Air movement unit for biomass conveyance, separation, or combine performance enhancement

Abstract

A harvesting machine includes a self-propelled vehicle adapted for separating grain from non-grain material, a cleaning shoe and a fan for controlling air flow. The fan is positioned downstream of the cleaning shoe and the fan having an air inlet for providing air to the fan and an aspiration outlet for providing air from the fan. The fan assists in reducing static air pressure within the harvesting machine. The fan may be a centrifugal fan. The harvesting machine may further include a chopper operatively connected to the vehicle and adapted for receiving the non-grain material and chopping the non-grain material and a blower adapted for assisting in conveying the non-grain material from the chopper such as for collection in a collection container.

1 . A harvesting machine, comprising:
 a self-propelled vehicle adapted for separating grain from non-grain material, the self-propelled vehicle having a forward end and a rearward end and comprising (a) a cleaning shoe, (b) a fan for controlling air flow, the fan positioned rearwardly of the cleaning shoe and the fan having an air inlet for providing air to the fan and an aspiration outlet for providing air from the fan, and (c) a chopper adapted to receive the non-grain material and chop the non-grain material; and   wherein the fan assists in separating heavier portions of the non-grain material from lighter portions of the non-grain material after chopping of the non-grain material.   
   
   
       2 . The harvesting machine of  claim 1  wherein the air inlet is positioned proximate the cleaning shoe. 
   
   
       3 . The harvesting machine of  claim 1  wherein the self-propelled vehicle further comprises a blower adapted for assisting in conveying the non-grain material from the chopper. 
   
   
       4 . The harvesting machine of  claim 3  wherein the air inlet of the fan is positioned between the chopper and the blower. 
   
   
       5 . The harvesting machine of  claim 3  wherein the aspiration outlet of the fan is positioned after the blower. 
   
   
       6 . The harvesting machine of  claim 1  wherein the fan is a centrifugal fan. 
   
   
       7 . A harvesting machine, comprising:
 a self-propelled vehicle adapted for separating grain from non-grain material;   a chopper positioned on the self-propelled vehicle and adapted for receiving the non-grain material and chopping the non-grain material, wherein the non-grain material includes heavier non-grain material and lighter non-grain material;   a blower positioned on the self-propelled vehicle and adapted for assisting in conveying the non-grain material from the chopper;   a fan positioned on the self-propelled vehicle rearward of the chopper;   an air inlet for providing air to the fan;   an aspiration outlet for providing air from the fan;   wherein the fan is configured to assist in separating the lighter non-grain material from the heavier non-grain material by air flow after chopping the non-grain material.   
   
   
       8 . The harvesting machine of  claim 7  wherein the air inlet receives air from inside the harvesting machine to exhaust the air from the combine. 
   
   
       9 . The harvesting machine of  claim 8  wherein the air inlet is positioned proximate a cleaning shoe. 
   
   
       10 . The harvesting machine of  claim 7  wherein the air inlet is positioned between the chopper and the blower. 
   
   
       11 . The harvesting machine of  claim 7  wherein the aspiration outlet is positioned after the blower. 
   
   
       12 . The harvesting machine of  claim 7  wherein the air inlet is positioned after the chopper and the aspiration outlet is positioned after the blower. 
   
   
       13 . The harvesting machine of  claim 7  wherein the fan is a centrifugal fan. 
   
   
       14 . A method for controlling air flow, comprising:
 providing a harvesting machine comprising (a) a self-propelled vehicle having a forward end and an opposite rearward and is configured to separate grain from non-grain material, (b) a cleaning shoe within the self-propelled vehicle, (c) a fan on the self-propelled vehicle for controlling air flow, the fan positioned rearwardly of the cleaning shoe and the fan having an air inlet and an aspiration outlet, and (d) wherein the fan assists in evacuating air from within the harvesting machine;   intaking air through the air inlet of the fan; and   aspirating air through the aspiration outlet of the fan.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the air inlet and the aspiration outlet are on opposite sides of a pathway through a blower. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein aspirating the air through the aspiration outlet of the fan assists in conveying the non-grain material to a collection container. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the collection container is housed within a support vehicle. 
   
   
       18 . An apparatus for use with a self-propelled combine having a forward end and a rearward end and a clean shoe, the apparatus comprising:
 a fan for placement rearwardly of the cleaning shoe to control air flow, the fan having an air inlet for providing air to the fan and an aspiration outlet for providing air from the fan;   a chopper adapted to receive the non-grain material and chop the non-grain material; and   wherein the fan assists in separating heavier portions of the non-grain material from lighter portions of the non-grain material after chopping of the non-grain material.   
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  further comprising a blower adapted for assisting in conveying the heavier portions of the non-grain material from the chopper. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  further comprising a chute configured to receive the heavier portions of the non-grain material from the blower. 
   
   
       21 . An apparatus for use with a self-propelled combine having a forward end, a rearward end, a cleaning shoe and a chopper positioned after the cleaning shoe and configured to receive and chop non-grain material, the apparatus comprising:
 a fan for placement rearwardly of the cleaning shoe to control air flow, the fan having an air inlet for providing air to the fan and an aspiration outlet for providing air from the fan, wherein the fan assists in separating heavier portions of the non-grain material from lighter portions of the non-grain material after chopping of the non-grain material;   a blower positioned rearward of the chopper;   a chute;   a first pathway for conveying heavier portions of the non-grain material from the chopper through the blower and out through the chute; and   a second pathway for conveying lighter portions of the non-grain material from the chopper and into air exhausted from the self-propelled combine.   
   
   
       22 . An apparatus for use with a self-propelled combine having a forward end, a rearward end and a cleaning shoe, the apparatus comprising:
 a fan for placement rearwardly of the cleaning shoe to control air flow, the fan having an air inlet for providing air to the fan and an aspiration outlet for providing air from the fan, wherein the fan assists in separating heavier portions of the non-grain material from lighter portions of the non-grain material after chopping of the non-grain material;   a chopper adapted to receive the non-grain material and chop the non-grain material;   a blower positioned rearward of the chopper;   a chute;   a first pathway for conveying heavier portions of the non-grain material from the chopper through the blower and out through the chute; and   a second pathway for conveying lighter portions of the non-grain material from the chopper and into air exhausted from the self-propelled combine.