Self-cleaning blow-off
View Patent ↗A self-cleaning blow-off for a rotary air screen, includes a blow-off channel including an inlet disposed for receiving a flow of air from a pressurized air source, and a movable blow-off channel section configured and supported to be movable between an operational position disposed adjacent to a portion of the air screen for directing the flow of air for blowing debris and dirt from the screen, and a cleaning position disposed away from the screen such that accumulated debris and dirt in the blow-off section will be released. And, an actuator is connected to and controllably operable for moving the movable blow-off section between the operating position and the cleaning position. The actuator can be controlled to move the movable blow-off section to the cleaning position periodically, as desired, or responsive to an input.
1. A self-cleaning blow-off for a rotary air screen, comprising:
a blow-off channel including an inlet disposed for receiving a flow of air from an air source, and a movable blow-off channel section mountable externally to the air screen and disposed adjacent to a bottom portion of the air screen, the movable blow-off section includes an upwardly open U-shaped channel extending along substantially the length of the bottom portion of the air screen, wherein the movable blow-off section has a discharge outlet at a distal end thereof, the moveable blow-off section configured and supported to be movable between an operational position disposed adjacent to the bottom portion of the air screen for directing the flow of air across the bottom portion of the air screen for blowing debris and dirt from the screen and directing the debris and dirt along the channel to be discharged through the discharge outlet, and a cleaning position disposed away from the screen such that accumulated debris and dirt in the blow-off section will be released, and an actuator connected to and controllably operable for moving the movable blow-off section between the operating position and the cleaning position.
2. The blow-off of claim 1 , wherein the air source comprises a fan configured and operable for generating an air flow through the air screen, and the inlet of the blow-off channel is positioned and oriented for receiving a portion of the air flow into a preliminary blow-off channel section extending to the movable blow-off channel section.
3. The blow-off of claim 2 , wherein the movable blow-off channel section is mounted to the preliminary blow-off channel section for pivotal movement between the operational position and the cleaning position.
4. The blow-off of claim 1 , wherein the movable blow-off channel section comprises a brush extending along the open portion positioned for brushing debris and dirt from the screen.
5. The blow-off of claim 1 , further comprising a controller connected to the actuator and configured so as to be automatically operable for controllably operating the actuator for periodically moving the movable blow-off channel section between the operational and cleaning positions.
6. The blow-off of claim 1 , further comprising a controller connected to the actuator and configured for controllably operating the actuator for moving the movable blow-off channel section from the operational position to the cleaning position, responsive to an input.
7. The blow-off of claim 1 , wherein, when in the cleaning position, the movable blow-off channel section is oriented at an acute angle to the screen.
8. A self-cleaning rotary air screen, comprising:
a rotary air screen; and
a blow-off disposed for removing debris from the air screen, including a preliminary blow-off channel section having an inlet disposed for receiving a flow of air from a pressurized air source, and a movable blow-off channel section in connection with the preliminary blow-off channel section for receiving the flow of air, the movable blow-off channel section disposed adjacent to a bottom portion of the air screen, wherein the movable blow-off section is an upwardly open U-shaped channel extending along substantially the length of the bottom portion of the air screen, wherein the movable blow-off section has a discharge outlet at a distal end thereof, the moveable blow-off section configured and supported to be movable between an operational position adjacent to the bottom portion of the air screen for directing the flow of air across the bottom portion of the air screen for blowing debris therefrom, and directing the debris along the channel to be discharged through the discharge outlet, and a cleaning position spaced away from the screen for releasing accumulated debris from the movable blow-off section, and an actuator connected to and controllably operable for moving the movable blow-off section between the operating position and the cleaning position.
9. The self-cleaning rotary air screen of claim 8 , wherein the pressurized air source comprises a fan configured and operable for generating an air flow through the air screen, and the inlet of the preliminary blow-off channel is positioned and oriented for receiving a portion of the air flow.
10. The self-cleaning rotary air screen of claim 8 , wherein the movable blow-off channel section is mounted to the preliminary blow-off channel section for pivotal movement between the operational position and the cleaning position.
11. The self-cleaning rotary air screen of claim 8 , wherein the movable blow-off channel section comprises a brush extending along the open side positioned for brushing debris and dirt from the screen.
12. The self-cleaning rotary air screen of claim 8 , further comprising a controller connected to the actuator and configured so as to be automatically operable for controllably operating the actuator for periodically moving the movable blow-off channel section between the operational and cleaning positions.
13. The self-cleaning rotary air screen of claim 8 , further comprising a controller connected to the actuator and configured for controllably operating the actuator for moving the movable blow-off channel section from the operational position to the cleaning position, responsive to an input.
14. The self-cleaning rotary air screen of claim 8 , wherein, when in the cleaning position, the movable blow-off channel section is oriented at an acute angle to the screen.
15. A harvesting machine, comprising:
a heat exchanger housing containing at least one heat exchanger;
a fan operable for generating an air flow through the heat exchanger housing and the at least one heat exchanger;
a rotary air screen disposed in covering relation to an inlet of the heat exchanger housing and operable for catching debris from the air flow prior to entering the heat exchanger housing; and
a blow-off disposed for removing debris from the rotary air screen, including a preliminary blow-off channel section having an inlet disposed for receiving a portion of the air flow generated by the fan, and a movable blow-off channel section in connection with the preliminary blow-off channel section for receiving the portion of the air flow, the movable blow-off channel section disposed adjacent to a bottom portion of the air screen, wherein the movable blow-off section is an upwardly open U-shaped channel extending along substantially the length of the bottom portion of the air screen, wherein the movable blow-off section has a discharge outlet at a distal end thereof, the movable blow-off section configured and supported to be movable between an operational position adjacent to the bottom portion of the air screen for directing the portion of the air flow along the bottom portion of the air screen for blowing the debris caught thereby from the air screen and directing the debris along the channel to be discharged through the discharge outlet, and a cleaning position spaced away from the screen for releasing accumulated debris from the movable blow-off section, and an actuator connected to and controllably operable for moving the movable blow-off section between the operating position and the cleaning position.
16. The harvesting machine of claim 15 , wherein the movable blow-off channel section is mounted to the preliminary blow-off channel section for pivotal movement between the operational position and the cleaning position.
17. The harvesting machine of claim 15 , wherein the movable blow-off channel section comprises a brush extending along the open side positioned for brushing debris and dirt from the screen.
18. The harvesting machine of claim 15 , further comprising a controller connected to the actuator and configured so as to be automatically operable for controllably operating the actuator for periodically moving the movable blow-off channel section between the operational and cleaning positions.
19. The harvesting machine of claim 15 , further comprising a controller connected to the actuator and configured for controllably operating the actuator for moving the movable blow-off channel section from the operational position to the cleaning position, responsive to an input.