Abstract: An agricultural vehicle including a chassis and a threshing system supported by the chassis. The threshing system includes a rotor, a housing surrounding at least a portion of the rotor and including at least one concave, and a concave adjustment and suspension device connected to the housing and configured for adjusting a position of the concave frame and relieving an impact force acting on the at least one concave. The concave adjustment and suspension device includes a torsion bar, a drive operably coupled to the main section of the torsion bar and configured for rotating the torsion bar to adjust the position of the concave frame, and at least one pneumatic spring mounted to the torsion bar and configured for compressing to relieve the impact force acting on the at least one concave.

Abstract: A corn creamer may include a creamer base. A rotatable sleeve drive shall may be carried by the creamer base. A creamer sleeve may he drivingly engaged for rotation by the sleeve drive shaft. The creamer sleeve may have a sleeve wall and a sleeve interior formed by the sleeve wall. At least one creamer blade assembly may include at least one blade shaft carried by the sleeve wall of the creamer sleeve. At least one creamer blade may be carried by the at least one blade shaft in the sleeve interior of the creamer sleeve. In some, applications, a hand drill may be coupled to the sleeve drive shaft to rotate the sleeve drive shaft as an ear of corn is inserted into the rotating creamer sleeve. The at least one creamer blade of the at least one creamer blade assembly may contact the corn kernels on the ear of corn to remove the corn kernels typically for preparation of creamed corn.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided which permit extraction of a monocot embryo (e.g., a corn embryo) of a monocot seed (e.g., a corn kernel) without damage to the monocot embryo. Methods disclosed herein provide embryos for uses in plant breeding and research procedures.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided which permit extraction of a monocot embryo (e.g., a corn embryo) of a monocot seed (e.g., a corn kernel) without damage to the monocot embryo. Methods disclosed herein provide embryos for uses in plant breeding and research procedures.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a helical bar concave from a flat, rolled laser cut arrangement that provides a net helical concave functionality. Laser cutting a flat metal sheet to form helical cutouts defining a percent open area having a helical geometry in combination with configurable rub bars mounted in a helical fashion results in a configurable helical bar concave in which the number or aggressiveness of the threshing surface on the inside radius of the grate may be changed and/or the rub bars may be moved to the outside of the grate to change the percent open area and hence the separation characteristics of the concave.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing and separating an associated agricultural product into two or more sub-parts is provided. A first housing includes an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being configured to receive the associated agricultural product to be reduced. A first reducing assembly is disposed between and in communication with the inlet and the outlet of the first housing and includes a first rotatable reducing member, a second rotatable reducing member, and a reaction member. The first reducing member, the second reducing member and the reaction member are disposed adjacent to the other and cooperate to receive and reduce the associated agricultural product to a plurality of first sub-parts. A second housing includes an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being configured to receive select ones of the plurality of first sub-parts. A second reducing assembly is disposed between the inlet and the outlet of the second housing and includes a reducing rotor and a stationary reducing ring.

Abstract: A textured trough element including a concave surface having a curved profile when viewed from a longitudinal end thereof of marginally larger diametrical extent than the circular cross section of a helical tailings auger. The trough element is positionable in a bottom portion of an auger trough with the concave surface facing and extending partially around a bottom portion of the helical radial outer periphery of the auger such that the auger will convey the tailings on and along the concave surface. The concave surface has a sufficiently rough surface texture for causing tumbling and rolling of at least a substantial portion of the tailings conveyed thereover, for loosening and releasing at least some of any grain partially or fully contained in elements of the tailings.

Abstract: A grain threshing device (10) comprising a receptacle (12) or receiving a portion of crop head. The receptacle (12) has a plurality of longitudinal ribs (30) on inner surfaces. One or more flexible arm members (28) are arranged on a rotating shaft (22) within the receptacle (12) such that the flexible arm members (28) strike the ribs (30) during rotation. The action of the flexible arm members (28) and ribs (30) on the crop head within the receptacle (12) separates the grain from the crop head.

Abstract: A shroud for the infeed section impeller in a rotary combine. The shroud includes a rear converging wall cone and a front diverging wall cone. A feed plate extends transversely across the front of the shroud and a sump is formed in the shroud behind the feed plate. The front diverging wall cone comprises top and bottom, rearwardly diverging walls. Transitions castings separate the top and bottom walls on left and right sides and have rearwardly converging front faces.

Abstract: A combine harvester is provided with a feeder housing; A separation unit including a rotor driven by a shaft is arranged in a rotor housing. The separation unit a feed end and a discharge end; and a transfer mechanism located in the region of the intersection of the feeder housing and the feed end of the separation unit; The transfer mechanism includes a plurality of auger blades connected with the rotor in the region of the feed zone; A rotating element located in the feeder housing has an axis of rotation perpendicular to the axis of the rotor and above the feed end of the rotor. The rotating element feeds harvested crops to the separation unit from underneath the rotating element's axis of rotation.

Abstract: A rotary combine includes a rotor having a longitudinal axis of rotation and a concave removably mounted adjacent the rotor. The concave assembly includes a longitudinally extending frame having first and second sides spaced circumferentially around the rotor. Each of the first and second sides is transversely moveable relative to the axis of rotation of the rotor. A method for adjusting the position of the concave assembly is provided and includes moving at least one of the first and second sides of the frame in a direction transverse to the axis of rotation.

Abstract: A locking arrangement for a concave of a rotary combine, the concave having first and second ends spaced circumferentially around a rotor of the combine. The first end includes a pivot member received in an opening of a hook member supported by a support structure so as to support the first end for pivotal movement about a first pivot axis substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of rotation of the rotor. A locking member mounted on the hood member is pivotable between an engaged position for engaging the pivot member of the first end of the concave for retaining the pivot member in the opening of the hook member and a disengaged position wherein the locking member is disengaged from the pivot member while the pivot member is supported in the opening by the hook member.

Abstract: A rotary threshing and separation unit, comprising a rotor housing with a feeding zone, a separation zone and a discharge zone, parts of the circumferential housing being closed and other parts having openings, a rotary driven threshing and separation rotor arranged in the rotor housing, beater plates fixed on the threshing and separation rotor, and sucking air flow stream generating device sucking an air flow stream from the discharge zone through the rotor housing. Guiding elements arranged in the discharge zone, which are projecting over the inner surface of the rotor housing to an extent to which they allow chaff to be sucked out of the rotor housing but retain grain kernels inside. Helical vanes in at least the first half of the length of the rotor housing are projecting over the inner surface of the rotor housing and are at an angle or inclined towards the feeding direction of the harvested crop to support the feeding action.

Abstract: A method for replacing the concave insert of a rotary combine. The rotary combine includes a rotor having a longitudinal axis of rotation and a concave removably mounted adjacent the rotor. The concave is removable in a direction outwardly transverse relative to the axis of rotation of the rotor. In a preferred embodiment, a concave assembly includes a longitudinally extending frame having first and second sides spaced circumferentially around the rotor. Each of the first and second sides is transversely moveable relative to the axis of rotation of the rotor. A concave insert is removably mounted to the frame.

Abstract: A rotary threshing and separation unit, comprising a rotor housing with a feeding zone, separation zone and is discharge zone, parts of the circumferential housing being closed and other parts having openings, rotary driven threshing and separation rotor arranged in the rotor housing, beater plates fixed on the threshing and separation rotor, fan to produce a main air flow stream and auxiliary air flow stream through the rotor housing, and wherein baffle plates are adjustable and located between the sieve and grain collection element wherein the baffle plates effect the auxiliary air flow stream. The baffle plates are adjustable in position, length and width parallel and traverse to the rotary threshing and separation unit axis.

Abstract: A rotary combine includes a rotor having a longitudinal axis of rotation and a concave removably mounted adjacent the rotor. The concave is removable in a direction outwardly transverse relative to the axis of rotation of the rotor. In a preferred embodiment, a concave assembly includes a longitudinally extending frame having first and second sides spaced circumferentially around the rotor. Each of the first and second sides is transversely moveable relative to the axis of rotation of the rotor. A concave insert is removably mounted to the frame. A method for adjusting the position of the concave assembly is also provided and includes moving at least one of the first and second sides of the frame in a direction transverse to the axis of rotation. A method for replacing the concave insert is also provided.

Abstract: A rotary combine includes a rotor having a longitudinal axis of rotation and a concave removably mounted adjacent the rotor. The concave is removable in a direction outwardly transverse relative to the axis of rotation of the rotor. In a preferred embodiment, a concave assembly includes a longitudinally extending frame having first and second sides spaced circumferentially around the rotor. Each of the first and second sides is transversely moveable relative to the axis of rotation of the rotor. A concave insert is removably mounted to the frame. A method for adjusting the position of the concave assembly is also provided and includes moving at least one of the first and second sides of the frame in a direction transverse to the axis of rotation. A method for replacing the concave insert is also provided.

Abstract: Harvested grain in the form of including ears, pods to be threshed are transported axially into an inclined threshing zone. Grain is liberated and falls through a sieve forming a bottom of the threshing zone. Most of the lightweight material or chaff is carried to an exit by a fan generated airflow stream. Grain and some chaff falling through the sieve are collected in a trough below the sieve. A fan generated auxiliary airflow stream carries most of the remaining chaff to the exit. The larger portion of the grain slides down the trough to exit. The balance of the grain with virtually no entrained chaff exits the trough via an auxiliary grain exit. Transverse baffles, in tandem, opposing relationship, cause airflow to be circuitous to promote grain in preference to chaff to enter the exit. A final cleaning step may be performed in a cleaning apparatus.

Abstract: A rotating cylinder is used with a complementary fixed concave in a combine to separate grain from the leafy portion of the plant. The elongated cylinder is comprised of a plurality of aligned star-shaped hubs disposed in a spaced manner along its length. An elongated, linear raspbar is attached to each "point" of the aligned star-shaped hubs and extends the length of the cylinder for engaging and urging the plant against the concave and separating the grain from the plant's leafy portion. A flat elongated filler plate is disposed between each pair of adjacent raspbars for preventing the grain and crop residue from entering the hollow cylinder and for displacing the grain and crop residue rearwardly along the concave where it is discharged onto another combine grain processing and separation stage. The flat profile of the filler's plate prevents the grain and crop residue from remaining on the surface of the rotating cylinder for improved grain threshing.

Abstract: Apparatus for shelling seed corn in a manner which minimizes damage to the individual kernels includes a generally closed housing open at the top to receive ears of corn and having lower apertures for discharging the corn cobs to waste and recovering the kernels extracted from the cobs. Disposed within the housing are a pair of vertically aligned arrays of rollers, with the pair of roller arrays horizontally spaced from one another. Ears of corn are deposited through a slot in an upper portion of the housing and pass between the two arrays of vertically aligned rollers. The horizontal spacing between adjacent, horizontally aligned rollers in the first and second arrays of rollers decreases in proceeding from top to bottom, with the spacing between the two uppermost rollers being such as to easily allow an ear of corn to pass therebetween and the spacing between the bottom pair of rollers being essentially equal to the diameter of a corn cob.

Abstract: Apparatus for shelling seed corn in a manner which minimizes damage to the individual kernels includes a generally closed housing open at the top to receive ears of corn and having lower apertures for discharging the corn cobs to waste and recovering the kernels extracted from the cobs. Disposed within the housing are a pair of vertically aligned arrays of rollers, with the pair of roller arrays horizontally spaced from one another. Ears of corn are deposited through a slot in an upper portion of the housing and pass between the two arrays of vertically aligned rollers. The horizontal spacing between adjacent, horizontally aligned rollers in the first and second arrays of rollers decreases in proceeding from top to bottom, with the spacing between the two uppermost rollers being such as to easily allow an ear of corn to pass therebetween and the spacing between the bottom pair of rollers being essentially equal to the diameter of a corn cob.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a forage mixture of corn kernels and cobs in a field of high-moisture corn includes a separating cylinder and beaters, grids through which cracked and crushed corn material may pass, a roller mill for forming this material into particles of a size that is uniform in size. The apparatus can process more than 80% of the cobs taken in.

Abstract: An automatic manufacturing machine puts a washer on a bolt which thereby forms a sub-assembly that can be used to further manufacture other things, for example. A vibrating bowl orients the washers so that one side of the washer is up and the other side is down relative to said bolt. These oriented washers are then delivered to a washer transporting dial having a plurality of equispaced pockets around the periphery thereof. Each pocket receives and carries one of the oriented washers to eventually receive the bolt. A sensor detects whether the washer is correctly positioned in the pocket and stops the vibrating bowl until an improperly washer is correctly positioned in a pocket. Jets of air are directed onto the surface of the dial to dislodge incorrectly positioned washers. This invention is important when the opposite sides of the washer are different, as when it is conical, covered on one side by rubber, plastic, or the like.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a maize sheller having at least one drum and counter drum (concave). The counter drum has an adjustable part and a non-adjustable part. The maize sheller according to the invention possesses a regulating mechanism for regulating clearance between the drum and the adjustable part of the counter drum. The use of a counter drum of such a construction economizes a significant amount of metal and enhances the screening capacity and the productivity of the entire device. The regulation of the outlet aperture within a comparatively wide range permits the use of the maize sheller for shelling corn cobs of different sizes and with different moisture content without causing damage to the grain. In case of penetration of foreign matter into the shelling apparatus, the drum and the counter drum are protected against deformation by a safety sector which is automatically opened.

Abstract: A combine is improved to reduce corn cobs to usable segments automatically by changing the combine arc to circular and adjusting its clearance and altering its cross bar spacing; changing the straw walker sieve slots and adding a cob conveyer adjacent to the cleaning shoe.