Combine harvester having progressive separator vanes

1 . A threshing and separating system of a combine harvester, the threshing and separating assembly comprising:

a threshing cage sized to at least partially surround a threshing rotor,

wherein the threshing cage defines a longitudinal axis extending in a rearward direction from an inlet end of the threshing cage to an outlet end of the threshing cage, and

wherein the threshing cage further defines an interior surface that faces the threshing rotor; and

a plurality of movable vanes mounted to the interior surface of the threshing cage;

wherein the plurality of movable vanes are moveable between a first position in which vanes of the plurality of movable vanes are substantially parallel with one another and a second position in which an acute angle is defined between each pair of adjacent vanes of the plurality of movable vanes;

wherein the acute angles progressively increase in the rearward direction of the threshing cage such that the acute angle between one set of adjacent vanes at a forward end of the threshing cage is less than the acute angle between another set of adjacent vanes at a rearward end of the threshing cage;

wherein the adjacent vanes are connected together by a link;

wherein each vane of the adjacent vanes comprises a leading end and a trailing end, with one end of the link being connected to either the leading end or the trailing end of a forwardly mounted vane of the adjacent vanes and an opposing end of the link is connected at a point on a rearwardly mounted vane of the adjacent vanes, and

wherein the point is located between the leading end and trailing end of the rearwardly mounted vane.

2 . The threshing and separating system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of movable vanes comprises at least three vanes.

3 . The threshing and separating system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a plurality of links,

wherein each of the plurality of links is mounted between a respective set of the adjacent vanes of the plurality of movable vanes.

4 . The threshing and separating system of claim 3 , wherein each of the of plurality links is arranged parallel to one another in the first position.

5 . The threshing and separating system of claim 1 , wherein the opposing end of the link is pivotably connected at the point.

6 . The threshing and separating system of claim 1 , wherein the point is located closer to the trailing end than the leading end of the rearwardly mounted vane.

7 . The threshing and separating system of claim 1 , wherein each of the vane has an integral and unitary body.

8 . The threshing and separating system of claim 1 , wherein each of the vane is curved about the longitudinal axis.

9 . The threshing and separating system of claim 1 , further comprising:

an actuator that is configured to simultaneously moves the plurality of movable vanes between the first and second positions.

10 . The threshing and separating system of claim 1 , wherein each of the vane is slanted with respect to a vertical axis in both the first position and second position.

11 . The threshing and separating system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a concave positioned beneath the threshing cage.

12 . The threshing and separating system of claim 11 , further comprising:

the threshing rotor as positioned between the concave and the threshing cage.

13 . A combine harvester comprising a threshing and separating system, the threshing and separating assembly of the combine harvester comprising:

a threshing cage sized to at least partially surround a threshing rotor, wherein the threshing cage further defines an interior surface that faces the threshing rotor;

a concave positioned beneath the threshing cage that enables the threshing rotor being located between the concave and the threshing cage;

a plurality of movable vanes mounted to the interior surface of the threshing cage;

wherein the plurality of movable vanes are moveable between a first position in which vanes of the plurality of movable vanes are substantially parallel with one another and a second position in which an acute angle is defined between each pair of adjacent vanes of the plurality of movable vanes;

wherein the adjacent vanes are connected together by a link;

wherein each vane of the adjacent vanes comprises a leading end and a trailing end, with one end of the link being connected to either the leading end or the trailing end of a forwardly mounted vane of the adjacent vanes and an opposing end of the link is connected at a point on a rearwardly mounted vane of the adjacent vanes, and

wherein the point is located between the leading end and trailing end of the rearwardly mounted vane.