AU2021100889A4 - Combine harvester with weed seed destruction system - Google Patents

Abstract

Weed seeds are destroyed in the chaff from a combine harvester by repeated high speed impacts caused by a rotor mounted in one of a pair of side by side housings which accelerate the discarded seeds in a direction centrifugally away 5 from the rotor onto a stator including angularly adjustable stator surfaces around the axis. Thus the discarded seeds rebound back and forth between the rotor and the stator to provide a plurality of impacts. The seeds are carried axially of the rotor by a controlled airstream so that they move to an axial discharge location where a discharge fan is mounted. The angle of the discharge around the rotor axis can be 10 changed to direct the seeds to the side of the combine away from a straw chopper, towards the guide fins of the tailboard of the chopper, or into the housing of the straw chopper. 0l I

Description

l I

COMBINE HARVESTER WITH WEED SEED DESTRUCTION SYSTEM

This invention relates to a combine harvester with a weed seed

destruction system so that weed seeds in the discharged chaff can be devitalized

before being spread onto the ground.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Combine harvesters harvest cereal grain crops, such as wheat, oats,

rye, barley, corn, soybeans and flax. Grain and straw are separated in a combine

harvester. Following the separation process, waste straw and chaff is supplied to

a chopper for shredding and distributing back over the field in an even spread

pattern.

During the harvesting process weed seeds and grain seed are

discharged with the residue into the chopper and spread back onto the field. The

combine is then effectively acting as a seeder to evenly spread the seed back onto

the field. In a number of areas of the world herbicides are used heavily to control the

weed seeds however this has led to weed seed that has become resistant to the

herbicide. Grain seed has been developed to be resistant to specific herbicides,

which depending on crop rotations can be a problem for subsequent crop.

It is known that if the seed can be removed or destroyed before the

combine spreads it back onto the field the cycle can be stopped. Research has

shown that, with three consecutive cycles of weed and grain removal, significant

reductions in herbicide can be obtained providing huge saving for farmers.

One recent approach is shown in WO 2014/127408 published August

2 8 th 2014 and assigned to Grains Research Development Corporation Australia

which shows that a plurality of impacts at relatively high speed of the seeds with a

stationary object causes breakdown of the seed sufficient to prevent germination.

Thus they have developed a cage mill which is integrally mounted inside the

combine harvester so as to receive waste material (discarded seeds and chaff) from

the sieve. The cage mill assembly includes at least one rotating ring carrying a

plurality of blades and a series of outer stationary rings or fixed blades. Thus the

seeds are accelerated outwardly by escaping centrifugally from the rotating blades

into the surrounding stationary blades of the outer rings where a series of impacts

occur as the seeds move outwardly into and through the fixed blades. The seeds

are released outwardly under the centrifugal force from the stationary blades and

escape outwardly into a peripheral channel for discharge.

The document shows evidence that four impacts at relatively high

speed are sufficient to cause the required breakdown of the seeds, for example to

obtain a 95% kill rate.

However the cage mill shown is large and complex with numerous

rings running in opposite directions. Should a rock, or other hard material enter the

mill, the entire cage mill would need to be replaced. Thus the system may function

to destroy the seeds but has practical difficulties as it is without consideration of

other obstacles passing through the assembly. The assembly runs at a very high

rotational speed, so the precision in manufacturing is critical. Although this is believed that this arrangement is closer to commercialization a number of problems remain with the design.

US Patent 3,448,933 (Roy) issued June 10 1969 describes a cone

style grinding shear mill used to process weed seed. All excess chaff and weed seed

is processed by the unit. However it is a permanently fixed grinder without a means

to bypass material other than residue. It would also allow passage of small fine

seeds as it would need to be set to the average seed size to allow adequate

throughput.

US Patent 5,059,154 (Reyenga) issued October 22 1991 discloses a

pair of rollers to mill seeds smaller than grain that are in the clean grain auger. This

does not address seeds thrown over the back of the sieve and would not work if

placed behind the sieve as today's combines the chaff stream is often 6 inches thick

which would cushion the seeds and allow the spread of live seed back onto the field.

In AU Published Application 2001/038781 an additional sieve is added

to remove more of the chaff before milling, and separate the weed seed from the

grain. However this is not practical with today's combines. All combines throw out

some grain and farmers want the herbicide tolerant grain removed as well.

US Patent 8,152,610 (Harrington) issued April 10 2012 discloses an

arrangement which processes all the chaff coming off of the sieves and blows it to a

trailing cart to pulverize all of the residue. The cart requires a second engine

running in the dust of the combine and the mill requires a significant amount of

power to pulverize and discharge the residue back onto the field. The cage mill disclosed is large and complex with numerous rings running in opposite directions.

Again, the rings have not removable parts so should a rock, or other hard material

enter it the entire cage mill would need to be replaced. The cost of this system will

limit its commercial viability.

The term weed seed destruction used herein is used somewhat

colloquially in that the seeds are not annihilated but are devitalized or rendered so

that they cannot germinate. It will of course also be appreciated that not necessarily

each and every seed is destroyed but that the intention is that a significant number

will be incapable of germination so as to reduce the number of emerging seeds in

the growing season.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a combine

harvester comprising:

a separation system for separating from harvested crop a first material

comprising straw and a second material comprising chaff and weed seeds;

a straw spreading device for receiving the first material and spreading

the first material at least to sides of the combine harvester; and

a weed seed destructor section comprising:

a destructor rotor housing arranged to receive the second material;

a destructor rotor arrangement mounted in the destructor rotor housing

for rotation about a rotor axis and including a hub and plurality of rotor blades mounted

on the hub for engaging the second material; wherein at least one blade includes a blade portion extending at an angle to a radial plane of the pivot axis to drive the second material centrifugally outwardly from the axis of the rotor; wherein the at least one blade is pivotally mounted on the hub for movement about a respective pivot axis parallel to the rotor axis so as to act as a flail; a stator arrangement mounted at a location radially outwardly from the hub for engaging the weed seeds in said accelerated second material to cause a plurality of impacts with the weed seeds; the stator arrangement comprising at least a first array of impact elements defining a plurality of stator surfaces disposed around the axis of the destructor rotor arrangement.

Preferably at least a part of the blade portion of said at least one blade

extends in a direction axial of the rotor axis to a position axially beyond an end face

of the hub.

Preferably at least a part of said blade portion of said at least one

blade is inclined to a radius of the respective pivot axis so that a radially outer end of

the blade portion is angularly advanced relative to a radially inner end of the blade

portion.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a combine

harvester comprising:

a separation system for separating from harvested crop a first material comprising straw and a second material comprising chaff and weed seeds; a straw spreading device for receiving the first material and spreading the first material at least to sides of the combine harvester; and a weed seed destructor section comprising: a destructor rotor housing arranged to receive the second material; a destructor rotor arrangement mounted in the destructor rotor housing for rotation about a rotor axis and including a hub and plurality of rotor blades mounted on the hub for engaging the second material; wherein at least one blade includes a blade portion extending at an angle to a radial plane of the pivot axis to drive entrained air and the second material centrifugally outwardly from the axis of the rotor; wherein at least a part of the blade portion of said at least one blade extends in a direction axial of the rotor axis to a position axially beyond an end face of the hub a stator arrangement mounted at a location radially outwardly from the hub for engaging the weed seeds in said accelerated second material to cause a plurality of impacts with the weed seeds; the stator arrangement comprising at least a first array of impact elements defining a plurality of stator surfaces disposed around the axis of the destructor rotor arrangement.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a combine

harvester comprising: a separation system for separating from harvested crop a first material comprising straw and a second material comprising chaff and weed seeds; a straw spreading device for receiving the first material and spreading the first material at least to sides of the combine harvester; and a weed seed destructor section comprising: a destructor rotor housing arranged to receive the second material; a destructor rotor arrangement mounted in the destructor rotor housing for rotation about a rotor axis and including a hub and plurality of rotor blades mounted on the hub for engaging the second material; wherein at least one blade includes a blade portion extending at an angle to a radial plane of the pivot axis to drive entrained air and the second material centrifugally outwardly from the axis of the rotor; wherein at least a part of said blade portion of said at least one blade is inclined to a radius of the respective pivot axis so that a radially outer end of the blade portion is angularly advanced relative to a radially inner end of the blade portion; a stator arrangement mounted at a location radially outwardly from the hub for engaging the weed seeds in said accelerated second material to cause a plurality of impacts with the weed seeds; the stator arrangement comprising at least a first array of impact elements defining a plurality of stator surfaces disposed around the axis of the destructor rotor arrangement.

The embodiments disclosed hereinafter provide a number of further

features and aspects.

According to one feature described herein there is provided an

apparatus for destroying weed seeds comprising:

a housing arranged to be mounted at a location on a combine

harvester for receiving from the location a feed material containing separated chaff

and weed seeds separated by the combine harvester from harvested crop;

a rotor mounted in the housing for rotation about an axis and including

rotor surfaces thereon for engaging the feed material and for accelerating the feed

material in a direction outwardly from the axis of the rotor;

a stator arranged at a location along the direction and including one or

more stator surfaces for engaging the weed seeds in the accelerated feed material;

said stator and said one or more stator surfaces of the stator being

arranged at an angle to a tangent of the rotor axis such that the weed seeds impact

on said one or more stator surfaces.

Preferably the stator surfaces are movable in an adjustment movement

relative to a tangent to the axis of the rotor so as to change the number of impacts

caused to each weed seed.

Preferably the stator surfaces are movable in the adjustment

movement about an axis parallel to the rotor axis.

Preferably the stator surfaces can be set up or adjusted for different

weed seed sizes.

Preferably the stator surfaces are replaceable.

Preferably the stator surfaces are hard surface coated.

Preferably the rotor comprises a hub carrying rotor blades defining said

rotor surfaces where the blades are pivotally mounted about an axis parallel to the

rotor axis so as to act as flails.

Preferably said stator and said one or more stator surfaces of the

stator are arranged such that the weed seeds impact on said one or more stator

surfaces and do not pass through the stator along said direction but instead are

rebounded therefrom back toward the rotor and such that the weed seeds rebound

back and forth between the rotor and the stator to provide a plurality of impacts on

the accelerated feed material to destroy at least some of the weed seeds.

Preferably at least one of the rotor surfaces and/or at least one of the

stator surfaces is arranged to pivot to a position to increase a spacing between the

stator and rotor surfaces to allow the passage of foreign objects between the rotor

and stator surfaces.

Preferably the rotational speed of the rotor is adjustable to change the

number of impacts a seed encounters during its passage.

According to one feature described herein there is provide an

apparatus for destroying weed seeds comprising:

a housing arranged to be mounted at a location on a combine

harvester for receiving from the location a feed material containing separated chaff

and weed seeds separated by the combine harvester from harvested crop;

a rotor mounted in the housing for rotation about an axis and including

rotor surfaces thereon for engaging the feed material and for accelerating the feed

material in a direction outwardly from the axis of the rotor;

a stator arranged at a location along the direction and including one or

more stator surfaces for engaging the weed seeds in the accelerated feed material;

wherein the stator surfaces are movable in an adjustment movement

so as to change the number of impacts caused to each weed seed.

Preferably the stator surfaces are movable in the adjustment

movement about an axis parallel to the rotor axis.

According to one feature described herein there is provide an

apparatus for destroying weed seeds comprising:

a housing arranged to be mounted at a location on a combine

harvester for receiving from the location a feed material containing separated chaff

and weed seeds separated by the combine harvester from harvested crop;

a rotor mounted in the housing for rotation about an axis and including

rotor surfaces thereon for engaging the feed material and for accelerating the feed

material in a direction outwardly from the axis of the rotor; a stator arranged at a location along the direction and including one or more stator surfaces for engaging the weed seeds in the accelerated feed material; wherein the stator surfaces are replaceable.

According to one feature described herein there is provide an

apparatus for destroying weed seeds comprising:

a housing arranged to be mounted at a location on a combine

harvester for receiving from the location a feed material containing separated chaff

and weed seeds separated by the combine harvester from harvested crop;

a rotor mounted in the housing for rotation about an axis and including

rotor surfaces thereon for engaging the feed material and for accelerating the feed

material in a direction outwardly from the axis of the rotor;

a stator arranged at a location along the direction and including one or

more stator surfaces for engaging the weed seeds in the accelerated feed material;

said stator and said one or more stator surfaces of the stator being

arranged such that the weed seeds impact on said one or more stator surfaces;

wherein the rotor comprises a hub carrying rotor blades defining said

rotor surfaces where the blades are pivotally mounted about an axis parallel to the

rotor axis so as to act as flails.

According to one feature described herein there is provide an

apparatus for destroying weed seeds for use in a combine harvester where the

combine harvester comprises a separation system for separating from harvested

crop at a first discharge location a first material comprising straw and at a second discharge location a second material comprising chaff and said weed seeds, the apparatus comprising: a straw chopper section comprising: a chopper housing arranged to receive from the first discharge location the first material containing straw; a chopper rotor mounted in the chopper housing having a plurality of chopping blades for chopping the straw for discharge from the first housing component; and a spreading device for receiving the straw discharged from the chopper housing and spreading the discharged straw to rear and sides of the combine harvester; a weed seed destructor section comprising: a destructor housing arranged to receive from the second discharge location the second material; a rotor arrangement mounted in the destructor housing for rotation about an axis and including rotor surfaces thereon for engaging the second material and for accelerating the feed material in a direction outwardly from the axis of the rotor; a stator arrangement mounted at a location along the direction and including a plurality of stator surfaces for engaging the weed seeds in the accelerated second material to cause a plurality of impacts with the weed seeds; and at least one a discharge mouth for discharge of the second material after the plurality of impacts; said at least one discharge mouth being located so as to direct the second material underneath the bottom wall onto the spreading device.

Preferably said rotor arrangement comprises two rotors each having

an upstanding axis of rotation with the two rotors arranged side by side across the

combine harvester and wherein said at least one discharge mouth comprises two

discharge mouths at spaced positions across combine harvester and each arranged

to direct the second material underneath the chopper housing onto the spreading

device.

Preferably the spreading device comprises a tailboard with a plurality

of fins and the discharge mouth is oriented to direct the second material onto the

fins.

Preferably the weed seed destructor section is mounted with an intake

in front of the chopper housing and with the rotor and stator underneath the chopper

housing.

According to one feature described herein there is provide an

apparatus for destroying weed seeds for use in a combine harvester where the

combine harvester comprises a separation system for separating from harvested

crop at a first discharge location a first material comprising straw and at a second

discharge location a second material comprising chaff and said weed seeds, the

apparatus comprising:

a straw chopper section comprising: a chopper housing arranged to receive from the first discharge location the first material containing straw; a chopper rotor mounted in the chopper housing having a plurality of chopping blades for chopping the straw for discharge from the first housing component; and a spreading device for receiving the straw discharged from the chopper housing and spreading the discharged straw to rear and sides of the combine harvester; a weed seed destructor section comprising: a destructor housing arranged to receive from the second discharge location the second material; a rotor arrangement mounted in the destructor housing for rotation about an axis and including rotor surfaces thereon for engaging the second material and for accelerating the feed material in a direction outwardly from the axis of the rotor; a stator arrangement mounted at a location along the direction and including a plurality of stator surfaces for engaging the weed seeds in the accelerated second material to cause a plurality of impacts with the weed seeds; and at least one a discharge mouth for discharge of the second material after the plurality of impacts; and a guide wall component movable between a first position and a second position where: in the first position the chaff and said weed seeds from the second discharge location are directed into the weed seed destructor, while the straw from the first discharge location enters the chopper housing; and in the second position the chaff and said weed seeds from the second discharge location are directed into the chopper housing with the straw.

According to one feature described herein there is provide an

apparatus for destroying weed seeds for use in a combine harvester where the

combine harvester comprises a separation system for separating from harvested

crop at a first discharge location a first material comprising straw and at a second

discharge location a second material comprising chaff and said weed seeds, the

apparatus comprising:

a straw chopper section comprising:

a chopper housing arranged to receive from the first discharge

location the first material containing straw;

a chopper rotor mounted in the chopper housing having a

plurality of chopping blades for chopping the straw for discharge from the first

housing component;

and a spreading device for receiving the straw discharged from

the chopper housing and spreading the discharged straw to rear and sides of the

combine harvester;

a weed seed destructor section comprising:

a destructor housing arranged to receive from the second discharge location the second material; a rotor arrangement mounted in the destructor housing for rotation about an axis and including rotor surfaces thereon for engaging the second material and for accelerating the feed material in a direction outwardly from the axis of the rotor; a stator arrangement mounted at a location along the direction and including a plurality of stator surfaces for engaging the weed seeds in the accelerated second material to cause a plurality of impacts with the weed seeds; and a guide wall component movable between a first position and a second position where: in the first position the chaff and said weed seeds from the second discharge location are directed into the weed seed destructor, while the straw enters the spreading device; and in the second position the chaff and said weed seeds from the second discharge location are directed into the straw spreading device.

This arrangement can be used in conjunction with a conventional

arrangement manufactured by CASEIH in which the chopper section is mounted

internally within the combine housing instead of at the rear. Therefore at the rear is

provided a rotary type spreader including typically two horizontal disks similar to the

conventional chaff spreading system. Thus in this arrangement the chaff and weed

seeds form the weed seed destruction section are directed by a guide onto the

rotary straw spreader system for common spreading of all material. Again the combined spreading action and the additional air flow can enhance the spreading action to meet the objective of spreading at header width.

Preferably the weed seed destructor section is mounted with an intake

in front of the chopper housing and with the rotor and stator underneath the chopper

housing.

Preferably the guide wall component comprises a front wall portion of

the chopper housing which is pivotal about an axis across a front of the chopper

housing and parallel to the axis of the chopper rotor.

Preferably the guide wall component includes a front position which

extends from the chopper housing upward and forwardly so as to butt against or

adjacent guide wall surfaces for the chaff and for the straw respectively.

Preferably there is provided a clutch for halting drive to the rotor of the

weed seed destructor when the wall portion is in in the second position.

According to one feature described herein there is provide an

apparatus for destroying weed seeds for use in a combine harvester where the

combine harvester comprises a separation system for separating from harvested

crop at a first discharge location a first material comprising straw and at a second

discharge location a second material comprising chaff and said weed seeds, the

apparatus comprising:

a straw chopper section comprising:

a chopper housing arranged to receive from the first discharge location the first material containing straw; a chopper rotor mounted in the chopper housing having a plurality of chopping blades for chopping the straw for discharge from the first housing component; and a spreading device for receiving the straw discharged from the chopper housing and spreading the discharged straw to rear and sides of the combine harvester; a weed seed destructor section comprising: a destructor housing arranged to receive from the second discharge location the second material; a rotor arrangement mounted in the destructor housing for rotation about an axis and including rotor surfaces thereon for engaging the second material and for accelerating the feed material in a direction outwardly from the axis of the rotor; a stator arrangement mounted at a location along the direction and including a plurality of stator surfaces for engaging the weed seeds in the accelerated second material to cause a plurality of impacts with the weed seeds; and at least one a discharge mouth for discharge of the second material after the plurality of impacts; at least the weed seed destructor being movable rearwardly of the combine harvester to allow access to a position between the weed seed destructor and the components of the combine harvester at the second discharge location.

Preferably the weed seed destructor section is slidable on a guide in a

rearward direction.

Preferably both the straw chopper section and the weed seed

destructor section are movable rearwardly of the combine harvester.

Preferably the weed seed destructor section is mounted with an intake

in front of the chopper housing and with the rotor and stator underneath the chopper

housing.

According to another feature described herein there is provided an

apparatus for destroying weed seeds comprising:

a housing arranged to be mounted at a location on a combine

harvester for receiving from the location a feed material containing separated chaff

and weed seeds separated by the combine harvester from harvested crop;

a rotor mounted in the housing for rotation about an axis and including

rotor surfaces thereon for engaging the feed material and for accelerating the feed

material in a direction outwardly from the axis of the rotor;

a stator arranged at a location along the direction and including one or

more stator surfaces for engaging the weed seeds in the accelerated feed material;

said stator and said one or more stator surfaces of the stator being

arranged such that the weed seeds impact on said one or more stator surfaces and

do not pass through the stator along said direction but instead are rebounded

therefrom back toward the rotor;

the rotor and stator being arranged such that the weed seeds rebound back and forth between the rotor and the stator to provide a plurality of impacts on the accelerated feed material to destroy at least some of the weed seeds; wherein the housing includes a discharge opening for discharge of the feed material after the plurality of impacts, where the discharge opening is at a location different from the stator so that said weed seeds discharged from the rotor through said discharge opening do not pass through the stator.

Preferably therefore the discharge opening for discharge of the feed

material after the plurality of impacts the discarded seeds discharge from the rotor

and do not pass through the stator but instead are rebounded away from the stator

to discharge at a different location. In this way, any foreign bodies are not trapped in

the stator to cause damage but instead can escape to the discharge.

In the preferred arrangement described in detail hereinafter, the rotor

rotates around an axis so as to direct the discarded seeds centrifugally outwardly,

and the stator surrounds the axis so as to rebound the discarded seeds back toward

the axis and the discharge opening is arranged such that the discarded seeds

discharge axially from within the stator.

In one arrangement the rotor is mounted directly under the first

discharge location of the combine harvester with the rotor axis generally upright so

that the feed material fold directly into the top of the housing on to the rotor along the

axial direction of the rotor.

As an alternate embodiment the apparatus comprises a horizontally

rotating tube, with auger fighting in the middle, moving the feed material or chaff to an impact zone at each end of the horizontal rotor. The discharge zone is then at the end and is arranged to expel into the straw chopper of the combine harvester.

Preferably as a feature of independent importance the feed material

enters the housing axially of the rotor at one end and discharges axially from the

opposite end of the rotor.

Preferably as a feature of independent importance there is provided a

fan component for driving the discarded seeds from the opposite end radially

outwardly.

Preferably as a feature of independent importance the stator includes a

plurality of stator surfaces spaced angularly around the axis.

Preferably as a feature of independent importance the stator surfaces

are arranged at an angle to a tangent of an imaginary cylindrical surface surrounding

the axis.

Preferably as a feature of independent importance the angle of the

stator surfaces to the tangent is adjustable.

Preferably as a feature of independent importance the stator surfaces

and/or the rotor surfaces are arranged to pivot so as to increase the spacing

therebetween to allow the passage of foreign objects between the rotor and stator.

Preferably as a feature of independent importance the stator surfaces

are readily removable for replacement when damaged or worn.

Preferably as a feature of independent importance the stator surfaces

include one or more fins extending generally around the axis.

Preferably as a feature of independent importance the housing when

viewed in plan longitudinal of the axis of the rotor is of polygonal shape to define a

plurality of apexes at angularly spaced positions around the axis and the stator

surface in plan view includes a plurality of pairs of stator surfaces which form a V

shape converging to a respective one of the apexes.

Preferably as a feature of independent importance the rotational speed

of the rotor is adjustable to change the number of impacts a seed encounters during

its passage.

Preferably as a feature of independent importance the velocity of air

along the rotor is adjustable to change the number of impacts a seed encounters

during its passage.

Preferably as a feature of independent importance the rotor and the

stator are arranged so that the impacts act to move the discarded seeds along the

rotor so as to change the position along the rotor at which the impacts of the

discarded seeds occurs.

Preferably as a feature of independent importance there is provided

two housings each including a rotor and stator arranged side by side across the

width of the discharge location.

Preferably as a feature of independent importance each of the

housings is rotatable about the axis of the respective rotor to change an angle of the

discharge around the axis.

According to a another feature described herein there is provided an apparatus for destroying weed seeds for use in a combine harvester where the combine harvester comprises a separation system for separating from harvested crop at a first discharge location feed material including chaff and said weed seeds and at a second discharge location straw, the apparatus comprising: a straw chopper section comprising: a chopper housing for mounting at the second location on the combine harvester for receiving from the first discharge location a feed material containing separated straw separated by the combine harvester from harvested crop; a chopper rotor mounted in the housing for chopping the straw for discharge from the housing; and a spreading device onto which the discharged straw is directed; and a weed seed destruction section comprising: a housing arranged to be mounted at the first location for receiving from the first discharge location the feed material containing separated chaff and said weed seeds; a rotor mounted in the housing for rotation about an axis and including rotor surfaces thereon for engaging the feed material and for accelerating the feed material in a direction outwardly from the axis of the rotor; a stator arranged at a location along the direction and including one or more stator surfaces for engaging the weed seeds in the accelerated feed material to cause impacts with the weed seeds; wherein the housing includes a discharge opening for discharge of the feed material after the plurality of impacts; wherein the straw chopper section and the weed seed destruction section comprise a common unit.

Preferably the common unit includes is a common drive from the

combine harvester to the common unit.

That is preferably the weed seed destruction section is driven from the

straw chopper section.

Optionally the weed seed destruction section is driven from an

intermediate chopper drive shaft or jackshaft in parallel with the drive to the chopper.

That is a main drive belt from the chopper drive output pulley of the combine

harvester communicates drive to a lay shaft or jack shaft and then two belts

communicates in parallel to the horizontal transverse shaft of the chopper rotor and

the horizontal transverse drive shaft underneath the two rotors of the weed seed

destruction section

In the common unit preferably the weed seed destruction section is

arranged such that material from the discharge opening can be fed into the straw

chopper section.

In this arrangement there are preferably provided two housings each

including a rotor and stator arranged side by side across the width of the second

discharge location.

In this arrangement preferably each of the housings is rotatable about

the axis of the respective rotor to change an angle of the discharge around the axis

such that the discharge opening can be directed to the side of the combine away

from the straw chopper, towards the guide fins of the tailboard of the chopper, or into

the housing of the straw chopper.

In addition to the above defined features, the seed destruction section

can include any of the features previously defined.

The arrangement as described hereinafter may provide one or more of

the following features and advantages:

To provide a seed destroyer in which the residue does not pass

through rotating or stationary rings of objects so that there is less potential for

damage on passage of a solid object.

To provide a seed destroyer in which the impacting members of the

destructor can be hard surface coated and easily removable for annual replacement

and preparation for the next harvest.

To provide a seed destroyer in which the number of hits a seed

impacts can be adjusted or tuned for optimum destruction.

To provide a seed destroyer which can allow passage of debris such

as rocks and other hard objects without damage or destruction, and has replaceable

parts should the object cause damage.

To provide an integrally mounted seed destroyer in which the trajectory

of the discharge can be changed from the side of the combine, to the back of the combine tailboard, or into the chopper so that the residue can be spread with the straw.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One embodiment of the invention will now be described in conjunction

with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of an apparatus for destruction of weed

seeds according to the present invention which is arranged in a first embodiment

where the weed seed destruction section is mounted at a position on a combine

harvester at the rear of the sieve so as to discharge the chaff and destroyed seeds

away from the straw chopper to both sides of the combine harvester.

Figure 2 is an isometric view from the front and one side of the

combined apparatus including the straw chopper section and the weed seed

destruction section of Figure 1.

Figure 2A is an isometric view from the rear and the other side of the

combined apparatus including the straw chopper section and the weed seed

destruction section of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an isometric view of the weed seed destruction section of

Figure 1 separate from the combine harvester with the discharge housing arranged

for discharge to the sides.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the weed seed destruction section of

Figure 3 separate from the combine harvester with the discharge housing arranged

for discharge to the rear.

Figure 5 is an isometric view of the weed seed destruction section of

Figure 3 with a part of the housing removed.

Figure 6 is an isometric view of the weed seed destruction section

according to the present invention which is arranged to feed the discharged material

into the chopper rotor of the straw chopper section at the center thereof.

Figure 7 is an isometric view of the apparatus of Figure 6 adjusted to

feed the discharged material into the straw chopper section at the sides so as to by

pass the rotor and feed directly onto the tailboard.

Figure 8 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of Figure 2 showing

the drive system to the combined apparatus including the straw chopper section and

the seed destructor section.

Figure 9 is a plan view of an alternative arrangement of the weed seed

destruction section where the rotors are arranged to rotate about a horizontal axis

and thus rotate in a vertical plane to discharge rearwardly.

Figures 1OA and 1OB are isometric views of another embodiment of an

apparatus for destruction of weed seeds according to the present invention where

Figure 10B shows the structure of one rotor assembly with the cover in place and

the other omitted and Figure 1OA shows the structure of one rotor assembly with the

cover removed.

Figure 11 is an isometric view from one side and the rear of the

combined apparatus including the straw chopper section and the weed seed

destruction section of the above Figures.

Figure 12 is an isometric view from one side and the front of the

combined apparatus including the straw chopper section and the weed seed

destruction section of Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of Figures 11 and

12 mounted on a combine harvester and showing the apparatus in a rearwardly

displaced position providing access to the sieve of the combine harvester

Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of Figures 11 and

12 mounted on a combine harvester and showing the apparatus in a first operating

position in which the straw passes through the chopper housing and the chaff and

weed seeds pass through the seed destructor section.

Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of Figures 11 and

12 mounted on a combine harvester and showing the apparatus in a second

operating position in which both the chaff and weed seeds and the straw pass

through the chopper housing.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding

parts in the different figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The apparatus herein is shown in Figure 1 mounted on a combine

harvester 1 carried on ground wheels 3 and including harvesting components of a

conventional nature the rearmost one of which is the sieve 2 which discharges chaff

and discarded seeds including weed seeds to the rear edge 4 of the sieve.

The combine harvester includes a chopper and discharge arrangement

9 shown in Figures 1 and 6 is basically as shown in US Patent 6840854 issued

January 11 2005 of Redekop, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by

reference. The chopper thus comprises a housing 10 defined by a top wall 11, a

bottom wall 12 and two end walls 13. The end walls 13 include attachment means

13A for attachment of the housing to the outlet of a combine harvester for discharge

of straw and optionally chaff from the combine harvester into an inlet opening 15 of

the housing 10. The bottom wall 12 defines a semi-cylindrical portion extending

from the inlet 15 to an outlet 16 through which chopped straw and air is discharged

at relatively high velocity for spreading across the field or for transportation into a

container.

Within the housing is mounted a hub 17 which is carried on suitable

bearings 31 for rotation about a hub axis 18 at a center of the housing so that blade

members 19 carried by the hub sweep around within the housing to entrap straw fed

through the inlet 15 and to carry the straw and air past stationary blades 20 for

chopping and for discharge through the outlet 16. The stationary blades 20 are

mounted on the housing at a position approximately midway between the inlet 15

and the outlet 16 so that the blade members 19 sweep between the stationary

blades in a cutting action.

The hub 17 carries a plurality of lugs 21 at angularly and axially spaced

positions therealong with each lug mounting a pair of blades 19 for pivotal

movement of the blade members 19 about a pin 22 parallel to the axis 18. Each of the lugs 21 carries a pair of the blades 19. Each lug 21 is aligned with a respective one of the stationary blades 20 so that each stationary blade has associated with it a respective one of the lugs and thus has associated with it the pair of blades carried by that lug.

In this arrangement of the chopper, there is provided three axially

spaced sections of the chopper assembly including a first fan section 30 at one end

of the hub 17 and the second fan section at the other end of the hub 17. In-between

the two narrow fan sections 30 is defined a center section 30A which provides the

whole of the cutting action.

Within the center section 30A all of the blades 19 are formed with a

cutting edge lying in a radial plane of the axis. The blades are preferably of the

conventional flat blade type with a leading and trailing chamfered edge. Thus each

of the two cutting blades 19 in the center section can pass closely on either side of a

respective one of the stationary blades 20. Thus the stationary blades can be

spaced by a distance which is just sufficient to allow the passage there between of

the preferably flat cutting blade. In the preferred arrangement, the spacing between

the stationary blades is thus small in that the stationary blades are not sufficiently

spaced to allow the passage there between of a fan type blade.

In the fan sections 30, there is provided a ring 33 which is mounted on

the hub 17 at a respective end of the hub. The ring thus surrounds the cylindrical

wall of the hub and stands outwardly therefrom just beyond the end of the center

section defined by the stationary blades and the blades 19 carried on the hub.

The rings 33 each carry a plurality of fan blades 34 at spaced positions

around the ring. The fan blades 34 are arranged thus so that each follow directly

behind the next at the same axial location.

Each of the fan blades 34 is bent with a fan blade portion so that each

of the fan blades is of the shape shown in Figure 3 of US patent 5,482,508 of

Redekop, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. However the

fan blades 34 do not necessarily have a sharpened leading edge since there is

intended to be no cutting action in the fan section. Thus the fan blades are spaced

from the end most stationary blade 19 so that in effect no cutting action occurs in

this section.

The bent fan blade portion stands outwardly to one side of the flat plate

portion of the fan blade 34. The fan blade portion which is bent at right angles to the

main body of the fan blade is maximised in dimension so that it may be rectangular.

This large blade area together with the presence of the six blades provides a large

fan blade area which generates a significant air flow.

The fan blade portion is inclined forwardly and outwardly so that at a

regularly outer position toward the outer end of each fan blade the fan blade portion

is angularly advanced relative to its position closer to the axis of the hub. This

incline outwardly and forwardly significantly increases the air flow effect driving the

air in the greater volume and at higher speed radially from the fan section and

outwardly of the exit 16.

Preferably the fan section comprises only a single row of the six fan

blades but in some cases an additional row or rows may be provided although this is

not preferred. The fan blades are arranged immediately adjacent the end walls 13

so that they take up minimum space at the end of the chopper assembly. It will be

appreciated that the intention is to provide maximum air flow in the fan sections

while taking up minimum dimensions so that the maximised chopping effect to

provide shortest material is achieved within the center section using the flat blades.

The above arrangement of straw chopper section is one example only

of arrangements which can be used herein.

The chopper and spreading assembly 9 is arranged to be mounted at a

rear straw discharge 101 of the combine harvester 1 and includes the housing 10,

the rotor 17 mounted in the housing 10 for rotation around a generally horizontal axis

and carrying the plurality of chopper blades 19 for chopping the discharge material.

At the exit 16 is provided the material spreading assembly which can

be the form of a tailboard 16A with guide fins 16B for receiving the chopped material

and spreading the material to the rear and sides of the combine harvester.

An apparatus 35 for destroying seeds comprises a body 36 carried on

a frame 37 mounted at a suitable location on the combine harvester by mounting

arrangements of a conventional arrangement. The body provides two side by side

housings 38, 39 each located adjacent a respected half of the discharge location the

feed material containing separated chaff and discarded seeds separated by the

combine harvester from harvested crop. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the housings are located at the rear edge 4 of the sieve 2.

Each of the housings, as best shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5 includes an

upper impact section 40 and a lower fan section 41. The upper section 40 includes

a housing 42 which is polygonal (in this example octagonal) in plan view with apexes

43A, 43B, 43C etc. The housing 42 incudes a top wall 44 connected to the polygonal

side wall and defining a circular opening 45 arranged to be mounted at the discharge

location of a combine harvester for receiving from the sieve the chaff and discarded

seeds including the weed seeds.

A rotor 46 is mounted in the housing for rotation about an upstanding

axis 47 at right angles to a bottom base of the housing axis. The rotor includes a

cylindrical hub 46A carrying upper and lower sets of blades 46B and 46C. The sets

are spaced axially. The individual blades of the set are spaced angularly. The sets

are carried above and below respectively a series of angularly spaced lugs 46D on

pins 46E so as to act as flails.

Each blade includes as best shown in Figure 5 a base plate 46F lying

in a radial plane and a blade portion 46G turned out of the radial plane so as to act

as a fan blade to drive entrained air and the material centrifugally outwardly from the

axis of the rotor.

As best shown in Figure 5, the lugs 46D are located adjacent a top

face 461 of the hub 46A of the rotor 46 so that the base plate 46F of each blade lies

in or closely adjacent to a plane of the top face 461. The blade portion 46G stands

upward from the base plate 46F and hence extends in the axial direction of the rotor axis to a an upper end edge 46U at a position beyond the upper face 461 of the hub

46A.

As best shown in Figure 5, the blade portion 46G of each blade

extends diagonally across the base plate 46F from a radially inner end 46R of the

blade portion 46G at a trailing edge 46T of the base plate 46F to a radially outer end

46Z of the blade portion at a leading edge 46L of the base plate 46F. Thus the

blade portion is inclined to a radius of the respective pivot axis of the pin 46E so that

the radially outer end 46Z of the blade portion 46G is angularly advanced relative to

the radially inner end 46R of the blade portion 46G.

Thus the rotor includes components thereon defined by the two sets of

blades for engaging the feed material and for accelerating the feed material in a

centrifugal direction away from the rotor.

In the housing around the rotor is provided a stator 48 defined by the

inside surface of the polygonal housing 40 and arranged at a location centrifugally

outside the rotor 46 so that the material and discarded seeds thrown outwardly

impact on the stator. The stator includes a series of surface elements 48A for

engaging the discarded seeds in the accelerated material and arranged such that

the discarded seeds impact thereon and rebound therefrom back toward the rotor.

Thus the rotor 46 and stator 48 are arranged such that the discarded

seeds rebound back and forth between the rotor 46 and the stator 48 to provide a

plurality of impacts on the feed material to destroy the seeds.

The housing includes a discharge opening defined by a circular inner edge 50A of a plate 50 lying in a radial plane of the housing between the impact section 40 and the fan section 41. Thus the bottom of the impact section is defined by the bottom plate 50 so that air and the entrained material is directed downwardly into the fan section for discharge of the feed material after the plurality of impacts.

As the air and entrained material passes downwardly, the discarded seeds

discharge from the rotor and do not pass or escape outwardly through the stator 48.

That is the stator wholly or substantially wholly surrounds the rotor section to prevent

the seeds from escaping radially. That is all of the seeds are rebounded back

inwardly to the rotor and move downwardly while rebounding back and forth until

they pass out of the impact section at the bottom through the hole 50A in the plate

50 into the fan section 41.

Thus the rotor 46 rotates around the axis 47 so as to direct the

discarded seeds centrifugally outwardly. The stator 48 surrounds the axis 47 so as

to rebound the discarded seeds back toward the axis and the discharge opening is

arranged such that the discarded seeds discharge axially from within the stator. In

this way, the feed material containing the discarded seeds enters the housing axially

of the rotor at the top end and discharges axially from the bottom end of the rotor

into the fan section, where the material is accelerated radially outwardly into a

channel defined by a peripheral wall 41A which spirals gradually outwardly from a

leading edge to a trailing edge 41B so as to define an outlet location 41C.

Thus the fan section 41 shown in plan in Figure 4 at the top includes a

series of blades 41F carried on the rotor 46A underneath the plate 50 so that the fan components act for driving the discarded seeds from the opposite or bottom end of the rotor 46 radially outwardly to the discharge opening 41C at the trailing edge 41B.

As best shown in Figure 5, each of the stator surfaces 48A comprises

a generally V-shaped body with two walls 48B and 48C converging to an apex 48D

which is located at one of the apexes of the polygonally shaped housing. In Figure

5 is shown one of the stator surfaces 48A and it will be noted that the wall 48C

against which the seeds are primarily directed as the rotor 46 turns clockwise is

arranged at an angle to a tangent T of an imaginary cylindrical surface surrounding

the axis. Thus the surface 48C is inclined forwardly and inwardly so that the seeds

moving with the rotor and outwardly of the rotor impact against the surface 48C and

are rebounded inwardly. The stator surface portion 48A is mounted at the apex 48D

by a hinge pin 48H which allows the angle of the stator surface 48C to the tangent T

to be adjustable to change the level of aggression in the rebound action.

Also the hinged mounting of the stator surface portion 48A allows the

stator surfaces to pivot to allow the passage of foreign objects between the rotor 46

at the outer tip of the blades 46B, 46C and stator as defined by the surface portions

48A. Also the stator surface portions are readily removable for replacement by

pulling the support pin 48H when damaged or worn.

Also the stator surface portions 48A include one or more fins 48G lying

in a plane at right angles to the walls 48B, 48C and thus extending in a radial plane

around the rotor. The stator has an octagonal shape and there are four of the stator

surface portions 48A at four of the apexes of the polygon leaving the remainder of the inner surface of the octagon exposed to act as the stator surface. This stator surface surrounds the whole of the rotor and hence prevents outward escape of any material, thus confining the material to move downwardly into the fan section for ejection.

The rotor 46 which carries both the blades of the impact section and

fan blades 41F of the discharge fan section 41 as best shown in Figure 8, is driven

by a hydraulic drive motor 46H, the rotational speed of which is adjustable to change

the speed of the impact blades and thus the number of impacts a seed encounters

during its passage.

Also the velocity of air along the rotor through the impact section from

the opening at the top plate 44 to the discharge plate 50 is adjustable to change the

number of impacts a seed encounters during its passage.

The rotor and particularly the stator are shaped and arranged so that

the impacts and rebounding action act to move the discarded seeds along the rotor

from the feed opening at the top plate 44 to the discharge opening at the plate 50 so

as to change the position along the rotor at which the impacts of the discarded

seeds occurs. Thus the seeds as they rebound back and forth move through the

impact section at a rate depending on the shape and position of the stator surfaces

and depending on the rotation rate of the rotor and the air speed through the impact

section.

In a typical walker style combine there is a large space between

chopper 9 and the end of the sieve 2. In this case the seed destructor 36 is mounted at the end of the sieve 2. In this position, the discharge openings 41C of the fan section 41 are located by rotating the housings 38, 39 so that the seed destructor discharge is set to the side because the discharges are not close enough to the chopper 9 to allow feeding into the chopper.

The seed destructor is made up of two rotating drums or rotors 46

within the housings 38 and 39 rotating in opposite directions. The housings are

rotatably mounted on the frame 37 so that the discharge 41C can be pointed in the

direction required. Although this is shown as a fixed mounting it could be easily

designed as a movable mounting so the operator could change it quickly as desired.

In one arrangement the adjustment can be obtained conveniently by rotation of the

housing around the axis of the rotor.

The impact section 40 contains in the stator 48 replaceable, adjustable

impact plates or surface portions 48A, in which the residue that is dropped into the

seed destructor housing is flung against by the rotors 46 with blades 46B and 46C.

The residue is deflected back by the stator into the rotating blades for another hit.

The fan section 41 at the bottom of the housing acts to accelerate the

residue for spreading back onto the field or into the chopper or into the chopper fins

as desired.

The rotors can be driven by hydraulic motors which power and mount

the rotating hubs 46 in which case the motors are mounted to the frame 37.

The impact plates 48A are rotatably adjustable at the apex 48D and

designed to deflect the residue back into the high speed blades. The guide fins 48G on the impact plates serve to control the angle that the residue is deflected and therefore the number of times the residue rotates in the housing and thus the number of hits a seed encounters in its passage through the destructor. The impact plates 48A are replaceable and are hard surface coated for a longer life.

At the bottom of the housing assembly below the fan section 41 is

provided a bottom plate 60 closing the bottom of the fan section 41 below the plate

50. In the plate 60 is defined an air inlet schematically indicated at 62 which

regulates the flow of exterior air into the fan section through the plate 60. The

opening size of the air inlet 62 can also be varied by an adjustment 62A. As the

adjustment 62A control the amount of air entering into the fan section, this

adjustment increases or reduces the amount of air drawn through the opening 50A

in the plate 50 and thus also serves to change the speed of the residue flowing

through the assembly. The air inlet 62 can be regulated so that, as it is closed off,

the speed of the residue flow increases, to the point when closed, all air is sucked in

from the top of the assembly at the plate 44, to be discharged with the fan in the

discharge zone 41. When entirely opened the majority of the air is drawn from the

bottom plate 60 of the assembly and the speed of the residue flowing through the

assembly is reduced allowing for more impacts.

A third method to adjust the number of impacts a seed encounters

through the assembly is of course with the speed of the rotor 46. The drive system

to the rotor can be controlled by the combine or by a separate driver operated

control and the speed of the assembly can be increased or decreased depending on factors such as seed size, residue toughness, or residue size including factors such as corn cob size and moisture content or sunflower head size.

In a preferred arrangement, the seed destructor section 36 is

integrated into the chopper 9 as a common unit with the chopper 9. In this

arrangement the seed destruction section 36 acts two receive all residue from the

sieves. The weed seeds are destroyed in the seed destructor and can be ejected

into the chopper for spread with the straw residue on the tailboard 16A.

In this arrangement the combination of all of the residue from both the

sieves and the straw exit into the chopper allows the destroyed seeds and chaff

residue to mix with the straw residue and be spread in a much wider spread pattern.

That is in Figure 6, the discharge openings 41C from the fan section 41 of the seed

destruction section 36 are turned on the frame 37 so that they are directed to the

center of the inlet 12 of the chopper 9.

Alternatively the chaff residue and destroyed seeds expelled from the

seed destructor at the discharge openings 41C is expelled at the sides of the

chopper at the fan sections 30 so as to bypass the center chopper section of the

chopper so as to be directed by the chopper into the fins of the chopper for mixing

on the tailboard 16A and spreading with the straw residue from the chopper.

As a third option, the discharge openings 41C can be positioned to the

side to spread to the side of the combine as shown in Figure 1. Thus the seed

destruction section 36 is a part of or closely associated with the chopper 9. However

the position of the outlet in the embodiment of Figure 14 can be adjusted to the side in the same manner by rotation of the housings on the frame 37.

Thus the destruction section 36 and the chopper 9 form a common unit

which can be supplied as a common assembly for attachment to the combine

harvester. The common unit may include a common frame. The common unit can

include a common drive arrangement by which a single output drive from the

combine harvester is directed to the common unit and then directed by the drive

mechanism to the chopper rotor and to the seed destruction section. The common

unit can be arranged so that in one or more adjustment positions of the seed of

destruction section the output from the fan section is directed into the chopper for

common distribution into the field. It is also possible in this arrangement that the

seed destruction section be adjusted so that the output therefrom is directed into the

field bypassing the chopper.

In an arrangement where the space between the sieve 2 and the straw

outlet is greater than can be accommodated by direct feed from the sieve into the

inlet of the seed destruction section, a feed duct or other transfer arrangement can

be provided.

Thus the combined apparatus comprises the straw chopper 9 as

described above together with the apparatus for destroying weed seeds as

described above where the discharge opening of the housing is arranged such that

the discharge opening can be directed to the side of the combine away from the

straw chopper, towards the guide fins of the tailboard of the chopper, or into the

housing of the straw chopper.

As an alternate embodiment shown in Figure 8 the apparatus can be

designed as a horizontal tube 70 into which the material is fed from the sieve 2 by a

feed duct 2A. This can be readily located at this position by a combine manufacturer

as a horizontal duct in their combine at a position ahead of the rear discharge for

chaff.

The tube 70 has a transverse shaft 71 driven at one end 72 and

carried on end walls of the tube 70 at bearings 73. The shaft carries auger fighting

74A, 74B in the middle moving chaff outwardly to an impact zone 75 at each end of

the horizontal rotor. The arrangement thus provides a seed destructor symmetrical

to and operating in the same manner as that previously described but arranged in an

orientation at 90 degrees to that shown previously and rotating in a vertical plane

about a horizontal axis defined by the shaft 71. Thus the destructor 75 includes a

rotor 77 and stator 78 as previously described and a fan section 79 so that the

discharge zone 76 is located at the end to expel into a secondary spreading device,

or into a straw chopper or into the tail board fins of the straw chopper.

As shown in Figures 2A and 8 housing of the chopper section 9 and

the seed destructor section 35 are formed as a common or integral construction

coupled together as single or common unit which can be mounted on the combine

harvester at the rear of the combine so as to be associated with the rear straw

discharge and the rear chaff discharge.

The chopper 9 has an input drive pulley 9A connected to the rotor 17

driven by a belt 9C or other drive component or pulley assembly 9B from the combine. In addition the pulley 9A of the chopper drives an output pulley 9D which communicates drive to the seed of destruction section 35 through a pulley 9E driven by a belt 9F. In the arrangement shown the pulleys 9A and 9D are mounted at the same end of the rotor 17 but this is not essential. The drive 9B to the chopper can be as shown where the output shaft 9G of the combine drives a belt 9H connected to a pulley system 9K to drive the belt 9C; but of course other drive arrangements can be used such as a shaft from an output gearbox.

A shroud or hood 35A is over the seed destructor section to allow for

the chaff to be directed underneath the hood into the seed destructor. A roller 35B is

required at the leading edge of the hood 35A to eliminate material buildup on the

leading edge which could cause possible plugging. The roller rotates in a clockwise

direction at 200-500 rpm to roll any long straw over to the chopper section 9 while

the chaff and weed seeds flow under the hood the destructor section 35.

While the arrangement shown herein is shown as an externally

mounted chopper carried on the combine harvester at the rear straw discharge,

some combines include an internal chopper mounted in the housing at a position in

advance of the rear discharge. In this arrangement the seed destructor section can

be located at the chaff discharge and arranged to direct material into the internal

chopper or away from the internal chopper to the ground. In this case the internal

chopper does not cooperate directly with a spreading system such as a tail board.

Turning now to Figure 10A, there is shown a modified embodiment of

the seed destructor which includes a housing 80 with base 81 and a spiral outer surface 82 upstanding from the base and extending to an outlet or discharge mouth

96. Inside a center part of the spiral is provided a central inlet 83 for feeding the

material from the sieve containing the chaff and weed seeds onto a rotor 84

mounted on a hub 85. Around the hub 85 is provided a plurality of pivot pins or bolts

86 each carrying a flail blade 87.

Around the rotor is provided two stationary annular coaxial perforated

rings 89 and 90 of impact posts with one ring inside the other. Each ring 89, 90 has

perforations between the posts so that the rotor flails 87 act to accelerate, impact

and wipe the material across the inside surface of the inner annular ring 89 to

impact, shear and force some of the material between the posts. Between the two

rings 89, 90 is a ring of posts 92 which are attached to a base plate of the rotor so as

to rotate with the center hub and flail blades. These posts 92 act to impact,

accelerate and shear the material round the inside surface of the annular ring 90

where again there is a plurality of spaces 93 between the posts of the ring 90 to

impact, shear and allow any remaining material to escape outwardly. The material

escaping the spaces 93 is accelerated angularly by a final series of posts 94

attached to the rotating base of the rotor so that the material is flung outwardly and

angularly against the outer surface 82. On this surface is provided a series of

removable and optionally angularly adjustable surface portions (not shown) at

angularly spaced positons around the wall 82. These are inclined inwardly from the

outer wall 82 so as to form a flat inclined surface at an angle of around 45 degrees to the direction of counter-clockwise flow of the material passing to the discharge mouth 96 of the seed destroying section.

The arrangement shown in Figures 5 and 10 provides an apparatus for

destroying weed seeds comprising a housing 80 mounted at a location on the

combine harvester for receiving from sieve the chaff and weed seeds separated by

the combine harvester from harvested crop. A rotor 85 mounted in the housing for

rotation about an axis and including rotor surfaces thereon for engaging the feed

material and for accelerating the feed material in a direction outwardly from the axis

of the rotor. A stator is arranged at a location along the direction and including one

or more stator surfaces for engaging the weed seeds in the accelerated feed

material. The stator includes the angled surfaces 91 arranged at an angle to a

tangent of the rotor axis such that the weed seeds impact on the one or more stator

surfaces.

The stator surfaces 91 can be movable in an adjustment movement

about an axis A parallel to the rotor axis so that the surface pivots relative to a

tangent to the axis of the rotor so as to change the number of impacts caused to

each weed seed. The stator rings 89, 90 are replaceable for example by unbolting a

support bolt from the housing roof. The stator surfaces may hard surface coated

with a suitable material such as carbide which reduces impact damage. The stator

surfaces defined by the annular rings 89, 90 can be adjusted by rotation around the

axis of the rotor. .

The rotational speed of the rotor is adjustable to change the number of impacts a seed encounters during its passage.

In at least one stage, therefore, the weed seeds do not pass through

the stator but are rebounded between the rotor and the stator. The rotor also

propels the weed seed from the housing without needing to pass through an outside

stator surface so that a higher exit velocity is obtained and probably reduced in

residue having more moisture.

Turning now to figures 11 to 15 there is shown a further embodiment of

apparatus for destroying weed seeds which is similar to that shown in Figure 8 in

that it includes a straw chopper section 9 and a weed seed destructor section 35.

The section 35 is of the construction shown in Figure 10 so that it has an inlet 351 in

the center of the housing 80 which is fed by a par of inlet chutes 352 taking the feed

from across the sieve 354 which drops into a channel 353. Thus the intake of the

destructor 35 is located in front of the chopper housing and with the rotor and stator

underneath the chopper housing.

As best shown in Figure 14, the destructor 35 is mounted on the

housing of the chopper at a position lower than in Figure 8 so that the top wall of the

destructor 35 is underneath the bottom wall 355 of the chopper housing. Thus the

discharge mouths 96 release the chaff and weed seeds from a position below the

chopper that is underneath the bottom wall of the chopper housing so as to direct

the second material along the direction F underneath the bottom wall directly onto

the tailboard 16 forming the spreading device. Thus the tailboard is inclined

downwardly and the chaff is fed onto the tailboard to join with the straw and airflow from the chopper so that both materials are spread in a common action by the fins

16B. This acts to provide an improved spreading action on the chaff which tends to

be very light and fluffy due to its passage through the destructor. Thus the added

momentum from the heavier and more dense straw is communicated to the fluffier

chaff to provide a full spreading action which can match the cutting width of the

header.

As shown by comparing Figures 14 and 15 the guide channel 353

includes a guide wall component 35 movable between a first position shown in

Figure 14 and a second position shown in Figure 15.

In Figure 14 the chaff and weed seeds from the sieve are directed into

the weed seed destructor, while the straw from the first discharge location enters the

chopper housing. This is achieved by moving the component 356 from a position in

Figure 14 which is raised so that the chaff passes underneath the component. Thus

the component includes a portion 360 defining a front wall of the chopper and an

upper tip portion 357 which contacts a guide surface 361 of the straw channel from

the combine. In figure 15 the component 356 Is moved so that the tip portion 357

engages a guide surface 359 of the chaff transfer channel from the sieve 354. Thus

in the second position shown in Figure 15 the component 356 shuts off the flow to

the destructor 35 and instead directs the chaff and weed seeds from the second

discharge location into the chopper housing with the straw.

The guide wall component 356 comprises the front wall portion 360 of

the chopper housing which is pivotal about an axis 364 across a front of the chopper housing and parallel to the axis of the chopper rotor.

When the system is arranged to bypass the destructor as shown in

Figure 15, a clutch 362 is operated to halt drive to the rotors of the weed seed

destructor 35 from the input drive shaft 363.

As best shown by comparing Figures 13 and 14, the destructor 35 and

the chopper 9 are formed as a common unit which is movable rearwardly of the

combine harvester along a track 401. The common unit can thus take up the

operating position shown in Figure 15 where the chopper inlet is aligned with the

straw supply duct and the destructor inlet 351 is aligned with the chaff inlet from the

sieve 354. Also the combined unit can move to the rearward position shown in

Figure 13 where the destructor is moved rearwardly of the combine harvester away

from the sieve 354 to allow access to a position between the destructor 35 and the

sieve of the combine harvester. This allows the operator to access the sieve by

entering an opening 402 in front of the destructor 35 and behind the axle of the

combine to visibly inspect the sieve.

Thus the weed seed destructor section 35 and optional also the

chopper section is slidable on the guide 401 in a rearward direction. The guide 401

includes a pair of tracks each on a respective side wall of the combine harvester and

a suitable slide component on the common unit.

The drive for the weed seed destruction section is driven from the

slow-speed drive of the chopper. A selector on the chopper allows the chopper to

operate in either high speed or low speed. Therefore the chopper can be selected to operate in low speed with the weed seed destruction section still operating.

Therefore either chopper speed can be selected without effecting the operation of

the weed seed destruction section.

Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein

above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made

within the spirit and scope of the claims without department from such spirit and

scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall

be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

Claims (5)

1. A combine harvester comprising:

a separation system for separating from harvested crop at a first discharge

location a first material comprising straw and at a second discharge location a second

material comprising chaff and said weed seeds;

a mechanical drive output of the combine harvester;

a straw chopper rotor having a plurality of chopping blades for chopping the

straw for discharge;

a chopper drive input member for driving the straw chopper rotor from the

mechanical drive output of the combine harvester;

a weed seed destruction section comprising:

a rotor housing arranged to be mounted on the combine harvester to

receive from the second discharge location the second material;

a destructor rotor arrangement mounted in the rotor housing for

rotation about an axis and including rotor surfaces thereon for engaging the second

material and for accelerating the second material in a direction outwardly from the axis of

the rotor;

a destructor rotor drive input member for driving the destructor rotor

arrangement from the mechanical drive output of the combine harvester;

a stator arrangement mounted at a location along the direction and

including a plurality of stator surfaces for engaging the weed seeds in the accelerated

second material to cause a plurality of impacts with the weed seeds; and a mechanical drive transfer arrangement, including at least one belt, connecting the destructor rotor drive input member and the chopper drive input member for receiving drive from the mechanical drive output of the combine harvester.

2. The combine harvester according to claim 1 wherein the mechanical

drive transfer arrangement connects the destructor rotor arrangement of the weed seed

destruction section in parallel with the straw chopper rotor from a common drive input.

3. The combine harvester according to claim 1 or 2 wherein:

the straw chopper rotor has a horizontal drive shaft extending transversely

of the combine harvester with a first drive coupling at one end;

the destructor rotor arrangement comprises two rotors, each having an

upstanding axis of rotation, with the two rotors arranged side by side, and an input shaft

extending transversely of the combine harvester across a bottom of the two rotors, and a

second drive coupling at one end of the input shaft, and

the mechanical drive transfer arrangement drives both the first drive

coupling and the second drive coupling.

4. The combine harvester according to any one of claims 1 to 3 further

including a spreading device which comprises a tailboard for receiving straw discharged

from the straw chopper rotor and guide fins for engaging the discharged straw on the

tailboard and guiding the discharged straw in a spreading action to a rear and sides of

the combine harvester, wherein said weed seed destruction section is arranged so as to

direct discharged second material onto the tailboard to be guided by the guide fins while

bypassing chopping blades of the straw chopper rotor.

5. The combine harvester according to any one of claims 1 to 4

wherein:

the destructor rotor arrangement comprises two rotors, each having an

upstanding axis of rotation, with the two rotors arranged side by side, and

the weed seed destruction section comprises two discharge mouths at

spaced positions across the combine harvester.