Helical element rotor-axial flow combine

Claim 2

In an axial flow-type combine, in combination, an elongated generally cylindrical open-ended rotor casing having a concave establishing a forward threshing zone, and a grate establishing a rearward separating zone, the forward open end of said casing being designed for reception of crop material, a series of spaced apart spiral transport fins fixedly secured to the upper region of said rotor casing internally thereof, a rotor of a generally cylindrical imperforate tubular construction mounted for rotation within said casing in coaxial relationship and substantially co-extensive therewith, a plurality of circumferentially spaced elongated helical transport rasp bars mounted on the cylindrical peripheral region of said rotor in said threshing zone and designed for cooperation with said concave in such zone for threshing and impelling the crop material rearwardly, a plurality of circumferentially spaced elongated longitudinally extending bars mounted on the cylindrical peripheral region of said rotor in the separating zone and designed for cooperation with the transport fins for impelling the crop material rearwardly, and means for driving said rotor.

Claim 3

In an axial flow-type combine, the combination set forth in claim 1, wherein each of the elongated helical transport rasp bars in said threshing zone has a longitudinal span which is equal to a major portion of the longitudinal extent of the threshing zone, while each of said elongated longitudinally extending bars is substantially coextensive with said separating zone.

Claim 4

In an axial flow combine, the combination set forth in claim 2, wherein the forward end of each longitudinally extending bar merges with the rear end of an associated helical transport rasp bar.

Claim 5

In an axial flow-type combine, the combination set forth in claim 3, wherein each of said longitudinally extending bars are fully coextensive with said separating zone and the forward end region thereof projects a slight distance forwardly into the threshing zone.

Claim 6

In an axial flow-type combine, the combination set forth in claim 3, wherein said rotor is of generally cylindrical imperforate tubular construction and is provided with a closed forward end the various bars are fixedly mounted on the outer cylindrical surface of the rotor.

Claim 7

In an axial flow-type combine, the combination set forth in claim 5 wherein the merging helical and longitudinal bars are three in number and are circumferentially spaced from one another 120° apart.

Claim 8

In an axial flow-type combine, the combination set forth in claim 6, wherein the circumferential span of each helical rasp bar is on the order of 120°.

Claim 9

In an axial flow-type combine, in combination, an elongated generally cylindrical rotor casing having a concave establishing a forward threshing zone, and a grate establishing a rearward separating zone, the forward end of said threshing zone being provided with a forwardly and outwardly flared funnel-like frusto-conical transition section designed for reception of crop material, a series of spaced apart spiral transport fins fixedly secured to the upper region of said rotor casing internally thereof, a generally cylindrical imperforate tubular rotor mounted for rotation within said casing in coaxial relationship and substantially coextensive therewith, a vaned impeller on the forward end of said rotor within the frusto-conical transition section having vanes which sweep around the inner surface of said transition section in coextensive close proximity thereto for moving the crop material received in said transition section rearwardly into said threshing zone, a plurality of circumferentially spaced elongated helical rasp bars mounted on the outer cylindrical surface of said rotor in said threshing zone and designed for cooperation with said concave for threshing and impelling the crop material rearwardly, a plurality of circumferentially spaced elongated longitudinally extending bars mounted on the outer cylindrical surface of said rotor in said separating zone and designed for cooperation with said transport fins in such zone, and means for driving said rotor.

Claim 10

In an axial flow-type combine, in combination, an elongated generally cylindrical rotor casing having a concave establishing a forward threshing zone, and a grate establishing a rearward separating zone, the forward end of said threshing zone being provided with a forwardly and outwardly flared funnel-like frusto-conical transition section designed for reception of crop material, a series of spaced apart spiral transport fins fixedly secured to the upper region of said rotor casing internally thereof, a generally cylindrical imperforate tubular rotor mounted for rotation within said casing in coaxial relationship and substantially coextensive therewith, a vaned impeller on the forward end of said rotor within the frusto-conical transition section having vanes which sweep around the inner surface of said transition section in coextensive close proximity thereto for moving the crop material received in said transition section rearwardly into said threshing zone, a plurality of circumferentially spaced elongated helical rasp bars mounted on the outer cylindrical surface of said rotor in said threshing zone and designed for cooperation with said concave for threshing and impelling the crop material rearwardly, a plurality of circumferentially spaced elongated longitudinally extending bars mounted on the outer cylindrical surface of said rotor in said separating zone and designed for cooperation with said transport fins in such zone, and means for driving said rotor.

Claim 11

In an axial flow-type combine, the combination set forth in claim 8, wherein each of the elongated helical transport rasp bars in said threshing zone has a longitudinal span which is equal to a major portion of the longitudinal extent of the threshing zone, while each of said elongated longitudinally extending bars is substantially co-extensive with said separating zone.

Claim 12

In an axial flow-type combine, the combination set forth in claim 9, wherein the forward end of each longitudinally extending bar merges with the rear end of an associated helical transport rasp bar.

Claim 13

In an axial flow-type combine, the combination set forth in claim 10 wherein each of said longitudinally extending bars are fully coextensive with said separating zone and the forward end region thereof projects a slight distance forwardly into the threshing zone.

Claim 14

In an axial flow-type combine, the combination set forth in claim 10 wherein the merging helical and longitudinal bars are three in number and are circumferentially spaced from one another 120° apart.

Claim 15

In an axial flow-type combine, the combination set forth in claim 12 wherein the circumferential span of each helical rasp bar is on the order of 120°.