Abstract: An agricultural vehicle includes a chassis, a threshing and separating mechanism supported by the chassis and configured for threshing and separating a crop material, a cleaning system positioned downstream of the threshing and separating mechanism in a direction of crop material flow, and an auxiliary processing system positioned downstream of the threshing and separating mechanism in the direction of crop material flow. The auxiliary processing system has an inlet and an outlet, and includes a discharge chopper having an end and a first direction of rotation about an axis of rotation. The auxiliary processing system also includes at least one rethreshing element coaxially aligned with the discharge chopper and adjacent to the end of the discharge chopper and having a second direction of rotation opposite to the first direction of rotation of the discharge chopper.

Abstract: A combine harvester is provided that separates grain material from material other than grain using multiple processing areas, including a harvesting area, a feederhouse area, a threshing area, a cleaning area, and a grain delivery area. In a location at or prior to entering one of the processing areas, the material may be collected and held until a collection threshold is reached. Once it is determined that the collection threshold is reached, the material forming a first group of material may be transported from the location to the processing area or a subsequent processing area. The first group of material is transported from the location to the processing area or the subsequent processing area substantially simultaneously and thus simulates the gathering of a large amount of crop material even when small plots are involved. In this way, reduced cycle times may be achieved, and the efficiency benefits of large-plot harvesting may be extended to small-plot applications.

Abstract: An after-threshing arrangement for a combine harvester (10) comprises a returns conveyor (72), which is located downstream from a returns auger (52), and an after-threshing device (74), which is located within a housing (98), with a vertical rotation axis, which can be acted on in an axial direction from above with the returns from the outlet (86) of the returns conveyor (72), and a radially situated discharge opening (118) by means of which the after-threshed returns can be supplied to a conveyor (42) for the transport of the after-threshed returns to a cleaning device (46). For the active conveyance of the returns, an impeller (90) with a horizontal rotation axis is located between the outlet (86) of the returns conveyor (72) and the after-threshing device (74).

Abstract: A method and system for use with the combine to modify tailings conveyed to a cleaning system grain bed. Methods and systems are provided that utilize one or more sensors to detect uneven distribution of crop material in the grain bed, which provides information for a controller to determine whether adjustments to a tailings distribution system is needed to encourage even distribution of crop material in the grain bed. Elements in the tailings distribution system can be adjusted to alter direction of tailings conveyed to the grain bed to encourage even distribution of crop material on the grain bed. The system may also inform an operator of suggested manual adjustments to mitigate the non-uniformity.

Abstract: A clean grain conveyor for an agricultural combine (10) includes an auger conveyor (52) and a paddle elevator (53) that are connected by a transition tube (218) having a triangular aperture.

Abstract: A re-threshing apparatus and method for a combine harvester includes a rotor having threshing elements mounted thereon extending substantially radially. The rotor is rotationally mounted within a housing at least partially surrounding the rotor. The housing includes an inlet and an outlet. The housing has a wall portion with rasp bars extending toward the rotor. The wall portion is substantially solid, i.e., material re-threshed by the rasp bars remains within the housing until it moves through the housing outlet. The rotor and the housing are configured for tailings to be flung tangentially into the housing against the rasp bars and re-threshed between the threshing elements and the rasp bars within the housing.

Abstract: A re-threshing system for a combine includes a delivery mechanism for transporting tailings from the cleaning section of the combine to a re-threshing apparatus and a bypass that can be used to bypass the tailings around the re-threshing apparatus. The re-threshing apparatus includes a re-threshing housing that at least partially surrounds a re-threshing rotor. The rotor and housing have cooperating threshing elements that act to re-thresh the tailings delivered into the housing and deliver the re-threshed tailings out of a housing outlet into a discharge passage to be directed to the cleaning section of the combine harvester. The delivery mechanism is configured to throw or fling the tailings into an inlet opening of the housing in a direction substantially tangential to the rotor rotating direction. To bypass the re-threshing apparatus, a deflector can be deployed to block the inlet opening and deflect the tailings into a bypass passage that is open to the discharge passage.

Abstract: A re-threshing apparatus and method for a combine harvester includes a rotor having threshing elements mounted thereon extending substantially radially. The rotor is rotationally mounted within a housing at least partially surrounding the rotor. The housing includes an inlet and an outlet. The housing has a wall portion with rasp bars extending toward the rotor. The wall portion is substantially solid, i.e., material re-threshed by the rasp bars remains within the housing until it moves through the housing outlet. The rotor and the housing are configured for tailings to be flung tangentially into the housing against the rasp bars and re-threshed between the threshing elements and the rasp bars within the housing.

Abstract: A tailings conveyor includes a housing for receiving tailings from the cleaning system, a first rotary impeller having threshing portions rotatable at a first speed for accelerating and propelling tailings along a predetermined path in the housing, and at least one additional impeller having threshing portions rotatable at a greater rotational speed for further accelerating and propelling the tailings along the path, such that the tailings collide with others of the tailings and against and along an interior surface of the housing for threshing the tailings, such that the tailings are progressively accelerated and threshed as they are conveyed through the conveyor. At least the first and second impellers are located in closely spaced relation for defining a threshing area within the housing and preventing build up of tailings that could lead to clogging and loss of efficiency and tailings throughput.

Abstract: A threshing plate installable in a housing of a tailings conveyor of an agricultural combine for causing threshing of a flow of tailings propelled through the housing by rotation of an impeller therein. The threshing plate can include a threshing surface having a wide variety of surface textures or characteristics for deflecting tailings propelled thereagainst back into the tailings flow in a turbulent manner so as to cause collision between the tailings resulting in the threshing action. The threshing plate can optionally be removable and reversible so as to provide different threshing characteristics.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selectively harvesting multiple components of a plant material. A grain component is separated from the plant material such as by processing the plant material through a primary threshing and separating mechanism. At least one additional component of the plant material is selectively harvested such as by subjecting the plant material to a secondary threshing and separating mechanism. For example, the stems of a plant material may be broken at a location adjacent one or more nodes thereof with the nodes and the internodal stem portions being subsequently separated for harvesting. The at least one additional component (e.g., the internodal stems) may then be consolidated and packaged for subsequent use or processing. The harvesting of the grain and of the at least one additional component may occur within a single harvesting machine, for example, during a single pass over a crop field.

Abstract: A grain harvesting combine has an elevator system for conveying tailings and clean grain. The tailings are conveyed above the grain storage bin where they enter a chute and flow back to the threshing rotor. A window located at the entrance of the chute cooperates with impellers on the threshing rotor to create a strong downdraft to facilitate flow of the tailings. A stuck crop chamber has a trap door that senses when product jams in the elevator and automatically opens to discharge crop if so.

Abstract: A grain combine according to the present invention includes a header having two sickles which extend on opposite sides of the combine for severing crop from a field, and two augers which extend on opposite sides of the combine for moving crop inward to central section of the combine. A centerline drive mechanical power transfer means directly connects to the two sickles and two augers at a point intermediate of the two sickles and two augers. A feeder has two conveyors, one located above the other, for transporting crop from the header to a primary threshing rotor. The two conveyors converge towards an aft end of the feeder to compress the crop therebetween. A perforated plate is provided beneath the aft end of the feeder for separating prethreshed grain from the crop. The prethreshed grain is passed through the perforated plate, onto a prethreshed grain conveyor and transported to a sieve section.

Abstract: A grain harvesting combine has an elevator system for conveying tailings and clean grain. The tailings are conveyed above the grain storage bin where they enter a chute and flow back to the threshing rotor. A window located at the entrance of the chute cooperates with impellers on the threshing rotor to create a strong downdraft to facilitate flow of the tailings. A stuck crop chamber has a trap door that senses when product jams in the elevator and automatically opens to discharge crop if so.

Abstract: A combine harvester (1) having a threshing and separating mechanism (8), a cleaning mechanism (9) disposed to receive threshed and separated crop material from the threshing and separating mechanism (8) and operable to separate tailings therefrom. Tailings rethresher means (44) are associated with the cleaning mechanism (9) for rethreshing the tailings separated therein, and tailings conveyor means (52) are provided for recycling rethreshed tailings from the rethresher means (44) to the cleaning mechanism (9). Above the cleaning mechanism (9) at a location offset from a discharge aperture (62) of the tailings conveyor means (52) a resilient screen (86) is provided which, in use, intersects the tailings flow and is operable to absorb the kinetic energy thereof which is imparted thereto by the tailings conveyor means (52). A deflector (72) is operatively associated with a forwardly inclined outlet portion (70) of the tailings conveyor means (52) to evenly spread and project the tailings against the screen (86).

Abstract: A peanut combine having a header for lifting peanut laden vines off the ground, an auger for distributing the peanut laden vines, a series of picking or thrashing cylinders for thrashing the peanut laden vines and a series of separator cylinders for removing the peanuts from the peanut laden vines. The separator cylinders include fingers which propel the vines and which rotate at a variable flailing speed. The fingers include tips which vary in angle with respect to the path which the fingers define as they rotate on the separator cylinders.

Abstract: A peanut combine is provided having a header for lifting peanut laden vines off the ground, an auger for distributing the peanut laden vines, a series of picking or thrashing cylinders for thrashing the peanut laden vines and a series of separator cylinders for removing the peanuts from the peanut laden vines. The separator cylinders include fingers which propel the vines and which rotate at variable speed. The fingers include tips which vary in angle with respect to the path which the fingers define as they rotate on the separator cylinders.