Abstract: A locking mechanism for a suspension assembly of a harvester, particularly those intended for the harvest of tall and stem plants, such as sugarcane and sweet sorghum, being designed to ensure that the harvester remains raised during maintenance procedures and thus avoids the risk of accidents and damage to the harvester. The locking mechanism includes a lock pivotably mounted to the chassis through a pivoting connection at a pivot end of the lock and disposed adjacent to the actuator cylinder. The lock has an opening configured to at least partially surround a fixed portion of the actuator cylinder and has a circumferential diameter smaller than a diameter of a movable portion of the actuator cylinder. The locking mechanism further includes a locking element disposed at an opposite end of the lock. The locking element is configured to interact with retaining bearings mounted on the chassis.

Abstract: In one aspect, a system for adjusting harvesting implement orientation of an agricultural harvester may include a harvesting implement configured to be coupled to the agricultural harvester in a manner that permits a fore/aft tilt angle defined between a longitudinal axis of the harvesting implement and a field surface to be adjusted. The system may also include a sensor configured to detect a parameter indicative of a distance between the harvesting implement and the field surface. Furthermore, the system may include a controller configured to receive an input associated with a predetermined characteristic of the harvesting implement. The controller may also be configured to monitor the distance between the harvesting implement and the field surface based on data received from the sensor and initiate adjustments of the fore/aft tilt angle based on the received input and the monitored distance.

Abstract: A spreader arrangement for an agricultural harvester includes a frame, a pair of spreader discs carried by the frame, and a material deflector. The spreader discs are generally horizontally arranged and rotatable in a counter rotating manner. The material deflector includes at least one deflector arm and a vertical pivoting mechanism interconnecting the at least one deflector arm with the frame.

Abstract: An agricultural vehicle includes a chassis; a header carried by the chassis and configured to cut crop material; a chopper carried by the chassis downstream of the header; and a windrow assembly carried by the chassis downstream of the chopper. The windrow assembly includes a windrow chute defining a leading edge downstream from the chopper and a trailing edge downstream from the leading edge; and a roller associated with the leading edge to form an active leading edge of the windrow chute during rotation.

Abstract: In one aspect, a system for adjusting harvesting implement orientation of an agricultural harvester may include a harvesting implement configured to be coupled to the agricultural harvester in a manner that permits a fore/aft tilt angle defined between a longitudinal axis of the harvesting implement and a field surface to be adjusted. The system may also include a sensor configured to detect a parameter indicative of a distance between the harvesting implement and the field surface. Furthermore, the system may include a controller configured to receive an input associated with a predetermined characteristic of the harvesting implement. The controller may also be configured to monitor the distance between the harvesting implement and the field surface based on data received from the sensor and initiate adjustments of the fore/aft tilt angle based on the received input and the monitored distance.

Abstract: A chopper assembly for a crop residue distribution system of an agricultural combine may include a rotor shaft extending lengthwise along a rotational axis between a first end and a second end. The chopper assembly may also include a plurality of flail blades pivotally coupled to the rotor shaft. Each flail blade may be configured to pivot relative to the rotor shaft about a pivot axis, with the flail blades being spaced apart axially from one another between the first and second ends of the rotor shaft. In addition, the chopper assembly may include one or more features configured to improve the performance of the chopper assembly during low speed operation. For example, the feature(s) may correspond to one or more fixed blades coupled to the rotor shaft and/or one or more torsional springs provided in operative association with one or more of the flail blades.

Abstract: An agricultural vehicle includes a chassis; a header carried by the chassis and configured to cut crop material; a chopper carried by the chassis downstream of the header; and a windrow assembly carried by the chassis downstream of the chopper. The windrow assembly includes a windrow chute defining a leading edge downstream from the chopper and a trailing edge downstream from the leading edge; and a roller associated with the leading edge to form an active leading edge of the windrow chute during rotation.

Abstract: A chopper assembly for a crop residue distribution system of an agricultural combine may include a rotor shaft extending lengthwise along a rotational axis between a first end and a second end. The chopper assembly may also include a plurality of flail blades pivotally coupled to the rotor shaft. Each flail blade may be configured to pivot relative to the rotor shaft about a pivot axis, with the flail blades being spaced apart axially from one another between the first and second ends of the rotor shaft. In addition, the chopper assembly may include one or more features configured to improve the performance of the chopper assembly during low speed operation. For example, the feature(s) may correspond to one or more fixed blades coupled to the rotor shaft and/or one or more torsional springs provided in operative association with one or more of the flail blades.

Abstract: A spreader system for discharging residue from an agricultural combine to a ground surface. The spreader system including a direction detector and a spreader operatively connected to a rear end of the agricultural combine. The direction detector is configured to detect direction changes of the agricultural combine and to produce a signal representative of the direction change. The spreader includes one or more impellers and a housing, with the impellers being operatively connected to the housing for rotating therein. The housing having an inlet for receiving a flow of residue, an outlet coupled to the housing for discharging the flow of residue, and one or more residue flow directors. The residue flow directors are configured to alter the flow of residue from the agricultural combine, the system being configured to alter the flow of residue dependent upon the signal.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes a frame; a threshing and separating system carried by the frame; a cleaning system carried by the frame; a mounting surface carried by the frame; and a residue system including a chopper carried by the frame and supplied with crop material from the threshing and separating system and/or the cleaning system. The chopper includes a chopper frame mounted to the mounting surface and having at least one shaft opening formed through; a chopper shaft held in the at least one shaft opening that is configured to rotate and is carried by the frame independently of the chopper frame; at least one rotating knife carried by the chopper shaft; and at least one stationary knife held in the chopper frame.

Abstract: A spreader arrangement for an agricultural harvester includes a windrow chute having a first position for building a windrow in which the chute angles downwardly from a proximal edge to a distal edge of the chute, and a second position for cleanout of the chute in which the chute angles downwardly from the distal edge to the proximal edge of the chute. Adjustment from the first position to the second position and back to the first position can occur automatically when the combine is operating but not currently harvesting, such as during the time period between when a harvesting swath is completed and the next harvesting swath is commenced, so that accumulated crop residue material can be dislodged from the windrow chute without disrupting harvesting or the windrow building process.

Abstract: A spreader arrangement for an agricultural harvester includes a pair of spreader discs, at least one cover plate and a windrow chute. The spreader discs are generally horizontally arranged and rotatable in a counter rotating manner. Each cover plate is positioned at a location above a respective spreader disc, and is operable to inhibit a flow of crop material to the respective spreader disc when positioned above the respective spreader disc. The windrow chute has an entrance end positioned below the pair of cover plates and above the pair of spreader discs, whereby crop material is discharged from the top of the cover plates into the windrow chute.

Abstract: A spreader arrangement for an agricultural harvester includes a windrow chute having a first position for building a windrow in which the chute angles downwardly from a proximal edge to a distal edge of the chute, and a second position for cleanout of the chute in which the chute angles downwardly from the distal edge to the proximal edge of the chute. Adjustment from the first position to the second position and back to the first position can occur automatically when the combine is operating but not currently harvesting, such as during the time period between when a harvesting swath is completed and the next harvesting swath is commenced, so that accumulated crop residue material can be dislodged from the windrow chute without disrupting harvesting or the windrow building process.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester with a flexible crop residue management system. A pivotal swath door and displaceable windrow chute are coordinated to be displaced between positions in which all of crop residue is spread laterally and another position in which straw in the crop residue is directed in a windrow by a windrow chute and the chaff is directed laterally. The windrow chute and swath door are each pivotally mounted and a linkage is provided between the windrow chute and swath door in the form of bars extending in between rollers to displace the windrow chute in coordination with the displacement of the swath door.

Abstract: A spreader arrangement for an agricultural harvester includes a frame, a pair of spreader discs carried by the frame, and a material deflector. The spreader discs are generally horizontally arranged and rotatable in a counter rotating manner. The material deflector includes at least one deflector arm and a vertical pivoting mechanism interconnecting the at least one deflector arm with the frame.

Abstract: A spreader arrangement for an agricultural harvester includes a pair of spreader discs, at least one cover plate and a windrow chute. The spreader discs are generally horizontally arranged and rotatable in a counter rotating manner. Each cover plate is positioned at a location above a respective spreader disc, and is operable to inhibit a flow of crop material to the respective spreader disc when positioned above the respective spreader disc. The windrow chute has an entrance end positioned below the pair of cover plates and above the pair of spreader discs, whereby crop material is discharged from the top of the cover plates into the windrow chute.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes a frame; a threshing and separating system carried by the frame; a cleaning system carried by the frame; a mounting surface carried by the frame; and a residue system including a chopper carried by the frame and supplied with crop material from the threshing and separating system and/or the cleaning system. The chopper includes a chopper frame mounted to the mounting surface and having at least one shaft opening formed through; a chopper shaft held in the at least one shaft opening that is configured to rotate and is carried by the frame independently of the chopper frame; at least one rotating knife carried by the chopper shaft; and at least one stationary knife held in the chopper frame.

Abstract: An agricultural machine includes: a base member; a residue assembly; a support member assembly being pivotally coupled with the base member and being connected to the residue assembly, the support member assembly supporting the residue assembly and being configured for moving the residue assembly relative to the base member between a residue assembly operating position and a residue assembly service position about a pivot axis substantially without raising an elevation of the residue assembly when the residue assembly is in the residue assembly service position.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester with a flexible crop residue management system. A pivotal swath door and displaceable windrow chute are coordinated to be displaced between positions in which all of crop residue is spread laterally and another position in which straw in the crop residue is directed in a windrow by a windrow chute and the chaff is directed laterally.

Abstract: A chopper assembly for harvesting equipment including a rotary chopper device with a plurality of knives and a cylindrical chopper grate assembly spaced from the rotary chopper to form a passageway for crop residue. The chopper grate assembly includes a plurality of slots extending in the direction of crop residue flow. A knife bank assembly includes a plurality of knife elements aligned with and insertable in the slots with the knife bank assembly being displaceable toward and between a position where the bank knife elements are fully inserted through the slots into the passageway and a position where they are substantially clear of the passageway. A deflector is provided for covering the slots and the deflector is displaceable with the knife elements to uncover the slots as the knife elements are displaced through the slots and into the passageway.