CONSTANT PRESSURE CONCAVE ASSEMBLY IN A COMBINE HARVESTER PROCESSING SYSTEM

摘要

A combine harvester has a crop processing rotor (22) and a concave assembly (24) having at least one concave extending at least partially beneath the rotor (22) in a circumferential manner. The concave assembly (24) is pivotable about pivot point (42) to move the concave (24) in a generally concentric manner toward and away from rotor (22). An operating mechanism (50) pivots the concave assembly (24) to adjust the operating clearance between the concave assembly and the rotor (22). The operating mechanism (50) includes an actuator (52) and a linkage assembly (54) connecting the actuator (52) to the concave assembly (24). The linkage assembly (54) includes a hydraulic cylinder (72) that applies a substantially constant force to the concave assembly (24) to control the pressure put on the crop while the rotor is rotating. A hydraulic supply (78) ports hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic cylinder (72). The combine harvester also has an accumulator (84) located between the hydraulic supply (78) and the hydraulic cylinder (72).