Abstract: An agricultural combine having an adjustable spreader assembly is provided that includes a spreader, a regulator and a rotary spreader. The spreader is operatively connected to a rear end of the agricultural combine and includes a housing and rotary blades. The housing has an inlet for receiving a flow of residue, and an outlet configured about a lateral side of the housing for discharging the flow of residue. The rotary blades are operatively connected to the housing for rotating therein. The regulator has a proximal end pivotably connected to a lateral side of the spreader about a substantially vertical axis to pivot the regulator in a fore and an aft direction, and a distal end opposite the proximal end. The regulator is in fluid communication with the housing. The rotary spreader is positioned proximate the distal end of the regulator and receives and distributes the flow of residue.

Abstract: A system and method for conveying agricultural material in a harvester. One harvester includes a rotor which rotates to separate a plant into a first agricultural material and a second agricultural material. A grate is disposed vertically below the rotor and further separates the first and second agricultural materials from one another. A first conveyor receives the first and second agricultural material directly from a trailing end of the rotor and a trailing end of the grate.

Abstract: A system and method for conveying agricultural material in a harvester. One harvester includes a rotor which rotates to separate a plant into a first agricultural material and a second agricultural material. A grate is disposed vertically below the rotor and further separates the first and second agricultural materials from one another. A first conveyor receives the first and second agricultural material directly from a trailing end of the rotor and a trailing end of the grate.

Abstract: A system and method for conveying agricultural material in a harvester. One harvester includes a rotor which rotates to separate a plant into a first agricultural material and a second agricultural material. A grate is disposed vertically below the rotor and further separates the first and second agricultural materials from one another. A first conveyor receives the first and second agricultural material directly from a trailing end of the rotor and a trailing end of the grate.

Abstract: An agricultural combine having an adjustable spreader assembly is provided that includes a spreader with one or a pair of regulators. The spreader includes a discharge opening about its lateral side. The regulator is pivotably connected to the lateral side of the spreader such that the regulator is in fluid communication with the discharge opening. The regulator can be configured to move from a retracted position to an extended position or to vary the direction of discharge of crop residue. The spreader can be a vertical spreader, a horizontal spreader, or a spread board.

Abstract: A support assembly for supporting a moveable member of an agricultural combine is provided. The support assembly includes a moveable member, such as a foldable chaff pan assembly for spreading chaff and other crop residue from the rear of an agricultural combine, a support member and a resilient member connected to the support member for supporting the moveable member. The resilient member can be configured as an arched shaped or cylindrically shaped member.

Abstract: A flow distribution system for use with a combine spreader having an inlet opening at the top thereof for receiving crop residue, a pair of counter-rotating spreader paddles disposed generally side by side and forward of a back plate of the spreader, and a discharge opening below the spreader paddles. A flow guide element has an apex portion and a pair of opposed arm portions pivotally connected to the apex portion, the arm portions laterally extending to free end portions. An adjusting mechanism is operably connected to the arm portions to effect rotational movement of the arm portions about the apex portion, ends of spreader paddle members defining the outer swept diameters of the pair of spreader paddles and the crop residue flow surfaces of at least the arm portions defining clearance regions therebetween to controllably distribute crop residue in a desired pattern over a field.

Abstract: A system and method for conveying agricultural material in a harvester. One harvester includes a rotor which rotates to separate a plant into a first agricultural material and a second agricultural material. A grate is disposed vertically below the rotor and further separates the first and second agricultural materials from one another. A first conveyor receives the first and second agricultural material directly from a trailing end of the rotor and a trailing end of the grate.

Abstract: A flow distribution system for use with a combine spreader having an inlet opening at the top thereof for receiving crop residue, a pair of counter-rotating spreader paddles disposed generally side by side and forward of a back plate of the spreader, and a discharge opening below the spreader paddles. A flow guide element has an apex portion and a pair of opposed arm portions pivotally connected to the apex portion, the arm portions laterally extending to free end portions. An adjusting mechanism is operably connected to the arm portions to effect rotational movement of the arm portions about the apex portion, ends of spreader paddle members defining the outer swept diameters of the pair of spreader paddles and the crop residue flow surfaces of at least the arm portions defining clearance regions therebetween to controllably distribute crop residue in a desired pattern over a field.

Abstract: An agricultural combine having an adjustable spreader assembly is provided that includes a spreader, a regulator and a rotary spreader. The spreader is operatively connected to a rear end of the agricultural combine and includes a housing and rotary blades. The housing has an inlet for receiving a flow of residue, and an outlet configured about a lateral side of the housing for discharging the flow of residue. The rotary blades are operatively connected to the housing for rotating therein. The regulator has a proximal end pivotably connected to a lateral side of the spreader about a substantially vertical axis to pivot the regulator in a fore and an aft direction, and a distal end opposite the proximal end. The regulator is in fluid communication with the housing. The rotary spreader is positioned proximate the distal end of the regulator and receives and distributes the flow of residue.

Abstract: A support assembly for supporting a moveable member of an agricultural combine is provided. The support assembly includes a moveable member, such as a foldable chaff pan assembly for spreading chaff and other crop residue from the rear of an agricultural combine, a support member and a resilient member connected to the support member for supporting the moveable member. The resilient member can be configured as an arched shaped or cylindrically shaped member.

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: A chopper assembly for a combine includes a rotary chopper element, a chopper grate assembly spaced from the rotary chopper element to form a passageway for crop residue and a knife bank adjustably connected to the chopper grate assembly. The knife bank is movable between a first position where the knife bank is fully inserted into the passageway and a second position where the knife bank is full retracted from the passageway. An actuating mechanism is used to move the knife bank between the first position and the second position. A position sensor is used to measure the position of the actuating mechanism and determine the position of the knife bank relative to the passageway.

Abstract: A chopper assembly for a combine includes a rotary chopper element, a chopper grate assembly spaced from the rotary chopper element to form a passageway for crop residue and a knife bank adjustably connected to the chopper grate assembly. The knife bank is movable between a first position where the knife bank is fully inserted into the passageway and a second position where the knife bank is full retracted from the passageway. An actuating mechanism is used to move the knife bank between the first position and the second position. A position sensor is used to measure the position of the actuating mechanism and determine the position of the knife bank relative to the passageway.

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.

Abstract: A 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 knife elements are removably connectable to the retainment mounts at first and second space mounting points, preferably in such a way that the knife elements are maintained in an extended position by application of a biasing force at the second mounting point but are rotatable about the first mounting point to a displaced or relaxed position if a sufficient force is applied to the leading edge of the knife element to overcome the biasing force.

Abstract: A rotary chopper element for an integral chopper assembly of a combine harvester, which rotary chopper element includes a cylindrical rotary member having a plurality of ring portions axially aligned in an ordered side-by-side arrangement along the longitudinal axis of the rotary member, with each ring portion having disposed annularly therearound a plurality of mounting lugs, each of which mounting lugs is designed to support or to have affixed thereto at least one knife blade. The mounting lugs on each succeeding ring portion are rotated or offset radially from the lugs of the preceding ring by a predefined amount and the knife blades are attached to the mounting lugs to form mounted assemblies that have beveled leading edges that extend substantially continuously from adjacent to the outer surface of the rotary member to the tips of the knife blades. The knife blades of such mounted assemblies define a plurality of spaced helical arrays that extend along and wrap around the rotary member.

Abstract: An agricultural combine having an adjustable spreader assembly is provided that includes a spreader with one or a pair of regulators. The spreader includes a discharge opening about its lateral side. The regulator is pivotably connected to the lateral side of the spreader such that the regulator is in fluid communication with the discharge opening. The regulator can be configured to move from a retracted position to an extended position or to vary the direction of discharge of crop residue. The spreader can be a vertical spreader, a horizontal spreader, or a spread board.

Abstract: A support assembly for supporting a moveable member of an agricultural combine is provided. The support assembly includes a moveable member, such as a foldable chaff pan assembly for spreading chaff and other crop residue from the rear of an agricultural combine, a support member and a resilient member connected to the support member for supporting the moveable member. The resilient member can be configured as an arched shaped or cylindrically shaped member.

Abstract: A system for chopping and spreading crop residue produced by an agricultural combine wherein the spreader is advantageously disposed directly rearwardly of a cleaning system of the combine for receiving chaff and other crop residue directly therefrom, without aid of a mechanism to convey the chaff to the spreader, and wherein the chopper is disposed just above and/or rearwardly of the spreader and is configured for discharging crop residue from the threshing system of the combine into the spreader for spreading thereby with the chaff.