Abstract: A sieve system of an agricultural vehicle for separating crop residue from grain, the sieve system including a frame, a plurality of sieve sections, a plurality of dividers and a pivoting system. The sieve sections are pivotally coupled to the frame. The sieve sections include a first sieve section. The dividers include a first divider coupled to the first sieve section. The pivoting system is coupled to the first sieve section and the first divider, to thereby pivot the sieve section at a first angle about a first axis. The pivoting system also either pivots the divider at a second angle about a second axis or flexes the divider at the second angle. The first angle is relative to the frame, and the second angle is relative to the sieve section.

Abstract: A threshing system for an agricultural harvester includes a rotor and a substantially cylindrical cage that surrounds at least a portion of the rotor. The threshing system also features a material flow adjustor for controlling axial movement of material through the cage. The material flow adjustor is movably mounted adjacent to a threshing space and includes at least one material conveying edge that enters the threshing space. The material flow adjustor is moveable between a first operative position, in which the at least one material conveying edge is spaced from the rotor in a radial direction by a first distance, and a second operative position in which the at least one material conveying edge is spaced from the rotor in the radial direction by a second distance, the second distance being less than the first distance.

Abstract: A self-cleaning sump for an agricultural harvester may include a collection chamber defining a top end and a bottom end. The self-cleaning sump may also include a sump door positioned at the bottom end of the collection chamber, with the sump door being movable between an opened position and a closed position. Additionally, the self-cleaning sump may include a cleaning device movable within the collection chamber between a raised position and a lowered position and an actuator coupled to the cleaning device. The actuator may be configured to actuate the cleaning device between the raised and lowered positions independent of the sump door. When the actuator is activated, the cleaning device may be configured to contact collected material contained within the collection chamber as the cleaning device is moved within the collection chamber between the top and bottom ends of the chamber.

Abstract: A threshing and separating system including a rotor cage, a first vane rail movably connected to the rotor cage, and a first vane portion with a first constrained end pivotably connected to the rotor cage and a first movable end linked to the first vane rail. The threshing and separating system further including a second vane rail movably connected to the rotor cage, and a second vane portion with a second constrained end pivotably connected to the rotor cage and a second movable end linked to the second vane rail, the second vane portion and the first vane portion together define a substantially continuous vane.

Abstract: A method for controlling crop material speed through a rotor/cage assembly of an agricultural combine. The method includes the steps of monitoring a grain loss of the combine and adjusting an orientation of a vane coupled to the cage responsive to the grain loss, a cleaning system load and/or a straw length.

Abstract: An agricultural vehicle including a chassis and a sectional header system carried by the chassis. The sectional header system includes a center section connected to the chassis and having a pair of lateral ends, at least one additional section, and at least one coupling assembly. The at least one coupling assembly includes at least one actuator and at least one connector. The at least one coupling assembly removably connects the center section to the at least one additional section. The at least one additional section is coupled to the center section in harvesting of a crop material and the at least one additional section is decoupled from the center section in transportation of the sectional header system.

Abstract: A transition cone for a threshing system of an agricultural harvesting machine has an inner surface with a tapering inner circumference between a wider upstream end and a narrower downstream end, and a plurality of vanes in the transition cone. Each vane extends between the upstream end and the downstream end and at least partly around the tapering inner circumference. Each vane includes an upstanding segment extending away from the inner surface, and a base segment extending from the upstanding segment along the inner surface on the downstream side of the upstanding segment. The base segment has a thicker proximal region adjacent the upstanding segment and a thinner distal edge opposite thereto, with a curved exposed surface extending there between.

Abstract: An agricultural vehicle includes: a chassis; at least one cleaning sieve carried by the chassis; a grain tank carried by the chassis; an unloader carried by the chassis and configured to unload crop material; and a crop material conveyor carried by the chassis and including a housing having a sieve inlet under the at least one cleaning sieve, a tank outlet coupled to the grain tank, an unloader outlet coupled to the unloader, and an endless conveyor within the housing, the crop material conveyor being configured to switch between a tank feed mode where crop material is conveyed by the endless conveyor out the tank outlet and an unload mode where crop material is conveyed by the endless conveyor out the unloader outlet.

Abstract: An agricultural vehicle includes: a chassis; at least one cleaning sieve carried by the chassis; a grain tank carried by the chassis; an unloader carried by the chassis and configured to unload crop material; and a crop material conveyor carried by the chassis and including a housing having a sieve inlet under the at least one cleaning sieve, a tank outlet coupled to the grain tank, an unloader outlet coupled to the unloader, and an endless conveyor within the housing, the crop material conveyor being configured to switch between a tank feed mode where crop material is conveyed by the endless conveyor out the tank outlet and an unload mode where crop material is conveyed by the endless conveyor out the unloader outlet.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes a chassis; a threshing and separating system carried by the chassis and including at least one threshing rotor mounted in a longitudinal direction of the agricultural harvester; a grain pan carried by the chassis that receives crop material from the threshing and separating system, the grain pan being configured to shake in a fore-to-aft direction and a lateral direction; and a cleaning system carried by the chassis supplied with crop material from the grain pan, the cleaning system including at least one sieve configured to shake in the lateral direction out of phase with the grain pan.

Abstract: An agricultural vehicle, includes a chassis; a cleaning system carried by the chassis including at least one sieve and configured to clean crop material; and an unloader carried by the chassis and supplied with cleaned crop material from the cleaning system. The unloader includes: a roller; a belt wrapped around the roller; and an oblong housing at least partially enclosing the belt.

Abstract: A method for controlling crop material speed through a rotor/cage assembly of an agricultural combine. The method includes the steps of monitoring a grain loss of the combine; computing an engine power reserve value; and adjusting an orientation of a vane coupled to the cage responsive to the engine power reserve value and to the grain loss, a cleaning system load and/or a straw length.

Abstract: A threshing and separating system for an agricultural vehicle includes: a rotor cage; a first vane rail movably connected to the rotor cage; a first vane portion pivotably connected to the rotor cage and linked to the first vane rail; a second vane rail movably connected to the rotor cage, the second vane rail being movable independently of the first vane rail; and a second vane portion pivotably connected to the rotor cage and linked to the second vane rail, the second vane portion and the first vane portion together defining a substantially continuous vane.

Abstract: A sieve system of an agricultural vehicle for separating crop residue from grain, the sieve system including a frame, a plurality of sieve sections, a plurality of dividers and a pivoting system. The sieve sections are pivotally coupled to the frame. The sieve sections include a first sieve section. The dividers include a first divider coupled to the first sieve section. The pivoting system is coupled to the first sieve section and the first divider, to thereby pivot the sieve section at a first angle about a first axis. The pivoting system also either pivots the divider at a second angle about a second axis or flexes the divider at the second angle. The first angle is relative to the frame, and the second angle is relative to the sieve section.

Abstract: A stripper plate system is provided that includes a first stripper plate movably mounted to a frame, a second stripper plate movably mounted to the frame in an opposing orientation to the first stripper plate, and an elongated gap in-between the first and second stripper plates. A first tensioning mechanism biases a proximal end of the first stripper plate toward a center of the elongated gap, a second tensioning mechanism biases a distal end of the first stripper plate toward the center of the elongated gap, a third tensioning mechanism biases a proximal end of the second stripper plate toward the center of the elongated gap, and a fourth tensioning mechanism biases a distal end of the second stripper plate toward the center of the elongated gap. A biasing force of the first and third tensioning mechanisms is lower than a biasing force of the second and fourth tensioning mechanisms.

Abstract: A threshing system for an agricultural harvester includes a rotor and a substantially cylindrical cage that surrounds at least a portion of the rotor. The threshing system also features a material flow adjustor for controlling axial movement of material through the cage. The material flow adjustor is movably mounted adjacent to a threshing space and includes at least one material conveying edge that enters the threshing space. The material flow adjustor is moveable between a first operative position, in which the at least one material conveying edge is spaced from the rotor in a radial direction by a first distance, and a second operative position in which the at least one material conveying edge is spaced from the rotor in the radial direction by a second distance, the second distance being less than the first distance.

Abstract: A spreader system of an agricultural vehicle for spreading crop residue including a spreader device and a fan. The spreader device includes a plurality of paddles configured to rotate about a first axis, with the rotation of the paddles producing a stream of crop residue. The fan includes a plurality of impellers configured to rotate about a second axis, with the rotation of the impellers producing a stream of air. The stream of air is directed to exit the spreader system beneath the stream of crop residue as the crop residue leaves the spreader device.

Abstract: A threshing and separating system for an agricultural vehicle includes: a rotor cage; a first vane rail movably connected to the rotor cage; a first vane portion pivotably connected to the rotor cage and linked to the first vane rail; a second vane rail movably connected to the rotor cage, the second vane rail being movable independently of the first vane rail; and a second vane portion pivotably connected to the rotor cage and linked to the second vane rail, the second vane portion and the first vane portion together defining a substantially continuous vane.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester row unit has side-by-side stalk rolls oriented to receive crop stalks. Each of the stalk rolls have a forward section with an annular base tapered towards the forward end and spiral auger flights that overlap one another and cooperate with adjacent bases to positively move crop stalks in an aft direction.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for distributing crop material onto a cleaning sieve of an agricultural combine. The method includes providing at least one sensor configured and operable for sensing information representative of at least one of a quantity of grain associated with the crop material distributor and an inclination angle associated with the crop material distributor, and outputting signals representative thereof. The method includes providing a crop material distributor disposed between a threshing system of the combine and the sieve, for distributing crop material from the threshing system generally evenly onto the sieve. The method includes providing an apparatus operably associated with the distributor for controllably distributing crop material onto the sieve. The method includes controlling a position of the apparatus as a function of signals from the at least one sensor.