Abstract: A self-propelled forage harvester having a longitudinally extending mobile frame supported by a pair of forwardly disposed transversely spaced wheels is disclosed wherein a transfer chute having a pivotally mounted frame guides crop material from the cutterhead to the discharge blower. The cutterhead is mounted on the forward portion of the mobile frame and includes a housing having a rear crop outlet opening. A shear bar is mounted adjacent the path of a plurality of knives affixed to the rotatably mounted transversely disposed cylindrical cutterhead, the knives cooperating with the shear bar to cut crop material and throw it rearwardly through the crop outlet opening. A crop discharge blower unit having a housing with a crop inlet opening aligned with the crop outlet opening of the cutterhead housing is mounted on the frame behind the cutterhead.

Abstract: A self-propelled forage harvester having a longitudinally extending mobile frame supported by forward and rearward pairs of transversely spaced wheels. A cutterhead unit is mounted on the forward portion of the frame and includes a housing having a rear crop outlet. Within the housing a shear bar is mounted adjacent the path of the knives of a transverse cylindrical cutterhead rotatably mounted in cooperative relationship with the shear bar for cutting crop material fed thereto. Mounted on the frame rearwardly of the cutterhead unit is a blower unit with a housing having a crop inlet aligned with the crop outlet of the cutterhead unit. The blower includes blades rotating within the housing in a generally circular path about an axis inclined forwardly and upwardly to permit the lower limit of the circular path of the blades to be disposed forward of the upper limits of the path.

Abstract: Forage conveying apparatus for a forage harvester having a longitudinally extending frame supported by at least one pair of transversely spaced wheels. A cutterhead unit mounted on the frame includes a housing having a rear crop outlet. Within the housing a shear bar is mounted adjacent the path of the knives of a transverse cylindrical cutterhead rotatably mounted in cooperative relationship with the shear bar for cutting crop material fed thereto. Mounted on the frame rearwardly of the cutterhead unit is a blower unit with a housing having a crop inlet in communication with the crop outlet of the cutterhead unit. The blower includes a rotatably mounted conical base plate and blades mounted thereon for rotation within the housing in a generally circular path about an inclined axis.

Abstract: A rotatable cutterhead for a forage harvester having a plurality of parallel support members within plans perpendicular to a central shaft and spaced axially therealong. A plurality of similar chopping blades are affixed in circumferentially spaced relationship to each other around the support members, whereby the interior of said cutterhead is open and susceptible to ingress of cut forage material. Baffle strips extend from each blade inwardly from and adjacent the cutting edge at a sufficient distance and angle to deter the ingress of cut material into the interior of said cutterhead.

Abstract: A multi-row crop header for a forage harvester has a central rear discharge outlet, a transversely extending consolidating auger and a plurality of fore-and-aft extending crop dividers. The crop dividers define forward crop passageways and rear crop passageways extending from the forward crop passageways. At least some of the rear crop passageways are angled inwardly from front to rear, toward the longitudinal centerline of the header. Disposed within each of the rear crop passageways is a set of butt-gripping chains that grip the butt-ends of the stalks and convey the same rearwardly toward the central discharge outlet.