Adjustable vanes for use in a cylindrical rotor cage of an agricultural harvester
An adjustable vane system for use with a rotor cage of a threshing system of an agricultural harvester includes a vane. The vane includes: a generally helically curved inner profile; a surface being an outer profile that is opposite the inner profile and is generally helically curved over a portion of the vane, the outer profile being configured to be positioned closer to the rotor cage than the inner profile; and a flat portion located midway along the outer profile.
1. An adjustable vane system for use with a rotor cage of a threshing system of an agricultural harvester, the vane system comprising:
a vane comprising:
a generally helically curved inner profile;
a surface being an outer profile that is opposite the inner profile and is generally helically curved over a portion of the vane, the outer profile being configured to be positioned closer to the rotor cage than the inner profile; and
a flat portion located midway along the outer profile, wherein a distance between the flat portion and the rotor cage is greater than a distance between a curved portion of the outer profile and the rotor cage.
2. The adjustable vane system of claim 1 , wherein the flat portion is configured to compensate for a change in curvature geometry between the vane and the rotor cage.
3. The adjustable vane system of claim 2 , further comprising:
a first coupling device connected to the vane at a first flat portion of the vane proximate an end of the vane on the outer profile; and
a second coupling device connected to the vane at a second flat portion of the vane proximate another end of the vane on the outer profile.
4. The adjustable vane system of claim 3 , further comprising:
a first bushing extending through the rotor cage and in contact with the vane; and
a second bushing extending through the rotor cage and in contact with the vane.
5. The adjustable vane system of claim 4 , wherein the coupling devices extend through the bushings.
6. The adjustable vane system of claim 5 , wherein the lengths of the bushings allow movement of the vane up to a predefined distance from the rotor cage.
7. The adjustable vane system of claim 6 , wherein the predefined distance is approximately 4 mm or less.
8. A threshing system for use in an agricultural harvester, the threshing system comprising:
a rotor cage comprising a plurality of slots therein, the rotor cage comprising a generally cylindrical inner surface; and
a plurality of adjustable vanes pivotally coupled to the rotor cage, each vane comprising:
a generally helically curved inner profile;
a surface being an outer profile that is opposite the inner profile and is generally helically curved over a portion of the vane, the outer profile being positioned closer to the rotor cage than the inner profile; and
a flat portion located midway along the outer profile, wherein a distance between the flat portion and the rotor cage is greater than a distance between a curved portion of the outer profile and the rotor cage.
9. The threshing system of claim 8 , wherein the flat portion is configured to compensate for a change in curvature geometry between the vane and the rotor cage.
10. The threshing system of claim 9 , further comprising:
a first coupling device connected to the vane at a first flat portion of the vane proximate an end of the vane on the outer profile; and
a second coupling device connected to the vane at a second flat portion of the vane proximate another end of the vane on the outer profile.
11. The threshing system of claim 10 , further comprising:
a first bushing extending through the rotor cage and in contact with the vane; and
a second bushing extending through the rotor cage and in contact with the vane.
12. The threshing system of claim 11 , wherein the coupling devices extend through the bushings.
13. The threshing system of claim 12 , wherein the lengths of the bushings allow movement of the vane up to a predefined distance from the rotor cage.
14. The threshing system of claim 13 , wherein the predefined distance is approximately 4 mm or less.