U.S. patent application number 12/794897 was filed with the patent office on 2010-09-30 for air movement unit for biomass conveyance, separation, or combine performance enhancement.
This patent application is currently assigned to IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.. Invention is credited to STUART J. BIRRELL, MARK D. DILTS, BENJAMIN J. SCHLESSER.
Application Number | 20100248801 12/794897 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40342115 |
Filed Date | 2010-09-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100248801 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
BIRRELL; STUART J. ; et
al. |
September 30, 2010 |
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.
Inventors: |
BIRRELL; STUART J.; (AMES,
IA) ; DILTS; MARK D.; (SIOUX FALLS, SD) ;
SCHLESSER; BENJAMIN J.; (DAVENPORT, IA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MCKEE, VOORHEES & SEASE, P.L.C.
801 GRAND AVENUE, SUITE 3200
DES MOINES
IA
50309-2721
US
|
Assignee: |
IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH
FOUNDATION, INC.
AMES
IA
|
Family ID: |
40342115 |
Appl. No.: |
12/794897 |
Filed: |
June 7, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12262271 |
Oct 31, 2008 |
7731578 |
|
|
12794897 |
|
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|
|
60984719 |
Nov 1, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
460/100 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01F 12/444
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
460/100 |
International
Class: |
A01F 12/48 20060101
A01F012/48 |
Claims
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.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation application of U.S. Ser.
No. 12/262,271 filed Oct. 31, 2008 which claims priority under 35
U.S.C. .sctn.119 to a provisional application, U.S. Ser. No.
60/984,719 filed Nov. 1, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by
reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to air flow separation
associated with a harvesting machine, more particularly, but not
exclusively, the present invention relates to air flow separation
of a harvesting machine which is adapted to harvest grain as well
as biomass material also sometimes referred to as crop residue,
cellulosic material, stover, or material other than grain (MOG)
which may include leaves, stalks, husks, chaff, or any other
material that passes through a combine but is not removed in the
grain stream.
[0003] Harvesting machines or combines are self-propelled machines
which harvest, thresh, separate, and clean an agricultural crop.
The resulting clean grain is stored in a grain tank located on the
harvesting machine and can be transported from the grain tank to a
wagon, cart, truck, or other container by an unloading auger. In a
typical process, after separation and threshing of the grain, it is
directed to a cleaning system that typically includes a cleaning
shoe having a chaffer and a sieve. A cleaning fan directs aspirated
air through the chaffer and sieve blowing the lighter chaff and
straw out the rear of the combine. The clean grain, being heavier
falls through the chaffer and sieve and may be collected by a clean
grain auger which directs it to a clean grain elevator which
conveys the clean grain to the grain tank.
[0004] One of the problems with combines is providing sufficient
airflow out of the cleaning shoe, particularly in a manner which
does not add increased complexity to the design or operation of the
combine. Another seemingly unrelated problem to one not having the
benefit of this disclosure involves biomass collection and the
addition air flow related problems introduced by biomass
collections. Thus, what is needed is a combine with an air movement
unit that assists in biomass conveyance or enhances combine
performance.
[0005] Therefore, it is a primary object, feature, or advantage of
the present invention to improve over the state of the art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, 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.
[0007] According to another aspect of the present invention, a
harvesting machine includes a self-propelled vehicle adapted for
separating grain from non-grain material, a chopper operatively
connected to the vehicle and adapted for receiving the non-grain
material and chopping the non-grain material, a blower adapted for
assisting in conveying the non-grain material from the chopper, a
fan for controlling air flow; an air inlet for providing air to the
fan, and an aspiration outlet for providing air from the fan.
[0008] According to another aspect of the present invention, a
method for controlling air flow includes providing a harvesting
machine comprising (a) a self-propelled vehicle adapted for
separating grain from non-grain material, (b) a cleaning shoe, (c)
a fan for controlling air flow, the fan positioned downstream of
the cleaning shoe and the fan having an air inlet and an aspiration
outlet, and (d) wherein the fan assists in reducing static air
pressure within the harvesting machine. The method further includes
intake of air through the air inlet of the fan and aspirating air
through an aspiration outlet of the fan. The fan can have other
functions, included but not limited to, separation of lighter
non-grain material from heavier non-grain material.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a combine adapted for
harvesting biomass as well as spreading biomass.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a cross section of a combine with an air movement
unit.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a cross section of a combine with an air movement
unit.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating basic flow of material
other grain and examples of air flow.
[0013] FIG. 5 illustrates one embodiment of a combine with an
associated support vehicle for collecting non-grain material.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] The present invention is described in the context of a
combine harvester can perform either or both of two separate
functions of biomass capturing or biomass spreading. The spreading
function is associated with conventional combines which collect
grain and spread crop residue back on to ground. Although the
present invention is advantageous in the context of a combine
harvester which can provide for both biomass capturing and biomass
spreading, it may also be used in the context of conventional
combines.
[0015] FIG. 1 illustrates a combine harvester or harvesting machine
10 which is adapted for both harvesting biomass as well as
spreading biomass. The harvesting machine 10 may be based on a
self-propelled combine such as a John Deere 9750STS combine or
similar platform. A residue chopper 12 is provided. A header 11 is
shown on the front of the harvesting machine 10. In addition, a
particle accelerator or silage blower 14 from a self-propelled
forage harvester is mounted behind the chopper 12. The blower 14
may be from a John Deere 7500 self propelled forage harvester or
similar blower and is mounted on the back of the harvesting machine
10 immediately behind the chopper 12. The blower 14 is a device
used in conveying material. The blower may include a shaft upon
which a series of paddles are mounted radially from the center.
Material is fed tangentially into the perimeter of the paddles so
the paddles hit and accelerate the material. Through the use of a
transition member 13, all or a certain fraction of material flowing
through the chopper 12 may be discharged either onto the ground or
through the blower 14. A deflector plate may be positioned
immediately below the transition member 13. When the transition
member 13 is set to collect the crop residue, crop residue material
is sent to the blower 14, and the crop residue material may then be
blown through the chute 16 into a wagon or truck or other support
vehicle to be removed from the field. An air movement unit 20
having one or more fans may be mounted on a rearward portion of the
combine 10.
[0016] FIG. 2 illustrates a cross section of a harvesting machine
10. Note that biomass material leaving the chopper 12 is either
discharged at the transition member 13 or conveyed by the blower 14
through the chute 16. The position of the transition member 13 may
be set through hydraulic, electronic, or other type of control so
that 0 to 100 percent of the biomass material leaving the chopper
is spread and that a corresponding 100 to 0 percent of the biomass
material is collected. FIG. 4 illustrates the combine 10 with an
air movement unit 20 including one or more fans 22 positioned at
the back end of the combine 10. Each fan 22 is a device used to
move air. One or more centrifugal fans, each having paddles mounted
radially outward from a center shaft may be used. Each fan 22 moves
air from an inlet at the center to outlets at the perimeter. As air
moves into each fan 22, the paddles accelerate it and the air is
forced outwardly by centrifugal force. The fans 22 used need not be
centrifugal fans. The fans 22 may be mounted on a common shaft with
the blower portion 14, or the fans may be remote mounted. Mounting
on a common shaft may reduce complexity, parts, and maintenance
compared to remote mounting. However, remote mounting will allow
the fans 22 to be used for air movement when the combine is
utilized in normal operation without biomass harvest. Having fans
22 co-located with a blower 14 at the exit of the combine 10 will
increase combine efficiency, increase dust control, and assist feed
into the chopper by evacuating air, as well as separating heavy and
light materials through aspiration in and after the blower segment.
In addition, it is to be understood that fan size may be adjusted
in either the width or radial dimensions to alter the amount of
airflow needed and the application at hand. Applications may
include, without limitation, increased aspiration for separation of
heavy and light materials, improved feeding through the chopper,
improved grain shoe performance, improved dust control, and
improved stover spreading.
[0017] The air movement unit 20 shown is positioned between the
chopper 12 and the blower 14. The air aspiration conduit or outlet
28 is shown after the blower 14 to provide for cross aspiration and
the air inlet 24 is shown between the chopper 12 and blower 14.
[0018] A harvesting machine outlet 30 is shown after the chopper
12. The embodiment shown in FIG. 2 assists in conveying light
material from the harvesting machine outlet 30 to the inlet 32 of
the blower 14. The inlet 24 to the fan 22 may be coincident with
the center of the blower 14, or located near the blower 14 such
that any airflow will assist material movement in the direction of
the blower 14. For purposes of explanation, it is to be understood
that a material is considered heavy if it has a low surface area to
density ratio such that it is likely to be unaffected by an
airstream. Stalks, corn cobs, and pebbles are examples of heavy
materials. A material is considered light if it has a relatively
high surface area to density ration. This material is likely to be
displaced by an airstream. Chaff, corn husks, and feathers are
examples of light materials.
[0019] During biomass harvesting operations, the fan 22 may assist
pulling material into the area of the blower paddles 40 where the
heavier material will be picked up by the paddles 40 and conveyed
onwards towards the chute 16 while the lighter material is conveyed
with the air. The fan 22 assists in evacuating air from the back
end of the combine 10. Thus, the fan creates a low pressure area
which helps pull material and dust through the machine. In
addition, the fan 22 provides a source of air which may be used for
further fractionation of light material from heavy material. An
example can be separation of lighter non-grain material from
heavier non-grain material. For instance heavier non-grain material
like cobs (or substantial pieces of cobs) can be conveyed to blower
14 while lighter non-grain material like chaff, dust, and lighter
debris or plant material can be aspirated by fan 22 by drawing the
lighter non-grain material (e.g. chaff and dust), and separating it
from heavier non-grain material (e.g. cobs), which continues to
blower 14. The aspirated material can be carried by air flow
generated by outlet 28. This is one way to achieve cob separation
from lighter debris.
[0020] In addition to the specific configuration shown in FIG. 2,
the present invention contemplates that the air inlet 24 may be
located in various positions including positions which allow the
air inlet to provide for intake of ambient air, before the chopper
12, or to provide for air intake from the cleaning shoe area or
other vents of the combine 10 Likewise, the air outlet 28 from the
fan 22 for cross aspiration is shown after the blower 14. However,
the cross aspiration air outlet 28 could be in a number of
different configurations such as, without limitation, after the
chopper 12, between the chopper 12 and the blower 14, or
elsewhere.
[0021] FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative location for the air inlet
24 and the air outlet 28. In FIG. 3, the air inlet is before the
chopper at the cleaning shoe 26. The air outlet 28 is after the
chopper 12 and before the blower 14.
[0022] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing basic flow of material other
than grain (MOG) and how air may be drawn into the fan from various
locations and aspirated to various locations. The particular
placement of the air inlet 24 and the air outlet 28 may be
determined based upon the desired objectives and attendant design
considerations.
[0023] For example, where a desired objective is to keep the
cleaning shoe 26 of the combine clean, the fan 22 may have its air
inlet 24 placed nearer the cleaning shoe 26 to provide for removal
of air from the cleaning shoe 26. This may be achieved whether the
combine is operating conventionally or for biomass collection. The
cleaning shoe 26 may include a perforated screen which uses a
stream of air to lift and fluidize the bed of crop material
including grain and material other than grain (MOG). In this
manner, the grain, being denser, falls through the screen while the
MOG is carried over the screen and out the back of the harvesting
machine. Modern harvesting machines have gained so much capacity
that the evacuation of this air from the rear of the harvesting
machine can be challenging. In fact, modern combines may flow more
than 16,000 cubic feet per minute (CFM) through the cleaning shoe.
When the stream of air is reduced, the fluidization breaks down and
MOG falls through the screen, contaminating the grain sample. The
addition of biomass harvest further complicates the matter as the
additional machinery provides a restriction to airflow. Thus, the
fan 22 may have its air inlet placed after the cleaning shoe 26 to
assist in air flow by evacuating air from the harvesting machine.
Having one or more fans 22 creating negative pressure at the outlet
may increase the combine efficiency for conventional combines, or
combines used in biomass harvest.
[0024] Where the desired objective is dust control, placement of
the air inlet 24 of the fan 22 to evacuate air from the combine may
be performed. Dust control is a challenge with modern combines
flowing massive amounts of air. A restriction at the exit of the
combine will cause a pressure build-up in the cleaning shoe 26.
This pressure buildup may manifest itself as dust blowing out of
the feeder house entrance. Having fans 22 creating negative
pressure at the outlet 28 reduces dusting from other areas of the
combine, and concentrates dust at the exit for better control. Thus
dust and dusting out of the feeder house at the front of machine is
controlled, thereby improving visibility from the front.
[0025] Where the desired objective is to provide for enhanced flow
of chopped crop residue from the chopper 12 to the crop blower 14,
the fan 22 may be placed at the chopper 12 or between the chopper
12 and the blower 14 to induce air flow. Such a placement may also
be used to provide for fractionation of biomass into light and
heavy fractions in the field and on the go. One of the existing
concerns with biomass is the selective harvest of corn cobs. The
primary contaminant in corn cobs coming out of the cleaning shoe 26
is husk. The fans 22 allow a double advantage by both sucking husks
out and providing a source of air for further blowing husks out.
The exhaust of the fans 22 can be used to increase the acceleration
of light crop residues for improved delivery to the in field
container such as a truck or wagon.
[0026] Thus, the fan 22 may have air inlets 24 or air outlets 28 at
different positions depending upon the specific objectives to be
achieved as the fan 22 has several purposes. The induced air flow
from the harvesting machine body to the fan 22 will improve
cleaning shoe function by reducing static air pressure inside the
combine overall. In biomass harvest, the airflow will assist crop
flow from the chopper 12 to the crop blower 14 or other location
where the air inlet is positioned. Secondly, the exhaust air from
the fan 22 can be used to aspirate the accelerated crop residue
before delivery to the support vehicle (or other container) or the
exhaust air can be utilized to enhance the flow of the crop residue
to the support vehicle 50 shown in FIG. 5. The support vehicle 50
may be a wagon or truck which includes or forms a collection
container 52.
[0027] It is further believed that many of the problems associated
with conventional combines are the result of improper airflow. The
present invention assists with addressing those problems through
allowing for various placements of the air inlet of fans and the
outlets of the fans. Thus, fans may be added to help cope with the
loss of airflow accompanying the modifications to allow biomass
harvest. In addition, the proper addition of fans offers advantages
for conventional harvest.
[0028] Therefore, advantages associated with the present invention
may include assisting in conveying light material from combine
outlet to inlet of the blower, assisting in fractionation of plant
material, assisting in combine efficiency by evacuating air from
the cleaning shoe thus allowing the crop mat to maintain a
fluidized bed, controlling dust, conveying light material,
assisting in further fractionating heavy and light material
downstream from the blower through aspiration, and other
advantages.
[0029] Therefore, an improved combine has been disclosed. The
present invention contemplates numerous variations in the number,
type, and placements of a fan, its inlets, and its outlets. The
present invention contemplates variations and alternatives in the
manner in which the fan is used to affect air flow in either
conventional or biomass harvesting applications both with respect
to the air inlet and the aspiration. The present invention is not
intended to be limited to the specific embodiments provided
herein.
* * * * *