Multi-beater thresher

Claim 2

A thresher for a legume crop mass comprising a large diameter, generally horizontal rotating screen, a generally centralized beater in said screen having paddles of substantial radial dimension and rotating in the direction of screen rotation, a plurality of satellite beaters between said centralized beater and the screen, and means for driving all of said beaters at a substantially higher RPM than that imparted to said screen, means for supplying the mass to a lower portion of said screen with said screen carrying the mass to an upper ascending portion of the screen without satellite beater interference, means for flinging the mass from said upper ascending portion of said screen to the near, upwardly ascending side of said generally centralized beater, with the paddles on the latter flinging the mass directly to an upper descending portion of the screen for sieving and without satellite beater interference, a downfeed stripper satellite beater having paddles rotating oppositely to said screen for again receiving the mass from the screen and flinging it back to said generally centralized beater without satellite beater interference, and means for thereafter flinging said mass back to a lower portion of said screen for sieving, said mass being thereafter carried up by said screen to its upper ascending portion without satellite beater interference.

Claim 3

The thresher of claim 1, wherein the interior of said screen is substantially devoid of beater ribs.

Claim 4

The thresher of claim 2, wherein said means for flinging the mass from an upper ascending portion of the screen to said generally centralized beater comprises an upfeed stripper satellite beater between the screen and said generally centralized beater and having paddles adjacent the screen that rotate oppositely to said screen.

Claim 5

The thresher of claim 3, comprising a control satellite beater below said upfeed stripper beater and having paddles spaced from the screen and rotating in the direction of screen rotation for receiving the mass from said upfeed stripper beater and flinging it into said generally centralized beater.

Claim 6

The thresher of claim 4, wherein the beater approach angles and the peripheral velocities of all of said beaters are such that the impact velocities of the beater paddles relative to the mass are substantially the same.

Claim 7

A thresher for a legume vine mass comprising a large diameter, generally horizontal rotating screen that is substantially devoid of internal beater ribs, a generally centralized beater in said screen having paddles of substantial radial dimension and rotating in the direction of screen rotation, and an array of satellite beaters between said centralized beater and the screen, and means for driving all of said beaters at a substantially higher RPM than that imparted to said screen, means for supplying the mass to a lower portion of said screen, said mass being carried up by said screen without beater interference, said array of satellite beaters consisting of an upfeed stripper satellite beater between an upper ascending portion of the screen and said generally centralized beater and having paddles adjacent the screen and rotating oppositely thereto for removing the ascending mass from the screen, a control satellite beater below said upfeed stripper beater and having paddles rotating in the direction of screen rotation and spaced from the screen for receiving the mass from said upfeed stripper beater and flinging it to the near side of said generally centralized beater, said latter beater flinging the mass directly to an upper descending portion of the screen for sieving, a downfeed stripper satellite beater rotating at a descending portion of the screen and turning oppositely to said screen for again removing the mass from the screen and flinging it directly back to said generally centralized beater, and a satellite beater below said downfeed stripper beater and turning oppositely to the direction of screen rotation for flinging said mass back for ultimate redelivery to a lower portion of said screen for sieving after the mass has again been flung by said generally centralized beater, said mass being thereafter carried up by said screen to said upfeed stripper.

Claim 8

A thresher for a legume vine mass comprising a large diameter, generally horizontal rotating screen that is substantially devoid of internal beater ribs, a generally centralized beater in said screen having paddles of substantial radial dimension and rotating in the direction of screen rotation, and an array of satellite beaters between said centralized beater and the screen, and means for driving all of said beaters at a substantially higher RPM than that imparted to said screen, means for supplying the mass to a lower portion of said screen, said mass being carried up by said screen without beater interference, said array of satellite beaters consisting of an upfeed stripper satellite beater between an upper ascending portion of the screen and said generally centralized beater and having paddles adjacent the screen and rotating oppositely thereto for removing the ascending mass from the screen, a control satellite beater below said upfeed stripper beater and having paddles rotating in the direction of screen rotation and spaced from the screen for receiving the mass from said upfeed stripper beater and flinging it to the near side of said generally centralized beater, said latter beater flinging the mass directly to an upper descending portion of the screen for sieving, a downfeed stripper satellite beater rotating at a descending portion of the screen and turning oppositely to said screen for again removing the mass from the screen and flinging it directly back to said generally centralized beater, and a satellite beater below said downfeed stripper beater and turning oppositely to the direction of screen rotation for flinging said mass back for ultimate redelivery to a lower portion of said screen for sieving after the mass has again been flung by said generally centralized beater, said mass being thereafter carried up by said screen to said upfeed stripper.

Claim 9

The thresher of claim 6, wherein the beater approach angles and the peripheral velocities of said beaters are such that the impact velocities of all of the beater paddles relative to the mass are substantially the same.

Claim 10

The thresher of claim 6, wherein said last named satellite beater is a sieving beater that receives the mass directly from said generally centralized beater and flings it directly to the lower portions of the screen.

Claim 11

The thresher of claim 6, wherein said last named satellite beater is a second downfeed stripper beater below the screen axis that removes the mass from the screen and flings it back directly to said generally centralized beater, said latter beater flinging the mass directly to a lower portion of the screen.

Claim 12

The thresher of claim 9, wherein said downfeed stripper beaters have their axes at about the one and the four o''clock positions of the screen when the latter appears to be rotating clockwise.

Claim 13

The thresher of claim 6, wherein said centralized beater is formed with about six paddles and the other beaters are formed with about four paddles.

Claim 14

A thresher for a legume crop mass comprising a large diameter, generally horizontal rotating screen wherein the interior of said screen is substantially devoid of ribs, a generally centralized beater in said screen having paddles and rotating in the direction of screen rotation, means for feeding the masS to a lower portion of said screen without beater interference, means for causing the mass to thereafter move from an upper ascending portion of said screen to the near side of said generally centralized beater, (said latter means comprising an upfeed stripper beater between the screen and said generally centralized beater) and having paddles rotating oppositely to said screen and a control beater below said upfeed stripper beater and having paddles rotating in the direction of screen rotation for receiving the mass from said upfeed stripper beater and flinging it into said generally centralized beater, means on the centralized beater for flinging the mass to an upper descending portion of the screen for sieving, a downfeed stripper beater having paddles rotating oppositely to said screen for again receiving the mass from the screen and flinging it back to said generally centralized beater, and means for thereafter flinging said mass back to a lower portion of said screen, said mass being thereafter carried up by said screen to its upper ascending portion without beater interference, the beater approach angles and the peripheral velocities of said beaters being such that the impact velocities of the beater paddles relative to the mass are substantially the same, said peripheral velocities of the paddles relative to the mass being about 15 -30 ft/sec.

Claim 15

A thresher for a legume crop mass comprising a large diameter, generally horizontal rotating screen wherein the interior of said screen is substantially devoid of ribs, a generally centralized beater in said screen having paddles and rotating in the direction of screen rotation, means for feeding the masS to a lower portion of said screen without beater interference, means for causing the mass to thereafter move from an upper ascending portion of said screen to the near side of said generally centralized beater, (said latter means comprising an upfeed stripper beater between the screen and said generally centralized beater) and having paddles rotating oppositely to said screen and a control beater below said upfeed stripper beater and having paddles rotating in the direction of screen rotation for receiving the mass from said upfeed stripper beater and flinging it into said generally centralized beater, means on the centralized beater for flinging the mass to an upper descending portion of the screen for sieving, a downfeed stripper beater having paddles rotating oppositely to said screen for again receiving the mass from the screen and flinging it back to said generally centralized beater, and means for thereafter flinging said mass back to a lower portion of said screen, said mass being thereafter carried up by said screen to its upper ascending portion without beater interference, the beater approach angles and the peripheral velocities of said beaters being such that the impact velocities of the beater paddles relative to the mass are substantially the same, said peripheral velocities of the paddles relative to the mass being about 15 -30 ft/sec.

Claim 16

The thresher of claim 12, wherein said screen has a diameter of about 4 - 5 feet, a peripheral velocity of about 7 - 9 ft/sec., said generally centralized beater has a diameter of about 17 - 24 inches and the other beaters have a diameter of about 12 inches.

Claim 17

A thresher for a legume vine mass comprising a large diameter, generally horizontal rotating screen that is substantially devoid of internal ribs, a generally centralized beater in said screen and having paddles rotating in the direction of screen rotation, means for feeding the mass to a lower portion of said screen, said mass being carried up by said screen without beater interference, an upfeed stripper beater between an ascending portion of the screen and said generally centralized beater and having paddles rotating oppositely to said screen for removing the mass from the screen, a control beater below said upfeed stripper beater and having paddles rotating in the direction of screen rotation for receiving the mass from said upfeed stripper beater and flinging it to the near side of said generally centralized beater, said latter beater flinging the mass to an upper descending portion of the screen for sieving, a downfeed stripper beater rotating at a descending portion of the screen and turning oppositely to said screen for again removing the mass from the screen and flinging it back to said generally centralized beater, and a sieving beater below said downfeed stripper beater and turning oppositely to the direction of screen rotation for receiving the mass from said generally centralized beater and flinging said mass back to a lower portion of said screen for sieving, said mass being thereafter carried up by said screen to said upfeed stripper beater without beater interference, the beater approach angles and the peripheral velocities of said beaters being such that the impact velocities of the beater paddles relative to the mass are substantially the same, said peripheral velocity of beater paddles relative to the mass is about 15 - 30 ft/sec.

Claim 18

A thresher for a legume vine mass comprising a large diameter, generally horizontal rotating screen that is substantially devoid of internal ribs, a generally centralized beater in said screen and having paddles rotating in the direction of screen rotation, means for feeding the mass to a lower portion of said screen, said mass being carried up by said screen without beater interference, an upfeed stripper beater between an ascending portion of the screen and said generally centralized beater and having paddles rotating oppositely to said screen for removing the mass from the screen, a control beater below said upfeed stripper beater and having paddles rotating in the direction of screen rotation for receiving the mass from said upfeed stripper beater and flinging it to the near side of said generally centralized beater, said latter beater flinging the mass to an upper descending portion of the screen for sieving, a downfeed stripper beater rotating at a descending portion of the screen and turning oppositely to said screen for again removing the mass from the screen and flinging it back to said generally centralized beater, and a sieving beater below said downfeed stripper beater and turning oppositely to the direction of screen rotation for receiving the mass from said generally centralized beater and flinging said mass back to a lower portion of said screen for sieving, said mass being thereafter carried up by said screen to said upfeed stripper beater without beater interference, the beater approach angles and the peripheral velocities of said beaters being such that the impact velocities of the beater paddles relative to the mass are substantially the same, said peripheral velocity of beater paddles relative to the mass is about 15 - 30 ft/sec.

Claim 19

The thresher of claim 14, wherein the diameter of said screen is about 5 feet, its peripheral velocity is about 7 - 9 ft/sec., said generally centralized beater has a diameter of about 20 inches and turns at about 140 - 280 RPM, the other beaters have a diameter of about 12 inches with the stripper beaters turning at about 260 - 520 RPM and the control and sieving beaters turning at about 220 - 480 RPM.

Claim 20

The thresher of claim 14, wherein said control beater has its axis at about the 9 o''clock position of the screen axis when the latter appears to be rotating clockwise.

Claim 21

The thresher of claim 16, wherein said downfeed stripper beater has its axis at about the 2 o''clock position on the screen.

Claim 22

A thresher for a legume vine mass comprising a large diameter, generally horizontal rotating screen that is substantially devoid of internal ribs, a generally centralized beater in said screen and rotating in the direction of screen rotation, means for feeding the mass to a lower portion of said screen, said mass being carried up by said screen without beater interference, an upfeed stripper beater between an ascending portion of the screen and said generally centralized beater and rotating oppositely to said screen for removing the mass from the screen, a control beater below said upfeed stripper beater and rotating in the direction of screen rotation for receiving the mass from said upfeed stripper beater and flinging it to the near side of said generally centralized beater, said latter beater flinging the mass to the top of the screen for sieving, a first downfeed stripper beater rotating at an upper descending portion of the screen and turning oppositely to said screen for again removing the mass from the screen and flinging it back to said generally centralized beater, said generally centralized beater thereupon flinging the mass back to the screen for sieving, and a second downfeed stripper beater below the screen axis and turning oppositely to the direction of screen rotation for removing the mass from the screen and returning it to said generally centralized beater, said latter beater thereupon flinging said mass back to a lower portion of said screen for sieving, said mass being thereafter carried up by said screen to said upfeed stripper beater without beater interference, the beater approach angles and the peripheral velocities of said beaters are such that the impact velocities of the beater paddles relative to the mass are substantially the same, said peripheral velocities of beater paddles relative to the mass are about 15 - 30 ft/sec.

Claim 23

A thresher for a legume vine mass comprising a large diameter, generally horizontal rotating screen that is substantially devoid of internal ribs, a generally centralized beater in said screen and rotating in the direction of screen rotation, means for feeding the mass to a lower portion of said screen, said mass being carried up by said screen without beater interference, an upfeed stripper beater between an ascending portion of the screen and said generally centralized beater and rotating oppositely to said screen for removing the mass from the screen, a control beater below said upfeed stripper beater and rotating in the direction of screen rotation for receiving the mass from said upfeed stripper beater and flinging it to the near side of said generally centralized beater, said latter beater flinging the mass to the top of the screen for sieving, a first downfeed stripper beater rotating at an upper descending portion of the screen and turning oppositely to said screen for again removing the mass from the screen and flinging it back to said generally centralized beater, said generally centralized beater thereupon flinging the mass back to the screen for sieving, and a second downfeed stripper beater below the screen axis and turning oppositely to the direction of screen rotation for removing the mass from the screen and returning it to said generally centralized beater, said latter beater thereupon flinging said mass back to a lower portion of said screen for sieving, said mass being thereafter carried up by said screen to said upfeed stripper beater without beater interference, the beater approach angles and the peripheral velocities of said beaters are such that the impact velocities of the beater paddles relative to the mass are substantially the same, said peripheral velocities of beater paddles relative to the mass are about 15 - 30 ft/sec.

Claim 24

The thresher of claim 18, wherein the diameter of said screen is about 5 feet, its peripheral velocity is about 7 - 9 ft/sec., said generally centralized beater has a diameter of about 24 inches and turns at about 115 - 230 RPM, the other beaters have a diameter of about 12 inches with the stripper beaters turning at about 260 - 520 RPM and the control beater turning at about 240 - 480 RPM.