 19 from the openings of the first disc 43 of the perforated disc arrangement 39 is to generate an air flow and to suck the residual fruit by means of this air flow in a certain direction through the third outlet opening 46 and to transport it away in such a way, which is Fig. 8a, Fig. 8b and Fig. 8c is also not shown.

[0171] The Fig. Figure 9 illustrates the basic sequence of the separation process according to the invention. According to the process, the inlet-side material stream 16, from the outlet of a cleaning process, is transferred in the region of the inlet opening 5 (not shown) of the separation device 1 into a material stream 34 in the separation device 1, which is first moved in a first transport direction 17 in the separation device 1. This movement is effected by the inner vane segments 10 of the vane rotor 9 (not shown). Subsequently, the material stream 34 is moved in the separation device 1 in a radial transport direction 35. Finally, the material stream 34 in the separation device 1 is moved in a second transport direction 22 in the separation device 1, opposite to the first transport direction 17, effected by the outer vane segments 11 of the vane rotor 9 (not shown).

[0172] The process produces a first output-side material flow 36 from the residual crops 19 separated in a bottom depression 20 (not shown) and a second output-side material flow 37 of non-grain components from the material flow 34 freed from residual crops in the separating device 1. The material flow 34 in the separating device 1 moves in the direction of the rear wall 3 (not shown) of the separating device 1 in the first transport direction 17 in the center of the separating device 1 and around the drive shaft 14 in a spiral movement 18, which is the general process sequence in the Fig. 9 does not depict.

[0173] The material flow 34 in the separating device 1 moves as the material flow 34 in the separating device 1 which is essentially freed from residual fruits 19 in a second transport direction 22 away from the center in the area of ​​a lateral surface 38 of the base body 2 of the separating device, which is the general process sequence in the Fig. 9 also does not depict. List of reference symbols 1 separating device 2 basic bodies 3 Rear wall 4 Cover area 5 Entrance opening 6 Direction of travel 7 Longitudinal axis 8 angles 9 Vane rotor 10 inner wing segments 11 outer wing segments 12 first circular path 13 second circular path 14 Drive shaft 15 Drive unit 16, 16a, 16b input-side material flow 17 first transport direction 18 spiral movement 19 residual fruits 20 depression 21 first exit opening 22 second transport direction 23 second outlet opening 24 circular ring element 25 rings 26 endless studded tape 27 studs 28 sieve bodies 29 Drive roller 30 pulley 31 Direction of rotation 32 swivel hydraulics 33 additional wing segments 34, 34a, 34b Material flow in separation device 35 radial transport direction 36, 36a, 36b first output-side material flow 37, 37a, 37b second output-side material stream 38 lateral surface 39 Perforated disc arrangement 40 first angle of attack 41 second angle of attack 42 fasteners 43 first disc of the perforated disc 44 second disc of the perforated disc 45 Center 46 third exit opening 47 second drive unit

Claims

[1] Separating device (1) for a harvesting machine, - which has an inlet opening (5) for introducing an inlet-side material flow (16) with residual crops (19) to be separated, wherein the inlet-side material flow (16) is discharged from an outlet of a cleaning system of the harvesting machine, - and at least one first outlet opening (21) for discharging the separated residual fruits (19) from the separating device (1), - wherein the separating device (1) has a cylindrical base body (2) with a rear wall (3), - wherein in the separating device (1) a vane rotor (9) is arranged rotatably mounted on a drive shaft (14) which is arranged vertically, centrally and rotatably mounted in the rear wall (3). characterized by , that - the vane rotor (9) has inner vane segments (10) and outer vane segments (11), wherein the inner vane segments (10) are arranged on a first circular path (12) and the outer vane segments (11) are arranged on a second circular path (13), wherein both circular paths (12, 13) are arranged concentrically to the drive shaft (14), - wherein first profiles of the inner wing segments (10) have an opposite orientation of the profiles deviating from second profiles of the outer wing segments (11), such that - that a first angle of attack (40) of a first profile of an inner wing segment (10) in the direction of a rotation direction (31) generating a material flow (34) in the separating device (1) in a first transport direction (17) has a value between 10 degrees and 55 degrees and - a second angle of attack (41) of a second profile of an outer wing segment (11) in the direction of rotation (31), which generates the material flow (34) in the separating device (1) in a second transport direction (22), has a value between 125 degrees and 170 degrees. [2] Separating device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that a longitudinal axis (7) of the separating device (1), on which the drive shaft (14) of the vane rotor (9) is arranged aligned, is arranged aligned to a vertical in a range between 0 degrees and 90 degrees, in particular in a range between 3 degrees and 87 degrees, further in particular in a range between 5 degrees and 85 degrees. [3] Separating device (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized bythat the first outlet opening (21) in the separating device (1) is arranged in the rear wall (3), adjacent to a lateral surface (38) of the cylindrical base body (2), or in the lateral surface (38) of the cylindrical base body (2), adjacent to the rear wall (3), or extending over a part of the lateral surface (38) of the cylindrical base body (2) and the rear wall (3). [4] Separating device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that a sieve body (28) and / or an endless knobbed belt (26) is arranged at the first outlet opening (21). [5] Separating device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that a perforated disc arrangement (39) is arranged at the first outlet opening (21). [6] Separating device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized bythat a second outlet opening (23) for discharging a second output-side material of by-products from the separating device (1) which has been freed from residual fruits (19) is arranged in the lateral surface (38) of the base body (2) of the separating device (1). [7] Separating device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by that a circular ring element (24) covering the outer wing segments (11) is arranged with a ring (25) arranged between the inner wing segments (10) and the outer wing segments (11). [8] Separation process for a harvesting machine, - in which residual fruits (19) are separated from a waste stream of a cleaning machine of the harvesting machine, - wherein a separating device (1) having a cylindrical base body (2), an inlet opening (5) and a rear wall (3) is provided with a vane rotor (9) arranged on a drive shaft (14), - wherein the waste from a cleaning process of the harvesting machine is fed to the separating device (1) as an inlet-side material flow (16) via the inlet opening (5) and passes into a material flow (34) in the separating device (1), characterized by , that - inner wing segments (10) and outer wing segments (11) are provided on the wing rotor (9), - wherein the inner wing segments (10) move the material flow (34) in the separating device (1) in the direction of the rear wall (3) of the separating device (1) in a first transport direction (17) in a center of the separating device (1) and around the drive shaft (14) in a spiral movement (18), and in the region of the rear wall (3), the direction of the material flow (34) in the separating device (1) changes, and the material flow (34) is moved in the radial transport direction (35) away from the drive shaft (14) over the rear wall (3), and the residual crops (19) contained in the inlet-side material flow (16) are deposited in a bottom depression (20), and - wherein the outer wing segments (11) move the material flow (34) freed from residual fruit (19) in the separating device (1) in a second transport direction (22) opposite to the first transport direction (17) away from the center in the region of a lateral surface (38) of the base body (2) and the material flow (34) merges into a second output-side material flow (37) of the separating device (1), - that by the transport of the material flow (34) in the separation device (1) in different transport directions (17, 35, 22) in the separation device (1) effected by the wing segments (10, 11) in the separation device (1), the inlet-side material flow (16) is divided into a first outlet-side material flow (36) with separated residual fruits (19) and a second outlet-side material flow (37) of non-grain components freed from residual fruits (19), and - that the first output-side material flow (36) with the residual crops (19) deposited in the bottom depression (20) is discharged from the separating device (1) separately from the second output-side material flow (37). [9] Separation process according to claim 8, characterized by that the separated residual crops (19) contained in the first output-side material flow (36) are discharged via a first outlet opening (21) of the separating device (1) and fed to a bunker of the harvesting machine. [10] Separation process according to claim 8 or 9, characterized by that the separated residual crops (19) are threshed crops such as wheat, barley, rye, oats or triticale. [11] Separation process according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized bythat a second separation device (1) is provided in the harvesting machine, that the inlet-side material flow (16), which is provided by an outlet of a cleaning device of the harvesting machine, is divided as an inlet-side material flow (16) between both inlet openings (5) of the separation devices (1) and is transferred in each case into the material flow (34a, 34b) in the respective separation device (1), and that both separation devices (1) each produce a first outlet-side material flow (36a, 36b) with separated residual fruit (19) and each produce a second outlet-side material flow (37a, 37b) of non-grain components freed from residual fruit (19) and discharge them separately from the separation device (1). [12] Harvesting machine in which one separating device (1) or two separating devices (1) according to claims 1 to 7 are arranged at an exit of a cleaning of the harvesting machine and within this harvesting machine in a structural unit.

Images