Abstract: A threshing and separating system includes a concave; a shaft defining an axis of rotation which is parallel to the concave and transverse to a longitudinal axis; and a plurality of slats rotated by the shaft and configured to move crop material against the concave. The slats have a helical shape winding around the axis of rotation. The slats include a first set of slats being predominantly on a left side of the shaft and having a left-handed helical shape, and a second set of slats being predominantly on a right side of the shaft and having a right-handed helical shape. At least one slat of said first set of slats is staggered relative to a closest slat of said second set of slats, such that a portion of a slat length of said at least one slat is overlapped with one or more adjacent slats of said second set.

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 finger support for the fingers of a rotating drum conveyor (e.g. feed drum) and agricultural harvesting head includes first and second finger supports with first and second ring portions fixed together to define a gap into which a third ring portion is received and supported.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes a header with an infeed assembly including a driving element configured to rotate; a hollow tube rotationally coupled to the driving element and having a plurality of openings formed therein; and at least one finger unit rotatably held within the hollow tube. Each finger unit includes: a finger hub having at least one pivoting aperture formed therein and at least one driving aperture formed therein; a pivoting finger pivotally held within the at least one pivoting aperture and configured to at least partially extend out of one of the openings of the hollow tube during rotation; and a driving finger fixedly held within the at least one driving aperture and configured to at least partially extend into one of the openings of the hollow tube to rotate the finger unit by the hollow tube.

Abstract: A feed beater (114) for a single-rotor, axial-flow combine (100) that comprises a cylinder (200) having a first end portion and a second end portion; first blades (202) fixed to the first end portion of the cylinder (200) and disposed at a first angle (alpha) with respect to a rotational axis (300) of the cylinder (200); second blades (204) fixed to the second end portion of the cylinder (200) and disposed at a second angle (beta) with respect to the rotational axis (300) of the cylinder (200); the first blades (202) spiral in a first direction over a first longitudinal extent of the cylinder (200); and the second blades (204) spiral in a second direction over a second longitudinal extent of the cylinder (200), wherein the second direction is opposite to the first direction, and further wherein the first longitudinal extent is greater than the second longitudinal extent.

Abstract: A system, and method of use thereof, that employs short distance communications signals, thereby limiting and localizing the dissemination area for such signals, for interactively coordinating crop material transfer operations between a harvester and a grain transport, including the automated conduct of an unloading operation, including commencement of the actual unloading of the grain through continuation of such unloading to termination of such unloading, which system and method of the present invention employs operating systems in the harvester and grain transport that so operate to become electronically linked to one another to thereafter operate in unison with one another to effect and control the conduct of the crop material transfer operation between the harvester and grain transport, with each of such operating systems having associated therewith a short range communications system for the transmission and receipt at close range of electronic data signals, such operating systems, when appropriately el

Abstract: A beater (17) for use in a combine harvester in which harvested crop is fed as a number of separate streams towards a threshing and/or separating rotor (21) which rotates within a housing (20) about an axis disposed generally longitudinally relative to the combine. The beater rotates about an axis generally transverse relative to the combine and is divided asymmetrically along its length into a number of sections (A1, B1,C1) corresponding to the number of streams of crop, each section of the beater having differently angled crop feeding members (17a,17b,17c) which direct crop towards a crop steam.

Abstract: Rotary accelerating apparatus for a crop residue spreader of an agricultural combine, including blades mounted to a rotatable hub for rotation therewith, each of the blades having a surface oriented to face in the direction of rotation, the surface having opposite, spaced axial edges, and a mounting portion disposed intermediate the edges, and arms connected to and extending between the blades and the hub, each of the blades having first and second surface portions disposed primarily for contacting different flows of crop residue emanating from different locations for integrating, accelerating and discharging the flows for dispersal over an agricultural field, the mounting location of the blades, and the relative shapes and sizes of the portions thereof providing advantageous load distribution and transfer characteristics.

Abstract: The rotary beater has a number of untwisted, flat, feeding plate segments angularly disposed about its periphery. The plates are arranged in a left-hand group and a right-hand group so oriented that they converge the crop material centrally as they feed and accelerate the crop material rearwardly toward and through the inlet of an axial flow threshing rotor assembly. The feeding segments of each group are arranged in diametrically opposed sets containing at least one segment each, and the sets of one group are offset circumferentially 90° from the sets of the other group. Each segment has a hardened crop-engaging face, and the segments are all detachably bolted to the drum of the beater to facilitate removal and replacement when worn or damaged.

Abstract: A beater for an agricultural combine comprises an open rotor frame mounted on a drive shaft. The open frame defines a cylindrical periphery to which are mounted transversely extending mounting plates. Adjacent mounting plates define mounting channels. Replaceable crop-engaging blades are mounted in the mounting channels. The mounting plates are provided with a first upturned portion and a second upturned portion. Each replaceable blade is provided with a crop engaging portion and an integral mounting portion. The crop engaging portion of the replaceable blades is provided with first and second mounting lips. The first and second mounting lips respectively engage first and second edges on the first and second upturned portions to prevent rotation of the replaceable blade. The crop engaging portion of the replaceable blade extends outwardly from the mounting channel to engage the crop. Open gaps in the mounting channel are formed between adjacent replaceable blades.

Abstract: A residue handling system for an agricultural combine including a residue chopper that provides enhanced air flow for evenly distributing crop materials onto a crop field. A hub and blade assembly accurately positions flail blades and resists fatigue stresses. Each flail blade includes an outer portion that is angled longitudinally away from a plane transverse to the axis of rotation. In a mated blade pair embodiment, the leading edges of the paired flail blades may be closer to each other than the trailing edges, or vice versa. Also, the leading edges of the flail blade pair may be the same distance away as the trailing edges of the pair, beneficially directing discharge sideways in a preferred common direction. The assembly includes a mounting support post that has a width substantially equal to the distance between two mated blades. The mated blades are installed directly against the sides of the mounting support, without spacer bushings, using only three connector elements.

Abstract: A combine having an axial separator that is provided with an outlet. A discharge beater is located adjacent the outlet. The discharge beater can be selectively rotated in response to crop throughput volume. The discharge beater is arranged to convey crop remains thrown out of the axial separator downwardly. The discharge beater is spaced away from the outlet of the axial separator in such a way that it comes into contact with the crop remains only when the axial separator is operating at relatively high throughput volumes.

Abstract: A fishback assembly which is mounted on top of a separation device on an agricultural combine. The fishback assembly comprises a series of vertical fishback flanges that are coupled to one another by upstream and downstream mounting brackets. The mounting bracket is mounted to the separation device by mounting bolts passing through mounting holes formed ion the mounting brackets.

Abstract: Conventional agricultural combines are equipped with straw walkers for separating grain entrapped in the threshed crop mat. A rotary separator having two transverse rotors arranged one behind the other is positioned above the straw walkers. The rotors can be driven in the same or in opposite directions and are provided with tines for penetrating the crop mat. The tines are rotatively mounted to an eccentric axle located in the rotor housing.

Abstract: A crop processing arrangement (28) is proposed with a cylindrical rotor housing (42), an eccentric axle (44) rotatively supported in bearings therein and tines (46) rotatively supported in bearings on the eccentric axle (44). The transverse inclination of the tines can be varied by shifting the axial position of the eccentric axle relative to the cylindrical rotor housing. In this way a loosening and sideways movement of the crop conveyed by the tines (46) is attained with a relatively simple mechanism.

Abstract: A harvester (10) includes a separator (22) to help separate unwanted plant material from a crop. Separator (22) includes a series of paddles (46) which are rotated in unison by a drive system (50). The crop, which will often comprise a vine or tree crop, and which will ideally comprise raisins (14), falls between rotating paddles (46). Plant materials, such as cane (60), is transported by the tops of the rotating paddles from over cane separator (22).

Abstract: A forage harvester is provided with a front unit, comprising a rotatable cutterhead to which crop material is fed by feeding apparatus comprising stationary lower feedrolls and movable upper feedrolls. The upper feedrolls are suspended from the feeder frame by a pair of belts, which define the lowermost position of the movable feedrolls, under conditions where no or very little crop is introduced into the harvester. Inevitable accumulation of crop material or dirt on the components of the feeding apparatus will not influence the position to which the feedrolls may be lowered. A steady and even flow of crop material to the cutterhead can hence be maintained, even when little material is introduced.

Abstract: The object of the invention is a straw-cutting machine which is positioned behind the grain separation devices of a combine harvester and whose separation organs chop the stalks falling from the straw walkers into short pieces. The aim of the invention is by means of a special design of the separation organs to reduce the required driving power, to chop and disintegrate stalks falling onto the straw-cutting machine in a lateral position or a longitudinal direction uniformly into the smallest possible pieces and subsequently to disperse the chopped stalks as uniformly as possible over the whole cutting width on the soil. This is achieved by positioning in uniform distribution fixed tang plates serrated on their front sides on the mantle of a chopping cylinder which tang plates separate laterally positioned stalks in a drawing cut in a uniform, relatively thin veil over cutting knives fixed rigidly, but equipped with springs on the chopping floor.

Abstract: The invention provides a harvesting shaker with a set of primary eccentric weights and secondary eccentric weights. The invention rotates the primary and secondary eccentric weights at the same speed, but may on the fly, using a hydraulic rotary actuator, change the rotational phase between the primary and secondary eccentric weights, causing an on the fly change of amplitude of the inventive shaker. The invention also uses a rotary valve, that does not require high pressure bearings, and that provides damping of the control system.

Abstract: A polyurethane sugar beet flail including one or more tapered arms which radiate from a hub that contains a hardened support bearing. One multi-arm flail includes a support hub containing a bored nylon bearing having a pair of co-planar arms which radiate from a tapered transition region of the hub. A channel separates the arms. Another multi-arm flail includes a pair of arms staggered about the circumference of the hub. Another flail provides a single arm.

Abstract: An adjustable chopper shaft is disclosed including a chopper shaft (14), a gear (18) concentrically mounted on the chopper shaft, the gear being accomodated in a gearbox (40). A setup (30, 32) for selectively allowing rotation of the chopper shaft relative to the gear are provided and this setup for selectively allowing rotation of the chopper shaft relative to the gear is located externally of the gearbox.

Abstract: In a forage harvester having a mechanically driven front attachment and hydrostatically driven compression rollers, the front attachment can be disconnected from its mechanical drive and instead connected with a hydrostatic drive of the compression rollers so as to be driven by the hydrostatic drive.

Abstract: A harvester thresher has a housing, a straw shaking means, a chopper drum arranged after the straw shaking means and provided with associated counter cutters for comminuting a threshed straw, a width distributing device arranged under the chopper drum for distributing the comminuted straw, the chopper drum being arranged at a height of the discharge end of the straw shaking means, the chopper drum having a drum casing, a shaft supporting the drum casing in the housing, and a plurality of parallel supporting rings arranged at a distance from one another on the drum casing, the chopper drum further having a plurality of impact plates, a plurality of transfer strips associated with the straw shaking means and inserted in ring gaps between the supporting rings, and a plurality of counter cutters which deviate under the action of an overload and extend in the ring gaps between the supporting rings at a different location.

Abstract: The invention provides a shaker with a set of primary eccentric weights and secondary eccentric weights. The invention rotates the primary and secondary eccentric weights at the same speed, but may on the fly change the rotational phase between the primary and secondary eccentric weights, causing an on the fly change of amplitude of the inventive shaker.

Abstract: A straw discharge assembly allows the beater to reach further towards the rotational axis of the threshing rotor, thus enabling it to remove a greater percentage of the straw which otherwise collects on the housing frame members. The beater has a barrel-shaped body, but it takes on an hourglass shape as it is divided into a center section with shorter blades and two side sections with longer blades, giving the center section a smaller effective diameter than the two side sections. The beater does not interfere with the rotational path of the rotor housing frame even though it is effectively closer to the housing frame. With their longer blades, the side sections are closer to the rotating frame legs and can therefore pull down and discharge more of the obstructed straw. The discharge grate is conformed to the effective shape of the rotor in a similar fashion.

Abstract: A harvester thresher has a threshing mechanism, a separating device operating in accordance with the principle of an axial flow and having a separating rotor provided with transporting elements and a housing surrounding the separating rotor, at least one receiving axle, a chopping device associated with the separating device for chopping a straw. The chopping device is formed as an axial flow chopping device and is located inside a region of a transporting path of the separating rotor. The transporting elements of the separating rotor are provided for chopping with outwardly open radial slots. The chopping device has a plurality of chopping cutters arranged on the receiving axle at a distance from one another in a circumferential path of the transporting elements so that each of the chopping cutters is located for a cutting process for a short time inside a respective one of the radial slots.

Abstract: A beater bar assembly for use in a threshing machine. The beater bar assembly is formed of a chute assembly and interfitting, horizontally oriented, rotating cylindrical drum having a plurality of extending teeth forming racks of combs. The chute assembly contains a collection sump which serves as a rock trap. The rotating drum teeth comb through the incoming plant material, batting entrained rocks and other debris into the collection sump, and accelerating the remaining plant material through the chute and into the threshing assembly of the machine.

Abstract: The invention provides a shaker with a set of primary eccentric weights and secondary eccentric weights. The invention rotates the primary and secondary eccentric weights at the same speed, but may on the fly change the rotational phase between the primary and secondary eccentric weights, causing an on the fly change of amplitude of the inventive shaker.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a beater for a combine having a hollow drum having a triangular cross section with first, second and third apexes that define the first, second and third wings of the beater. Identical first, second and third members are mounted to the triangular drum at the apexes. Each of the members have upturned ends that are joined together to form fourth, fifth and sixth apexes which define the fourth, fifth and sixth wings of the beater.

Abstract: A beater rod assembly for a crop harvesting machine where the beater rods rotate into and out of a crop row as the harvesting machine moves along the crop row. Each beater rod comprises an elongate fiberglass core surrounded by polyethylene sheath that exerts compressive forces radially inwardly around the fiberglass core. This arrangement alleviates damage to the fiberglass core that would otherwise occur by the tip end of the rod engaging posts or possibly engaging the tip end of another rod.

Abstract: A crop processor for attachment to a round hay baler for cutting, chopping and shredding various crops, especially hay and all types of crops with stems or stalks extending above ground with the cut, chopped or shredded crop being discharged into a round hay baler to form the processed crop into a round hay bale with the cut lengths of the crop material being useful for bedding, dry feeds, silage and other wet feeds and is especially useful in a total mixed ration mixing machine. The crop processor includes a high speed rotor with multiple cutting elements mounted thereon associated with a shear bar. The rotor and shear bar are oriented in a housing having an open bottom to enable a crop to be engaged and cut by the rotor and shear bar. The shear bar is horizontally adjustable toward and away from the rotor and cutting elements to vary the cutting, chopping and shredding characteristics of the crop processor in order to vary the cut length of crop material.

Abstract: Spiny pads are centrifugally propelled in a spiralling-outward pathway by a plurality of fingers that swing around a cylindrical chamber from a concentric shaft. The interior surface of the chamber is partially lined with spine shearers such as a rasp, so that the pads scrape against the rasp and thereby are despined. Spine pieces leave the chamber through small perforations in the chamber wall.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a forage mixture of corn kernels and cobs in a field of high-moisture corn includes a separating cylinder and beaters, grids through which cracked and crushed corn material may pass, a roller mill for forming this material into particles of a size that is uniform in size. The apparatus can process more than 80% of the cobs taken in.

Abstract: A camming member is used to adjust two beater grates. The camming member has two circular camming discs. The first camming disc engages an oval aperture on the first beater grate. The second camming disc engages a U-shaped slot on the second beater grate. An intermediate transition grate is located between the two grates and is bolted to the camming member. The transition grate has a radial aggressive profile and a tangential less aggressive profile. By rotating the camming member the beater grates are moved up and down and the profile of the transition grate is changed.

Abstract: A three-point hitch furrow sweep and trash shredder are positioned with the furrow sweep being centered over the furrows for moving stalks onto the ridges where they are acted upon by the shredders. The shredders include a rotor in a housing having a plurality of pivotal hammers which work upon the trash and drive the trash through a perforated screen which reduces the size of the trash particles and returns it to the ground. The furrow sweeps include a pair of coulters in back to back oppositely facing relationship centered over the center line of the furrows or a single coulter for each furrow. The counters may be staggered or positioned in back to back relationship and may be flat or concave in shape.

Abstract: A sugarcane rind-slitting apparatus of the type having a pair of counter-rotatable cylindrical members with a multiplicity of intermeshing annular projections. The apparatus includes disks on each cylindrical member, each disk having axially-recessed sides such that the disks of one such member extend into the recession formed by a pair of disks of the other such member. Rind introduced to the apparatus is slit effectively and efficiently by the intermeshing action of the disks, without excessive wear on the disks.

Abstract: A combine for cutting and threshing grain has an axial flow threshing drum. A feeder head mounts to the forward end of the threshing drum. Impellers on the feeder head push grain into the threshing drum housing and also provide threshing. Rasp bars on the feeder head thresh the crop prior to reaching the threshing drum while pushing the crop through perforations in the feeder housing. The feeder housing and threshing drum housing rotate, but at a slower speed than the threshing drum. A brake will prevent the threshing drum housing from rotating at an excessive speed. Clearances between the threshing drum and threshing drum housing, and clearances between the feeder head rasp bars and feeder housing, ca be adjusted for different crop conditions.