Abstract: An agricultural vehicle includes a threshing system that is configured to output straw material in a straw feed stream at a first location of the vehicle; a cleaning system that is configured to output a chaff feed stream at a second location of the vehicle that is different from the first location; and a residue handling system. The residue handling system includes (i) a chaff receptacle positioned and configured to receive weed seeds from both the straw feed stream and the chaff feed stream, and (ii) a weed seed mill that is configured to receive the weeds seeds from the chaff receptacle and devitalize those weeds seeds.

Abstract: An agricultural vehicle includes a threshing system that is configured to output straw material in a straw feed stream at a first location of the vehicle. A cleaning system is configured to output a chaff feed stream at a second location of the vehicle. A residue handling system includes (a) sieve that is positioned to receive the straw feed stream and the chaff feed stream, the sieve including a perforated surface through which weed seeds within the chaff and straw feed streams can pass; (b) an auger or conveyor positioned adjacent the perforated surface for threshing the straw feed stream and the chaff feed stream against the perforated surface to cause the weed seeds to separate from the straw material; and (c) a weed seed mill that is configured to receive the weeds seeds that have fallen through the sieve and devitalize those weeds seeds.

Abstract: A feederhouse assembly for an agricultural vehicle includes a feederhouse frame including at least four interconnected walls, an open front end, an open rear end, and a hollow space circumscribed by the four interconnected walls. A header adapter is moveable relative to the feederhouse frame. The header adapter has an adapter sidewall disposed adjacent a feederhouse sidewall of the four interconnected walls. A torque stop is positioned within a gap formed between the feederhouse sidewall and the adapter sidewall. The torque stop has a low-friction bearing surface that is configured for bearing directly on one of the adapter sidewall and the feederhouse sidewall upon deformation of the frame to reduce friction between the adapter sidewall and the feederhouse sidewall.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes a chassis, and a residue handling system that receives a chaff flow and a residue flow into a flow passageway of the chassis. The residue handling system includes a chopper, a shroud at least partially surrounding the chopper, a spreader, and a moveable door panel assembly that is configured to be moved between a chopping mode position and a bypass mode position. The moveable door panel assembly includes a top door panel that is movably mounted to the top wall of the chassis, and a bottom door panel that is moveably mounted to the shroud. In the chopping mode position, the top and bottom door panels are positioned to permit the entrance of residue flow into the chopper. In the bypass mode position, the top and bottom door panels are positioned to either limit or substantially prevent the entrance of residue flow into the chopper.

Abstract: An agricultural vehicle, in the form of a combine harvester, includes a threshing and separating system and a cleaning system positioned beneath the threshing and separating system for receiving grain processed by the threshing and separating system. The cleaning system includes a first fan and sieves positioned downstream of a discharge outlet of the first fan. The sieves are positioned such that a stream of air produced by the first fan passes over the sieves. The vehicle also includes a housing having a hollow interior space that is positioned at least partially downstream of the first fan such that the stream of air passes into the hollow interior space. A second fan has a suction side that is in fluid communication with the interior space and a discharge side that exhausts to atmosphere for aspirating the interior space to reduce an air pressure within the interior space.

Abstract: A chaff pan assembly for an agricultural vehicle includes a chaff pan that is moveable between raised and lowered positions. A stationary bracket is mounted to a fixed point on the agricultural vehicle. A linkage interconnects the chaff pan to the stationary bracket and guides movement of the chaff pan between the raised and lowered positions. A locking member is moveably connected to the stationary bracket and is moveable between a locked position, in which the locking member is engaged with one arm of the linkage to prevent movement of the one arm of the linkage, and an unlocked position, in which the locking member is disengaged from the one arm of the linkage to permit movement of the one arm of the linkage.

Abstract: A combine harvester with a grain tank for storing harvested grain, an unload conveyor for unloading the harvested grain stored in the grain tank into a nearby grain hauling vehicle, a chopper for chopping residue straw, and a spreader system for spreading the chopped residue straw in an area behind the combine harvester. The combine harvester further includes a radar-based residue monitoring system for monitoring a spreading distribution of the chopped residue straw. A controller is configured to receive sensor signals from one or more radar sensors of the radar-based residue monitoring system, and to detect a presence of the nearby grain hauling vehicle based on the received sensor signals.

Abstract: A feederhouse assembly for an agricultural vehicle includes a feederhouse frame including at least four interconnected walls, an open front end, an open rear end, and a hollow space circumscribed by the four interconnected walls. A header adapter is moveable relative to the feederhouse frame. The header adapter has an adapter sidewall disposed adjacent a feederhouse sidewall of the four interconnected walls. A torque stop is positioned within a gap formed between the feederhouse sidewall and the adapter sidewall. The torque stop has a low-friction bearing surface that is configured for bearing directly on one of the adapter sidewall and the feederhouse sidewall upon deformation of the frame to reduce friction between the adapter sidewall and the feederhouse sidewall.

Abstract: A chaff pan assembly for an agricultural vehicle includes a chaff pan that is moveable between raised and lowered positions. A stationary bracket is mounted to a fixed point on the agricultural vehicle. A linkage interconnects the chaff pan to the stationary bracket and guides movement of the chaff pan between the raised and lowered positions. A locking member is moveably connected to the stationary bracket and is moveable between a locked position, in which the locking member is engaged with one arm of the linkage to prevent movement of the one arm of the linkage, and an unlocked position, in which the locking member is disengaged from the one arm of the linkage to permit movement of the one arm of the linkage.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes a chassis, and a residue handling system that receives a chaff flow and a residue flow into a flow passageway of the chassis. The residue handling system includes a chopper, a shroud at least partially surrounding the chopper, a spreader, and a moveable door panel assembly that is configured to be moved between a chopping mode position and a bypass mode position. The moveable door panel assembly includes a top door panel that is movably mounted to the top wall of the chassis, and a bottom door panel that is moveably mounted to the shroud. In the chopping mode position, the top and bottom door panels are positioned to permit the entrance of residue flow into the chopper. In the bypass mode position, the top and bottom door panels are positioned to either limit or substantially prevent the entrance of residue flow into the chopper.

Abstract: A spreader configured for dispersing a non-grain crop material onto a field. The spreader includes a floor panel having a distal end, a pair of side deflectors pivotally connected to the floor panel, and a table slideably connected to the floor panel and slideable between a retracted position and an extended position in which at least a portion of the table is extended past the distal end of the floor panel.

Abstract: A spreader configured for dispersing a non-grain crop material onto a field. The spreader includes a floor panel having a distal end, a pair of side deflectors pivotally connected to the floor panel, and a table slideably connected to the floor panel and slideable between a retracted position and an extended position in which at least a portion of the table is extended past the distal end of the floor panel.

Abstract: A system processes seeds that are present in crop material. The system includes a first shearing surface, a second shearing surface arranged opposite the first shearing surface, and a clearance between the first shearing surface and the second shearing surface. The system passes crop material between the first and second shearing surfaces, where the crop material contacts the shearing surfaces as it passes through the shearing surfaces. Contact with the first and second shearing surfaces damages seeds that are present in the crop material. The system can be installed in an agricultural harvester to damage seeds that are present in crop residue to prevent the seeds from germinating after the crop residue is discharged from the agricultural harvester back into the field.

Abstract: A rigid rotor discharge deflector apparatus for a combine, including a body member, attachable to the side wall of a discharge passage at the downstream end of the rotor, having a face portion with at least one ridge portion thereon extending generally laterally across at least a portion of the face portion, an upper body portion above the level of the ridge portion, an upper ramp portion sloped and extending outwardly from the upper body portion to the ridge portion, and a bracing associated with the upper ramp portion maintaining the ridge portion essentially fixed relative to the side wall and maintaining the upper ramp portion essentially fixed in position relative to the side wall under normal forward operating conditions of the rotor. The body member may also include a lower body portion below the level of the ridge portion, and the upper and lower body portions may both be attachable to the side wall.