Concave with an array of longitudinally notched spaced apart threshing elements

Abstract

A concave includes a frame and an array of threshing elements supported by the frame, the threshing elements being spaced apart and extending generally parallel to one another. The threshing elements are configured in the form of round bars each having formed on an upper portion thereof disposed adjacent to an upper portion of the frame a longitudinally-extending notch respectively defining an aggressive threshing edge. The spaced apart relationship and round configuration of the threshing elements reduce plugging of the concave. The threshing edges facing in a direction opposite to the direction of crop material flow restrict crop material flow and thereby enable more effective threshing.A concave includes a frame and an array of threshing elements supported by the frame, the threshing elements being spaced apart and extending generally parallel to one another. The threshing elements each have formed on an upper portion thereof disposed adjacent to an upper portion of the frame a longitudinally-extending notch respectively defining an aggressive threshing edge. The spaced apart relationship of the threshing elements reduce plugging of the concave. The threshing edges facing in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of a harvester rotor.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A threshing concave for an agricultural combine, comprising:
 a frame comprised of a plurality of members interconnected to one another and including a pair of said members spaced apart opposite, and extending generally parallel, to one another, each of said opposite members having an upper portion with a top edge thereon and a plurality of openings formed in said upper portion adjacent to and below said top edge, said openings being spaced apart from one another such that said spaced apart openings formed in one of said opposite members respectively correspond with said spaced apart openings formed in the other of said opposite members; and 
 an array of threshing elements supported by and extending between said opposite members of said frame and being spaced apart and extending generally parallel to one another; 
 said threshing elements being elongated bars having round configurations in cross-section, each said elongated bar having
 a pair of opposite ends each being respectively seated in a respective one of said corresponding openings of said opposite members of said frame, and 
 
 a notch formed in said bar and extending longitudinally between said opposite ends of said bar such that said notch defines an aggressive threshing edge recessed into said bar and disposed adjacent to said upper portions of said opposite members of said frame and facing opposite to the direction of crop material flow relative to said threshing concave a direction of movement of a rotor of the agricultural combine. 
 
     
     
       2. The concave of  claim 1  wherein each bar at each of its opposite ends is affixed to a respective one of said opposite members of said frame proximate to said opening in which said opposite end of said bar is seated. 
     
     
       3. The concave of  claim 2  wherein each bar has:
 an upper portion with said notch formed in said each bar adjacent to said upper portion; and 
 a lower portion underlying said upper portion and said notch. 
 
     
     
       4. The concave of  claim 3  wherein said upper portion has substantially a quarter-cylindrical configuration in cross-section and said lower portion has substantially a semi-cylindrical configuration in cross-section. 
     
     
       5. The concave of  claim 1  wherein each bar has an upper portion and a lower portion underlying said upper portion such that said upper portion extends upwardly from said lower portion with said notch adjacent to said upper portion and above said lower portion of said bar. 
     
     
       6. The concave of  claim 5  wherein said notch of said each bar is defined by a first surface on said lower portion of said bar and a second surface on said upper portion of said bar extending upright from and in transverse relation to said first surface. 
     
     
       7. The concave of  claim 1  wherein spacing between said openings in said upper portion of each of said opposite members of said frame and thus the spaces between said bars seated in said openings progressively increase in width going from one end of said frame to an opposite end of said frame. 
     
     
       8. The concave of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of members of said frame further includes at least one intermediate member spaced between and extending generally parallel to said opposite members of said frame. 
     
     
       9. The concave of  claim 8  wherein said opposite and intermediate members together are curved in configuration such that said top edges thereof lie along a common surface curved in configuration. 
     
     
       10. The concave of  claim 8  wherein said intermediate member has a top edge and openings formed in said intermediate member adjacent to and below said top edge and corresponding to said openings of said opposite members such that said bars are also seated in said openings of said intermediate member. 
     
     
       11. The concave of  claim 10  wherein said openings are formed in said opposite and intermediate members such that said notches of said bars are disposed substantially above said top edges of said opposite and intermediate members. 
     
     
       12. The concave of  claim 10  wherein said openings are formed in said opposite and intermediate members such that said notches of said bars are disposed substantially below said top edges of said opposite and intermediate members. 
     
     
       13. A threshing concave for an agricultural combine, comprising:
 a frame including
 a pair of opposite side members, and 
 a pair of opposite end members spaced apart from and extending generally parallel to one another and having ends joined to corresponding ends of said opposite side members, 
 said opposite end members each having an upper portion with a top edge thereon and openings formed in said upper portion of said each opposite end member adjacent to and below said top edge, said openings being spaced apart from one another such that said openings in one of said opposite members respectively correspond with said openings in the other of said opposite members; and 
 an array of elongated threshing bars spaced apart and extending generally parallel to one another, said bars being straight in longitudinal extent and round in cross-section, said each bar having
 a pair of opposite ends each being respectively seated in a respective one of said corresponding openings in said opposite end members of said frame, 
 a lower portion, 
 an upper portion, and 
 a notch defining an aggressive threshing edge recessed into said bar adjacent to said upper portion of said bar and above said lower portion of said bar, said notch longitudinally extending between said opposite ends of said bar such that each of said notches is disposed adjacent to said upper portions of said end members of said frame and face opposite to the direction of crop material flow relative to said concave a direction of rotation of a rotor of the agricultural combine. 
 
 
 
     
     
       14. The concave of  claim 13  wherein said upper portion of said each bar has substantially a quarter-cylindrical configuration in cross-section and said lower portion of said each bar has substantially a semi-cylindrical configuration in cross-section, said lower portion of said each bar underlies said upper portion and said notch. 
     
     
       15. The concave of  claim 13  wherein said notch in said each bar is defined by a first surface on said lower portion of said bar and a second surface on said upper portion of said bar extending upright from and in transverse relation to said first surface. 
     
     
       16. The concave of  claim 13  wherein spacing between said openings of said opposite end members and thus the spaces between said bars seated in said openings progressively increase in width going from one of said opposite side members to the other of said opposite side members. 
     
     
       17. The concave of  claim 13  wherein said frame further includes at least one intermediate member spaced between and extending generally parallel said opposite end members, said intermediate member also extending between and joined to said opposite side members. 
     
     
       18. The concave of  claim 17  wherein said opposite end members and intermediate member together are curved in configuration such that said top edges thereof lie along a common surface curved in configuration. 
     
     
       19. The concave of  claim 17  wherein said intermediate member has a top edge and openings formed in said intermediate member adjacent to and below said top edge and corresponding to said openings of said opposite end members such that said bars are seated in said openings of said intermediate member. 
     
     
       20. The concave of  claim 19  wherein said openings are formed in said opposite end and intermediate members such that said notches of said bars seated in said openings are disposed substantially above said top edges of said end and intermediate members. 
     
     
       21. The concave of  claim 19  wherein said openings are formed in said opposite end and intermediate members such that said notches of said bars seated in said openings are disposed substantially below said top edges of said end and intermediate members. 
     
     
       22. A threshing bar for use in a threshing concave for use in an agricultural combine, the concave having a frame with a first member and a second member spaced apart opposite, and extending generally parallel, to each other, the first member and the second member each having an upper portion with a top edge thereon and a plurality of openings formed in the upper portion adjacent to and below the top edge, the openings being spaced apart from one another such that the spaced apart openings formed in first member respectively corresponds with the spaced apart openings formed in the second member, the threshing bar comprising:
 a threshing element configured to be supported by and extend between the first member and the second member, said threshing element being an elongated bar having a pair of opposite ends each being configured to be respectively seated in a respective one of the corresponding openings of the first member and the second member of the frame; and   a notch formed in said bar and extending longitudinally between said opposite ends of said bar such that said notch defines an aggressive threshing edge recessed into said bar and disposed adjacent to the upper portions of the first and second members of the frame and being further configured to face opposite to a direction of movement of a rotor of the agricultural combine.