US 12,446,489 B2
Return pan for an agricultural combine
Jonas Toft Andersen, Randers (DK)
Assigned to AGCO International GmbH, Neuhausen (CH)
Appl. No. 17/757,111
Filed by AGCO International GmbH, Neuhausen (CH)
PCT Filed Dec. 1, 2020, PCT No. PCT/IB2020/061320
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 9, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/116821, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 17, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 1918100 (GB), filed on Dec. 10, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0015715 A1, Jan. 19, 2023
Int. Cl. A01D 41/127 (2006.01); A01D 75/28 (2006.01); A01F 12/52 (2006.01)
CPC A01D 41/127 (2013.01) [A01D 75/28 (2013.01); A01F 12/52 (2013.01)] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A crop processing system in a combine harvester for directing grain and MOG on a return pan, comprising:
a crop processor arranged to thresh and separate grain from a crop stream;
a return pan disposed below a rear portion of the crop processor and arranged to collect separated material falling from the crop processor and convey the separated material forwardly with respect to a normal forward direction of travel of the combine harvester, wherein the return pan has a discharge edge having a central concave profile and substantially flat regions where the paddles are disposed on the return pan;
a plurality of paddles disposed on the return pan;
at least one electronic control unit (ECU) coupled to the plurality of paddles; and
an inclinometer connected to the ECU and configured to measure an angle of a slope of the combine to the horizontal,
wherein the at least one ECU is configured to command at least one actuator coupled to the paddles to adjust the paddles to a preferred position according to the slope of the combine.