Abstract: A chopper for an agricultural harvester comprises a housing, a rotor, a bank of counter-knives, and an adjuster. The housing comprises a variable geometry outlet floor. The is positioned in an interior region of the housing for rotation therein relative to the housing. The bank of counter-knives is movable relative to the rotor between a first aggressiveness position and a second aggressiveness position to adjust chopping aggressiveness of the chopper. The outlet floor comprises a ramp movable relative to the rotor between a first ramp position and a second ramp position. The adjuster positions the ramp in the first ramp position when the bank of counter-knives is positioned in the first aggressiveness position and positions the ramp in the second ramp position when the bank of counter-knives is positioned in the second aggressiveness position.

Abstract: A residue distribution system includes a flow channel having a first lateral side and a second lateral side disposed. A spreader is positioned proximate a downstream end of the flow channel, and broadcasts the flow of the crop residue. A residue distributor is positioned within the flow channel and upstream of the spreader for directing the crop residue toward one of the first lateral side or the second lateral side of the flow channel to increase a mass of the crop residue that side of the spreader, whereby a discharge density of the crop residue on that side of the spreader is increased to overcome effects of a crosswind or an uphill side-slope on broadcast distribution of the crop residue.

Abstract: A residue management system comprises a chopper to chop crop residue, a residue spreader, and a floor extension. The residue spreader is mounted for pivotable movement relative to the chopper between a dispersal position to disperse crop residue and a windrow position to deposit crop residue in a windrow. The residue spreader comprises a first spreading device, a second spreading device, and a splitter positioned laterally between the first and second spreading devices to divide flow of crop residue therebetween. A floor of the chopper and a floor of the residue spreader are spaced apart from one another to define a gap. The floor extension projects rearwardly from the floor of the chopper partially over the floor of the residue spreader about the gap alongside the splitter to guide flow of crop residue from the chopper to the residue spreader.

Abstract: A windrow system of a combine includes a chopper and a spreader. The chopper includes a chopper housing having a roof and a rotor assembly positioned in the chopper housing, and the spreader is pivotably coupled to the chopper and includes a top surface and an impellor that is positioned below the top surface and includes one or more blades for rotatably conveying crop residue rearwardly and outwardly from the spreader. The windrow system also includes top segment coupled to a main body of the combine, a first curtain, and a second curtain having a portion thereof positioned outwardly of the first curtain. Each of the curtains are movable relative to the main body of the combine when the spreader and/or chopper move between at least one of wide and narrow positions, chopping and windrowing positions, and chopping and stowed positions.

Abstract: A combine harvester includes a housing, a separating system mounted within the housing for separating a seed material from a straw material, a cleaning system including a cleaning fan configured to produce a motive flow of air, a straw chopper operable to chop the straw material from the separating system into a chopped straw material, a spreading system positioned downstream of the straw chopper and configured to disperse the chopped straw material outside of the housing of the combine harvester, and an air discharge channel located downstream of the straw chopper and above the spreading system and configured to discharge a portion of the motive flow of air produced by the cleaning fan.

Abstract: A chopper for an agricultural harvester comprises a housing, a rotor, a bank of counter-knives, and an adjuster. The housing comprises a variable geometry outlet floor. The is positioned in an interior region of the housing for rotation therein relative to the housing. The bank of counter-knives is movable relative to the rotor between a first aggressiveness position and a second aggressiveness position to adjust chopping aggressiveness of the chopper. The outlet floor comprises a ramp movable relative to the rotor between a first ramp position and a second ramp position. The adjuster positions the ramp in the first ramp position when the bank of counter-knives is positioned in the first aggressiveness position and positions the ramp in the second ramp position when the bank of counter-knives is positioned in the second aggressiveness position.

Abstract: A residue management system comprises a chopper to chop crop residue, a residue spreader, and a floor extension. The residue spreader is mounted for pivotable movement relative to the chopper between a dispersal position to disperse crop residue and a windrow position to deposit crop residue in a windrow. The residue spreader comprises a first spreading device, a second spreading device, and a splitter positioned laterally between the first and second spreading devices to divide flow of crop residue therebetween. A floor of the chopper and a floor of the residue spreader are spaced apart from one another to define a gap. The floor extension projects rearwardly from the floor of the chopper partially over the floor of the residue spreader about the gap alongside the splitter to guide flow of crop residue from the chopper to the residue spreader.

Abstract: A windrow system of a combine includes a chopper and a spreader. The chopper includes a chopper housing having a roof and a rotor assembly positioned in the chopper housing, and the spreader is pivotably coupled to the chopper and includes a top surface and an impellor that is positioned below the top surface and includes one or more blades for rotatably conveying crop residue rearwardly and outwardly from the spreader. The windrow system also includes top segment coupled to a main body of the combine, a first curtain, and a second curtain having a portion thereof positioned outwardly of the first curtain. Each of the curtains are movable relative to the main body of the combine when the spreader and/or chopper move between at least one of wide and narrow positions, chopping and windrowing positions, and chopping and stowed positions.

Abstract: A conveyor drum (202) for an endless belt conveyor (200) for a feederhouse of an agricultural combine (104) includes an elongate drum (202), cogs (213) fixed to the drum for driving endless belts (210), and retainers (218) fixed to the drum (202) to maintain the endless belts (210) in a proper operating position.

Abstract: An agricultural combine has a chassis that supports a feederhouse receiving cut crop material from an agricultural harvesting head. A rotor and concave arrangement receives the cut crop material to thresh the cut crop material and to separate the cut crop material into a flow of grain and a flow of straw. A cleaning shoe receives the flow of grain from the threshing and separating mechanism to clean the flow of grain and to provide a flow of clean grain and a flow of chaff. A residue management system receives the flow of straw and the flow of chaff. The residue management system has a straw chopper that rotates in a first direction in a windrowing mode to windrow the flow of straw and rotates in a second direction opposite the first direction in a chopping mode to chop the flow of straw.

Abstract: A wear strip arrangement for an endless belt conveyor for a feederhouse of an agricultural combine includes a first body that is configured to be attached to a slat that in turn is attached to the endless belt.

Abstract: A system of chopping and spreading residue for an agricultural combine comprises a chopper disposed in front of a residue accelerator at the rear of an agricultural combine. The chopper is disposed to receive crop residue from a threshing and separating section of the combine and to chop that residue into smaller portions, the residue accelerator is disposed behind the chopper to receive the chopped crop residue from the chopper, and to accelerate it.

Abstract: A combine harvester includes a housing, a separating system mounted within the housing for separating a seed material from a straw material, a cleaning system including a cleaning fan configured to produce a motive flow of air, a straw chopper operable to chop the straw material from the separating system into a chopped straw material, a spreading system positioned downstream of the straw chopper and configured to disperse the chopped straw material outside of the housing of the combine harvester, and an air discharge channel located downstream of the straw chopper and above the spreading system and configured to discharge a portion of the motive flow of air produced by the cleaning fan.

Abstract: A cogged drive arrangement for an endless belt conveyor for a feederhouse of an agricultural combine has a first drive wheel with an axis of rotation, a hub extending around the axis of rotation, flanges fixed to an outer edge of the hub and extending outward from the hub and a plurality of cogs fixed to the outer ends of the flanges.

Abstract: An agricultural combine has a straw chopper that rotates in one direction in a straw chopping mode of operation and rotates in an opposing direction in a windrowing mode of operation.

Abstract: A conveyor drum (202) for an endless belt conveyor (200) for a feederhouse of an agricultural combine (104) includes an elongate drum (202), cogs (213) fixed to the drum for driving endless belts (210), and retainers (218) fixed to the drum (202) to maintain the endless belts (210) in a proper operating position.

Abstract: A cogged drive arrangement for an endless belt conveyor for a feederhouse of an agricultural combine has a first drive wheel with an axis of rotation, a hub extending around the axis of rotation, flanges fixed to an outer edge of the hub and extending outward from the hub and a plurality of cogs fixed to the outer ends of the flanges.

Abstract: A wear strip arrangement for an endless belt conveyor for a feederhouse of an agricultural combine includes a first body that is configured to be attached to a slat that in turn is attached to the endless belt.

Abstract: A system of chopping and spreading residue for an agricultural combine comprises a chopper disposed in front of a residue accelerator at the rear of an agricultural combine. The chopper is disposed to receive crop residue from a threshing and separating section of the combine and to chop that residue into smaller portions, the residue accelerator is disposed behind the chopper to receive the chopped crop residue from the chopper, and to accelerate it.