Airflow-Controlled Combine Shoe

Abstract

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

1 . A method for separating grain, comprising: 
 providing a combine including a pivoting self-leveling shoe assembly having an upper sieve, a lower sieve, and right and left sides, a non-pivoting structure on at least one side of the shoe assembly, and a fan for blowing air;    blowing air from the fan toward the shoe assembly;    placing a vertical seal between the one side of the shoe assembly and the non-pivoting structure; and    obstructing the blowing air by the seal.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  which further comprises attaching the seal to the shoe assembly.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  which further comprises attaching the seal to the non-pivoting structure.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the seal assembly includes a convoluted member.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the seal is flexible.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the seal is elastomeric.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said non-pivoting structure is on both sides of the shoe assembly, and which further comprises placing a second seal between the other side of the shoe assembly and the non-pivoting structure.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the second seal member is flexible.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  and the second seal member is elastomeric.  
   
   
       10 . A method for separating grain, comprising: 
 providing a combine including a pivoting self-leveling shoe, a pivoting self-leveling pan for collecting grain falling through the shoe, a fan for blowing air, and an auger for receiving separated grain;    blowing air from the fan toward the bottom of the self-leveling shoe and toward the auger;    placing a first seal in contact with the pan and pivotable with the pan;    placing a second static seal in the combine aft of the auger and proximate the first seal; and    obstructing the blowing air by the coaction of the first seal and the second seal.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the pan has a width and said obstructing is generally along the width.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said obstructing is by the first seal contacting the second seal.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the first seal is attached to the pan.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the second seal includes a channel, and a portion of the first seal moves within the channel.  
   
   
       15 . A method for separating grain, comprising: 
 providing a combine including a pivoting self-leveling shoe, a pivoting self-leveling pan for collecting grain falling through the shoe, the pan having a width, a fan for blowing air, and an auger for receiving separated grain;    blowing air from the fan toward the bottom of the self-leveling shoe and toward the auger;    placing a seal attached to one of the pan or the combine behind the auger;    contacting the other of the pan the combine with the seal; and    obstructing the blowing air by the seal.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the seal includes a plurality of slits.  
   
   
       17 . A method for separating harvested farm products: 
 providing a combine including frame and a sieve pivotal relative to the frame, the right side of the sieve being spaced apart by a first gap from the right side of the frame, the left side of the sieve being spaced by a second gap from the left side of the frame; a first seal member, a second seal member, and a fan directing a flow of air toward the sieve;    obstructing airflow from the first gap with the first seal member; and    obstructing airflow from the second gap with the second seal member.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the first seal member is flexible and the second seal member is flexible.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the first seal member is elastomeric and the second seal member is elastomeric.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the combine includes a self-leveling shoe assembly including the sieve and a second sieve, the sieve and the second sieve being horizontally spaced apart.  
   
   
       21 . A kit for improving the separation of a product harvested by a combine having a self-leveling shoe assembly and a self leveling pan, comprising: 
 a first flexible seal member for sealing a gap between one lateral side of the shoe assembly and the static structure of the combine facing the one lateral side;    a second flexible seal member for sealing a gap between the other lateral side of the shoe assembly and the static structure of the combine facing the other lateral side; and    a third flexible seal member for sealing a gap between the bottom of the pan and the static structure of the combine facing the bottom of the pan.    
   
   
       22 . The kit of  claim 21  which further comprises a cover for at least partly covering an auger of the combine.  
   
   
       23 . A method for separating grain, comprising: 
 providing a combine including a pivoting self-leveling shoe assembly having an upper shoe, a lower shoe, and a grain pan under the lower shoe, a first fan for blowing air toward the upper shoe and lower shoe, a second fan for blowing air toward the underside of the lower shoe, an electronic controller for controlling the flow of air from the first fan and for controlling the flow of air from the second fan, and a flowpath for air from the aft of the shoe assembly, a portion of the flowpath being under the grain pan;    flowing a first quantity of air from the first fan toward the shoe assembly;    flowing a second quantity of air from the second fan toward the underside of the lower shoe; and    adjusting the second quantity of air or the first quantity of air by the controller to entrain air from the flowpath into the underside of the lower shoe.    
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein said first flexible seal member is attached to one of the lateral side of the shoe assembly or the facing static structure, said second flexible seal member is attached to the other of the lateral side of the shoe assembly or the facing static structure, and said third flexible seal member is attached to the static structure of the combine or the pan.  
   
   
       25 . A method for separating grain, comprising: 
 providing a combine having a longitudinal axis and including a pivoting structure having a self-leveling shoe assembly, the self-leveling shoe assembly including an upper sieve a lower sieve and right and left sides, a non-pivoting structure on at least one side of the shoe assembly, and a fan for blowing air;    blowing air from the fan longitudinally within the combine;    placing a seal between the one side of the shoe assembly and the non-pivoting structure; and    obstructing the longitudinally blowing air by the seal.    
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the seal is vertically oriented.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the combine includes a non-pivoting structure on each side of the shoe assembly, and which further comprises placing a second seal between the other side of the shoe assembly and the non-pivoting structure, and obstructing the longitudinally blowing air by the second seal.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the shoe assembly has a bottom and which further comprises placing a second seal between the bottom of the shoe assembly and the combine, the second seal being flexible, and which further comprises obstructing the longitudinally blowing air by the second seal.