Abstract: The invention provides an improved ripple pan which compensates for the over-deposition of threshed grain onto the outer portions of the grain pan by channeling the grain to the center of the pan. The pan has a central section with ripples that are perpendicular to the flow of the grain, and two outer sections with outer edges that are elevated above the central section. The ripples on the two outer sections are biased such that the outer edges of the ripples are located rearward of the inner edges of the ripples. An alternate embodiment of this invention solves the problem of excessive grain deposition in the central section of the ripple pan. This embodiment has two outer sections configured similarly to the first embodiment and a central section with a center peak which slopes downward on either side of the peak to the inner edges of the outer sections.

Abstract: A grain combine for threshing grain from crop has a threshing rotor within a rotor housing, a front plate with a crop entry hole, a stationary ring mounted on the rearward side of the front plate, a plastic bearing pad mounted on the outer surface of the stationary ring, and a rotating ring mounted to the forward end of the rotor housing which lands on the bearing pad, thereby supporting the rotor housing. The bearing pad has a soft, elastomeric inner layer adjacent to the stationary ring, and a hard, elastomeric outer layer adjacent to the rotating ring. In addition, the rotating ring has a plurality of holes that allow dirt or other foreign material to exit the rotor housing.

Abstract: A straw discharge assembly allows the beater to reach further towards the rotational axis of the threshing rotor, thus enabling it to remove a greater percentage of the straw which otherwise collects on the housing frame members. The beater has a barrel-shaped body, but it takes on an hourglass shape as it is divided into a center section with shorter blades and two side sections with longer blades, giving the center section a smaller effective diameter than the two side sections. The beater does not interfere with the rotational path of the rotor housing frame even though it is effectively closer to the housing frame. With their longer blades, the side sections are closer to the rotating frame legs and can therefore pull down and discharge more of the obstructed straw. The discharge grate is conformed to the effective shape of the rotor in a similar fashion.