Abstract: A sieve frame (118, 122) comprises two elongate members (300, 302, 308, 310) that are extruded.

Abstract: A combine is provided with an improved system for collecting agricultural material, such as stover, from an agricultural field and separating desired parts of the stover, such as corncobs, from undesired parts. The combine is provided with a system for moving the desired portion of the stover to a container and discarding the undesired portion of the stover back on the agricultural field.

Abstract: A combine is provided with an improved system for collecting agricultural material, such as stover, from an agricultural field and separating desired parts of the stover, such as corncobs, from undesired parts. The combine is provided with a system for moving the desired portion of the stover to a container and discarding the undesired portion of the stover back on the agricultural field.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel combine harvester and associated method configured for gathering grain test data. In general, the combine harvester includes a grain diverting assembly that is configured to selectively divert grain from a grain harvesting path to a grain testing path for the purpose of gathering the grain test data. In various embodiments, the present invention may return the tested grain to the grain harvesting path for further delivery to a primary grain hopper. The present invention may also provide a sampling cup and sample delivery system that allows a sample of the diverted grain to be automatically gathered and delivered to a combine harvester operator location.

Abstract: The invention provides for a seal assembly for a grain separator. The grain separator may include a housing, a rotatable grain separation cylinder within the housing, the cylinder having an end surface, a grain inlet having an inlet spout extending through the end surface for conveying grain into the cylinder in a feed zone, an auxiliary end piece or seal cone functionally connected to the end surface of the cylinder. The auxiliary end piece may have an annular external surface spaced laterally from the feed zone, and a seal interfacing with the annular external surface, thereby defining a seal zone spaced laterally from the feed zone. Such grain separators have increased capacity compared to separators with traditional seal assemblies.

Abstract: The invention provides for a seal assembly for a grain separator. The grain separator may include a housing, a rotatable grain separation cylinder within the housing, the cylinder having an end surface, a grain inlet having an inlet spout extending through the end surface for conveying grain into the cylinder in a feed zone, an auxiliary end piece or seal cone functionally connected to the end surface of the cylinder. The auxiliary end piece may have an annular external surface spaced laterally from the feed zone, and a seal interfacing with the annular external surface, thereby defining a seal zone spaced laterally from the feed zone. Such grain separators have increased capacity compared to separators with traditional seal assemblies.

Abstract: A combine harvester with a rotor housing which is positioned in a lengthwise direction and with an inclined angle towards the horizontal line inside of the combine. To arrange the rotor housing in a favorable way inside of the combine harvester, it is suggested to use a feeder house which comprises elements which distribute harvested material from the cutterbar in an up and rearward direction towards its discharge end, said discharge end being arranged in a height substantially above of the rotational axis of the front wheels and in a region before the rotational axis of the front wheels, the discharge end feeds the harvested material into the feeding opening of the rotor housing of the separation unit being arranged in the upper half of it, whereby the rotor housing reaches with its front from a region before the rotational axis of the front wheels and a lower third of the height of the combine harvester to its rear being arranged in the top rear half portion of the combine harvester.

Abstract: A grain separator having an easily replaceable seal. The separator comprises a housing and a rotatable grain separation drum carried by the housing, the drum having an end face with an external annular bearing surface. A drive shaft extends axially into the drum through the end face, and a grain inlet is carried exteriorly of the housing and includes a bearing rotationally supporting an end of the drive shaft. The inlet includes an inlet spout that extends through the end face for conveying grain to the drum. An easily removable and replaceable split seal is carried about the inlet spout and engages the annular bearing surface to seal the drum from the exterior of the inlet spout, and pressure means are provided for applying axial pressure to the split seal to urge the seal against the annular bearing surface. Disclosed also is a method for seal replacement.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining grain loss of a harvesting machine. The harvesting machine has a crop-separating region with separating members. The separating members each have separation sensors for generating a signal corresponding to the crop quantity separated. This signal is delivered to an evaluating unit for further processing. Processing includes determining a separation curve for at least some of the separating zones and converting the separation curve to a characteristic quantity. From this measured characteristic quantity, a loss is determined based on a characteristic curve deposited in the evaluating unit. By avoiding direct loss measurement on the harvesting machine, the negative crop-related effects on determining grain loss are considerably reduced.

Abstract: This invention refers to a combine harvester with a rotor housing which is positioned in a lengthwise direction and with an inclined angle towards the horizontal line inside of the combine.

Abstract: A crop residue spreader for an agricultural harvesting machine, including a housing at least partially containing a rotor rotatable about an rotational axis, the housing including at least one inlet opening for receiving a flow of crop residue from the harvesting machine and a discharge opening through which the flow will be propelled by the rotor when rotated, and a linkage arrangement movably connecting the housing containing the rotor to the agricultural machine for allowing the housing and rotor to be moved between at least one position in relation to the harvesting machine for receiving a flow of crop residue from a threshing mechanism of the machine and a flow of crop residue from a cleaning mechanism of the machine through the at least one inlet opening, at least one position for receiving a flow of crop residue from the cleaning mechanism of the harvesting machine through the at least one inlet opening while preventing a flow of crop residue from the threshing mechanism from entering the at least one

Abstract: A combine harvester having a blower for spreading the discharge mixture of chopped straw, chaff and like materials over a wide area utilizing the kinetic energy obtained through the medium of a chopper or feed device located prior to the blowers to save on drive power. Specifically, the material outlet opening of the chopper or the feed device is positioned in the same plane as the inlet opening of the blower.

Abstract: An apparatus for separation of components having differing terminal velocities. The apparatus provides a substantially elongate, upwardly projected air flow acting to agitate, sort and separate the components according to a terminal velocity of each of the components. The apparatus also forms a bed of the components above the upwardly projected air flow and entrains a class of the components out of the bed.

Abstract: A combine harvester comprises a threshing and separating mechanism mounted to a main frame, which includes a generally cylindrical chamber having a generally longitudinal axis, and a separating concave assembly. The arrangement further includes a rotor assembly mounted for rotation in the chamber and comprising a generally cylindrical rotor body with a separating section associated with the separating concave assembly. The separating mechanism further comprises a beater assembly arranged behind the concave assembly for receiving threshed and separated crop material therefrom and projecting it rearwardly. The beater assembly comprises a transverse guide mounted behind the separating concave assembly and below the rotor body, and a transverse beater rotor. The chamber comprises a curved guide plate arranged behind the separating concave assembly and above the guide.

Abstract: A combine harvester having a blower for spreading the discharge mixture of chopped straw, chaff and like materials over a wide area utilizing the kinetic energy obtained through the medium of a chopper or feed device located prior to the blowers to save on drive power. Specifically, the material outlet opening of the chopper or the feed device is positioned in the same plane as the inlet opening of the blower.

Abstract: In a combine incorporating blowers (9) for spreading the discharge mixture of chopped straw and chaff over a wide area, the kinetic energy obtained through the medium of a chopper or feed device located prior to the blowers is retained so as to save on drive power by making the material outlet opening (4′) of the chopper (4) or the feed device lie in the same plane as the inlet opening (9′) of the blower (9).

Abstract: A grain processing apparatus is used in one embodiment for debranning grain to remove the bran. In another embodiment, it is used as a mill for milling flour. The processor includes a cylindrical drum with an internal rotor having a set of impeller rods. The grain is loaded into the drum and is withdrawn as debranned kernels or flour as treatment proceeds. Bran removed from the grain is withdrawn through a vacuum discharge at the top of the apparatus. The grain is either discharged through a grain discharge or, where it is to be milled, it is withdrawn through the vacuum discharge as flour. The relatively coarse bran can be separated from the flour using a sifter. The air flow withdrawing the flour from the drum is drawn into the drum at the bottom, through a venturi and a valving arrangement. This cools the inlet air and maintains the temperature of the drum at an acceptable temperature.

Abstract: A harvesting method gathers and threshes grain in the field, leaving behind the straw. It removes chaff and weed seeds from the field with the harvested grain, and separates the chaff, grain leavings and weed seeds from the grain in a separate yard plant. The chaff, grain leavings and weed seeds are compacted and crushed in a mill for use as animal feed. The simplified harvest units have augmented holding tanks, one version of which can be attached to (and detached from) existing farm tractors. An automated integrated yard plant (1) separates and cleans harvested grain and (2) compacts and crushes chaff, grain leavings and weed seeds for use as animal feed.

Abstract: A harvesting method gathers and threshes grain in the field, leaving behind the straw. It removes chaff and weed seeds from the field with the harvested grain, and separates the chaff, grain leavings and weed seeds from the grain in a separate yard plant. The chaff, grain leavings and weed seeds are compacted and crushed in a mill for use as animal feed. The simplified harvest units have augmented holding tanks, one version of which can be attached to (and detached from) existing farm tractors. An automated integrated yard plant (1) separates and cleans harvested grain and (2) compacts and crushes chaff, grain leavings and weed seeds for use as animal feed.

Abstract: A harvesting method gathers and threshes grain in the field, leaving behind the straw. It removes chaff and weed seeds from the field with the harvested grain, and separates the chaff, grain leavings and weed seeds from the grain in a separate yard plant. The chaff, grain leavings and weed seeds are compacted and crushed in a mill for use as animal feed. The simplified harvest units have augmented holding tanks, one version of which can be attached to (and detached from) existing farm tractors. An automated integrated yard plant (1) separates and cleans harvested grain and (2) compacts and crushes chaff, grain leavings and weed seeds for use as animal feed.

Abstract: The invention comprises a grain cleaning apparatus having a frame with a plurality of augers mounted beside one another in parallel relation. Screens surround the augers except at the ends of the augers to allow grain to enter and leave at the ends of the augers. A boxlike frame encloses the rearward ends of the augers with an open top to allow grain to be cleaned to be dumped into the open rear ends of the augers. A motor is provided with drive member to rotate the augers simultaneously whereby the augers will auger the grain from the box along the augers within the screens to the forward end of the frame, a chute is provided at the forward end for the grain to leave the frame after traveling along the augers. The mesh of the screens is smaller than the grain so as to retain the grain within the screens as it travels along. The mesh allows foreign particles and chaff smaller than the size of the openings to pass through the openings and drop downward from the screens.