GB650697A - Improvements in or relating to combine harvesters - Google Patents

Abstract

650,697. Combine harvester. THORNYCROFT & CO., Ltd., J. I., and BEAVER, E. Sept. 12, 1947, No. 25041. [Classes 6(iii) and 58] A self-propelled combine harvester comprises a threshing drum which extends the full width of the machine. As shown, the grain is cut by a cutting and elevating unit 16 having swath dividers 16b. The unit 16 is pivoted at 16f and counter - balanced by springs 19 acting through levers 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d, which tend to raise it to an inoperative position, the unit being moved into a cutting position by ratchet means operated by the driver. The cutter extends the full width of the machine and is driven from both ends by a yoke 6b extending rearwardly thereof and connected to a rod which is operated by a pitman through a bell-crank lever. The material falls on to an elevator 16e which is releasably spring- tensioned. A packer belt 23 feeds the grain to the threshing drum 24 which comprises a number of rubber faced beaters 24b cooperating with stationary elements 27. The shaker conveyer means comprises four units operated by a crank-shaft 29c so as to move in pre-determined sequence, each unit comprising a frame 28 supported by links 28e and having an upper plate 28b provided with transverse louvres, and a sloping floor 28d which delivers the separated grain and husks on to a table 30 having an endless scraping conveyer 26 cooperating therewith for discharging on to a sieving unit which comprises a frame mounted on links 31b and on which is mounted three sieves, the frame being reciprocated by the crank-shaft 29c. A fan 32 causes air to separate and carry away the husks which are discharged rearwardly. A hopper 5d receives the clean grain which is removed by an auger 5j delivering at one side to an elevator 33 which delivers to sack-filling stations 34. A further hopper 5e receives the unthreshed heads which are removed by an auger 5n which conveys them to a second elevator leading to a scraper conveyer adapted to have a separating action for returning the unthreshed heads to the threshing drum. The machine is mounted on a chassis 1 provided with a motor 4 and transmission means including clutches capable of independent operation for transmitting drive to the road wheels 2, 3 and the threshing mechanism, the front wheels 2 being driven and the rear wheels 3 being steerable. In order to avoid difficulty in gear changing, the gears are operated by two levers, one acting to effect shift through the gate and the other acting to engage the required gear.