Conical transition

Claim 2

In an axial flow combine, in combination, an elongated generally cylindrical rotor casing defining a forward threshing region and a rearward separating region, the forward end of said threshing region being provided with a forwardly and outwardly flared funnel-like frusto-conical transition section designed for endwise reception of crop material, a rotor disposed within said casing in coaxial relationship and substantially coextensive therewith, cooperating threshing instrumentalities on said casing and rotor within said threshing region, cooperating separating instrumentalities on said casing and rotor within said separating region, and a vaned impeller on said rotor within said frustoconical transition section for moving the crop material received in said section rearwardly into the threshing region, and means for driving said rotor.

Claim 3

In an axial flow combine, the combination set forth in claim 1, wherein said impeller is provided with a series of vanes thereon having outer surfaces which sweep around the inner surface of said frusto-conical transition section in coextensive close proximity thereto.

Claim 4

In an axial flow combine, the combination set forth in claim 2, wherein said vanes are individually in the form of a flat metal shEets having arcuate outer edges which are of substantially parabolic contour and thus are spaced equidistantly throughout their extent from said inner wall of the frusto-conical transition section.

Claim 5

In an axial flow combine, the combination set forth in claim 3 including, additionally, a series of longitudinally spaced generally helical transport fins fixedly disposed on said frusto-conical transition section internally thereof for enhancing the flow of crop material rearwardly.

Claim 6

In an axial flow combine, the combination set forth in claim 2, wherein said rotor embodies a central rotor shaft coaxial with the casing, and an impeller hub on which said vanes are mounted, each vane is in the form of a generally triangular flat metal sheet having a linearly straight inner edge which is secured to said hub, a linearly straight radially extending leading edge, and a trailing outer arcuate edge which is of substantially parabolic contour and is thus spaced equidistantly throughout its extent from said inner wall of the frusto-conical transition section.

Claim 7

In an axial flow combine, the combination set forth in claim 5 including, additionally, a series of longitudinally spaced generally helical transport fins fixedly disposed on said frusto-conical transition section internally thereof for enhancing the flow of crop material rearwardly.

Claim 8

In an axial flow combine, in combination, an elongated generally cylindrical horizontal rotor casing defining a forward threshing region and a rearward separating region, the forward end of said threshing region being provided with a forwardly and outwardly flared funnel-like frusto-conical transition section designed for endwise reception of crop material, a rotor shaft disposed within said casing in coaxial relationship and substantially coextensive therewith, the wall of said casing in said threshing region embodying a concave, the wall of said casing in said separating region embodying a grate, a hub-like spider mounted on said rotor shaft in the threshing region and having radial spider arms thereon, a similar spider mounted on the rotor shaft in the separating region, longitudinal rotor blades secured to and extending between corresponding radial arms of the spiders, rasp bars on said rotor blades in the threshing region of the casing and designed for threshing cooperation with said concave, the portions of the rotor blades within said separating region being designed for separating cooperation with said grate, and a vaned impeller on said rotor within said frusto-conical transition section for moving the crop material received in said section rearwardly into the threshing region, said impeller embodying a series of vanes thereon having outer surfaces which sweep around the inner surface of said frusto-conical transition section in coextensive close proximity thereto, said vanes being equal in number to the number of radial arms on each of said spiders.

Claim 9

In an axial flow combine, in combination, an elongated generally cylindrical horizontal rotor casing defining a forward threshing region and a rearward separating region, the forward end of said threshing region being provided with a forwardly and outwardly flared funnel-like frusto-conical transition section designed for endwise reception of crop material, a rotor shaft disposed within said casing in coaxial relationship and substantially coextensive therewith, the wall of said casing in said threshing region embodying a concave, the wall of said casing in said separating region embodying a grate, a hub-like spider mounted on said rotor shaft in the threshing region and having radial spider arms thereon, a similar spider mounted on the rotor shaft in the separating region, longitudinal rotor blades secured to and extending between corresponding radial arms of the spiders, rasp bars on said rotor blades in the threshing region of the casing and designed for threshing cooperation with said concave, the portions of the rotor blades within said separating region being designed for separating cooperation with said grate, and a vaned impeller on said rotor within said frusto-conical transition section for moving the crop material received in said section rearwardly into the threshing region, said impeller embodying a series of vanes thereon having outer surfaces which sweep around the inner surface of said frusto-conical transition section in coextensive close proximity thereto, said vanes being equal in number to the number of radial arms on each of said spiders.

Claim 10

In an axial flow combine, the combination set forth in claim 7, wherein said spider arms and vanes are staggered in the circumferential direction of the rotor.

Claim 11

In an axial flow combine, the combination set forth in claim 8, wherein said vanes are individually in the form of flat metal sheets having arcuate outer edges which are of substantially parabolic contour and thus are spaced equidistantly throughout their extent from said inner wall of the frusto-conical transition section.

Claim 12

In an axial flow combine, the combination set forth in claim 8, wherein said rotor embodies a central rotor shaft coaxial with the casing, and an impeller hub on which said vanes are mounted, each vane is in the form of a generally triangular flat metal sheet having a linearly straight inner edge which is secured to said hub, a linearly straight radially extending leading edge, and a trailing outer arcuate edge which is of substantially parabolic contour and is thus spaced equidistantly throughout its extent from said inner wall of the frusto-conical transition section.

Claim 13

In an axial flow combine, the combination set forth in claim 10 including, additionally, a series of longitudinally spaced generally helical transport fins fixedly disposed on said frusto-conical transition section internally thereof for enhancing the flow of crop material rearwardly.