US3400816A - Grain cleaning machines - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 10, 1968 P. E. HEDLEY GRAIN CLEANING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 2, 1966 lNV ENTOR Percy E. Hadley Agent Sept. 10, 1968 P. E. HEDLEY GRAIN CLEANING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 2, 1966 INVENTOR Percy E. Hadley United States Patent 3,400,816 GRAIN CLEANING MACHINES Percy E. Hedley, Hamiota, Manitoba, Canada Filed June 2, 1966, Ser. No. 554,753 Claims. (Cl. 209-135) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An air blast machine for seed grain cleaning, wherein a paddle-type blast fan is positioned across one end of a passageway and a grain hopper across the opposite end; a complete crosswise opening is provided through the bottom of the fan casing so air can be fan-sucked therethrough and delivered by said fan in an equalized cross blast toward the hopper; a rotary shaft crosses the hopper for evenly ejecting feeding grain therefrom against the air blast and for gravity-fall therethrough to a lower divider, a step being provided across the hopper feed for controlled grain flow over the step and stoppage of stones thereagainst.

This invention relates to a cleaning machine for separating seed grain from combined grain by passing the combined g-rain through an air blast. While the principle of such separation is known, the present methods used are relatively crude and result in poor separation, mainly due to the many eddy currents set up in the blast. These eddy currents are created in the transition from cross air currents to fan-expelled current at right angles to the cross currents. In other words; as the air is drawn in from the sides and curved into a driven stream along the machine by fan blades.

It is known to expel such air currents through a series of honeycomb passages to reduce the eddies, but such constructions are costly, the speed of the air stream is materially cut down, while small air currents are still set-up in each passage. A central vertical partition along the delivery passage has also been tried, but this merely results in a heavy volume of air along each side of the partition, with progressive reduction of the volume and velocity as the distance increases from the partition.

The trend of present methods also is for direct gravitational fall of the grain matcrialthrough the air blast, or in the same general direction. Accordingly, the heavy particles tend to get behind and protect the lighter particles from the air blast. It is further noted that no provision is made in these methods for restraining and removing casual stones from the material being cleaned.

The principal object of the present invention is: to design a grain cleaner of the above type, wherein the intake and delivery of the air are both in the same verti- 4 cal plane for an even blast across the falling material.

A further object of the invention is: to power deliver the material in a direction toward the air blast for primary separation of the light and heavy components by gravity, before they pass through said air blast.

A further object of the invention is: to provide means in the cleaning hopper for catching casual stones, and for visually indicating their presence, so they can be removed.

Still further objects of the invention are: to construct the invention in a simple, economical and durable manner, for ready adaptation to a combine grain delivery system, for ease of manufacture and operation, and for a long period of useful and satisfactory service.

With the above important and other minor objects in view, which will become more apparent as the disclosure proceeds, the invention consists essentially in the original construction and arrangement of the various parts hereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of the machine.

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view through the machine, and taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section centrally through and along the machine.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged view of the hopper feed construction, as shown in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged view of the shaft connection to the fan, as shown in FIGURE 3.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

A pair of spaced vertical frames 10 and 11 are supported in elevated position, each by a pair of legs 12 and 13, one adjacent each end thereof. The facing sides of these frames are covered with sheeting 14, such as thin plywood, to provide a walled passageway therebetween. A boxing 15 extends across and is supported by the frames It) and 11, and at one end thereof.

Each of the side frames 10 and 11, at the ends remote from the boxing, is provided with a central horizontal support bar 16 therealong. Each of these bars support a bearing 17, which in turn rotatably receive and support a cross shaft 18. A fan 19 is built on this cross shaft by arranging arms 20 thereon, as shown in FIGURE 5, and at each end of the cross shaft. The arms are formed from flat bars which can be clamped tight to the cross shaft by bolts 21, and arranged in align ment so flat blades 22 can be suitably secured across their outer ends for air moving purposes, when the fan is rotated.

A semi-circular casing 23 is constructed around the fan (see FIGURE 3), starting at the lower fan corners of the frames 10 and 11. The upper end of this casing connects with a slightly downward sloping partition 24, which terminates some distance short of the boxing 15. A shorter partition 25 is spaced below the partition 24, and extends from the periphery line of the fan at a point just below the cross shaft to a position directly below the same end of the partition 24, but in closer relation, thus providing a tapered air delivery spout 26 between the sheetings 14. It will also be noted that the bottom of the fan casing is spaced from this second partition, to provide a lower air entrance to the fan. Long bolts 27 are positioned adjacent suitable cross spacing members 28, to pass through and across between the frames 10 and 11. These bolts are nut-tightened on their ends, against the outer sides of the frames 10 and 11, as shown at 29, to hold the fan casing and partitions mentioned in place.

A motor 30 is mounted on a cross plate 31 on the frames 10 and 11. This motor drives the fan, through a belt 32 and suitable pulleys 33 and 34. It will be seen by the applied arrows in FIGURE 3 that, when the fan is power rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, air will be drawn up from the bottom of the casing, through the lower spacing mentioned, instead of from side openings around the fan shaft, and this air will be directed along the spout 26 and delivered in a relatively even blast along the passageway, and under the boxing 15, without eddy currents.

The boxing 15 comprises a pair of spaced side members 35', which sit on the frames 10 and 11. A sloping partition 36 extends therebetween, and from the upper left corners to the lower right corners. An adjustable gate 37 is positioned above and at right angles to the partition 36, and extends past the upper right hand corners. Suitable nut-tightening cross bolts 38 hold the parts tightly in place,

and the partition .36 and gate 37 provide a grain receiving hopper, the grain therein being indicated at 39.

The lower end of the partition 36 receives a heavy cross member 40 thereover (see FIGURE 4), and a downturned angle member 41 rests thereon. Accordingly, the grain from the hopper will gravitate down under the gate 37, and flow over the wide flange 42 of the angle member. At the same time, casual stones will also gravitate down and be stopped by the narrow down-turned flange 43 of the angle member. The stones are indicated at 44. To center the flow of this feeding grain over the angle member, a pair of rails 45 are provided thereabove, one at each end thereof.

To increase the flow of the grain over the angle memher, a square cross rod 46 is mounted in bearings 47 on the walls of the boxing 15, the rod being positioned just over the flange 42, and in front of the gate 37. This square rod is driven from the opposite end of the fan shaft 18, through a belt 48 and suitable pulleys 49 and 50. When the caught stones 44 at the bottom of the hopper interfere with the grain feed, the lack of grain across the flange 42 will be observable, and the operator can direct his hand down through the grain in the hopper for removal of these stones.

To complete the grain cleaner, a grain divider 51 is formed from two opposite downwardly sloping chutes 52 and 53. The ends of these chutes are each provided with a horizontal runner 54, which is slidable on horizontal guides 55, carried by the side frames 10 and 11. Accordingly, the divider can be adjusted toward or away from the fan. As the frames 10 and 11 are supported well above the ground, removable bins 56 and 57 can be inserted 7 thereunder, to receive grain therefrom.

In operation: the hopper is filled with combined grain, which normally is far from clean. The gate 37 is adjusted, and the motor 30 is started. The rotating feed rod 46 will drive a heavy flow of this combined grain down and over the flange 42 of the angle member for a flying leap off the end thereof toward and above the fan blast emanating from the spout 26. As the heaviest particles or kernels will travel farther than the light ones, and this separation is accentuated as the blast is reached, the separation is so far advanced by the time they fall through the blast that the fast moving air can easily slip past the heavy kernels for full effect against the light ones, to increase the distance. In other words, the extra heavy kernels, indicated by the dotted lines 58, will follow the paths shown, and well ahead of the lighter kernels which are indicated by the dotted lines 59. Accordingly, a perfectly clean separation is accomplished by the time the g-rain has passed through the blast. As the divider 51 is movable and the grain separation is so complete, the setting for the best grain is not critical, and the heaviest and plumpest grain will slide down the chute 53 into the removable bin 57 for seed grain, while the lighter kernels will slide down the chute 52 into the removable bin 56 for other use, such as stock feed. The chafl will be completely blown out the back and over the divider.

From the above disclosure it will be seen that this machine will not only efficiently separate the choicest kernels in the cleanest possible manner, but will handle a tremendous quantity of combine grain for this purpose, and in a minimum of time, including a continuous rate. It will also be seen that the machine is extremely light in weight in comparison to the work performed, and is therefore easily portable around a farm or an elev-ator. It can also be easily installed into the grain delivery system of a combine to materially raise the grain cleaning efliciency of such machines.

While care has been taken to clearly explain the principle of operation of this grain cleaning machine, for broad claim interpretation, the adjustment controls and fastenings have not been elaborated on, as considerable modification of such are often necessary in suiting the requirements of use, as will be understood, and without departing from the spirit of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a grain cleaning machine: an open elongated walled passageway; a semi-circular casing closing off one end of the passageway; one end of said casing terminating in a tapered spout in the direction of the opposite end of the passageway; the opposite end of the casing spaced from the spout; a fan mounted in the casing for trapping air at said spacing, and from the passageway, for ejection in a blast through and from the spout, in the rotation of said fan; a grain hopper on the opposite end of the passageway, for directing grain from the hopper toward said blast, and for gravity fall through the blast; a divider mounted on the lower part of the passageway, to receive said falling grain; opposing sloping chutes on the divider, for separating and directing said grain, when received thereon; and means for driving said fan.

2. In a grain cleaning machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said casing and said spout are formed from partitions crossing said passageway, clamped in place by bolts passing through and between the sides of said passage- Way.

3. In a grain cleaning machine as defined in claim 1, wherein a paddle fan is used; and a driven cross shaft in the hopper power delivers the hopper grain against the blast.

4. In a grain cleaning machine as defined in claim 1, wherein a down-turned angle member crosses the hopper at the feed end thereof, to provide a step for passage of the hopper grain thereover and a stop for stones thereagainst.

5. In a grain cleaning machine: an open elongated walled passageway; a paddle fan rotatably mounted across one end of the passageway; a semi-circular casing around the fan, closing said passageway end, and having a projecting spout; a lower opening between said casing and the spout; said fan, in its rotation, adapted to trap air from the passageway, through said opening and into the fan casing, for delivery by centrifugal force, out the spout in a blast toward the opposite end of the passageway; a grain hopper mounted on the opposite end of the passageway; a power cross shaft on the hopper, for directing grain from the hopper toward said blast, and for gravity fall through the blast; a divider mounted for adjusted movement along the passageway, and having oppositely sloping chutes thereon; said divider positioned below the spout blast, to receive said falling grain, and for delivery of said grain down said chutes; a down-turned angle member crossing the hopper, at the feed end thereof, and a stop for stones thereagainst; and means for driving said :fan and said power cross shaft.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 734,761 7/1903 Smith 209- 1,205,739 11/1916 Hatfield 209-245 X 1,299,181 4/1919 Harry 209-506 X 1,420,593 6/ 1922 Titchmarsh 209-135 2,026,910 1/1936 Olsen 209-137 2,152,143 3/1939 Martin 209-506 X 2,828,011 3/1958 Whitby 209-135 X FOREIGN PATENTS 10,211 1/1901 Norway.

HARRY B. THORNTON, Primary Examiner.

TIM R. MILES, Assistant Examiner.

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