Abstract: A header of a combine harvester includes a belt conveyor configured to direct a movement of harvested crop material toward a feederhouse of the combine harvester. The belt conveyor is located adjacent an inlet of the feederhouse. The belt conveyor includes at least one protrusion extending radially from the belt conveyor that helps direct movement of harvested crop material toward the feederhouse.

Abstract: A residue chopper comprising a housing forming a cutting chamber, a shaft, knives extending from the shaft, a counterknife support, a counterknife, and a fin. The counterknife and fin are attached to the counterknife support, with the fin behind the counterknife. the fin has a blunt side facing against the operating direction. The counterknife support is movable between a first position in which the counterknife extends a minimum predetermined distance into the cutting chamber and the fin is not within the cutting chamber, a second position in which the counterknife extends an intermediate predetermined distance into the cutting chamber and within the cutting volume and the fin is not within the cutting chamber, and a third position in which the counterknife extends a maximum predetermined distance into the cutting chamber and into the cutting volume and the fin extends into the cutting chamber.

Abstract: An embodiment includes a combine having a feeder housing for receiving harvested crop, a separating system for threshing the harvested crop to separate grain from residue, a residue spreader wheel spinning for expelling the residue from the combine, and a controller that controls the combine. The controller is configured to control the residue spreader wheel to continuously oscillate between a first speed less than a nominal speed and a second speed greater than the nominal speed while spreading the residue.

Abstract: An embodiment includes a system for sensing harvested grain levels within an agricultural harvester. The system including a grain tank configured to receive harvested grain, a sensor configured to emit a sensor beam into the grain tank for reflection off of the top surface of the harvested grain, and a reflective target integrated into a bottom surface of the grain tank at a minimum detectable grain level within the grain tank. The bottom surface of the grain tank being angled towards the sensor, the minimum detectable grain level being defined by a minimum grain level within the grain tank at which the top surface of the harvested grain is contacted by the sensor beam, and the reflective target being configured to reflect the sensor beam when the current grain level is vertically below the minimum detectable grain level.

Abstract: A header of a combine harvester includes a belt conveyor configured to direct a movement of harvested crop material toward a feederhouse of the combine harvester. The belt conveyor is located adjacent an inlet of the feederhouse. The belt conveyor includes at least one protrusion extending radially from the belt conveyor that helps direct movement of harvested crop material toward the feederhouse.

Abstract: A header of a combine harvester includes an auger for directing a movement of harvested crop material toward a feederhouse of the combine harvester. The auger includes multiple protrusions configured to both extend from and retract into the auger during rotation of the auger to assist movement of the harvested crop material toward the feederhouse.

Abstract: A header includes a belt conveyor configured to direct a movement of harvested crop material toward a feederhouse of the combine harvester. The belt conveyor is located adjacent an inlet of the feederhouse. The belt conveyor includes at least one protrusion extending radially from the belt conveyor that helps direct movement of harvested crop material toward the feederhouse.

Abstract: An embodiment includes a combine having a feeder housing for receiving harvested crop, a separating system for threshing the harvested crop to separate grain from residue, a grain bin for storing the separated grain, a bin level sensor for detecting grain in the grain bin; and a controller that controls the combine. The controller is configured to generate a usable operating range by discarding a selected range of values from an operating range of the bin level sensor, generate a shifted operating range by shifting the usable operating range by a shift value, receive a first value indicating a level of grain in the grain bin, generate a second value by shifting the first value by the shift value, and present the second value to an operator of the combine.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is directed to an apparatus for emptying material from a container on a vehicle. The apparatus has a container with a bottom surface and a sidewall. A membrane being mounted within the container proximate the sidewall and the bottom surface. The apparatus further includes an engine and ducts having a first end and a second end. The first end connected to the engine so as to receive gas from the engine and connected at the second end to the membrane so as to direct the gas into the membrane.

Abstract: A crop residue spreader for an agricultural crop harvester such as a combine includes a rotor having a plurality of paddles including a first paddle having a first cross-sectional shape and a second paddle having a second cross-sectional shape, the second cross-sectional shape of the second paddle being different from the first cross-sectional shape of the first paddle. Different V-shapes can be used for the first and second cross-sectional shapes, the openings of the V-shapes facing in a forward rotational direction of the rotor. Multiple pairs of similarly shaped paddles can be used.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is directed to an apparatus for emptying material from a container on a vehicle. The apparatus has a container with a bottom surface and a sidewall. A membrane being mounted within the container proximate the sidewall and the bottom surface. The apparatus further includes an engine and ducts having a first end and a second end. The first end connected to the engine so as to receive gas from the engine and connected at the second end to the membrane so as to direct the gas into the membrane.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes a chassis; a threshing and separating assembly carried by the chassis; and a chopper assembly carried by the chassis that receives crop material from the threshing and separating assembly. The chopper assembly includes at least one movable chopping knife; a plurality of counter knives movable between a first knife position and a second knife position, the plurality of counter knives configured to cooperate with the at least one chopping knife to cut crop material when in the first knife position; a shear bar movable between a first bar position and a second bar position; and a linkage assembly connected to the plurality of counter knives and the shear bar such that the linkage assembly is selectively actuable to simultaneously move the plurality of counter knives and the shear bar between their respective first and second positions.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method for unloading harvested crop from an agricultural harvester may include monitoring a quantity of the harvested crop discharged from the harvester based on sensor data indicative of the quantity of the harvested crop discharged from the harvester. The method may further include controlling an operation of a flow control device of the harvester to halt transfer of the harvested crop from a crop tank of the harvester to a crop discharge system of the harvester when a first quantity of the harvested crop has been discharged from the harvester. Additionally, the method may include continuing to control an operation of the crop discharge system after halting further transfer of the harvested crop from the crop tank to the crop discharge system to convey any remaining harvested crop contained within the crop discharge system to the discharge location.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes a chassis and a residue handling system carried by the chassis. The residue handling system includes a set of rotating knives disposed in a housing, a first set of counter-knives, and a residue pivoting platform and/or a second set of counter-knives. Crop residue travels through the system in a residue flow direction. The first set of counter-knives are configured to enter the housing proximate to the set of rotating knives. The residue pivoting platform is positioned proximate to the first set of counter-knives in an upstream direction relative to the crop residue flow direction. The second set of counter-knives are configured to enter the housing proximate to the set of rotating knives. The second set of counter-knives are in a downstream direction relative to the crop residue flow from at least one of the residue pivoting platform and the first set of counter-knives.

Abstract: A header of a combine harvester is provided. The header includes an auger for directing a movement of harvested crop material toward a feederhouse of the combine harvester. The auger includes multiple protrusions configured to both extend from and retract into the auger during rotation of the auger to assist movement of the harvested crop material toward the feederhouse.

Abstract: A header of a combine harvester is provided. The header includes a belt conveyor configured to direct a movement of harvested crop material toward a feederhouse of the combine harvester. The belt conveyor is located adjacent an inlet of the feederhouse. The belt conveyor includes at least one protrusion extending radially from the belt conveyor that helps direct movement of harvested crop material toward the feederhouse.

Abstract: A crop residue spreader for an agricultural crop harvester such as a combine includes a rotor having a plurality of paddles including a first paddle having a first cross-sectional shape and a second paddle having a second cross-sectional shape, the second cross-sectional shape of the second paddle being different from the first cross-sectional shape of the first paddle. Different V-shapes can be used for the first and second cross-sectional shapes, the openings of the V-shapes facing in a forward rotational direction of the rotor. Multiple pairs of similarly shaped paddles can be used.

Abstract: A system for sensing harvested crop levels within an agricultural harvester may include a crop tank configured to receive harvested crop. The system may further include a sensor configured to emit a sensor beam into the crop tank for reflection off of the top surface of the harvested crop. Additionally, the system may include a reflection panel positioned at a minimum detectable crop level within the crop tank. The reflection panel may be configured to reflect the sensor beam when the current crop level is vertically below the minimum detectable crop level. A center of the reflection panel may be positioned closer to the sensor than an outer edge of the reflection panel such that the reflection panel diffuses the sensor beam as it reflects off of the reflection panel.

Abstract: A windrow chute assembly includes a plurality of movable chute sections. A first chute section has a first proximal end for receiving material, and a first distal end opposite the first proximal end. The second chute section has a second proximal end for receiving material, and a second distal end opposite the second proximal end. The first and second proximal ends define a transverse axis therebetween. The first and second chute sections are displaceable toward one another to a closed or partially closed configuration to control the width and placement of each windrow. The first and second chute sections are also displaceable away from one another to an open configuration to provide access to rear areas of the combine.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes a chassis, with a separating system and a residue handling system each carried by the chassis. The separating system receives a flow of crop material producing a chaff flow and a residue flow. The residue handling system receives the chaff flow and the residue flow from the separating system, and the residue handling system includes a residue chopper operationally positioned immediately above a residue spreader. The residue spreader is oriented to receive the chaff flow and the residue flow chopped by the residue chopper.