Abstract: A residue handling system of an agricultural harvester includes a straw beater for receiving material other than grain from a threshing and separating system. A subsequent residue treatment device receives the material from the straw beater and breaks down larger parts of the material prior to discharge from the agricultural harvester. At least one wind generating system is located at an end of the straw beater and directs a flow of air from the vicinity of the straw beater to the subsequent residue treatment device. The flow of air is directed to pass substantially through an upper rearward part of the residue handling system. The flow of air operates to further entrain, render airborne, and transport material other than grain proceeding from the straw beater to the subsequent residue treatment device.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes a chassis, with a separating system and a residue handling system each carried by the chassis. The separating system receives a flow of crop material producing a chaff flow and a residue flow. The residue handling system receives the chaff flow and the residue flow from the separating system, and the residue handling system includes a residue chopper operationally positioned immediately above a residue spreader. The residue spreader is oriented to receive the chaff flow and the residue flow chopped by the residue chopper.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester is described, the harvester comprising a processor for receiving a flow of harvested crop and processing the harvested crop, an on-board tank for storing the processed crop, and a loading arrangement for transporting the flow of processed crop from the feeder to the on-board tank. The loading arrangement comprises an auger, the auger comprising a lower section with an inlet for receiving the flow of processed crop and an upper section with an outlet. The auger further comprises a tubular housing and an auger fighting mounted inside the tubular housing for, during use, transporting the flow of processed crop from the lower section to the upper section and outputting the processed crop via the outlet of the upper section. A clearance between the housing and the auger fighting is larger in the lower section of the auger compared to the upper section.

Abstract: A crop residue spreader has a plurality of deflector elements arranged in a first group and a second group, a planar spreader frame element having a bottom surface to which the first and second group of deflector elements are displaceably mounted, the planar spreader frame element comprising a guide slot extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, a first cover plate that is displaceably mounted to a top surface of the planar spreader frame element; a second cover plate that is displaceably mounted to the top surface of the planar spreader frame element and whereby a relative displacement of the first and second cover plates away from each other causes a part of the guide slot to be uncovered and a third cover plate is configured to cover, at least partly, the uncovered part of the guide slot.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester including a chassis, a threshing and separating system for separating grain from MOG, and a grain cleaning system for further separating grain from residual MOG. The grain cleaning system has a main grain pan, an intermediate grain pan located beneath and rearward of the main grain pan, and at least one sieve located beneath and rearward of the intermediate grain pan. The main grain pan, the intermediate grain pan, and the at least one sieve are so arranged that the mixture of grain and residual MOG undergoes a first fall step from the main grain pan to the intermediate grain pan and a second fall step from the intermediate grain pan to the at least one sieve.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester with crop residue spreaders distributing crop residue laterally. Each crop residue spreader has a plurality of radially extending bats rotatable within a housing for directing residue from an axially directed inlet radially outward through an outer outlet. The housing has an outer wall with a height that increases axially in a uniform fashion around the periphery to minimize if not eliminate recirculation of residue to the inlet.

Abstract: A residue handling system of an agricultural harvester includes a straw beater for receiving material other than grain from a threshing and separating system. A subsequent residue treatment device receives the material from the straw beater and breaks down larger parts of the material prior to discharge from the agricultural harvester. At least one wind generating system is located at an end of the straw beater and directs a flow of air from the vicinity of the straw beater to the subsequent residue treatment device. The flow of air is directed to pass substantially through an upper rearward part of the residue handling system. The flow of air operates to further entrain, render airborne, and transport material other than grain proceeding from the straw beater to the subsequent residue treatment device.

Abstract: A spreader arrangement for an agricultural harvester includes a pair of spreader discs, at least one cover plate and a windrow chute. The spreader discs are generally horizontally arranged and rotatable in a counter rotating manner. Each cover plate is positioned at a location above a respective spreader disc, and is operable to inhibit a flow of crop material to the respective spreader disc when positioned above the respective spreader disc. The windrow chute has an entrance end positioned below the pair of cover plates and above the pair of spreader discs, whereby crop material is discharged from the top of the cover plates into the windrow chute.

Abstract: A harvesting machine having a guide mechanism adapted to direct a flow of crop residue from a threshing mechanism along one of three paths corresponding with three respective processing modes, the guide mechanism having a first deflection door and a second deflection door. An actuator and a first resilient element are coupled to the deflection doors, such that all three processing modes can be attained by contraction and extension of the actuator.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester is described, the harvester comprising a processor for receiving a flow of harvested crop and processing the harvested crop, an on-board tank for storing the processed crop, and a loading arrangement for transporting the flow of processed crop from the feeder to the on-board tank. The loading arrangement comprises an auger, the auger comprising a lower section with an inlet for receiving the flow of processed crop and an upper section with an outlet. The auger further comprises a tubular housing and an auger fighting mounted inside the tubular housing for, during use, transporting the flow of processed crop from the lower section to the upper section and outputting the processed crop via the outlet of the upper section. A clearance between the housing and the auger fighting is larger in the lower section of the auger compared to the upper section.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester including a chassis, a threshing and separating system for separating grain from MOG, and a grain cleaning system for further separating grain from residual MOG. The grain cleaning system has a main grain pan, an intermediate grain pan located beneath and rearward of the main grain pan, and at least one sieve located beneath and rearward of the intermediate grain pan. The main grain pan, the intermediate grain pan, and the at least one sieve are so arranged that the mixture of grain and residual MOG undergoes a first fall step from the main grain pan to the intermediate grain pan and a second fall step from the intermediate grain pan to the at least one sieve.

Abstract: A spreader arrangement for an agricultural harvester includes a pair of spreader discs, at least one cover plate and a windrow chute. The spreader discs are generally horizontally arranged and rotatable in a counter rotating manner. Each cover plate is positioned at a location above a respective spreader disc, and is operable to inhibit a flow of crop material to the respective spreader disc when positioned above the respective spreader disc. The windrow chute has an entrance end positioned below the pair of cover plates and above the pair of spreader discs, whereby crop material is discharged from the top of the cover plates into the windrow chute.

Abstract: A crop residue spreader has a plurality of deflector elements arranged in a first group and a second group, a planar spreader frame element having a bottom surface to which the first and second group of deflector elements are displaceably mounted, the planar spreader frame element comprising a guide slot extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, a first cover plate that is displaceably mounted to a top surface of the planar spreader frame element; a second cover plate that is displaceably mounted to the top surface of the planar spreader frame element and whereby a relative displacement of the first and second cover plates away from each other causes a part of the guide slot to be uncovered and a third cover plate is configured to cover, at least partly, the uncovered part of the guide slot.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes a chassis, with a separating system and a residue handling system each carried by the chassis. The separating system receives a flow of crop material producing a chaff flow and a residue flow. The residue handling system receives the chaff flow and the residue flow from the separating system, and the residue handling system includes a residue chopper operationally positioned immediately above a residue spreader. The residue spreader is oriented to receive the chaff flow and the residue flow chopped by the residue chopper.

Abstract: A harvesting machine having a guide mechanism adapted to direct a flow of crop residue from a threshing mechanism along one of three paths corresponding with three respective processing modes, the guide mechanism having a first deflection door and a second deflection door. An actuator and a first resilient element are coupled to the deflection doors, such that all three processing modes can be attained by contraction and extension of the actuator.

Abstract: An intake feeder system having a stone separator mounted between a crop elevator and the mouth of a threshing mechanism disposed longitudinally in a combine harvester. The stone separator includes a rotary feed beater and a sump disposed beneath the feed beater. The feed beater serves to advance crop raised by the elevator along a crop flow path towards the mouth of the threshing mechanism and to propel stones in the crop into the sump. A duct is provided in parallel with the crop flow path for connecting a space above the rotary feed beater to the mouth of the threshing mechanism.

Abstract: A stone separator is described for mounting between a crop elevator and the mouth of a threshing mechanism disposed longitudinally in a combine harvester. The stone separator includes a rotary feed beater and a sump disposed beneath the feed beater. The feed beater serves to advance crop raised by the elevator along a crop flow path towards the mouth of the threshing mechanism and to propel stones in the crop into the sump. A duct is provided in parallel with the crop flow path for connecting a space above the rotary feed beater to the mouth of the threshing mechanism.