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 combine harvester includes a rotor cage surrounding a rotor, a threshing space defined between the rotor cage and the rotor, and a transition section defining an infeed to the rotor cage. The transition section is mounted to the rotor cage at a location upstream of the rotor cage. The transition section has an inlet for receiving the crop material. The harvester also includes a crop conveying drum for conveying crop material to the inlet of the transition section and beneath the rotor. The crop conveying drum is at least partially encased by a shroud. The transition section includes a bottom wall, two side walls each having lower portions extending substantially vertical with respect to the bottom wall, and curved side walls each extending between the bottom wall and one of the side walls. The bottom wall is substantially tangential to a lower portion of the shroud.

Abstract: A separator arrangement has an inlet head housing, a feed drum and two axial separating rotors projecting by one end portionwise into the inlet head housing. The inlet head housing has planar inlet portions which extend over the width of the respective axial separating rotor and between which is arranged a ramp-shaped housing portion extending paraxial to the conveying direction of the axial separating rotors and which assists in dividing a harvested material flow into partial flows to be fed to the axial separating rotors. At least one separating element is associated with the ramp-shaped housing portion and has a base body which extends perpendicular to the surface of the housing portion and which has an end face formed as a cutting edge. A coating comprising a wear-resistant second material is arranged on the end face and extends substantially medially in the longitudinal direction of the end face.

Abstract: A threshing system of an agricultural harvester includes a rotor cage surrounding a rotor, a threshing space defined between the rotor cage and the rotor, and a transition cone defining an infeed to the rotor cage and the threshing system. A mating interface between the rotor cage and the transition cone is curved in three different dimensions of a Cartesian coordinate system for maximizing the threshing space. As viewed from above the mating interface of the threshing system, a convex portion of the rotor cage is mounted to a concave portion of the transition cone.

Abstract: A combine harvester including an axial flow crop processor fed by a tangentially impelling feed beater mounted for rotation on a substantially transverse axis, and a multi-speed beater drive system that includes a beater shaft upon which the beater is mounted via bearings to permit relative rotational movement, and a secondary shaft arranged parallel to the beater shaft. To achieve a first beater drive speed a first drive path is closed between the beater shaft and the beater. To achieve an alternative, second beater drive speed a second drive path is closed between the secondary shaft and the beater. Both the beater shaft and the secondary shaft are driven simultaneously during operation.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes a chassis and a threshing and separating system carried by the chassis that is configured for threshing and separating grain from gathered crop material. The threshing and separating system includes: a rotor defining a longitudinal axis; a concave at least partially surrounding the rotor; a transition cone defining an infeed to the rotor; and a transition surface connecting the transition cone to the concave and having a conical portion defined about the longitudinal axis and a blended portion connected to the conical portion. The blended portion defines a first end connected to the conical portion and a second end distanced from the first end in a lateral direction. The blended portion defines a substantially conical shape about the longitudinal axis at the first end and approaches a substantially cylindrical shape about the longitudinal axis toward the second end.

Abstract: An inlet head housing for an axial separating device includes a pair of separating rotors arranged parallel to one another having a first end protruding, in sections, into the inlet head housing. The inlet head housing also includes flat inlet sections extending along a width of each of the respective separating rotors and a ramp-shaped housing section having a substantially concave profile is arranged between the flat inlet sections. The housing section at least partially supports a separation of a crop flow into two partial flows to the separating rotors and a substantially blade-shaped separating element is arranged on the ramp-shaped housing section and extends substantially axially parallel thereto.

Abstract: A helical auger flight has an inner edge, an outer edge, an inner face, an outer face, and a leading extremity that includes a prominence and a leading edge that extends from the outer edge to the prominence. The prominence extends outward from the leading edge of the leading extremity to an outer end having an upturned jut. A wear plate is releasably connected to the inner face of the helical auger flight. The wear plate extends from the outer edge of the helical auger flight to the prominence. A front extremity of the wear plate extends forwardly of the leading edge of the helical auger flight so as to be in a shielding relationship with respect to the leading edge of the helical auger flight, and a nose of the front extremity of the wear plated is seated in direct contact against a contact surface of the jut.

Abstract: A combine harvester (10) comprising a pair of axial separating rotors (20) each extending side-by-side within respective housings (19) in a longitudinal direction and serving to separate grain from straw. A feed beater (18) is provided which rotates on a transverse axis (X) and is located in front of the separating rotors to direct a crop flow rearwardly under the feed beater. Directional vanes (34) on the feed beater direct the crop flow away from a central zone of the beater and toward respective crop streams associated with the two rotors. Scraper apparatus (50) comprising stationary vanes (54) are provided above the beater. Crop material which back feeds over the top of the beater is scraped free of the beater and directed outwardly by the stationary vanes so that the scraped material is re-fed under the beater away from the central zone.

Abstract: A depth adjustable crop transport vane, crop transport vane assembly, and agricultural combine threshing chambers employing such adjustable crop transport vanes are disclosed.

Abstract: A coppice header for a forage harvester adapted to be mounted on and powered by a forage harvester. The header including at the front side two circular rotatable knives, a feeding drum being mounted above each knife, said drums being rotatable about the same rotation axis as the respective knives. The header may also be provided with a front feed roll placed behind the knives and two additional feed rolls placed behind the front feed roll, wherein the front feed roll is equipped with guiding blades along the length of the feed roll. The blades have a central protrusion, so that the blades are longer in a region around the middle of the blade than at the lateral ends of the blades. The central protrusion is an inclined surface bent rearwardly away from the rotatable knives.

Abstract: A beater (17) for use in a combine harvester in which harvested crop is fed as a number of separate streams towards a threshing and/or separating rotor (21) which rotates within a housing (20) about an axis disposed generally longitudinally relative to the combine. The beater rotates about an axis generally transverse relative to the combine and is divided asymmetrically along its length into a number of sections (A1, B1,C1) corresponding to the number of streams of crop, each section of the beater having differently angled crop feeding members (17a,17b,17c) which direct crop towards a crop steam.

Abstract: A combine has a cutting mechanism (12) for cutting a crop and a feed mechanism (13) for feeding the cut crop towards a threshing and/or separating rotor (21) which rotates within a housing (20) about an axis disposed generally longitudinally relative to the combine, the cut crop moving between the rotor and the housing from an inlet end of the housing towards an outlet end of the housing across a grating (22) through which separated grain leaves the housing. The harvested crop is fed by a final feed section (18) of the feed mechanism into the inlet end (20a) of the housing across a transition edge (A-A, B-B, C-C) of the housing which is split into a number of sections.

Abstract: A farm vehicle includes a crop gathering mechanism to convey harvested crop material to a crop flow path passing internally through at least part of the vehicle. The vehicle includes a vehicle data bus and a plurality of control modules operatively connected to the vehicle data bus and configured to monitor information on the vehicle data bus and to act according to such information. An electronic operator module is configured to monitor the states of operator controls and to broadcast information on the vehicle data bus specifying such states. Additionally, video cameras positioned within the vehicle face the crop flow path and are operably connected to a graphic display. A graphic display control module includes a processor configured to control the display of images on the graphic display for selective display of images from the video cameras based upon information from the vehicle data bus.

Abstract: A combine has a cutting mechanism (12) for cutting a crop and a feed mechanism (13) for feeding the cut crop towards a threshing and/or separating rotor (21) which rotates within a housing (20) about an axis disposed generally longitudinally relative to the combine, the cut crop moving between the rotor and the housing from an inlet end of the housing towards an outlet end of the housing across a grating (22) through which separated grain leaves the housing. The harvested crop is fed by a final feed section (18) of the feed mechanism into the inlet end (20a) of the housing across a transition edge (A-A, B-B, C-C) of the housing which is split into a number of sections.

Abstract: A front rotor inlet section for a rotor of an agricultural combine, including anti-wind features for preventing winding or wrapping of plant materials about a front bearing therearound, and features for providing a straw ejecting capability, including at least one radially outwardly extending slot in a protuberance located adjacent to the front bearing and operable for conveying plant material to a radial outer region of the inlet section, and at least one shoulder or lip on the radial outer region extending at least partially circumferentially therearound and rearwardly, for conveying the crop material rearwardly away from the bearing.

Abstract: A rotor, in an agricultural harvester crop processing unit, comprising a drum to which crop processing elements for an infeed section and a threshing section are affixed. The drum comprises a rearward cylindrical portion and a forwardly extending frusto-conical portion. The frusto-conical portion is divided into an aft-region adjacent to the rearward cylindrical portion of the drum, and a fore-region. The infeed section has at least one infeed element located on the fore-region of the frusto-conical portion of the drum. The crop processing section has at least one crop processing element located on the aft-region of the frusto-conical portion of the drum.

Abstract: An anti-wind wiper including an extension adjustably mountable in a desired spaced relation and angular orientation relative to a leading edge of a flight of a front rotor inlet section of a combine, for interaction with the flight during rotation of the rotor, for directing and guiding crop material, particularly long strand-like elements of crop material, away from a shaft and bearing supporting the inlet section.

Abstract: A threshing front rotor inlet section and front bearing housing shroud assembly for an agricultural combine. The front rotor inlet section includes a center body or plate having a radial outer circumferential periphery and a substantially annular protuberance extending forwardly therefrom concentric with a rotational axis thereof. The protuberance has at least one slot extending radially therethrough defined by one or more edges and/or surfaces which face in the rotational direction and are raked back in the radial outward direction, for pushing crop material, radially outwardly for conveyance rearwardly by impeller augers or flights of the rotor. Other surfaces can also be provided around the outer periphery for pushing longer plant material away from spaces between the inlet section and bearing housing and shroud.

Abstract: A threshing front rotor inlet section and front bearing housing shroud assembly for an agricultural combine. The front rotor inlet section includes a center body or plate having a radial outer circumferential periphery and a substantially annular protuberance extending forwardly therefrom concentric with a rotational axis thereof. The protuberance has at least one slot extending radially therethrough defined by one or more edges and/or surfaces which face in the rotational direction and are raked back in the radial outward direction, for pushing crop material, radially outwardly for conveyance rearwardly by impeller augers or flights of the rotor. Other surfaces can also be provided around the outer periphery for pushing longer plant material away from spaces between the inlet section and bearing housing and shroud.

Abstract: The extension has an elongate blade shape and is positionable in radially outwardly extending relation along a leading edge of a rotor inlet flight, the blade having a leading edge located forwardly of the leading edge of the flight so as to rotate in advance thereof. The leading edge preferably has a curved, swept back shape relative to the rotational direction, which gradually increases in slope in the radial outward direction, so as to facilitate smooth acceleration of the crop material in the radial outward direction. The extension has a rearwardly facing blade or crop flow surface oriented at an angle of attack less than the angle of attack of the associated flight, so as to be less blunt and to facilitate smooth crop material flow onto the flight. The extension shape generates a rearwardly directed air flow when rotated.

Abstract: A sugarcane chopper harvester is equipped with a cleaning chamber for cleaning extraneous leafy matter and dirt from harvested and chopped cane delivered to the chamber. Located within the chamber is an axial flow fan for effecting an upward flow of air including a high-velocity, outer, ring-shaped upwardly flowing air stream. Mounted to the bottom of the axial flow fan is a blower wheel for creating an upwardly and outwardly flowing air stream beneath the center of the axial flow fan such that leafy matter and dirt passing into the middle of the cleaning chamber below the axial flow fan is caused to be directed outwardly to the high-velocity, ring-shaped stream of air.

Abstract: A sugarcane chopper harvester is equipped with a cleaning chamber for cleaning extraneous leafy matter and dirt from harvested and chopped cane delivered to the chamber. Located within the chamber is an axial flow fan for effecting an upward flow of air including a high-velocity, outer, ring-shaped upwardly flowing air stream. Mounted to the bottom of the axial flow fan is a blower wheel for creating an upwardly and outwardly flowing air stream beneath the center of the axial flow fan such that leafy matter and dirt passing into the middle of the cleaning chamber below the axial flow fan is caused to be directed outwardly to the high-velocity, ring-shaped stream of air.

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 fluid operated actuator includes a shaft and a housing. The shaft is at least partially mounted in the housing for relative rotation between the shaft and the housing. The shaft includes a substantially central bore in which a first piston is mounted. The shaft also includes a fluid inlet that is connectable to supply of pressurised fluid and a fluid outlet. A conduit is provided for the flow of fluid between the inlet and the outlet. One end of the housing includes a chamber in which there is mounted a valve assembly comprising a second piston and a valve arranged to selectively open or close an inlet to the chamber. Fluid exiting the outlet opens the valve and exerts a force on the second piston, causing movement thereof in a first direction.

Abstract: A grain cleaner is taught including features for facilitating maintenance and repair of the cleaner over previous grain cleaners. In particular, the grain cleaner has an indent cylinder assembly which includes a removable cylinder. The cylinder is removed by unwrapping it from around a frame. The grain cleaner also includes at least some augers with drop away troughs. The grain cleaner also includes grain cleaning assemblies such as, for example, indent cylinders and rotary screen drums and/or grain cleaning assemblies drive systems which are mounted on framework members capable of pivoting outwardly from the machine allowing access to machinery and components positioned centrally within the grain cleaner.

Abstract: An axial flow combine harvester having a combination impeller and rotor. The rotor has a front end and is rotatable in a specified rotational direction during normal operation of the combine harvester. The impeller comprises a front, a rear, a mount for fitting the impeller on the rotor with the rear of the impeller adjacent to the front end of the rotor, and a pair of impeller blades extending radially outwards from the mount. The impeller blades are hook-shaped when viewed from the front end of the impeller with outer ends projecting in the rotational direction of the rotor.

Abstract: A threshing rotor and front bearing housing shroud assembly for an agricultural combine having improved anti-wind characteristics, particularly with regard to long, wet straw. The invention resides in a front rotor inlet or infeed section having at least one radially outwardly extending impeller or auger flight having a front leading edge extending radially outwardly from a front center portion so as to be swept back relative to the rotational direction of the auger and so as to radiate from inwardly of, and form at least a 90 degree included angle in relation to, a wiping surface and anti-wind wiper of the shroud. A generally annular space exists between the shroud and a front bearing housing substantially surrounded thereby, and at least one radially outwardly raked anti-wind lug on the front center portion of the inlet section rotates through the space to agitate and clear plant material therefrom through pathways provided through the shroud for the flow of the plant material from the space.

Abstract: A self-propelled harvester having a drivable separating rotor rotatably mounted in a rotor housing with a bearing in an end wall covering an inlet opening of the rotor housing at a front end of the separating rotor, further comprising a lower edge transverse and operatively connected to the bearing of the end wall.

Abstract: A fluid operated actuator includes a shaft and a housing. The shaft is at least partially mounted in the housing for relative rotation between the shaft and the housing. The shaft includes a substantially central bore in which a first piston is mounted. The shaft also includes a fluid inlet that is connectable to supply of pressurised fluid and a fluid outlet. A conduit is provided for the flow of fluid between the inlet and the outlet. One end of the housing includes a chamber in which there is mounted a valve assembly comprising a second piston and a valve arranged to selectively open or close an inlet to the chamber. Fluid exiting the outlet opens the valve and exerts a force on the second piston, causing movement thereof in a first direction.

Abstract: A combine harvester is provided with a feeder housing; a separation unit including a rotor driven by a shaft and arranged in a rotor housing, said separation unit having 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, wherein the transfer mechanism includes a plurality of auger blades connected with the rotor in the region of the feeding zone; a rotating element located in the feeder housing and having an axis of rotation perpendicular to the axis of the rotor and above the feed end of the rotor, wherein the rotating element feeds harvested crops to the separation unit from underneath the rotating element's axis of rotation; and a transition housing connecting the feeder housing and the rotor housing and having a plurality of interior edges forming a feeding opening through the transition housing wherein the interior edge of the transition housing that forms the bottom of the feeding opening is lo

Abstract: The present invention is a self-propelled combine harvester having a tangential threshing device, main threshing drum and feed drum for transferring crop to an axial dividing device. The axial dividing device has two cylindrical dividing housings that are asymmetrically and expand vertically and horizontally at their inlet ends to ensure uniform and trouble-free transfer of the harvested crop to the dividing device.

Abstract: An infeed assembly for a rotary combine has an impeller for directing crop materials outwardly and rearwardly. The impeller is arranged on the infeed section of the rotor and includes impeller blades that redirect the incoming mat-like crop materials into a whirling, circulatory motion and also translates the crop materials rearward towards the rotor's threshing section. Each blade has a leading edge that is swept back in two dimensions. Each leading edge is simultaneously swept back circumferentially away from the direction of impeller rotation and axially towards the rotor's threshing section. The pitch of each blade increases for a predetermined distance rearwardly.

Abstract: A combine chain and slat crop conveyor includes a plurality of feed drum chain guides. Each chain guide is a generally cylindrical ring which encircles and is attached to the conveyor feed drum and is shaped as a “W” in cross section. Each chain guide includes two outer flanges which extend away from the feed drum surface at an angle, e.g. in a range from 20 to 70 degrees from parallel with the drum surface. The angled outer flanges insure that, as a chain starts to wander out of its path, it will get tighter, which forces it back toward the center of the guide ring. Each guide ring also has an elevated center portion which directly contacts the chain rollers, thus providing a rolling surface for the chain rollers, which puts all relative rolling motion and metal to metal contact between chain roller and roller pin.

Abstract: An impeller blade for the rotor of an axial flow combine harvester is shaped such that an outer blade portion has a shape of the blade portion defining an inclined edge which joins a forward blade edge lying in a radial plane of the rotor at a first position spaced outwardly from the hub of the rotor and joins the outer blade edge at a second position spaced rearwardly of the first position, the inclined edge having at least a part thereof which is substantially straight and parallel to an inner blade edge so as to be inclined at an angle to the outer blade edge and extend outwardly and rearwardly from the first position to the second position such that the radial distance of the second position from the axis is greater than that of the first position. This reduces the length of the forward edge to 50% to 75% of its conventional length and acts to overcome a long standing feeding problem of this type of rotor in some crops.

Abstract: The crop engaging element of the present invention is a hollow structure having a smooth curved convex top portion which terminates in a concave trough before extending into a radially extending lip. The hollow structure is provided with sidewalls and a rear wall. The sidewalls extend upwardly to enclose the sides of the trough. The element is provided with leading and trailing mounting flanges for mounting the element to the exterior surface of a combine rotor.

Abstract: An attachment for an auger of a harvesting machine reduces or essentially eliminates residue build-up on the auger of the harvesting machine. The attachment includes a paddle, which is adapted to be secured to the auger between the flighting of the auger, and at least one projecting member which extends from the paddle and projects above the flighting of the auger for breaking up crop residue which tends to build up above the auger. The projecting member is secured to the paddle by at least one fastener, for example a bolt, a screw, or a rivet. Preferably, the projecting member comprises metal, plastic, or polymeric material, such as ultra high molecular weight polyethylene or a high density polyethylene. In one form, the paddle and the projecting member are integrally formed to provide a unitary construction.

Abstract: An automotive combine has a frame adapted to move in a travel direction along the ground, a front housing pivotal on the frame, a cutter on the front housing for cutting standing crop, and a main thresher on the front housing having a front intake and a rear output for taking in the cut standing crop at the intake, threshing it, and ejecting it at the output as a chaff/grain stream and a separate chaff stream. A pair of separate conveyors on the frame each have an intake at the rear output for receiving the chaff/grain stream and a respective output for ejecting respective portions of the chaff/grain stream. One of the conveyor outputs is vertically spaced above the other conveyor output. An upper sieve at the one conveyor output and a separate lower sieve at the other conveyor output receive the respective portions of the chaff/grain stream and separate kernels from chaff therein.

Abstract: A grain combine has a header, a header discharge port, a feederhouse for transporting the cut crops from the header housing into a rotating concave threshing system. The header, discharge port and feederhouse are separated into separate first and second discrete cut crop passageways extending from the header to the intake end of the concave.

Abstract: An axial agricultural combine having a single element rotor defining a rotor axis. The rotor is housed in a rotor housing having an infeed section, a threshing section and a separating section. The infeed section of the rotor housing defines a infeed axis, the threshing section of the rotor housing defines a threshing axis and the separating section of the rotor housing defines a separating axis. The infeed axis is parallel to and in line with the rotor axis. The threshing axis is parallel to and offset from the rotor axis. The threshing axis is offset above and downstream from the rotor axis. The separating axis is parallel to and offset from the rotor axis. The separating axis is offset above and downstream from the rotor axis. The separating axis is more offset from the rotor axis than the threshing axis is offset from the rotor axis.

Abstract: A self-propelling harvester thresher has a cutting and transporting unit, a threshing unit having a threshing basket and a threshing drum, a transferring drum and a separating unit having a separating rotor and a separating housing with a drawing-in opening. The threshing drum has a plurality of threshing segments arranged on its periphery and offset relative to one another. The transferring drum is provided with a plurality of drivers arranged on a periphery of the transferring drum and offset relative to one another similarly to the threshing segments of the threshing drum.

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 feeder adapter for mounting a header on a feeder housing of a combine, the feeder adapter having a housing with an inlet positionable immediately behind a rear feed draper of the header and an outlet which is of a size and shape to match with a forward facing inlet of the feeder housing. The housing of the feeder adapter contains a feeder drum of the retractable finger type mounted for rotation on a transverse axis above a floor surface of the housing so as to engage the cut crop delivered to the rear end of the rearward feed draper and propel it into the outlet opening and thus into the inlet of the feeder housing. The feeder adapter has a subframe for attaching the feeder adapter to the feeder housing and attachment members for suspending the header from the subframe.

Abstract: A reverser system for the feeder chain of a combine harvester comprises a hydraulic motor mounted on a slide and operated by a cylinder to move from a retracted position to a forward operating position. In the operating position the mechanical coupling connects the shaft of the hydraulic motor to a drive sprocket connected to the feeder chain. Hydraulic fluid to the cylinder and to the hydraulic motor is tapped from the lift cylinders of the combine from a solenoid operated diverter valve. A control unit controls the supply of the pressurized fluid to the cylinder while delaying the supply of fluid to the hydraulic motor so that the mechanical coupling is connected while stationary before the hydraulic motor starts. This arrangement can be provided by simple mechanical devices providing an inexpensive drive system.

Abstract: A self-propelling harvester thresher has elements for cutting and transporting a harvested product, threshing unit arranged after the elements and operating in accordance with the principle of radial flow and also including a threshing basket and a threshing drum, a transferring drum arranged after the threshing unit for transferring substantially threshed straw, a separating unit transporting the harvested product in accordance with the principle of axial flow against a travelling direction of the harvester thresher and including at least one separating rotor and a separating housing provided with a drawing-in opening. The threshing drum has a plurality of threshing segments arranged on its periphery and offset relative to one another.

Abstract: A rotor assembly for a rotary combine having an anti-wrap blade assembly which acts in combination with an impeller blade assembly to direct material outwardly and rearwardly relative to the longitudinal axis of the rotor assembly. The anti-wrap blade assembly includes a plurality of flights arranged at a foremost end of the rotor assembly in equally spaced relation about the rotational axis of the rotor assembly. Each blade of the anti-wrap assembly has a leading edge lying in a plane extending generally normal to the rotational axis and includes a material engaging surface which has a generally concave shape configuration extending rearwardly from the leading edge of the blade for directing materials outwardly and rearwardly from the rotational axis of the rotor. The rotor assembly further includes an anti-wind assembly for inhibiting debris and other foreign matter from contaminating a bearing assembly which rotatably mounts one end of the rotor assembly.

Abstract: A rotary combine including a feeder mechanism and a rotor assembly having an impeller assembly arranged at a forward end of a rotor. The feeder mechanism includes a housing which is pivotally connected to the combine about a transverse axis. The feeder mechanism housing envelops a conveyor assembly used to impart linear movements to the crop materials as they are advanced toward the rotor assembly. Prior to their introduction to the rotor assembly, the linearly advancing crop materials are discharged from a rotary member. A salient feature of the present invention involves the communicative relationship established between the rearmost rotary member from which the crop materials are discharged and the foremost end of the impeller assembly.

Abstract: The feeding section of an axial flow agricultural combine is provided with helical vanes. Each helical vane having an upstream end that is provided with a notch in which crop material is temporarily trapped. The notch is formed by tapering the upstream end of the helical vane which is welded to a transverse leading blade. The transverse leading blade is provided with a tapered leading edge to prevent crop material from hairpinning on the blade.

Abstract: A feeder assembly for a combine including a conveyor having a plurality of laterally spaced driving chains entrained about and supported by a pair of for-and-aft spaced lateral supports. An elastomeric assembly is removably fitted about and is adapted for rotation with one of the supports to define a replaceable wear surface for the support while attenuating noise generated by the feeder assembly during operation thereof.

Abstract: An improved infeed plate more evenly distributes harvested crop material as it is transferred from a feederhouse to an axial rotor. Crop on one side of the infeed plate is curled into the bottom of the rotor by a conical section. Crop on the other side of the rotor is introduced to the top of the rotor by a ramp. Crop in the middle section is directed to the bottom of the rotor. The ramp section is provided with an upwardly extending rim.