Universal Threshing Concave With Notched Bars for Clog Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing threshing concaves in agricultural combines face issues with crop material flow restriction, leading to clogging during corn harvesting and inadequate threshing for other crops, resulting in grain damage and inefficient cleaning processes.

Innovation Solution

A universal threshing concave design featuring a frame with angled, hexagonal bars and notches, allowing for staggered placement and varying spacings to optimize grain release and reduce damage, with a removable cover plate for air flow management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If straight bars with wires are used as threshing elements, then crop material flow is restricted to enhance threshing, but corn shucks get hung up on the bars and wires causing clogging of the concave

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethreshing efficiencyVSAvoidclogging tendency

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The threshing elements are segmented into multiple notches along each bar, creating discrete opening patterns that allow controlled material flow while maintaining threshing action. This segmentation prevents clogging by providing multiple escape paths for crop material.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different sections of the concave have different bar spacing configurations - tighter spacing in some areas for restricted flow and wider spacing in other areas for enhanced material release. This local variation optimizes both threshing efficiency and prevents clogging at different locations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If round bars with no wires are used to prevent clogging, then crop material flow restriction is reduced resulting in inadequate threshing and overloading of the separator section

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclogging resistanceVSAvoidthreshing effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The concave structure varies bar spacing locally - tighter spacing in regions requiring flow restriction for effective threshing, and wider spacing in regions needing enhanced material release. This spatial variation simultaneously achieves both clogging resistance and threshing effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple notches are distributed along the bars, creating segmented flow paths that maintain material restriction where needed while providing release paths where required, achieving both threshing effectiveness and clogging resistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of manufacture

If uniform bar spacing is used in the concave, then manufacturing is simplified, but grain release and cleaning efficiency are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconcave fabricationVSAvoidgrain release rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The bar spacing is varied locally throughout the concave structure - tighter spacing in some zones and wider spacing in others - to optimize grain release patterns and cleaning efficiency while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standardized bar components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12439856B2Universal threshing concave for an agricultural combine

Publication Date: 2025.10.14 THRASHMASTER COMBINES LLC

AI summary

A universal threshing concave for an agricultural combine for harvesting different types of crops is disclosed. The threshing concave comprises a frame with a pair of opposite side members and opposite end members. The invention further comprises an array of threshing bars angled and notched along their longitudinal extent, and hexagonal in cross-section. Each bar is seated in openings in the end members of said frame.