Abstract: The threshed material passing through the foraminous cage and concave of the processor section of the combine falls by gravity to a distribution auger in a trough at the bottom of the processor housing. The threshed material passes through a slot in the trough to a pair of accelerator rolls which throw the threshed material downwardly to the cleaning section of the combine. In order to help the distribution auger to distribute the threshed material to the slot whereby the threshed material is spread along the trough and discharges at a relatively even flow rate along the length of the slot, one or two movable trough extensions are added to reduce the width of the slot along a portion of its length.

Abstract: A cage sweep for a foraminous cage of an axial flow combine having axially extending tines which are moved in an arcuate path by an oscillating mechanism having a pitman arm drive. The cage sweep is supported on the cage for movement in an arcuate path by rollers engaging arcuate guide rails.

Abstract: An axial flow combine having a foraminous cylindrical cage with a radial inlet through which crop material is fed by a feeder conveyor. The crop material is engaged by a threshing rotor having rasp bars with diagonal flanges tending to move the crop material axially in a direction away from the inlet. Helical ribs on the inside of the cage also urge the crop material in the same axial direction. A crop directing plate at the side of the inlet toward which the incoming crop material is urged forces the crop material to move circumferentially about the interior of the cage and across a substantial portion of the concave which is the same width as the inlet.

Abstract: An axial flow combine receives a crop material through a radial feeder opening at one axial end of a foraminous cage in which a coaxial rotor rotates. The cage is disposed within a processor housing and threshed material passing through the radial openings in the cage is accelerated downwardly to the cleaning section by accelerator rolls at the bottom of the processor housing. A portion of the space within the processor housing above the feeder opening is closed off in a unique manner to prevent threshed material from entering the area directly above the feeder opening and to divert threshed material passing through perforations in the cage near the closed-off space axially inward so it slides and falls downward alongside the feeder housing to the accelerator rolls. An overfeed auger is eliminated and a portion of the cage above the feeder opening is solid rather than perforated thus reducing the initial cost of the combine and maintenance expenses without significant reduction in harvesting capacity.

Abstract: An axial flow combine employs a pair of counterrotating and vertically offset accelerator rolls to accelerate the threshed material from the threshing section downwardly and forwardly toward the grain pan of the cleaning section. A laminar flow air stream is directed downwardly and rearwardly through the accelerated threshed material to effect efficient separation of chaff and lightweight stalk material from the grain.

Abstract: A combined concave and rock door structure is provided for an agricultural harvester wherein the rock door and the arms supporting the concave are pivotally mounted on the same transverse axis by a pair of pivot support structures. A control mechanism is provided for adjusting the threshing clearance of the concave and the concave is adjustable to maintain concentricity with the threshing rotor.

Abstract: A harvester in the form of a self-propelled combine (11) has a crop header (24) and conveying means (31, 32) feeding crop material to a threshing rotor (34). The speed of rotation of the rotor (34) is adjustable by changing the speed of a variable speed belt drive (50) in the drive train from an engine (16) to the threshing rotor (34). The variable speed belt drive (50) is of a type whose speed ratio cannot be changed unless it is running. A special rotor clutch (71) is interposed between the variable speed belt drive (50) and the threshing rotor (34) to permit the variable speed drive to be disconnected from the threshing rotor. Thus, when the rotor (34) stops rotating because of excess crop material, the rotor clutch (71) may be operated to break the power train between the variable speed belt drive (50) and the threshing rotor (34) and the variable speed belt drive (50) may be run and adjusted to a lower output speed.