Harvesting machines

Abstract

The harvesting mechanism of the present invention uses a transversely extending threshing means and a rotary separating mechanism. The separating mechanism includes a transversely extending separating rotor having crop treating and crop conveying elements cooperating with a separating concave operable to receive crop material from the threshing means and separate grain from the crop material while the material is being conveyed spirally to one end for discharge.

We claim: .[. 
     
       1.  An agricultural harvesting machine comprising: a. a frame adapted to travel across a field,   b. means for conveying crop material from the field to the frame,   c. means transversely mounted to said frame rearwardly of the conveying means for threshing grain from the crop material,   d. a rotary separating mechanism mounted to said frame rearwardly of the threshing means and disposed substantially parallel thereto with its ends extending over substantially equal distances past the respective ends of said threshing means, the separating mechanism being adapted to receive crop material from the threshing means over a width substantially corresponding to the width of the threshing means and to spirally convey said crop material in layers of substantially half the width of said threshing means towards each of its ends while submitting said layers of material to a separating action, and   e. said separating mechanism comprising a transversely-extending separator casing having a substantially forwardly facing infeed opening, the infeed opening having a width substantially corresponding to the width of said threshing means and adapted to receive crop material from said threshing means..]. .[.2. An agricultural harvesting machine, as described in claim 1, wherein said separator casing comprises rearwardly facing discharge openings positioned at opposite ends of said casing..]. .[.3. An agricultural harvesting machine, as described in claim 2, wherein said separator casing comprises substantially vertically extending concaves positioned between the discharge openings to enable grain to be separated   
     
     
        from said crop material..]. 4. An agricultural harvesting machine comprising: a. a frame adapted to travel across a field,   b. means for conveying crop material from the field to the frame,   c. means transversely mounted to said frame rearwardly of the conveying means for threshing grain from the crop material,   d. a separator casing mounted to said frame rearwardly of the threshing means and disposed substantially parallel thereto for receiving said crop material from the threshing means over a width substantially corresponding to the width of the threshing means, the casing having ends extending over substantially equal distances laterally beyond the respective ends of said threshing means and comprising concaves mounted to said frame to enable separated grain to pass therethrough, said casing further including a forwardly facing opening having a width substantially corresponding to the width of the threshing means and adapted to receive crop material from said threshing means, said casing also including rearwardly facing discharge openings positioned at either end of said casing and tranversely offset relative to the infeed opening for discharging crop material from said casing, and   e. means rotatably mounted within said casing and operably associated therewith to spirally convey crop material laterally in layers of substantially half the width of the threshing means towards each of its ends while submitting said layers of material to a separating action .Iadd.the rotatably mounted means comprising two transversely extending rotors having crop treating and crop conveying elements, the rotors being arranged in parallel relationship and driven in the same direction.Iaddend.. .[.5. An agricultural harvesting machine, as described in claim 4 wherein the rotatably mounted means comprise a transversely extending separating rotor rotably mounted with said casing having means associated therewith for treating and conveying said crop material..]. .[.6. An agricultural harvesting machine, as described in claim 4, wherein the rotatably mounted means comprise two transversely extending rotors having crop treating and crop conveying elements, the rotors being   
     
     
        arranged in parallel relationship and driven in the same direction..]. 7. An agricultural harvesting machine, as described in claim 4 wherein .[.the rotatably mounted means comprise a plural number of transversely-extending separating rotors,.]. the rotors .[.being.]. .Iadd.are .Iaddend.arranged circumferentially to convey the crop material in a pattern circumscribing the rotors, first in a rearward direction underneath the central area of the first rotor and then spirally around 
     
     
        the .[.rotors.]. .Iadd.second rotor .Iaddend.in outward directions. 8. An agricultural harvesting machine, as described in claim 4, wherein means for receiving and consolidating the grain separated from said crop 
     
     
        material is mounted to said frame below said separator casing. 9. An agricultural harvesting machine, as described in claim 8, wherein the consolidating means comprises a trough mounted to said frame below said casing and a conveyor mounted within the trough for conveying grain within 
     
     
        said trough to a cleaning mechanism. 10. An agricultural harvesting .Iadd.machine .Iaddend.comprising: a. a frame adapted to travel across a field;   b. means for conveying crop material from the field to the frame;   c. means transversely mounted to said frame rearwardly of the conveying means for threshing grain from the crop material;   d. at least one separator casing mounted to said frame rearwardly of the threshing means and disposed substantially parallel thereto for receiving said crop material over a width substantially corresponding to the width of the threshing means, the casing having ends extending over substantially equal distances laterally beyond the respective ends of said threshing means and comprising concaves mounted to the bottom of said frame to enable separated grain to pass therethrough, said concaves having at least two fore-and-aft extending arcuate concave sections and a substantially straight concave section positioned between the two arcuate concave sections; and   e. means rotatably mounted within the casing and operably associated therewith to spirally convey said crop material laterally in layers of substantially half the width of the threshing means towards each of its ends while submitting said material to a separating action.Iadd., said rotatably mounted means having crop treating and conveying elements mounted thereon to divide said crop material into two flow paths directed outwardly, said crop treating and conveying elements being arranged in a V-shaped pattern near the center of said rotatably mounted means to effect the dividing of said crop material.Iaddend.. .[.11. An agricultural harvesting machine comprising:   a. a frame adapted to travel across a field;   b. means for conveying crop material from the field to the frame;   c. means transversely mounted to said frame rearwardly of the conveying means for threshing grain from the crop material;   d. at least one separator casing mounted to said frame rearwardly of the threshing means and disposed substantially parallel thereto for receiving said crop material from the threshing means over a width substantially corresponding to the width of the threshing means, the casing having ends extending over substantially equal distances laterally beyond the respective ends of said threshing means and comprising concaves mounted to said frame to enable separated grain to pass therethrough, said separator casing further comprising interior spiral fins operable to induce transverse displacement of said crop material; and   e. means rotatably mounted within said casing and operably associated therewith to spirally convey said crop material laterally in layers of substantially half the width of the threshing means toward each of its   
     
     
        ends while submitting said material to a separating action..]. 12. An agricultural harvesting machine comprising: a frame adapted to travel across a field,   b. means for conveying crop material from the field to the frame,   c. means transversely mounted to said frame rearwardly of the conveying means for threshing grain from the crop material, and   d. a rotary separating mechanism mounted to said frame rearwardly of the threshing means, the separating mechanism comprising a casing with first and second rotors mounted therein, an intermediate wall in the casing defining two independent sections and separating the first and second rotors from each other, transit openings at the outer ends of the casing interconnecting said sections and a central discharge opening at the rear of said casing, the first rotor comprising crop treating and crop conveying elements which operate to separate grain from said crop material as well as to convey said crop material in two opposite and outwardly directed paths spirally around said first rotor and then transfer said crop material to the second rotor through the transit openings, and the second rotor comprising crop treating and crop conveying elements which separate grain from the crop material as well as convey said crop material in opposite but inwardly directed spiral paths around said second rotor towards the discharge opening to discharge said material therethrough.   
     
     
        .Iadd.13.  The harvesting machine of claim 12 further comprising a straw beater mounted to said frame between said means for threshing and said rotary separating mechanism, said straw beater being operable to engage crop material discharged from said threshing means and direct said crop material into said separating mechanism..Iaddend. .Iadd.14. The harvesting machine of claim 13 wherein said crop treating and crop conveying elements are operable to split the crop material received by said separator mechanism into two generally oppositely directed flow paths without need for additional means for dividing the flow of said crop material. .Iaddend. .Iadd.15. The harvesting machine of claim 14 wherein said crop treating and crop conveying elements are positioned on said first rotor to form a V-shaped pattern near the center of said first rotor to effect a dividing of the flow of said crop material. .Iaddend.