System and method for destroying seeds in crop residue prior to discharge from agricultural harvester

Abstract

A system processes seeds that are present in crop material. The system includes a first shearing surface, a second shearing surface arranged opposite the first shearing surface, and a clearance between the first shearing surface and the second shearing surface. The system passes crop material between the first and second shearing surfaces, where the crop material contacts the shearing surfaces as it passes through the shearing surfaces. Contact with the first and second shearing surfaces damages seeds that are present in the crop material. The system can be installed in an agricultural harvester to damage seeds that are present in crop residue to prevent the seeds from germinating after the crop residue is discharged from the agricultural harvester back into the field.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for processing seeds that are present in crop material collected by an agricultural harvester, the system comprising at least one first shearing surface, at least one second shearing surface arranged opposite the at least one first shearing surface, and a clearance between the at least one first shearing surface and the at least one second shearing surface, the clearance adapted to receive a flow of crop material containing seeds, and further adapted to convey said flow of crop material between the at least one first shearing surface and the at least one second shearing surface, such that said flow of crop material contacts the at least one first shearing surface and the at least one second shearing surface to damage seeds present in the crop material and prevent the seeds from germinating after exiting the system,
 the system further comprising at least one first cylindrical body and at least one second cylindrical body, the at least one first shearing surface extending along a portion of the at least one first cylindrical body, and the second shearing surface extends along a portion of the at least one second cylindrical body, 
 the at least one first cylindrical body comprising at least one drum, and the at least one second cylindrical body comprising at least one concave mounted around the at least one drum, 
 the at least one first shearing surface comprising an outer surface on the at least one drum, the outer surface having a first plurality of projecting elements, and 
 the at least one second shearing surface comprising an inner surface inside the at least one concave, the inner surface having a second plurality of projecting elements that intermesh with the first plurality of projection elements on the at least one drum. 
 
     
     
       2. The system for processing seeds according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first shearing surface moves at a first tangential velocity relative to the system, and the at least one second shearing surface moves at a second tangential velocity relative to the system that is different from the first tangential velocity. 
     
     
       3. The system for processing seeds according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one drum is fixed relative to the at least one frame, and the at least one concave is movable relative to the at least one frame. 
     
     
       4. The system for processing seeds according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one concave is movable between a first position, in which the at least one concave is spaced a first distance from the at least one drum, and a second position, in which the at least one concave is spaced a second distance from the at least one drum, the second distance being greater than the first distance. 
     
     
       5. The system for processing seeds according to  claim 1  comprising an adjustment system for adjusting a clearance between the at least one drum and the at least one concave, the adjustment system comprising a pivot hinge that pivotally connects the at least one concave to the at least one drum, and an adjusting screw rotatable to pivot the at least one concave relative to the at least one drum to change said clearance between the at least one drum and the least one concave. 
     
     
       6. The system for processing seeds according to  claim 5 , wherein the system is mounted on a pivot assembly configured to permit the system for processing seeds to fold downwardly and allow a flow of crop material to bypass the system for processing seeds. 
     
     
       7. A system for processing seeds that are present in crop material collected by an agricultural harvester, the system comprising at least one first shearing surface, at least one second shearing surface arranged opposite the at least one first shearing surface, and a clearance between the at least one first shearing surface and the at least one second shearing surface, the clearance adapted to receive a flow of crop material containing seeds, and further adapted to convey said flow of crop material between the at least one first shearing surface and the at least one second shearing surface, such that said flow of crop material contacts the at least one first shearing surface and the at least one second shearing surface to damage seeds present in the crop material and prevent the seeds from germinating after exiting the system,
 the system further comprising at least one first cylindrical body and at least one second cylindrical body, wherein the at least one first shearing surface extends along a portion of the at least one first cylindrical body, and the second shearing surface extends along a portion of the at least one second cylindrical body, 
 wherein the at least one first cylindrical body comprises a first roller having a first shaft and a first helical thread winding around the first shaft. 
 
     
     
       8. The system for processing seeds according to  claim 7 , wherein the at least one second cylindrical body comprises a second roller having a second shaft and a second helical thread winding around the second shaft. 
     
     
       9. The system for processing seeds according to  claim 7 , wherein the at least one first cylindrical body comprises a plurality of first cylindrical bodies, and the at least one second cylindrical body comprises a plurality of second cylindrical bodies. 
     
     
       10. The system for processing seeds according to  claim 7  comprising at least one baffle positioned above the at least one first cylindrical body and the at least one second cylindrical body, the baffle positioned to direct crop material to an area between the at least one first cylindrical body and the at least one second cylindrical body. 
     
     
       11. The system for processing seeds according to  claim 7  comprising at least one catch pan beneath the at least one first cylindrical roller and the at least one second cylindrical roller, the at least one catch pan adapted to catch crop material passing between the at least one first cylindrical roller and the at least one second cylindrical roller. 
     
     
       12. The system for processing seeds according to  claim 7  comprising at least one frame for attaching the at least one first cylindrical body and the at least one second cylindrical body to the agricultural harvester. 
     
     
       13. The system for processing seeds according to  claim 8 , wherein the at least one first shearing surface comprises a radially outwardly-facing edge on the first helical thread, and the at least one second shearing surface comprises a radially outwardly-facing edge on the second shaft. 
     
     
       14. The system for processing seeds according to  claim 13 , wherein the first helical thread is mated with the second helical thread, such that the radially outwardly-facing edge on the first helical thread faces the radially outwardly-facing edge on the second shaft, the clearance being defined between the radially outwardly-facing edge on the first helical thread and the radially outwardly-facing edge on the second shaft. 
     
     
       15. A system for processing seeds that are present in crop material collected by an agricultural harvester, the system comprising (i) a rotatable member, (ii) a concave disposed around the rotatable member, and (iii) a clearance defined between the rotatable member and the concave that is adapted to receive a flow of crop material containing seeds, wherein rotation of the rotatable member is configured to damage the seeds present in the crop material located within the clearance and prevent the seeds from germinating after exiting the system, and (iv) a deflector that is movable between a lowered position, in which the entry of the flow of crop material into the clearance is prevented by the deflector, and a raised position, in which the entry of the flow of crop material into the clearance is permitted by the deflector.  
     
     
       16. The system of claim 15, wherein the deflector is pivotably mounted to a frame of the system.  
     
     
       17. An agricultural harvester comprising the system of claim 15.   
     
     
       18. The system of claim 15, wherein the rotatable member is a drum.  
     
     
       19. The system of claim 18, wherein the drum comprises projecting elements extending radially outwardly from the drum for driving the seeds against the concave.  
     
     
       20. The system of claim 19, wherein the drum comprises an outer surface and the projecting elements extend radially outwardly from the outer surface.  
     
     
       21. The system of claim 19, wherein the concave comprises projecting elements extending radially inwardly from the concave for contacting the seeds.  
     
     
       22. The system of claim 21, wherein the projecting elements of the concave are positioned to register with passages defined between adjacent projecting elements of the drum.  
     
     
       23. The system of claim 15 wherein the concave is mounted stationary relative to the rotatable member.  
     
     
       24. The system of claim 15, wherein the concave is a cylindrical body comprising a hollow region in which the rotatable member is positioned.  
     
     
       25. The system of claim 15, further comprising a rubber mat positioned on top of the deflector, wherein the rubber mat is configured to oscillate and create a moving surface on top of the deflector for maintaining movement of material over the deflector when the deflector is maintained in the lowered position.  
     
     
       26. The system of claim 15, wherein the system is movably mounted between a stowed position in which the system is maintained in an inoperable condition, and a deployed position in which the system is maintained in an operable condition.  
     
     
       27. The system of claim 26, wherein the system comprises a pivot assembly, and the system is configured to pivot between the stowed and deployed positions by way of the pivot assembly.  
     
     
       28. An agricultural harvester comprising the system of claim 26.   
     
     
       29. The system of claim 26, wherein the system is configured to be moved into a path of crop residue when seed processing is required, and moved out of the path of crop residue when seed processing is not desired.  
     
     
       30. The system of claim 26, further comprising a pan that is configured to be mounted to an opening in the harvester when the system is moved to the stowed position.  
     
     
       31. The system of claim 26, wherein an axis of rotation of the rotatable member extends transversely.  
     
     
       32. The system of claim 26, wherein the concave is a cylindrical body comprising a hollow region in which the rotatable member is positioned.  
     
     
       33. The system of claim 26, wherein the system is configured to move downwardly with respect to the harvester.  
     
     
       34. The system of claim 26, wherein a position of the concave is adjustable relative to the rotatable member for changing a size of the clearance.  
     
     
       35. The system of claim 1, wherein the drum is a cylinder.  
     
     
       36. The system of claim 35, wherein the drum is a hollow cylinder.  
     
     
       37. The system of claim 1 further comprising a deflector that is movable between a lowered position, in which the entry of the flow of crop material into the clearance is prevented by the deflector, and a raised position, in which the entry of the flow of crop material into the clearance is permitted by the deflector.  
     
     
       38. The system of claim 15, wherein the rotatable member includes projecting elements for driving the seeds against the concave.  
     
     
       39. The system of claim 15, wherein the deflector covers a passageway leading to an inlet of the concave.