Title: Threshing machine

What I claim is:

1. A threshing machine, comprising:

a frame;

a hollow circular housing mounted to the frame and formed on a horizontal axis having an upright front side and an axially spaced back side;

a feed chute leading axially to an opening formed through the front side of the housing to one side of the horizontal housing axis;

a shaft mounted to the housing for rotation about the horizontal axis;

a flail wheel mounted to the shaft within the housing for rotation in a circular path therein about the horizontal axis and having a flail arm extending radially outwardly from the housing axis by a distance greater than the distance from the axis to the chute opening;

said flail arm having a radially extending threshing surface thereon;

means for rotating the flail wheel on the shaft about the horizontal axis in a direction so the flail arm will move downwardly in an arcuate path past the chute opening; and

baffle means within the housing immediately above the feed chute opening and adjacent the path of the flail arm for producing an inward motion of air entering the housing through the chute opening as the flail arm moves in the arcuate path past the chute opening.

2. The threshing machine as defined by claim 1 wherein the threshing wheel is comprised of:

a plurality of flail arms radially extending from the horizontal axis, in diametrically opposed relation;

wherein said threshing surface is provided on each flail arm and is comprised of a row of notches formed along the length of each arm facing the front side of the housing and sequentially passing in the arcuate path past the baffle to produce the inward motion of air.

3. The threshing machine as defined by claim 2 wherein the notches of one flail arm are staggered in relation to the notches of another arm following in the arcuate path of the flail arms past the chute opening.

4. The threshing machine as defined by claim 1 further comprising a shelling bar mounted within the housing along the front side thereof directly below the chute opening adjacent the arcuate path of the flail arm to direct the material being threshed into the path of the flail arms.

5. The threshing machine as defined by claim 4 wherein the shelling bar projects inward toward the arcuate path defined by the flail arm as it moves past the chute opening and is radially positioned in relation to the axis to overlap the length of the flail surface.

6. The threshing machine as defined by claim 4 wherein the shelling bar projects inward toward the flail wheel and angularly downward from the front housing side to direct the material being threshed into the path of the flail arms.

7. The threshing machine as defined by claim 4 wherein the threshing wheel is comprised of:

a plurality of flail arms extending from the horizontal axis in diametrically opposed relation;

wherein said flail surface is provided on each flail arm and is comprised of a row of notches formed along the length of each arm facing the front side of the housing.

8. The threshing machine as defined by claim 7 wherein the notches of one flail arm are staggered in relation to the notches of another arm following in the rotational path of the flail arms about the horizontal axis.

9. A flail wheel for a rotary shaft threshing machine, comprising:

a hub member adapted to be mounted to the rotary shaft of the threshing machine and having a central hub axis;

at least two of opposed flail arms mounted to the hub member and extending outwardly from the central hub axis;

flail surfaces on the flail arms facing one axial direction and arranged within a circular path defined by the flail arms when rotated about the hub axis;

wherein the flail surface on one of the flail arms is comprised of a row of notches formed within the one arm and wherein the flail surface on the flail arm following the one flail arm in said circular path includes notches that are staggered in relation to the notches in the one flail arm.

Other info:


Inventors: Vogel, Orville A. (Pullman, WA)

Application Number: 06/130554
Filing Date: 1980-03-14
Publication_date: 1981-08-25
Assignee: Gearhiser, Hartman L.

Primary Class(es): 460/61 130/30H
Other Classes: A01F12/18; A24C1/32
US Patent Ref:

1821767	September, 1931	Poole	99/609	Clover seed huller and scarifier
2321461	June, 1943	Christel	130/30H	Pea viner
2706373	April, 1955	Nisbet	130/30R	Method of harvesting grass seed
2790444	April, 1957	Rossman	130/30R	Pea viner and sheller
3141485	July, 1964	Bonner et al.	130/30R	Tobacco shredder

Other Refs: FR1157649

June, 1958

99/617

Primary Examiner: Hafer, Robert A.
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney: Wells, St. John & Roberts