Abstract: A threshing system for an agricultural harvester including a plurality of threshing elements supported on a rotor at spaced intervals in a generally helical pattern about an outer surface of the rotor, each threshing element including a set of discrete threshing bars including a leading threshing bar proximate the outer surface of the rotor and a succession of threshing bars located progressively farther from the outer surface forming a ramp and defining a wedge shaped opening between the threshing bars and the outer surface, each set of threshing bars extending generally axially along the rotor defining axially extending spaces therebetween sufficiently large for passage of grain therethrough to the wedge shaped opening.

Abstract: A modular straight separator bar for a rotor for a threshing system of an agricultural combine that is mountable on a single mounting lug and interchangeable with a rasp bar at a plurality of locations on the rotor. As a result, more straight separator bars may be mounted towards the front of the rotor providing the threshing system the capability of performing increased separation in the threshing process without interrupting the helical flow pattern of the crop material.

Abstract: An active counter knife assembly for a material chopper assembly or construction that has a rotary chopper element disposed across a material flow path, including a chopper grate assembly, having a grate portion with spaced generally transverse slots therealong, positionable generally parallel to the rotary chopper element of the residue chopper assembly; a rotatable shaft positionable generally beneath and parallel to the grate portion of the chopper grate assembly, with a plurality of fixed or flail-type knife elements attached to such shaft and positioned thereon to be alignably rotatable through the spaced generally transverse slots of the grate portion of the chopper grate assembly; and a drive mechanism for effecting rotational movement of the counter knife assembly, which drive mechanism is preferably controllable to allow an operator to vary the rotational speed and direction of the rotatable shaft so that the rotatable shaft may be selectably either maintained in an essentially fixed or locked condit

Abstract: A system and method of controlling maximum available engine power of a combine harvester wherein the engine drives the harvester and additionally powers a threshing mechanism for separating harvested crop into grain and crop residue and at least one further crop processing subsystem that may be selectively configured and disengaged, including a straw chopper engageable for chopping the crop residue and propelling the chopped residue from the harvester, structure configurable for directing the crop residue into the chopper or to bypass the chopper, utilizing a controller for automatically reducing the maximum available engine power as a function of the status of the engagement of the subsystems, particularly the chopper and the configuration of the associated structure.

Abstract: A method of making a rotor for a threshing system of an agricultural combine, the rotor including a main body segment made from a sheet formed into a tube and including specially shaped interlocking edges forming a serpentine joint routed locations where threshing element mounts attach to the rotor.

Abstract: A locking system for attaching a threshing and/or separating element to a mounting lug on a rotor of a threshing system of an agricultural combine, including a single bolt attachment with multiple points of contact between the element and the lug created by a convex portion extending from an inner surface of the threshing and/or separating element cooperatively engaged in a recessed portion of the mounting lug. The locking system resists loading conditions generated when the crop mat engages the element, prevents radially outward movement of the threshing and/or separating element relative to the mounting lug, and reduces the stress on the mounting hardware during harvesting operations.

Abstract: The control of an apparatus within a grain holding device for feeding grain to an unloader conveyor operable for conveying the grain from the holding device, includes sensing a predetermined condition or conditions representative of capacity of the unloader conveyor for receiving grain, and adaptively controlling the apparatus for feeding grain to the unloader conveyor in advantageous varying manners responsive to the conditions, including to delay initiation of feeding until the receiving capacity is increased, and to match the grain feed to the capacity. The automatic control can be overridden, to allow user control of unloader speed, and can be configured to allow cleanout of the unloader conveyor.

Abstract: A novel rear deck service ladder and handle assembly for combine harvesters is disclosed having integral latching and height adjustment features.

Abstract: An active counter knife assembly for a material chopper assembly or construction that has a rotary chopper element disposed across a material flow path, including a chopper grate assembly, having a grate portion with spaced generally transverse slots therealong, positionable generally parallel to the rotary chopper element of the residue chopper assembly; a rotatable shaft positionable generally beneath and parallel to the grate portion of the chopper grate assembly, with a plurality of fixed or flail-type knife elements attached to such shaft and positioned thereon to be alignably rotatable through the spaced generally transverse slots of the grate portion of the chopper grate assembly; and a drive mechanism for effecting rotational movement of the counter knife assembly, which drive mechanism is preferably controllable to allow an operator to vary the rotational speed and direction of the rotatable shaft so that the rotatable shaft may be selectably either maintained in an essentially fixed or locked condit

Abstract: An active counter knife assembly for a material chopper assembly or construction that has a rotary chopper element disposed across a material flow path, including a chopper grate assembly, having a grate portion with spaced generally transverse slots therealong, positionable generally parallel to the rotary chopper element of the residue chopper assembly; a rotatable shaft positionable generally beneath and parallel to the grate portion of the chopper grate assembly, with a plurality of fixed or flail-type knife elements attached to such shaft and positioned thereon to be alignably rotatable through the spaced generally transverse slots of the grate portion of the chopper grate assembly; and a drive mechanism for effecting rotational movement of the counter knife assembly, which drive mechanism is preferably controllable to allow an operator to vary the rotational speed and direction of the rotatable shaft so that the rotatable shaft may be selectably either maintained in an essentially fixed or locked condit

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for automatically recognizing a header connected to a harvesting machine and setting operating and/or adjustment parameters of a spreader of the machine for use with the header. The apparatus includes a memory containing information representative of predetermined spreader settings for at least one header connectable to the harvesting machine, such as a grain header and a corn or maize header. A detector element is operable for automatically identifying a header connected to the machine and outputting a signal or information representative thereof, to a controller automatically operable for using that information for retrieving the stored information representative of the predetermined spreader settings for that header. Input commands and/or information, for instance, relating to crop type, and/or crop and environmental conditions, can also be inputted using either an onboard or remote input device.

Abstract: An combine harvester comprises threshing and separating chambers having cover plates on which groups of vanes may be adjusted by individual tie plates utilizing an off-center pivot point for the vanes and a two-bolt system. The two-bolts being the maximum number of bolts needed to secure each vane wherein one of the bolts is an off-center pivot point while the other of the bolts extends through the cover plate to secure the tie plate for each group of vanes.

Abstract: A concave pan portion of an integral chopper assembly that includes a concave pan shell portion with a separate grate portion that may be easily installed into and removed from an intermediate opening in such concave pan portion for replacement in the event of undesirable wear thereto, and a separate interruption plate installable downstream from the slots in the grate portion for the purpose of effecting a lower mean length of chop (LOC) as the integral chopper assembly operates. The separate grate portion is configured to be installable to fill the intermediate opening in the concave pan shell portion, with a plurality of slots therethrough positioned side-by-side in the crossways direction to accommodate knife elements that are part of the counter knife assembly. Preferably, such separate grate portion may be crossways adjustable to some degree within the intermediate opening.

Abstract: An insertion tool for installing rotary chopper elements in integral chopper assemblies in combine harvesters, which insertion tool includes an elongated open-ended trough-like bed portion of a length, breadth, and depth to sufficiently accommodate the rotary chopper element therewithin, with lift brackets along the sides thereof configured to accommodate the prongs of lifting forks of a forklift. The rotary chopper element may be positioned to rest within the bed portion of the insertion tool for transport to adjacent to the access and installation window of a harvester and for slidable insertion by the insertion tool through such window for installation within the harvester.

Abstract: An improved knife bank assembly of a counter knife assembly of an integral chopper assembly of a combine harvester that includes an elongated bracket member that extends between opposed knife bank end plates and has a plurality of spaced retainment mounts securable therealong, with at least one, and preferably two, knife blades being removably connectable to each retainment mount in a side-by-side arrangement. The bracket member is preferably mounted to a shaft member that extends between concave pan side plates to be slidable along such shaft member to permit adjustable positioning of the knife bank assembly and the knife elements thereof relative to the slots of the grate portion, and the retainment mounts are preferably removably securable to the bracket member.

Abstract: A system and method for positively discharging crop residue from a combine for precisely and consistently delivering crop residue from the threshing and separating area of a combine to the combine's residue handling system or outwardly from the rear of the combine and onto the harvested field below as a windrow. The present invention can include, or operate in cooperation with, a discharge mechanism, such as a conventional discharge beater, which delivers at least some of the crop residue to a conveying mechanism of the system. The system also includes a guide mechanism including a door arrangement configurable in several alternative configurations for receiving and merging and regulating crop residue flow from the discharge mechanism and the conveying mechanism, and directing the merged flow to a desired processing mechanism, such as, but not limited to, a chaff spreader, a straw chopper and/or spreader, etc.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for automatically recognizing a header connected to a harvesting machine and setting operating and/or adjustment parameters of a spreader of the machine for use with the header. The apparatus includes a memory containing information representative of predetermined spreader settings for at least one header connectable to the harvesting machine, such as a grain header and a corn or maize header. A detector element is operable for automatically identifying a header connected to the machine and outputting a signal or information representative thereof, to a controller automatically operable for using that information for retrieving the stored information representative of the predetermined spreader settings for that header. Input commands and/or information, for instance, relating to crop type, and/or crop and environmental conditions, can also be inputted using either an onboard or remote input device.

Abstract: A system and method of controlling maximum available engine power of a combine harvester wherein the engine drives the harvester and additionally powers a threshing mechanism for separating harvested crop into grain and crop residue and at least one further crop processing subsystem that may be selectively configured and disengaged, including a straw chopper engageable for chopping the crop residue and propelling the chopped residue from the harvester, structure configurable for directing the crop residue into the chopper or to bypass the chopper, utilizing a controller for automatically reducing the maximum available engine power as a function of the status of the engagement of the subsystems, particularly the chopper and the configuration of the associated structure.

Abstract: An improved combine harvester comprises threshing and separating chambers having cover plates on which groups of vanes may be adjusted by individual tie plates utilizing an off-center pivot point for the vanes and a two-bolt system. Said two-bolts being the maximum number of bolts needed to secure each vane wherein one of said bolts is an off-center pivot point while the other of said bolts extends through the cover plate to secure the tie plate for each group of vanes.