Abstract: In a crop harvesting and threshing machine of the type utilizing axial flow threshing and separation, there is provided an access unit to the threshing and separating apparatus which is removably insertable through the side of the harvesting and threshing machine into the rotor casing. The access unit has threshing grates attached to the portion nearest the threshing and separating apparatus so that when inserted the access unit serves to aid in the threshing and separating of the grain from the crop material and when removed provides easy access to the threshing and separating apparatus.

Abstract: In a harvesting and threshing machine utilizing at least one cooperative cylinder and rotatable rotor to achieve axial flow threshing and separation of grain bearing crop material there is provided an improved grain collection means underlying the auxiliary separation and discharge means and overlying at least a portion of the primary cleaning and separating means movably mounted to the frame of the machine in such a manner that air flow generated by the cleaning fan is not disturbed by the rotation of the rotor or the beater means of the auxiliary separation and discharge means.

Abstract: A combine having a single rotor extending longitudinally for axial feed and discharge having a concave directly beneath the rotor and a separation grate along one side of the rotor adjacent the peripheral path thereof for discharge into a space at one side of the threshing compartment which is formed by laterally offsetting the axis of the rotor from the central axis of the compartment, and a deflector directs the material from said space substantially centrally onto a grain receiving member below the concave and extending between opposite sides of the threshing compartment to prevent overloading of one side of said compartment as in conventional single axial rotor type combines.

Abstract: A crop handling unit for an axial-flow type combine harvester having an infeed region and tandem threshing and separating regions. An associated conveyor is provided for delivering crop material into the infeed region of the unit whereupon material is urged rearwardly along a generally helical path. Ultimately grain is separated from the crop material and discharged through concaves and grates in the threshing and separating regions, respectively, onto a grain pan. The infeed region is provided with improved means to spread out abnormally thick masses of material during its rearward travel.

Abstract: A combine harvester having crop cutting and elevating means at the forward end of the combine to deliver crop material to be threshed to a threshing compartment in which axial rotor and concave means thresh and axially move the crop material to straw walker means immediately rearward of said threshing compartment to separate straw and chaff from threshed crop material and discharge the straw and chaff from the rear end of the harvester.

Abstract: A combine harvester comprising at least one generally cylindrical crop handling unit having tandem threshing and separating sections through which material is advanced along a generally helical path. A conveyor is provided for receiving crop material from a forwardly positioned crop header and delivering it axially into the cylindrical unit. During operation, grain is separated from the crop material and discharged through concaves and grates in the threshing and separating sections, respectively, onto a grain pan which in turn deposits it on cleaning sieves located rearwardly of the grain pan. The clean grain is elevated to a storage tank mounted on the combine while the residue is conveyed rearwardly and expelled onto the field.

Abstract: A combine harvester comprising two side-by-side generally cylindrical crop handling units each having tandem threshing and separating sections. A conveyor is provided for receiving crop material from a forwardly positioned crop header and delivering it axially into the cylindrical units. During operation, grain is separated from the crop material and discharged through concaves and grates in the threshing and separating sections, respectively, onto a grain pan which in turn deposits it on cleaning sieves located rearwardly of the grain pan. The clean grain is elevated by an auger to a storage tank mounted on the combine while the residue is conveyed rearwardly and expelled onto the field. At least a portion of the grates in the separating sections are cylindrical in configuration and permit discharge over most or all of the circumference of the cylindrical units.

Abstract: A deflector panel is pivotally mounted within the straw hood of a combine and is disposable between a first position wherein residue material emanating from the combine is deflected into a straw chopper and a second position wherein the emanating material is deflected through the residue outlet of the straw hood, forwardly of the straw chopper, and discharged onto the ground.

Abstract: In an axial flow type combine, an improved concave is provided which remains open in the most adverse corn harvesting conditions, thereby increasing the overall efficiency of the machine. The improved concave comprises a frame formed by a plurality of spaced-apart transversely extending arcuate shaped support members joined together at their respective ends by a pair of spaced-apart longitudinally extending support elements. The frame supports a plurality of spaced apart longitudinally extending rod-like members which are generally linear throughout a substantial portion of their longitudinal extent, the linear portions of the respective rod-like members being generally parallel to the axis of a rotor positioned above the concave in the combine. The rod-like members are provided with rotatably mounted sleeves which freely rotate about the rod-like members as crop material moves over the concave.

Abstract: A mobile combine having longitudinally extending rotor and concave threshing and separating members and a grain pan beneath the threshing and separating members to receive threshed and semi-threshed crop material incident to transmitting said material to a sieve mechanism. In order to prevent uneven build up or deposit of said material in localized areas upon the grain pan, deflecting members are provided in several different embodiments or arrangements which are fixed to the threshing and/or the separating members, all having the common objective of deflecting material discharged from the threshing and separating areas of the grain pan which normally have low accumulation and thereby tend to cause substantially even distribution of said material upon the grain pan.

Abstract: A combine of the axial flow type having an axially extending power driven rotor which coacts with a concave complementary in shape to that of the rotor to thresh a wide variety of agricultural crop material. The concave comprises a plurality of longitudinal bars that are spaced transversely and a first row of curved wires extend through said bars adjacent the upper edges thereof and are spaced even distances in a longitudinal direction to form passages for threshed crop material. A second row of wires extend through a row of holes in said bars below said first row of wires. The second row of wires is spaced more closely than the wires of the first row to form pockets which receive said threshed crop material and remove the same from contact by said rotor to prevent damage to the threshed material and also provide more aggressive threshing of the material.

Abstract: A combine of the axial flow type having a coacting rotor and concave assembly having a threshing region therebetween, said concave being provided with a relief section at the forward end of said concave to accommodate abnormal masses of crop material operable to thin out said masses prior to passing rearwardly into said threshing region.

Abstract: An axial flow type combine provided with twin rotors having rasp bars thereon rotatable within cylindrical compartments partly comprised of concaves for coaction with said rasp bars, the forward ends of said rotors having conical augers mounted thereon and rotatable therewith respectively in opposite directions, the largest diameter of said augers being outermost and portions of said augers being in overlapping relationship with respect to each other to improve the feeding of cut grain material to said rotors and concaves of the combine.

Abstract: A rotary combine having axially extending threshing rotor and coacting concave positioned to receive crop material to be threshed from auger means on the forward end of the rotor, and an elevator which extends upward and rearward from a header to the auger means delivers the crop material to an upwardly and rearwardly extending feed plate which guides the crop material upwardly in an undershot manner to said auger means. Several embodiments of a grain trapping and back-flow retarding plate are associated adjustably with said feed plate to permit discharge of threshed crop material and prevent tendencies for the material being fed upward along the feed plate to slide back down the same toward the elevator.

Abstract: Control means for the feeding of crop material from a header and condensing auger to the forward, inlet end of an upwardly and rearwardly extending elevator having an endless flight therein, said control means comprising plates connected to the inlet end of said elevator to restrict the width thereof and thereby prevent crop material from being engaged by the outer edges of said endless flight in said elevator, thereby preventing the accumulation and backfeeding of crop material along opposite side edges of said elevator.

Abstract: The stone trap of the present invention is used in cooperation with the crop elevator of a threshing and separating machine. The crop elevator has an opening positioned in its bottom wall along the path of the incoming crop material. A pivotally mounted door is positioned above the opening. A lip is rigidly mounted around the periphery of the opening and extends below the crop elevator. This lip maintains the door in a closed position until the door has moved through a predetermined distance. The movement of the door is determined by the operation of a controlling means mounted to both the door and the crop elevator and a force exerting means operably associated with the controlling means.

Abstract: A rotor for axial flow combines having an auger of predetermined length on one end thereof which, when rotated, feeds crop material to the main portion of the rotor which coacts with a concave and grate to thresh and separate grain from the crop material. The auger has a spiral flight provided with a smoothly curved peripheral edge and in order to minimize wear of said edge and also provide increased aggressive engagement of the auger with crop material, a series of similar projections are detachably connected to said flight adjacent the peripheral edge thereof, in circumferentially spaced relationship to each other.

Abstract: In a combine having a header to cut crop material and an elevator to deliver the cut crop material to auger means in an undershot manner for feeding the same to threshing rotor of an axial flow combine, there is provided an adjustable transition or feed plate between the upper end of the elevator and the forward end of the rotor means to adapt the combine to accommodate crops of different types of texture, bulk, character and moisture content and prevent back-feeding of the crop material down the elevator. The adjustment is readily made manually and externally of the combine.