Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes a straw hood having a hollow interior space for receiving material other than grain (MOG) from a threshing and separating system of the harvester and chaff from a cleaning system of the harvester. A drive system is provided for powering a straw chopper and a weed seed mill. The drive system includes a single belt positioned outside of the straw hood that is wound at least partially around (i) a straw chopper pulley that powers the straw chopper, (ii) a weed seed mill pulley that powers the weed seed mill, and (iii) a power take off shaft of the harvester that receives power from an engine or other power source of the harvester.

Abstract: A feeder conveyor system having a frame, an actuator with a fixed element and a moving element, and a telescoping assembly. The telescoping assembly has a first member having a first end connected to an actuator output and a first spring seat, and a second member slidably connected to the first member and having a second end and a second spring seat. The second member is movable relative to the first member between a retracted position in which the second end is relatively close to the first end, and an extended position in which the second end is relatively far from the first end, a spring between the first spring seat and the second spring seat, a linkage between the first member and the second member, and a position sensor connected to the linkage and configured to generate a signal indicating a relative position between the first and second members.

Abstract: A feeder housing shaft sprocket segment comprising: a sprocket segment body (300) extending in a circumferential direction around a center axis (A) from a leading edge (304) to a trailing edge (306), wherein the leading edge (304) and trailing edge (306) subtend a segment angle about the center axis (A), the segment angle being a first unit fraction of 360°; an outer sprocket perimeter (308) comprising a plurality of teeth (310) evenly arranged in the circumferential direction about the center axis (A) with each tooth (310) spaced by a tooth angle from each adjacent tooth (310), the tooth angle being a second unit fraction of 360°; and a plurality of engagement surfaces (312) extending towards the center axis (A) and facing in the circumferential direction (C), the plurality of engagement surfaces (312) being asymmetrical relative to a plane (P) defined by the center axis (A) and a radial projection from the center axis (A) that bisects the sprocket segment body (300) midway between the leading edge (304) and

Abstract: A combine feeder slat having a first base, a second base, and a slat body. The bases are located at respective ends of the slat, and have respective upper and lower surfaces. The slat body extends longitudinally and connects the bases. The slat body has a variable profile as viewed along the longitudinal direction, that transitions from a first profile shape at the first base, to an intermediate profile shape between the first base and the second base, to a second profile shape at the second base. The intermediate profile shape includes a front lip, a rear lip, and an upward-facing concave projection that connects the front lip to the rear lip and extends below an attachment plane defined between the first lower surface and the second lower surface. The first base, second base, and slat body are made from a unitary metal part.

Abstract: A feeder conveyor system having a frame, an actuator with a fixed element and a moving element, and a telescoping assembly. The telescoping assembly has a first member having a first end connected to an actuator output and a first spring seat, and a second member slidably connected to the first member and having a second end and a second spring seat. The second member is movable relative to the first member between a retracted position in which the second end is relatively close to the first end, and an extended position in which the second end is relatively far from the first end, a spring between the first spring seat and the second spring seat, a linkage between the first member and the second member, and a position sensor connected to the linkage and configured to generate a signal indicating a relative position between the first and second members.

Abstract: In one aspect, a system for monitoring the operational status of passive lift supports includes an actuatable component configured to be moved across a range of movement between a first position and a second position, and an actuator coupled to the component and being configured to actuate the component across the range of movement. The system also includes a passive lift support coupled to the component and being configured to provide a supplemental actuation force as the actuator is being used to actuate the component across the range of movement. In addition, the system includes a computing system configured to monitor a load-related parameter indicative of a load being carried by the actuator. The computing system is further configured to determine an operational status of the passive lift support based at least in part on the monitored load-related parameter.

Abstract: A system for detecting a condition indicative of onset of plugging or actual plugging of a discharge of an agricultural combine, utilizing a pressure sensor disposed at a location within the combine spaced from the discharge and operable for sensing an air pressure condition relating to a flow indicative of a reduced crop residue flow condition toward or in the discharge.

Abstract: A residue chopper comprising a housing forming a cutting chamber, a shaft, knives extending from the shaft, a counterknife support, a counterknife, and a fin. The counterknife and fin are attached to the counterknife support, with the fin behind the counterknife. the fin has a blunt side facing against the operating direction. The counterknife support is movable between a first position in which the counterknife extends a minimum predetermined distance into the cutting chamber and the fin is not within the cutting chamber, a second position in which the counterknife extends an intermediate predetermined distance into the cutting chamber and within the cutting volume and the fin is not within the cutting chamber, and a third position in which the counterknife extends a maximum predetermined distance into the cutting chamber and into the cutting volume and the fin extends into the cutting chamber.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester including a harvester component and an actuator configured to move the harvester component between a first position and a second position within a harvester component movement zone positioned adjacent to the agricultural harvester. Furthermore, the agricultural harvester includes an imaging device configured to capture image data depicting the harvester component movement zone. Additionally, the agricultural harvester includes a computing system configured to receive the image data captured by the imaging device. Moreover, the computing system is configured to determine when an object is present within the harvester component movement zone based on the received image data. In addition, when it is determined that the object is present within the harvester component movement zone, the computing system is configured to control an operation of the actuator such that contact between the harvester component and the object is prevented.

Abstract: An agricultural vehicle feeder assembly having: a feeder housing, a shaft mounted to rotate relative to the feeder housing, first and second rotary drives mounted to rotate with the shaft at a first and second axial positions along the shaft, and an anti-wrap cover assembly extending an entire distance from the first rotary drive to the second rotary drive and at least partially surrounding the first rotary drive, the second rotary drive, and the shaft between the first rotary drive and the second rotary drive. The anti-wrap cover assembly is rotatably mounted the first rotary drive, the second rotary drive and/or the shaft. A connector joins the feeder housing to the anti-wrap cover assembly. The connector is configured to allow the anti-wrap cover assembly to move through a predetermined limited range of motion relative to the feeder housing.

Abstract: A spreader assembly for an agricultural harvester includes a frame member and a rotor assembly attached to the frame member. The rotor assembly includes one or more rotary spreaders and a housing partially surrounding the one or more rotary spreaders. A transition hood is mounted to and/or positioned against the housing of the rotor assembly. A windrow chute is mounted to the frame member, wherein the windrow chute is pivotable about a window chute rotational axis between a deployed position and a retracted position. In the deployed position, the windrow chute blocks the transition hood to either limit or prevent removal of the transition hood in a longitudinal direction, and in the retracted position, the windrow chute permits access to and removal of the transition hood in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes a straw hood having a hollow interior space for receiving material other than grain (MOG) from a threshing and separating system of the harvester and chaff from a cleaning system of the harvester. A drive system is provided for powering a straw chopper and a weed seed mill. The drive system includes a single belt positioned outside of the straw hood that is wound at least partially around (i) a straw chopper pulley that powers the straw chopper, (ii) a weed seed mill pulley that powers the weed seed mill, and (iii) a power take off shaft of the harvester that receives power from an engine or other power source of the harvester.

Abstract: An embodiment includes a combine having a header with a motor driving a blade for harvesting crop, a power receiving connector connected to the motor, where the power receiving connector supplies power to drive the motor, and a mechanical connector. The combine also includes a feeder housing with an opening for receiving the harvested crop from the header, a power supplying connector connected to a power plant of the combine, and a mechanical actuator. A controller controls the combine by attaching the header to the feeder housing by lifting the header such that the power receiving connector and the power supplying connector are automatically mated, and such that the mechanical actuator and the mechanical connector are mated, and controlling the power plant to generate and supply electrical power or hydraulic power to the power supply connector, which is supplied to the motor of the header via the power receiving connector.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes a straw hood has a top wall and side walls. The walls define a hollow interior space for receiving straw or material other than grain from a threshing and separating system of the harvester and chaff from a cleaning system of the harvester. A drive system is at least partially positioned within the hollow interior space. The drive system is configured to drive a seed mill that is connected to the agricultural harvester.

Abstract: A feeder for an agricultural vehicle includes a feeder body defining a hollow interior space for receiving crop material from a header of the agricultural vehicle, a faceplate that is movably mounted to the feeder body, and a scissor jack assembly that is configured for rotating the faceplate with respect to the feeder body to adjust a fore-aft angle of the faceplate relative to the feeder body. The faceplate is configured to be removably coupled to the header of the agricultural vehicle.

Abstract: A combine feeder slat having a first base, a second base, and a slat body. The bases are located at respective ends of the slat, and have respective upper and lower surfaces. The slat body extends longitudinally and connects the bases. The slat body has a variable profile as viewed along the longitudinal direction, that transitions from a first profile shape at the first base, to an intermediate profile shape between the first base and the second base, to a second profile shape at the second base. The intermediate profile shape includes a front lip, a rear lip, and an upward-facing concave projection that connects the front lip to the rear lip and extends below an attachment plane defined between the first lower surface and the second lower surface. The first base, second base, and slat body are made from a unitary metal part.

Abstract: A combine feeder slat having a first base, a second base, and a slat body. The bases are located at respective ends of the slat, and have respective upper and lower surfaces. The slat body extends longitudinally and connects the bases. The slat body has a variable profile as viewed along the longitudinal direction, that transitions from a first profile shape at the first base, to an intermediate profile shape between the first base and the second base, to a second profile shape at the second base. The intermediate profile shape includes a front lip, a rear lip, and an upward-facing concave projection that connects the front lip to the rear lip and extends below an attachment plane defined between the first lower surface and the second lower surface. The first base, second base, and slat body are made from a unitary wrought metal part.

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 combine including a chassis, a crop residue handling system including a residue chopper, residue spreader, a spreader chute and a swath selection door, a receiver configured to determine a location of the combine, and a controller that controls the residue handling system. The controller configured to determine the location of the combine on a map, execute a crop residue spreading mode in response to the controller determining that the location of the combine is located in a designated crop residue spreading zone indicated on the map, and execute a crop residue windrow mode in response to the controller determining that the location of the combine is located in a designated crop residue windrow zone indicated on the map.

Abstract: A system processes seeds that are present in crop material. The system includes a first shearing surface, a second shearing surface arranged opposite the first shearing surface, and a clearance between the first shearing surface and the second shearing surface. The system passes crop material between the first and second shearing surfaces, where the crop material contacts the shearing surfaces as it passes through the shearing surfaces. Contact with the first and second shearing surfaces damages seeds that are present in the crop material. The system can be installed in an agricultural harvester to damage seeds that are present in crop residue to prevent the seeds from germinating after the crop residue is discharged from the agricultural harvester back into the field.