Abstract: A control system for a harvester having a residue discharge system operable to eject crop residue according to an adjustable residue discharge parameter, the control system including a processor, a memory, a human-machine interface, and a sensor configured to detect at least one of wind speed, wind direction, or humidity. The control system is configured to receive the signal from the sensor, receive an operator input corresponding to a desired residue management strategy selected from at least a first residue management strategy and a second residue management strategy, and adjust the residue discharge parameter based on the desired residue management strategy and the detected at least one of wind speed, wind direction, or humidity.

Abstract: A harvester movable along a support surface. The harvester includes an inlet configured to receive crop, a blade configured to cut the crop into billet and extraneous plant matter, and a cleaning system configured to distinguish between billet and extraneous plant matter. Billet is directed toward a conveyor configured for discharging billet to a vehicle and extraneous plant matter is directed toward a hood. The hood includes a debris director defining an outlet configured to eject extraneous plant matter as residue onto the support surface. The outlet is disposed at an angle of residue ejection with respect to the support surface. The debris director is configured to adjust the angle of residue ejection with respect to the support surface.

Abstract: An agricultural cutting mechanism for use with an agricultural machine has a disk rotatable about an axis of rotation, a post secured to the disk, a blade, and a yieldable blade retainer. The blade is removably secured to the disk. The blade comprises a keyhole in which the post is positioned. The blade retainer is secured to the disk to move relative thereto between a blocking position blocking radially inward movement of the blade to the replacement position so as to maintain the blade in the use position and a service position releasing the blade to move radially inward to the replacement position for replacement of the blade with another blade. A blade for use with an agricultural cutting mechanism is also disclosed.

Abstract: A sugarcane harvester may include a base cutter configured to cut sugarcane, a chopping device in communication with the base cutter to receive the sugarcane cut by the base cutter, the chopping device configured to chop the cut sugarcane into billets, an elevator in communication with the chopping device, the elevator configured to transport the billets out of the sugarcane harvester, the elevator having a discharge end, a forward billet deflector beyond the discharge end of the elevator distant the discharge end, a rearward billet deflector proximate the discharge end and spaced from the forward billet deflector such that the billets fall between the forward billet deflector and the rearward billet deflector and a powered actuator to move the rearward billet deflector to adjust a discharge direction of the billets.

Abstract: A conveyor system of a sugarcane harvesting machine includes an inclined conveyor having a first shaft at a lower end and a second shaft at an upper end thereof. The belt is driven along the inclined conveyor between the first shaft and the second shaft, and the belt includes an upper portion and a lower portion between the lower end and the upper end. A floor is partially disposed between the upper portion and the lower portion of the belt, and a wiper is coupled to a bottom end of the belt such that the wiper extends from the belt in a direction towards the floor. As the upper portion of the belt travels from the lower end to the upper end of the inclined conveyor, the wiper moves with the belt and contacts and moves material that collects on a top surface of the floor.

Abstract: An agricultural cutting mechanism for use with an agricultural machine has a disk rotatable about an axis of rotation, a post secured to the disk, a blade, and a yieldable blade retainer. The blade is removably secured to the disk. The blade comprises a keyhole in which the post is positioned. The blade retainer is secured to the disk to move relative thereto between a blocking position blocking radially inward movement of the blade to the replacement position so as to maintain the blade in the use position and a service position releasing the blade to move radially inward to the replacement position for replacement of the blade with another blade. A blade for use with an agricultural cutting mechanism is also disclosed.

Abstract: A fan support arm with a base section configured to be coupled to a sidewall, a mount section configured to be coupled to a motor, and an arm section extending between the base section and the mount section. Wherein, the arm section has a profile that minimizes aerodynamic drag.

Abstract: A control system for a harvester having a primary crop cleaner for cleaning a cut crop, and a secondary cleaner for cleaning the cut crop downstream of the primary crop cleaner. The control system includes a processor, a memory, and a human-machine interface. The processor is configured to receive an input corresponding to a desired cleaning level of the crop, monitor an actual cleaning level, control the primary crop cleaner based at least in part on feedback from monitoring the actual cleaning level and including adjusting a speed of the primary crop cleaner to move the actual cleaning level of the crop during harvester operation towards the desired cleaning level of the crop, monitor an error between the desired cleaning level and the actual cleaning level during control of the primary crop cleaner, and control the secondary crop cleaner based at least in part on the error.

Abstract: A fan support arm with a base section configured to be coupled to a sidewall, a mount section configured to be coupled to a motor, and an arm section extending between the base section and the mount section. Wherein, the arm section has a profile that minimizes aerodynamic drag.

Abstract: A conveyor system of a sugarcane harvesting machine includes an inclined conveyor having a first shaft at a lower end and a second shaft at an upper end thereof. The belt is driven along the inclined conveyor between the first shaft and the second shaft, and the belt includes an upper portion and a lower portion between the lower end and the upper end. A floor is partially disposed between the upper portion and the lower portion of the belt, and a wiper is coupled to a bottom end of the belt such that the wiper extends from the belt in a direction towards the floor. As the upper portion of the belt travels from the lower end to the upper end of the inclined conveyor, the wiper moves with the belt and contacts and moves material that collects on a top surface of the floor.

Abstract: A control system for a harvester having a primary crop cleaner for cleaning a cut crop, and a secondary cleaner for cleaning the cut crop downstream of the primary crop cleaner. The control system includes a processor, a memory, and a human-machine interface. The processor is configured to receive an input corresponding to a desired cleaning level of the crop, monitor an actual cleaning level, control the primary crop cleaner based at least in part on feedback from monitoring the actual cleaning level and including adjusting a speed of the primary crop cleaner to move the actual cleaning level of the crop during harvester operation towards the desired cleaning level of the crop, monitor an error between the desired cleaning level and the actual cleaning level during control of the primary crop cleaner, and control the secondary crop cleaner based at least in part on the error.

Abstract: A compression thrower for a sugarcane harvester having a receptacle for receiving sugarcane. The compression thrower includes a first belt configured to receive sugarcane from the receptacle. A compression device is configured to compress sugarcane into a mat of sugarcane against a second belt adjacent the compression device. The second belt is configured to propel the mat of sugarcane from the sugarcane harvester to a target location.

Abstract: A harvester has a main frame defining a front and a rear, and an inlet for receiving first portions of a crop. The inlet is disposed proximate the front of the main frame. The harvester also includes a separator for processing the first portions, at least one outlet downstream of the separator for ejecting the processed first portions, a boom extending proximate the front of the main frame for reaching un-processed crop, and a topper coupled to the boom for cutting second portions of the crop. The topper includes a cutter for cutting the second portions, a conveyor for receiving the second portions from the cutter, and an outlet disposed proximate the conveyor. The conveyor is configured to transport the second portions towards the outlet for ejecting the second portions towards the field.

Abstract: An extractor for use with a sugarcane harvester comprises a fan and a hood. The fan is configured to rotate about a fan axis for inducing a cleaning flow of air to separate crop residue from sugarcane billets. The hood is positioned to receive in an interior region of the hood the cleaning flow of air with entrained crop residue from the fan and redirect the cleaning flow of air with entrained crop residue relative to the fan axis to an outlet of the hood to exit from the interior region.

Abstract: A billet transportation system for a sugarcane harvester having an onboard storage for receiving billets. The billet transportation system includes a first belt configured to receive billets from the onboard storage and transport billets away from a first portion of the sugarcane harvester to a target location. A second belt is configured to receive billets from the onboard storage and transport billets away from a second portion of the sugarcane harvester to the target location. At least one metering device is configured to control the flow of billets from the onboard storage to the first and second belts.

Abstract: An extractor for use with a sugarcane harvester comprises a fan and a hood. The fan is configured to rotate about a fan axis for inducing a cleaning flow of air to separate crop residue from sugarcane billets. The hood is positioned to receive in an interior region of the hood the cleaning flow of air with entrained crop residue from the fan and redirect the cleaning flow of air with entrained crop residue relative to the fan axis to an outlet of the hood to exit from the interior region.

Abstract: A harvester has a main frame defining a front and a rear, and an inlet for receiving first portions of a crop. The inlet is disposed proximate the front of the main frame. The harvester also includes a separator for processing the first portions, at least one outlet downstream of the separator for ejecting the processed first portions, a boom extending proximate the front of the main frame for reaching un-processed crop, and a topper coupled to the boom for cutting second portions of the crop. The topper includes a cutter for cutting the second portions, a conveyor for receiving the second portions from the cutter, and an outlet disposed proximate the conveyor. The conveyor is configured to transport the second portions towards the outlet for ejecting the second portions towards the field.

Abstract: A control system for a sugarcane harvester. The sugarcane harvester comprises lower feed rollers and upper feed rollers configured to feed cut sugarcane through the sugarcane harvester. An elevator is configured to transport sugarcane out of the sugarcane harvester at an elevator speed. The control system controls the elevator speed based on a crop mass flow through the plurality of lower and upper feed rollers. The control system comprises at least one crop mass flow feedback device providing a crop mass flow feedback signal indicative of the crop mass flow. A controller is in communication with the at least one crop mass flow feedback device and configured to lower the elevator speed when the crop mass flow feedback signal indicates a lower crop mass flow and raise the elevator speed when the crop mass flow feedback signal indicates a higher crop mass flow.

Abstract: A billet transportation system for a sugarcane harvester having an onboard storage for receiving billets. The billet transportation system includes a first belt configured to receive billets from the onboard storage and transport billets away from a first portion of the sugarcane harvester to a target location. A second belt is configured to receive billets from the onboard storage and transport billets away from a second portion of the sugarcane harvester to the target location. At least one metering device is configured to control the flow of billets from the onboard storage to the first and second belts.

Abstract: A compression thrower for a sugarcane harvester having a receptacle for receiving sugarcane. The compression thrower includes a first belt configured to receive sugarcane from the receptacle. A compression device is configured to compress sugarcane into a mat of sugarcane against a second belt adjacent the compression device. The second belt is configured to propel the mat of sugarcane from the sugarcane harvester to a target location.