CPC A01D 41/1243 (2013.01) [A01D 69/00 (2013.01); A01F 12/40 (2013.01); A01F 12/48 (2013.01)] | 17 Claims |
1. An apparatus for use in a combine harvester where the combine harvester comprises a separation system for separating from harvested crop a first material comprising straw and a second material comprising chaff and weed seeds, the apparatus comprising:
a weed seed destructor section for receiving the second material comprising:
a destructor rotor housing arranged to receive the second material;
a destructor rotor arrangement mounted in the destructor rotor housing for rotation about an axis and including rotor surfaces thereon for engaging the second material and for accelerating the second material in a direction generally outwardly of the rotor axis;
at least one stator arrangement mounted at a location outwardly of the rotor axis for engaging the weed seeds in the accelerated second material to cause a plurality of impacts with the weed seeds;
the at least one stator arrangement comprising a stator support structure surrounding the rotor axis and a plurality of stator surface elements mounted on the stator support structure;
each of the stator surface elements carrying a plurality of individual seed engaging surface portions;
where each individual seed engaging surface portion of each respective one of the stator surface elements extends generally parallel to the rotor axis and, in a plane radial to the rotor axis, forms an angle which is different from an angle of others of the individual seed engaging surface portions of the respective one of the stator surface elements;
wherein each of the stator surface elements carrying the individual seed engaging surface portions thereon is separate from the others of the stator surface elements;
wherein each of the stator surface elements carrying the individual seed engaging surface portions thereon is removable from the stator support structure and is replaceable.
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