Abstract: A spreader assembly for a combine harvester, the assembly including a pair of disks configured to be rotated such that chaff material dropped onto the disks is spread about the combine harvester, wherein each disk is operably connected to its own motor and a spreader frame assembly. The spreader frame assembly includes a first side support pivotably connected to a frame of the combine harvester, a second side support pivotably connected to the frame of the combine harvester, and at least one disk support configured to support at least one of the pair of disks. The spreader frame assembly further defines an opening configured such that when the combine harvester is windrowing material, no portion of the spreader frame assembly interferes with the flow of windrowing material.

Abstract: A chopper assembly for harvesting equipment including a knife bank movable between a first position where knife elements of the knife bank are fully inserted into a passageway for crop residue and a second position where knife elements of the knife bank are fully retracted from the passageway. A body has a slot or profile, the body secured to the knife bank and at least one knife element, the body and the knife element configured to move relative to the knife bank. A resilient device operably connects the slot or profile and the knife bank, the resilient device preventing movement of the knife element away from the first position and toward the second position until the knife element is subjected to a predetermined force. Upon removal of the predetermined force, the resilient device urges the knife element to move toward the first position.

Abstract: An agricultural vehicle includes a chassis and a windrow assembly carried by the chassis. The windrow assembly includes a windrow chute and a width adjustment device operatively mounted to the windrow chute. The windrow chute includes a discharge panel and a pair of side walls attached and movable relative to the discharge panel. The width adjustment device includes a manual adjustment member mounted to the discharge panel, and a pair of linkages with each linkage interconnecting between the manual adjustment member and a respective side wall.

Abstract: A feeder assembly for an agricultural harvester, including a first shaft, a second shaft opposite the first shaft, a chain extending around the first shaft and the second shaft, wherein the chain is configured to convey agricultural through the agricultural harvester, and a self-adjusting object deflector assembly positioned between the first shaft and the second shaft, wherein the self-adjusting object deflector assembly comprises a deflector biased against the chain and configured to block the agricultural material from interfering with a connection between the chain and the first shaft.

Abstract: A windrow door assembly for controlling a direction of flow of crop residue expelled from a combine is disclosed. The window door assembly may generally include a door panel extending between a first end and a second end. The door panel may be moveable between a closed position, wherein the crop residue being expelled from the combine is directed along the door panel into a spreader of the combine, and an opened position, wherein the crop residue is directed along the door panel towards a rear opening of the combine. In addition, the windrow door assembly may include a deflector panel rotatably coupled to the door panel. The deflector panel may be configured to alter the direction of flow of the crop residue when the door panel is in the opened position.

Abstract: A windrow door for controlling a direction of flow of crop residue expelled from a combine is disclosed. The windrow door may generally include a door panel extending lengthwise between a first end and a second end. The door panel may be configured to be move relative to a spreader of the combine between a closed position, wherein the crop residue being expelled from the combine is directed along the door panel and into the spreader, and a chute position, wherein the crop residue is directed through a rear opening of the combine and onto the door panel.

Abstract: A system for controlling the spreading of crop residue expelled from an agricultural combine is disclosed. The system may include a spreader configured to expel crop residue from the combine. The spreader may include at least one spreader disc configured to be rotated about an axis. In addition, the system may include a windrow door having an inner surface defining a flow path for directing the crop residue into the spreader. At least a portion of the windrow door may be configured to be moved relative to the spreader so as to adjust a location at which the crop residue is introduced onto the at least one spreader disc.

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 spreader assembly for a combine harvester is disclosed, the assembly including a pair of disks configured to be rotated such that chaff material dropped onto the disks is spread about the combine harvester, wherein each disk is operably connected to its own motor and a spreader frame assembly. The spreader frame assembly includes a first side support pivotably connected to a frame of the combine harvester, a second side support pivotably connected to the frame of the combine harvester, and at least one disk support configured to support at least one of the pair of disks. The spreader frame assembly further defines an opening configured such that when the combine harvester is windrowing material, no portion of the spreader frame assembly interferes with the flow of windrowing material.

Abstract: A support system for separator grates of a harvester includes a first member and a second member extending substantially parallel to an axis of rotation of a threshing rotor. The first member extends from a staging portion to a first support portion rearwardly positioned from the staging portion. The second member extends along a second support portion that corresponds to the first support portion. Separator grate segments may be selectably installed and removed from the first member and second member.

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: The crop residue distribution apparatus and system use a horizontal crop spreader assembly and deflector door independently relatively positionable to be configurable in a straw windrowing and chaff spreading configuration in which straw flow is directed through an aperture between drive units of the spreader assembly while the chaff is directed to the spreader disposed in a lower opening; in a straw and chaff spreading configuration wherein the door closes the aperture and both straw and chaff are directed to the spreader; and in a straw and chaff windrowing configuration wherein the spreader is withdrawn from the lower opening such that the straw and chaff are both discharged therethrough to form a windrow without requiring removing disks of the spreader.

Abstract: A spreader assembly for a combine harvester is disclosed, the assembly including a pair of disks configured to be rotated such that chaff material dropped onto the disks is spread about the combine harvester, wherein each disk is operably connected to its own motor and a spreader frame assembly. The spreader frame assembly includes a first side support pivotably connected to a frame of the combine harvester, a second side support pivotably connected to the frame of the combine harvester, and at least one disk support configured to support at least one of the pair of disks. The spreader frame assembly further defines an opening configured such that when the combine harvester is windrowing material, no portion of the spreader frame assembly interferes with the flow of windrowing material.

Abstract: A rotary element and a rotary element balancing system of a combine harvester. The rotary element includes a rotary member that rotates during operation and one or more blade mount assemblies. The rotary element also includes one or more auto-balance assemblies mounted to the rotary member to compensate for a mass offset on the rotary element due to the one or more blade mount assemblies being dislodged or broken. The one or more auto-balance assemblies include one or more tracks and one or more spheres located inside the one or more tracks and in contact with first and second bearing race edges. Loads are transferred from at least one of the first bearing race edge and the second bearing race edge, when the rotary member rotates, to the one or more spheres that self-align within the track to compensate for the mass offset on the rotary element.

Abstract: The crop residue distribution apparatus and system use a horizontal crop spreader assembly and deflector door independently relatively positionable to be configurable in a straw windrowing and chaff spreading configuration in which straw flow is directed through an aperture between drive units of the spreader assembly while the chaff is directed to the spreader disposed in a lower opening; in a straw and chaff spreading configuration wherein the door closes the aperture and both straw and chaff are directed to the spreader; and in a straw and chaff windrowing configuration wherein the spreader is withdrawn from the lower opening such that the straw and chaff are both discharged therethrough to form a windrow without requiring removing disks of the spreader.

Abstract: A support system for separator grates of a harvester includes a first member and a second member extending substantially parallel to an axis of rotation of a threshing rotor. The first member extends from a staging portion to a first support portion rearwardly positioned from the staging portion. The second member extends along a second support portion that corresponds to the first support portion. Separator grate segments may be selectably installed and removed from the first member and second member.

Abstract: A grain tank includes a generally flat bottom that is oriented at a position that is less than the angle of repose of the grain. A conveyor mechanism conveys grain along the bottom to a cross auger for unloading. One or more sensors may be placed in the grain tank to determine a state of the grain to further determine if the conveyor mechanism should be operated to unload grain from the grain tank.

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: An adjustable flow distributor for a spreader of an agricultural combine operable for discharging a flow of straw and other crop residue in a sideward direction for deposition over a field, the flow distributor including an edge portion oriented at an oblique angle to a reference such as a back plate of the spreader, defining an oblique shaped space therebetween, the edge portion being pivotally adjustable in the fore and aft direction for controlling the portions of the flow of crop residue deposited beneath the spreader and discharged sidewardly therefrom, respectively, for instance, so as to better and more evenly distribute the crop residue over a swath of an agricultural field from which the crop was harvested, particularly a region of the swath in proximity to the spreader and/or chopper.