Abstract: A chaff pan assembly for an agricultural vehicle includes a chaff pan that is moveable between raised and lowered positions. A stationary bracket is mounted to a fixed point on the agricultural vehicle. A linkage interconnects the chaff pan to the stationary bracket and guides movement of the chaff pan between the raised and lowered positions. A locking member is moveably connected to the stationary bracket and is moveable between a locked position, in which the locking member is engaged with one arm of the linkage to prevent movement of the one arm of the linkage, and an unlocked position, in which the locking member is disengaged from the one arm of the linkage to permit movement of the one arm of the linkage.

Abstract: A chopper arrangement for an agricultural harvester, having a housing and a plurality of rotatable knife rows in the housing. The chopper arrangement includes a counter knife arrangement including a first counter knife bank and a second counter knife bank downstream of the first counter knife bank. The counter knife arrangement is movable between an engaged position, in which the first and second counter knife banks at least partially overlap the plurality of rotatable knife rows, and a disengaged position, in which the first and second counter knife banks are retracted away from the plurality of rotatable knife rows. The counter knife arrangement also includes a mechanical linkage coupling the first counter knife bank to the second counter knife bank to provide for simultaneous movement of the first and second counter knife banks upon actuation of the counter knife arrangement between the engaged and disengaged positions.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a threshing system for an agricultural harvester. The method includes using a camera for obtaining images of a crop flow, processing the obtained images and controlling an operational setting of the threshing system. The images are obtained downstream of the threshing system, preferably somewhere between the threshing rotor or threshing drum and the residue spreader. The image processing aims at detecting grain ears in the obtained images, and to derive from those images at least one physical property of the detected grain ears. The operational setting of the threshing system are controlled in dependence of the derived at least one physical property.

Abstract: A chopper arrangement for an agricultural harvester, having a housing and a plurality of rotatable knife rows in the housing. The chopper arrangement includes a counter knife arrangement including a first counter knife bank and a second counter knife bank downstream of the first counter knife bank. The counter knife arrangement is movable between an engaged position, in which the first and second counter knife banks at least partially overlap the plurality of rotatable knife rows, and a disengaged position, in which the first and second counter knife banks are retracted away from the plurality of rotatable knife rows. The counter knife arrangement also includes a mechanical linkage coupling the first counter knife bank to the second counter knife bank to provide for simultaneous movement of the first and second counter knife banks upon actuation of the counter knife arrangement between the engaged and disengaged positions.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes a chassis, and a residue handling system that receives a chaff flow and a residue flow into a flow passageway of the chassis. The residue handling system includes a chopper, a shroud at least partially surrounding the chopper, a spreader, and a moveable door panel assembly that is configured to be moved between a chopping mode position and a bypass mode position. The moveable door panel assembly includes a top door panel that is movably mounted to the top wall of the chassis, and a bottom door panel that is moveably mounted to the shroud. In the chopping mode position, the top and bottom door panels are positioned to permit the entrance of residue flow into the chopper. In the bypass mode position, the top and bottom door panels are positioned to either limit or substantially prevent the entrance of residue flow into the chopper.

Abstract: A grain cleaning system in an agricultural harvester, that includes a chaff pan with a pivotal axis near an end of the chaff pan. The chaff pan has a dual locking system coupled thereto for holding the chaff pan in two different positions. The dual locking system has a first over-center locking arrangement and a second over-center locking arrangement. The first locking arrangement is used to hold the chaff pan in an upward position when the first locking arrangement is locked. The first locking arrangement includes a first linkage element; and a second linkage element. The second locking arrangement holds the chaff pan in a locked downward position when the second locking arrangement is locked. The second locking arrangement includes a first linkage element; and a second linkage element. The first linkage element of the first locking arrangement is also the first linkage element of the second locking arrangement.

Abstract: A grain cleaning system in an agricultural harvester, that includes a chaff pan with a pivotal axis near an end of the chaff pan. The chaff pan has a dual locking system coupled thereto for holding the chaff pan in two different positions. The dual locking system has a first over-center locking arrangement and a second over-center locking arrangement. The first locking arrangement is used to hold the chaff pan in an upward position when the first locking arrangement is locked. The first locking arrangement includes a first linkage element; and a second linkage element. The second locking arrangement holds the chaff pan in a locked downward position when the second locking arrangement is locked. The second locking arrangement includes a first linkage element; and a second linkage element. The first linkage element of the first locking arrangement is also the first linkage element of the second locking arrangement.

Abstract: A residue management system for an agricultural vehicle includes: a straw hood defining a first rear opening and a second rear opening; a windrow chute held adjacent to the first rear opening; a spreader assembly held adjacent to the second rear opening; a conveyor held within the straw hood and defining a conveyor axis of rotation; and a selection door pivotably coupled to the straw hood and defining a pivot axis which is rearward and below the conveyor axis of rotation, the selection door being configured to switch between a first position in which material from the conveyor is directed toward the first rear opening and a second position in which material from the conveyor is directed toward the second rear opening.

Abstract: A residue management system for an agricultural vehicle includes: a straw hood defining a first rear opening and a second rear opening; a windrow chute held adjacent to the first rear opening; a spreader assembly held adjacent to the second rear opening; a conveyor held within the straw hood and defining a conveyor axis of rotation; and a selection door pivotably coupled to the straw hood and defining a pivot axis which is rearward and below the conveyor axis of rotation, the selection door being configured to switch between a first position in which material from the conveyor is directed toward the first rear opening and a second position in which material from the conveyor is directed toward the second rear opening.

Abstract: A header has a cutterbar table that is movably mounted to a frame and configured to cut a standing crop, an intake auger mounted to the frame and configured to receive the cut crop; the intake auger further being configured to rotate, during a normal state, in a predetermined direction, and to rotate, during a corrective state, in a predetermined reversed direction, an actuator assembly configured to displace the cutterbar table relative to the frame, thereby changing a distance between the cutterbar table and the intake auger, a control unit configured to, upon receipt of an error signal indicative of a need to operate in the corrective state control the actuator assembly to displace the cutterbar table away from the intake auger to a safe operating position, prior to controlling the intake auger to rotate in the predetermined reversed direction.

Abstract: A header has a cutterbar table that is movably mounted to a frame and configured to cut a standing crop, an intake auger mounted to the frame and configured to receive the cut crop; the intake auger further being configured to rotate, during a normal state, in a predetermined direction, and to rotate, during a corrective state, in a predetermined reversed direction, an actuator assembly configured to displace the cutterbar table relative to the frame, thereby changing a distance between the cutterbar table and the intake auger, a control unit configured to, upon receipt of an error signal indicative of a need to operate in the corrective state control the actuator assembly to displace the cutterbar table away from the intake auger to a safe operating position, prior to controlling the intake auger to rotate in the predetermined reversed direction.