Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes a straw hood having a hollow interior space for receiving material other than grain (MOG) from a threshing and separating system of the harvester and chaff from a cleaning system of the harvester. A drive system is provided for powering a straw chopper and a weed seed mill. The drive system includes a single belt positioned outside of the straw hood that is wound at least partially around (i) a straw chopper pulley that powers the straw chopper, (ii) a weed seed mill pulley that powers the weed seed mill, and (iii) a power take off shaft of the harvester that receives power from an engine or other power source of the harvester.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes a straw hood having a hollow interior space for receiving material other than grain (MOG) from a threshing and separating system of the harvester and chaff from a cleaning system of the harvester. A drive system is provided for powering a straw chopper and a weed seed mill. The drive system includes a single belt positioned outside of the straw hood that is wound at least partially around (i) a straw chopper pulley that powers the straw chopper, (ii) a weed seed mill pulley that powers the weed seed mill, and (iii) a power take off shaft of the harvester that receives power from an engine or other power source of the harvester.

Abstract: A residue handling system for an agricultural harvester includes a chopper that is positionable within a straw hood of the combine harvester and a seed mill that is mounted directly to the chopper. The chopper has projecting elements for chopping straw within the straw hood as the chopper rotates. The seed mill includes a rotatable rotor that is at least partially positioned within a concave. The rotor and the chopper are connected or unitized so as to rotate together.

Abstract: A pulley assembly is provided for mounting on a rotatable shaft of an agricultural harvester and is operable in a high-speed configuration or a low-speed configuration. The pulley assembly comprises a high-speed pulley with a high-speed running surface for receiving a drive belt when the pulley assembly is in the high-speed configuration and a low-speed pulley with a low-speed running surface for receiving a drive belt when the pulley assembly is in the low-speed configuration. The pulley assembly has three sets of teeth extending from surfaces of the two pulleys. In the low-speed configuration, the running surfaces of the low-speed pulley and high-speed pulley are axially aligned and the first set of teeth and the second set of teeth are engaged. In the high-speed configuration, the running surface of the high-speed pulley is exposed for receiving the drive belt.

Abstract: A pulley assembly is provided for mounting on a rotatable shaft of an agricultural harvester and is operable in a high-speed configuration or a low-speed configuration. The pulley assembly comprises a high-speed pulley with a high-speed running surface for receiving a drive belt when the pulley assembly is in the high-speed configuration and a low-speed pulley with a low-speed running surface for receiving a drive belt when the pulley assembly is in the low-speed configuration. The pulley assembly has three sets of teeth extending from surfaces of the two pulleys. In the low-speed configuration, the running surfaces of the low-speed pulley and high-speed pulley are axially aligned and the first set of teeth and the second set of teeth are engaged. In the high-speed configuration, the running surface of the high-speed pulley is exposed for receiving the drive belt.

Abstract: An agricultural combine including a residue processing system including a straw spreader and at least one chaff spreader. The at least one chaff spreader includes a first chaff accelerator and a second chaff accelerator so that, in operation, chaff particles are accelerated by the first chaff accelerator to an intermediate energy level after which the chaff particles are further accelerated by the second chaff accelerator to an ejection energy level. The second chaff accelerator includes grinding elements for grinding the chaff particles while accelerating them to the ejection energy level.

Abstract: A tension roller assembly includes a tension roller, a pivotable support arm, a tension arm, a compression spring, a rod, first and second spring stops, a mounting plate, and an overcenter assembly connected to an end of the tension arm. The overcenter assembly connects the tension arm to the mounting plate. The overcenter assembly is configured to make a pivoting movement over a pivot trajectory between engaged and disengaged positions. The overcenter assembly further has a center position located between the engaged and disengaged positions. The pivot trajectory between the center position and the disengaged position is divided into a tensioned section in which the end stop does not engage the stop surface and the spring exerts a force on the overcenter assembly, and a free-moving section in which the end stop engages the stop surface and the spring does not exert any force on the overcenter assembly.

Abstract: An agricultural combine including a residue processing system including a straw spreader and at least one chaff spreader. The at least one chaff spreader includes a first chaff accelerator and a second chaff accelerator so that, in operation, chaff particles are accelerated by the first chaff accelerator to an intermediate energy level after which the chaff particles are further accelerated by the second chaff accelerator to an ejection energy level. The second chaff accelerator includes grinding elements for grinding the chaff particles while accelerating them to the ejection energy level.

Abstract: A tension roller assembly includes a tension roller, a pivotable support arm, a tension arm, a compression spring, a rod, first and second spring stops, a mounting plate, and an overcenter assembly connected to an end of the tension arm. The overcenter assembly connects the tension arm to the mounting plate. The overcenter assembly is configured to make a pivoting movement over a pivot trajectory between engaged and disengaged positions. The overcenter assembly further has a center position located between the engaged and disengaged positions. The pivot trajectory between the center position and the disengaged position is divided into a tensioned section in which the end stop does not engage the stop surface and the spring exerts a force on the overcenter assembly, and a free-moving section in which the end stop engages the stop surface and the spring does not exert any force on the overcenter assembly.