Abstract: An embodiment includes a system for sensing harvested grain levels within an agricultural harvester. The system including a grain tank configured to receive harvested grain, a sensor configured to emit a sensor beam into the grain tank for reflection off of the top surface of the harvested grain, and a reflective target integrated into a bottom surface of the grain tank at a minimum detectable grain level within the grain tank. The bottom surface of the grain tank being angled towards the sensor, the minimum detectable grain level being defined by a minimum grain level within the grain tank at which the top surface of the harvested grain is contacted by the sensor beam, and the reflective target being configured to reflect the sensor beam when the current grain level is vertically below the minimum detectable grain level.

Abstract: A bubble-up auger for a combine harvester includes a rotatable shaft, a lower auger section either mounted to or forming part of the rotatable shaft, and an upper auger section that is removably connected to the lower auger section, and includes an opening through which the shaft is at least partially positioned. The upper auger section is moveable between a first position where the upper auger section is detached from the lower auger section and a second position where the upper auger section is connected to the lower auger section.

Abstract: A flexible and rotatable coupling assembly for a feeder conveyor of a combine harvester, for example. The coupling assembly connects a first rotatable shaft to a second rotatable shaft. The coupling assembly includes a spherical bearing that is connectable to the first rotatable shaft for accommodating a radial or angular misalignment between the first and second rotatable shafts; and a flexible and rotatable coupler that is non-rotatably connectable to the first and second rotatable shafts for transferring rotation between the first and second rotatable shafts. The flexible and rotatable coupler is either directly or indirectly connected to the spherical bearing. The flexible and rotatable coupler has a flexible component for accommodating the radial or angular misalignment.

Abstract: A conveyor for a combine harvester includes a chain and a sprocket. The sprocket includes an annular body defining an axis of rotation, two opposing sides, an outer perimeter extending between the two opposing sides, and gear teeth disposed on the outer perimeter. A bottom land extends between valleys of adjacent gear teeth. A single continuous edge is defined between two gear teeth at one of the adjacent sides. The bottom land includes (i) a central plateau portion, (ii) a first sloping surface extending from one edge of the central plateau portion to the single continuous edge at one of the two opposing sides, and (iii) a second sloping surface extending from the opposite edge of the central plateau portion to the single continuous edge at the other of the two opposing sides. The sloping surfaces either limit or prevent the accumulation of material thereon.

Abstract: A threshing system for a combine harvester includes a support bracket that is configured to be attached to a threshing rotor cylinder of the threshing system and a rasp bar that is configured to be mounted to the support bracket. A channel is formed in one of the rasp bar and the support bracket for receiving a surface of the other of the rasp bar and the support bracket, wherein engagement between the channel and the surface limits movement of the rasp bar on the support bracket.

Abstract: A reinforced feeder housing for an agricultural machine includes a housing body having a top surface, a bottom surface, and two opposing side surfaces each extending between the top and bottom surfaces. The housing body includes a front opening through which crop material is directed into the feeder housing from a header of the agricultural machine, and a rear opening that is substantially opposite the front opening through which crop is expelled from the feeder housing and is delivered to a threshing mechanism of the agricultural machine. Various panels of the housing body are reinforced to improve the structural integrity of the feeder housing and prevent damage to the welds in the housing body.

Abstract: A conveyor for a combine harvester includes a chain and a sprocket. The sprocket includes an annular body defining an axis of rotation, two opposing sides, an outer perimeter extending between the two opposing sides, and gear teeth disposed on the outer perimeter. A bottom land extends between valleys of adjacent gear teeth. A single continuous edge is defined between two gear teeth at one of the adjacent sides. The bottom land includes (i) a central plateau portion, (ii) a first sloping surface extending from one edge of the central plateau portion to the single continuous edge at one of the two opposing sides, and (iii) a second sloping surface extending from the opposite edge of the central plateau portion to the single continuous edge at the other of the two opposing sides. The sloping surfaces either limit or prevent the accumulation of material thereon.

Abstract: A threshing system for a combine harvester includes a support bracket that is configured to be attached to a threshing rotor cylinder of the threshing system and a rasp bar that is configured to be mounted to the support bracket. A channel is formed in one of the rasp bar and the support bracket for receiving a surface of the other of the rasp bar and the support bracket, wherein engagement between the channel and the surface limits movement of the rasp bar on the support bracket.

Abstract: A reinforced feeder housing for an agricultural machine includes a housing body having a top surface, a bottom surface, and two opposing side surfaces each extending between the top and bottom surfaces. The housing body includes a front opening through which crop material is directed into the feeder housing from a header of the agricultural machine, and a rear opening that is substantially opposite the front opening through which crop is expelled from the feeder housing and is delivered to a threshing mechanism of the agricultural machine. Various panels of the housing body are reinforced to improve the structural integrity of the feeder housing and prevent damage to the welds in the housing body.

Abstract: A crop unloader having a frame, an unloader tube mounted to the frame, a driven gear fixed to the unloader tube and having driven teeth extending radially from a first axis, a drive gear mounted to the frame and having drive teeth extending radially from a second axis and extending to mesh at an engagement location with the driven teeth during rotation of the drive gear about the second axis, and a motor operable to rotate the drive gear to rotate the driven gear to move the unloader tube between a first position about the first axis and a second position about the first axis. The teeth form a tapered gap at the engagement location, the tapered gap extending from an upper end to a lower end and being larger at the lower end than at the upper end. An agricultural combine having the crop unloader is also provided.

Abstract: A system for sensing harvested crop levels within an agricultural harvester may include a crop tank configured to receive harvested crop. The system may further include a sensor configured to emit a sensor beam into the crop tank for reflection off of the top surface of the harvested crop. Additionally, the system may include a reflection panel positioned at a minimum detectable crop level within the crop tank. The reflection panel may be configured to reflect the sensor beam when the current crop level is vertically below the minimum detectable crop level. A center of the reflection panel may be positioned closer to the sensor than an outer edge of the reflection panel such that the reflection panel diffuses the sensor beam as it reflects off of the reflection panel.

Abstract: In one aspect, a system for sensing harvested crop levels within an agricultural harvester may include a crop tank configured to receive harvested crop. The system may further include a sensor configured to emit a sensor beam into the crop tank for reflection off of the top surface of the harvested crop. Additionally, the system may include a reflection panel positioned at a minimum detectable crop level within the crop tank. The reflection panel may be configured to reflect the sensor beam when the current crop level is vertically below the minimum detectable crop level. A center of the reflection panel may be positioned closer to the sensor than an outer edge of the reflection panel such that the reflection panel diffuses the sensor beam as it reflects off of the reflection panel.