Self-propelled combine harvester

Abstract

The invention relates to a self-propelled combine harvester, comprising: a cleaning element with an upper sieve and a lower sieve for separating detached fruit from plant residues; a conveying element arranged below the cleaning element for conveying fruit; a channel is formed in front of the cleaning element when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the combine harvester; a first air guide element forms at least a part of the bottom of the channel; the first air guide element is designed with an inclination descending towards the conveying element and extends to the conveying element; and a first air inlet element is arranged in an inlet area of ​​the channel, which extends substantially along the entire inlet area and through which a volume flow of air can be directed towards the channel.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a self-propelled combine harvester according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] The combine harvester includes a cleaning unit with an upper and a lower sieve. Fine plant residues are sieved out within the cleaning unit. The separation of the crop from the fine plant residues, such as chaff, by the cleaning unit is achieved by means of an airflow directed along the unit. This airflow is designed to mobilize the fine and therefore lighter plant residues and transport them towards the rear of the combine harvester. The heavier, non-suspended crops are not affected by the airflow and can thus be separated from the plant residues. To generate the airflow, the combine harvester may include a suction fan, which is located at the rear end of the cleaning unit when viewed longitudinally along the combine.One suction side of this suction fan is connected to the cleaning unit, enabling the suction fan to direct the airflow from a channel located in front of the cleaning unit (viewed longitudinally along the combine harvester) along the cleaning unit. This ensures that the fine plant residues are captured and removed as desired. The grain sifted by the cleaning unit then reaches a conveying unit located below it. This conveying unit transports the grain transversely to the combine harvester's longitudinal direction towards a grain elevator, which then feeds the grain into the combine's grain tank.

[0003] Combine harvesters of the type described above are already known in the prior art. DE 10 2021 121 089 A1 is referenced as an example. DE 10 2021 121 089 A1 discloses the arrangement of a tank upstream of the cleaning element. It has been found that the arrangement of a tank upstream of the cleaning element negatively affects the airflow through the screens of the cleaning element, resulting in an uneven airflow along the screens.

[0004] The object of the invention is to avoid the described disadvantages of the prior art and in particular to improve the airflow of an air volume flow penetrating the sieves of the combine harvester.

[0005] This problem is solved according to the invention by the characterizing features of claim 1. Advantageous further developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0006] According to claim 1, a self-propelled combine harvester is proposed, comprising a cleaning element with an upper sieve and a lower sieve for separating detached fruit from plant residues, a conveying element arranged below the cleaning element for conveying fruit, wherein, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the combine harvester, a channel is formed in front of the cleaning element, wherein a first air guide element forms at least a part of a bottom of the channel, wherein the first air guide element is designed with a downward slope towards the conveying element and extends to the conveying element, wherein a first air inlet element is arranged in an inlet region of the channel, which extends substantially along the entire inlet region and through which a volume flow of air can be directed towards the channel.

[0007] The invention has the advantage that impurities, such as straw particles, can be filtered out of the airflow supplied to the cleaning device by means of the air inlet element. Furthermore, a uniform airflow can be adjusted in the lateral direction of the channel by means of the air inlet element.

[0008] An advantageous further development provides that the first air inlet element is designed as a perforated sheet with a multitude of openings or as a grid. In particular, the arrangement of the holes allows for adjustment of the width distribution of the airflow supplied to the channel. Furthermore, the diameter of the holes can be selected such that straw particles or other contaminants kicked up by the combine harvester or a header attached to the combine harvester cannot pass through the air inlet element and thus cannot reach the cleaning device. The first air inlet element can be flat and extend essentially transversely to the longitudinal direction of the combine harvester.

[0009] A further advantageous embodiment provides that the first air inlet element is arranged at an angle, with the first air inlet element, together with the first air guide element, forming a substantially V-shaped recess. Firstly, in the particularly rare and undesirable case that, despite the inclination of the first air guide element towards the conveying element, fruit separated by the cleaning element reaches the recess, this fruit can slide down the recess due to gravity, preventing it from accumulating in the center of the channel and thus negatively affecting the airflow within the channel. Secondly, the V-shaped recess enlarges the inlet opening or inlet area of ​​the channel, resulting in lower flow resistance when the air volume is drawn in through the first air inlet element.

[0010] According to an advantageous embodiment, the first air inlet element and the first air guide element can be spaced apart from each other, so that the trough has an opening on its underside extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the combine harvester. Contaminants or fruit accumulating in the trough can fall out through this opening.

[0011] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the first air inlet element can comprise end faces facing the side walls of the combine harvester, with a second air inlet element extending orthogonally to a surface of the first air inlet element facing away from the first air guide element at each end face. The second air inlet elements can reduce air resistance during the intake of the air volume flow and can additionally form an alternative intake area in the event that any contamination in an area upstream of the first air inlet element leads to increased air resistance. The respective second air inlet element can be designed as a perforated sheet with a plurality of openings or as a grid.

[0012] It is particularly preferred if at least two further, planar secondary air guide elements extending longitudinally along the combine harvester are arranged at intervals within the duct. These secondary air guide elements can ensure a more uniform distribution of the airflow across the width of the duct. They are especially advantageous in combination with the secondary air inlet elements, as the latter can create an airflow directed partially transversely to the longitudinal direction of the combine harvester, allowing the air volume flow to be most pronounced in the center of the duct. The secondary air guide elements can counteract such a central increase in the air volume flow.

[0013] It is particularly advantageous if the second air guide elements extend orthogonally to a surface of the first air guide element and / or orthogonally to a surface of the first air inlet element facing the first air guide element and are preferably arranged on the surface of the first air guide element and / or the surface of the first air inlet element.

[0014] An advantageous embodiment provides that the combine harvester comprises a suction air blower arranged longitudinally behind the cleaning element to generate an air volume flow by means of which the cleaning element can be continuously cleaned, wherein the suction air blower has a suction side associated with the cleaning element, at which the air volume flow can be drawn in, and a pressure side directed away from the cleaning element, at which the air volume flow can be discharged, wherein the air volume flow can be drawn in through the channel.

[0015] Another advantageous embodiment provides that the channel is arranged below a multi-stage conveying floor, which extends below a threshing basket of a threshing device.

[0016] Another advantageous embodiment provides that the duct comprises a first section on the inlet side, which widens towards an inlet opening of the duct, and a second section, which widens towards an outlet opening of the duct. The first section widening towards the inlet opening can advantageously result in a larger inlet opening, thus providing a larger area for the first air inlet element and consequently reducing air resistance when the air volume flow is drawn through the first air inlet element. Furthermore, the widening second section of the duct can create a particularly advantageous airflow path towards the cleaning element and the conveying element.

[0017] The present invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment illustrated in the drawings. These show: Fig. 1. Schematic and exemplary perspective view of the working parts of a combine harvester; Fig. 2. Schematic and exemplary cross-sectional view through a combine harvester according to Fig. 1; Fig. 3 Schematic and exemplary perspective view of an air inlet element with a first air guide element downstream of the air inlet element, which forms the bottom of a channel.

[0018] In Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic view of the working components of a combine harvester 1. The combine harvester 1 comprises several working components, including, in the example shown, at least a threshing unit 2, a separating unit 3, a chopping unit 34, a discharge unit 7, a cleaning unit 4, and a conveying unit 35. Plants growing in a field can be cut by means of a header (not shown) and then transported to the threshing unit 2. The threshing unit 2 separates the fruit from the remaining plant residue of the harvested plants, with a large proportion of the separated fruit being immediately conveyed through a threshing concave 23 onto a multi-stage conveying floor 22. The plant residue, along with any remaining fruit, is transferred from the threshing unit 2 to the separating unit 3, which, in the example shown, is formed by an axial separator rotor.By means of the separating element 3, the fruit not yet separated by the threshing concave 23 is separated from a substantial portion of the plant residue and transferred to the cleaning element 4 located below the separating element 3. The plant residue, on the other hand, is fed to the chopping element 34 at a rear end of the combine harvester 1, chopped by the latter, and finally discharged from the combine harvester 1 by means of the discharge element 7. The fruit is separated from any remaining fine plant residue by means of the cleaning element 4 and finally conveyed to the conveying element 35, which is located below the cleaning element 4. By means of the conveying element 35, the fruit is conveyed to a grain elevator (not shown) and from there to a storage tank (also not shown) in which it is collected.

[0019] The combine harvester 1 further has a suction fan 8, which is connected to the cleaning element 4 at its rear end when viewed longitudinally. The longitudinal direction of the combine harvester 1 corresponds to the direction of forward travel. The suction fan 8 is designed and configured to draw in an air volume flow 9 at a suction side 10 and discharge it at a pressure side 11. The suction side 10 is positioned relative to the cleaning element 4 such that the drawn-in air volume flow 9 is guided along the cleaning element 4. In this way, the suction fan 8 is suitable for suctioning fine plant residues, which are separated by the cleaning element 4, away from the cleaning element 4. To achieve this, the plant residues are fluidized by the air volume flow 9 and transported towards the suction fan 8.

[0020] In the example shown, the cleaning element 4 comprises an upper sieve 5 and a lower sieve 6 arranged below the upper sieve 5. To achieve the effect described above of cleaning the plant residues from the cleaning element 4, the air volume flow 9 is directed along a top surface 24 of the upper sieve 5, a bottom surface 25 of the upper sieve 5, and a bottom surface 26 of the lower sieve 6. Individual portions 18, 19, 20 of the air volume flow 9 are directed towards the cleaning element 4.

[0021] The air volume flow 9 is drawn in by the suction fan 8 from a channel 12, which is arranged upstream of the cleaning element 4 in the longitudinal direction of the combine harvester 1, and fed into an inflow area 13. In this inflow area 13, the air volume flow 9 flows towards the sieves 5, 6, so that, as described above, individual portions 18, 19, 20 of the air volume flow 9 are distributed between the lower sieve 6 and the upper sieve 5. The channel 12 comprises an inlet-side first section 15, which widens towards an inlet opening 14 of the channel 12, and a second section 16, which widens towards the outlet opening 17 of the channel 12. The channel 12 extends essentially in the longitudinal direction of the combine harvester 1.

[0022] The fruit, sieved by the cleaning element 4, is fed to the conveying element 35. The conveying element 35 can, as shown in Fig. Figure 2 shows two conveying elements 27, 28, arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the combine harvester 1. Here, the conveying elements 27, 28 are each formed by a screw conveyor extending transversely to one longitudinal direction of the combine harvester 1. In an alternative embodiment, the conveying element 35 can also comprise only a single conveying element 27.

[0023] The combine harvester 1 comprises a first air guide element 21, which forms the bottom of the channel 12. In the aforementioned variant, this element is designed such that it is inclined towards the conveying element 35 and extends to the conveying element 35. The inclination of the first air guide element 21 is such that a crop flow 29, formed by crops that have fallen from the cleaning element 4 onto the bottom of the second section 16 of the conveying channel 12, can be reliably transported to the conveying element 35 solely by the action of gravity.

[0024] The combine harvester 1 includes a first air inlet element 31 in an inlet area 30 of the duct 12. The first air inlet element 31 extends essentially along the entire inlet area 30 or the inlet opening 14 of the duct 12. The air volume flow 9 generated by the suction fan 8 is drawn through the inlet element 31. Fig. The air is drawn in through the first air inlet element 31, which is shown in more detail below, and then guided through the channel 12. For this purpose, the first air inlet element 31 can be designed as a flat, perforated sheet metal with a plurality of recesses 32 or as a grid, with the first air inlet element 31 extending essentially transversely to the longitudinal direction of the combine harvester 1. The first air inlet element 31 prevents any contaminants present in the drawn-in air volume flow 9 from passing through the channel 12 to the cleaning element 4. In other words, the first air inlet element 31 serves as a filter to remove contaminants from the air volume flow 9. The positioning and number of holes in the first air inlet element 31 can ensure a uniform airflow across the width of the cleaning device 4. The first air inlet element 31 is inclined relative to the first air guide element 21.This results in a self-cleaning effect, whereby impurities present in the air volume flow 9 can slide along the surface 33 of the first air inlet element 31 and fall off the underside. This additional filtration of the air volume flow 9 is particularly advantageous because the air is drawn in from a front area of ​​the combine harvester 1 and is stirred up to a large extent by the cutting and collection of the crop by a cutting unit located at the front of the combine harvester 1. Therefore, instead of a tank or a pressure blower known from the prior art, it is particularly advantageous to provide a first air inlet element 31 at this position for filtering the air volume flow 9.

[0025] The first air inlet element 31, together with the first air guide element 21, forms a substantially V-shaped trough 36 on the side facing away from the conveying element 35. To prevent the accumulation of impurities or crop components within the trough 36, the first air inlet element 31 and the first air guide element 21 are spaced apart from each other, so that the trough 36 has an opening 37 on its underside, extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the combine harvester 1, through which impurities or crop components can fall out. Even in the particularly rare and undesirable case that, despite the inclination of the first air guide element 21 towards the conveying element 35, fruit separated by the cleaning element 4 reaches the trough 36, an accumulation of fruit can be prevented by allowing it to fall out of the opening 37 of the trough 36.

[0026] According to the in Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, two further second air inlet elements 38 are arranged upstream of the first air inlet element 31. The second air inlet elements 38 extend longitudinally along the combine harvester 1. Here, and preferably, the second air inlet elements 38 are each arranged at an end face 39 of the first air inlet element 31, extending orthogonally to the surface 33 of the first air inlet element 31 facing away from the first air guide element 21. The second air inlet elements 38 face the side walls of the combine harvester 1 (not shown in detail here) and / or each form part of a respective side wall of the combine harvester 1. Fig.Figure 3 shows only one of the two second air inlet elements 38. However, it should be noted that a further second air inlet element 38, identical in design to the second air inlet element 38 shown, is located on an end face 39 or outer side of the first air inlet element 31 (not shown here). The second air inlet elements 38 can be designed as a perforated sheet with a plurality of recesses 40, just like the first air inlet element 31. In an alternative embodiment, the second air inlet elements 38 can also be designed as a grille. The second air inlet elements 38 reduce the air resistance during the intake of the air volume flow 9 and additionally form an alternative intake area in the event that any contamination in an area upstream of the first air inlet element 31 leads to increased air resistance.

[0027] Here, and preferably, two further second planar air guide elements 41 extending longitudinally along the combine harvester 1 are arranged within the channel 12. The second air guide elements 41 are spaced apart from each other. The second air guide elements 41 each extend orthogonally to a surface 42 of the first air guide element 21. Furthermore, the second air guide elements 41 each extend orthogonally to a surface 43 of the first air inlet element 31. It is particularly preferred if the second air guide elements 41 are fixedly arranged on the surface 42 of the first air guide element 21 and fixedly arranged on the surface 43 of the first air inlet element 31, for example, by welding. The second air inlet elements 38 cause an airflow directed partially transversely to the longitudinal direction of the combine harvester 1, so that the air volume flow 9 is most pronounced in the center of the channel.The second air guide elements 41 counteract such a centrally increased air volume flow 9 and thus result in a more uniform flow profile of the air volume flow 9 within the channel 12. Reference symbol list: 1 combine harvester 2 threshing organs 3 Separating element 4 Cleaning mechanism 5 Upper sieve 6 lower sieve 7 Discharge organ 8 suction blowers 9 Air volume flow 10 Suction side 11 Print page 12-channel 13 Inflow area 14 Entrance opening 15 First Section 16 Second Section 17 Outlet opening 18 First part of the air volume flow 19 Second part of the air volume flow 20 Third part of the air volume flow 21 First air guide element 22 Conveyor floor 23 threshing basket 24 Top 25 Underside 26 Underside 27 funding opportunities 28 funding opportunities 29 Good current 30 Entrance area 31 First air intake element 32 recess 33 surface 34 Chopping unit 35 Funding body 36 trough 37 Opening 38 Second air intake element 39 End page 40 recess 41 Second air guide element 42 surface 43 surface QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2021 121 089 A1

[0003]

Claims

[1] Self-propelled combine harvester (1), comprising - a cleaning organ (4) with an upper sieve (5) and a lower sieve (6) for separating detached fruits from plant residues, - a conveying element (35) arranged below the cleaning element (4) for conveying fruit, wherein, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the combine harvester (1), a channel (12) is formed in front of the cleaning element (4), wherein a first air guide element (21) forms at least part of a bottom of the channel (12), wherein the first air guide element (21) is designed with an inclination downwards towards the conveying element (35) and extends to the conveying element (35), characterized by , that in an inlet area (30) of the channel (12) a first air inlet element (31) is arranged, which extends substantially along the entire inlet area (30) and through which an air volume flow (9) can be directed towards the channel (12). [2] Self-propelled combine harvester (1) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the first air inlet element (31) is designed as a perforated sheet with a plurality of recesses (32) or as a grid. [3] Self-propelled combine harvester (1) according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterized by , that the first air inlet element (31) is formed in a planar form and extends essentially transversely to the longitudinal direction of the combine harvester (1). [4] Self-propelled combine harvester (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by , that the first air inlet element (31) is arranged at an inclination, wherein the first air inlet element (31) together with the first air guide element (21) forms a substantially V-shaped recess (36). [5] Self-propelled combine harvester (1) according to claim 4, characterized by, that the first air inlet element (31) and the first air guide element (21) are arranged apart from each other, so that the trough (36) has an opening (37) extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the combine harvester (1) on its underside. [6] Self-propelled combine harvester (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by , that the first air inlet element (31) comprises end sides (39) facing the side walls of the combine harvester (1), wherein a second air inlet element (38) is arranged on each end side (39) extending orthogonally to a surface (33) of the first air inlet element (31) facing away from the first air guide element (21). [7] Self-propelled combine harvester (1) according to claim 6, characterized by , that the respective second air inlet element (38) is designed as a perforated sheet with a plurality of recesses (40) or as a grid. [8] Self-propelled combine harvester (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by, that within the channel (12) at least two further planar second air guide elements (41) extending in the longitudinal direction of the combine harvester (1) are arranged spaced apart from each other. [9] Self-propelled combine harvester (1) according to claim 8, characterized by , that the second air guide elements (41) extend orthogonally to a surface (42) of the first air guide element (21) and / or orthogonally to a surface (43) of the first air inlet element (31) facing the first air guide element (21) and are preferably arranged on the surface (42) of the first air guide element (21) and / or the surface (43) of the first air inlet element (31). [10] Self-propelled combine harvester (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by, that the combine harvester (1) comprises a suction air blower (8) arranged in the longitudinal direction of the combine harvester (1) behind the cleaning element (4) for generating an air volume flow (9) by means of which the cleaning element (4) can be continuously cleaned, wherein the suction air blower (8) has a suction side (10) associated with the cleaning element (4), at which the air volume flow (9) can be drawn in, and a pressure side (11) directed away from the cleaning element (4), at which the air volume flow (9) can be discharged, wherein the air volume flow (9) can be drawn in through the channel (12). [11] Self-propelled combine harvester (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by , that the channel (12) is arranged below a multi-stage conveying floor (22) which extends below a threshing basket (23) of a threshing organ (2). [12] Self-propelled combine harvester (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized by, that the channel (12) comprises an inlet-side first section (15) which widens towards an inlet opening (14) of the channel (12) and a second section (15) which widens towards an outlet opening (17) of the channel (12).

Images