Abstract: A transition cone for a threshing system of an agricultural harvesting machine has an inner surface with a tapering inner circumference between a wider upstream end and a narrower downstream end, and a plurality of vanes in the transition cone. Each vane extends between the upstream end and the downstream end and at least partly around the tapering inner circumference. Each vane includes an upstanding segment extending away from the inner surface, and a base segment extending from the upstanding segment along the inner surface on the downstream side of the upstanding segment. The base segment has a thicker proximal region adjacent the upstanding segment and a thinner distal edge opposite thereto.

Abstract: A transition cone for a threshing system of an agricultural harvesting machine has an inner surface with a tapering inner circumference between a wider upstream end and a narrower downstream end, and a plurality of vanes in the transition cone. Each vane extends between the upstream end and the downstream end and at least partly around the tapering inner circumference. Each vane includes an upstanding segment extending away from the inner surface, and a base segment extending from the upstanding segment along the inner surface on the downstream side of the upstanding segment. The base segment has a thicker proximal region adjacent the upstanding segment and a thinner distal edge opposite thereto, with a curved exposed surface extending there between.

Abstract: A threshing drum has a cylindrical exterior, and a cuttings intake end having a seating surface. A helical auger flight, affixed to the cylindrical exterior of the threshing drum at the cuttings intake end, extends helically outward from the cylindrical exterior of the threshing drum from the inner edge to the outer edge and rearward from the leading extremity adjacent to the seating surface to the trailing extremity. The outer face faces forwardly toward the cuttings intake end. The inner face faces rearwardly away from the cuttings intake end. A wear plate includes a front extremity having a nose. The wear plate is connected to the inner face of the helical auger flight, the front extremity extends forwardly of the leading edge of the helical auger flight, and the nose of the wear plate is in direct contact against the seating surface of the cuttings intake end.

Abstract: A cutterbar knife drive cleaning apparatus for a header of an agricultural harvester is disclosed. The apparatus cleans the knife drives by discharging pressurized air from an apertured conduit toward the knife drive. Movement of a cutterbar supporting arm causes rotation of the conduit to produce a sweeping action of an air curtain over the knife drive in order to blow dirt and debris from the knife drive as the harvester traverses a field.

Abstract: A separating apparatus for separating rind and pith of a stalk including: a working platform; a support frame connected to the working platform; a saw blade disposed on the working platform for gradually splitting the stalk in a longitudinal direction thereof with the movement of the stalk; a guiding member disposed on the working platform and located behind the saw blade for separating the stalk that is split; a brush located behind the guiding member and protruded from the working platform, the brush being connected to the support frame through a brush shaft, and an axis of the brush shaft being perpendicular to the stalk; and a first motor connected to the brush shaft for driving the brush shaft to rotate. A method for plasticizing and granulating cortical fiber of a stalk based on the above separating apparatus for separating rind and pith of the stalk is also disclosed.

Abstract: A combine has a cutting mechanism (12) for cutting a crop and a feed mechanism (13) for feeding the cut crop 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 cut crop moving between the rotor and the housing from an inlet end of the housing towards an outlet end of the housing across a grating (22) through which separated grain leaves the housing. The harvested crop is fed by a final feed section (18) of the feed mechanism into the inlet end (20a) of the housing across a transition edge (A-A, B-B, C-C) of the housing which is split into a number of sections.

Abstract: A pivoting mid-floor section for use in a feeder house in an agricultural combine is located between the transverse drum and the transverse sprocket means. The pivoting mid-floor can move or adjust when a large volume of crop material is fed into the feeder house, while providing support for the conveyor chain along substantially the entire length of travel between the transverse drum and sprocket means, thus reducing the friction on the chain, and preventing the system slow downs that occurred in feeder house systems using a fixed mid-floor. Additionally, replaceable wear-resistant surfaces can be affixed to the runners or guides of the mid-floor to further extend wear life and reduce friction between the chain slats and mid-floor. The friction occurs between the wear pads on the runners or guides and the chain slats, rather than between the chain components and the mid-floor.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes a feeder house drivably coupled to a power source. The feeder house has a housing frame. A faceplate is pivotally coupled to the housing frame to facilitate a pivoting of the faceplate relative to the housing frame. A hydraulic cylinder has a first end connected to the housing frame and a second end coupled to the faceplate to facilitate movement of the faceplate relative to the housing frame. The hydraulic cylinder has a plurality of hydraulic ports for facilitating movement of the operating piston of the hydraulic cylinder, with at least a first hydraulic port of the plurality of hydraulic ports being connected in fluid communication with a hydraulic power system. A first accumulator containing a compressible gas charge is connected in fluid communication with the first hydraulic port of the hydraulic cylinder.

Abstract: A new and improved conveyor feeder house chain slat having a unique shape and structure that provides sufficient structural rigidity to improve crop throughput while reducing clogging of crop material. The unique slat also provides additional support to the chain. Because the chain rides on the rear of the elongated section of the slat, the slat contacts the feed house, rather than the chain, reducing chain wear, overheating and lubricant evacuation. Because of the new slat configuration, the slats can be secured to the chain with removable securing means, enabling easier replacement of an individual slat if necessary.

Abstract: A rotor, in an agricultural harvester crop processing unit, comprising a drum to which crop processing elements for an infeed section and a threshing section are affixed. The drum comprises a rearward cylindrical portion and a forwardly extending frusto-conical portion. The frusto-conical portion is divided into an aft-region adjacent to the rearward cylindrical portion of the drum, and a fore-region. The infeed section has at least one infeed element located on the fore-region of the frusto-conical portion of the drum. The crop processing section has at least one crop processing element located on the aft-region of the frusto-conical portion of the drum.

Abstract: A feeder drum for a self-propelled combine harvester has a feeder drum element, and a plurality of feeder aids associated with the feeder drum element and having effective surfaces which are wedge-shaped and tapered.

Abstract: A wear strip easily mountable on an outer surface of a support member or structure of a feeder of an agricultural combine, for preventing wear of the support member and a feeder chain movable thereover. The wear strip includes an elongate body of a molded plastics material having a longitudinal extending side to be positioned in facing relation to the chain and an opposite longitudinally extending mounting side to be mounted on the support member, the mounting side including at least one molded plastics mounting tab extending outwardly therefrom in a position for insertion into at least one hole through the support member, respectively.

Abstract: An agricultural combine for harvesting, threshing and separating an agricultural crop includes a processing assembly. A conveying mechanism moves harvested crop material to the crop processing assembly. A rotating member feeds crop material from the conveying mechanism to the processing assembly. An airflow diverter is transversely positioned adjacent the rotating member to divert a potion of the airflow from the conveying mechanism into the crop processing assembly independent of the crop flow path.

Abstract: A wear strip easily mountable on an outer surface of a support member or structure of a feeder of an agricultural combine, for preventing wear of the support member and a feeder chain movable thereover. The wear strip includes an elongate body of a molded plastics material having a longitudinal extending side to be positioned in facing relation to the chain and an opposite longitudinally extending mounting side to be mounted on the support member, the mounting side including at least one molded plastics mounting tab extending outwardly therefrom in a position for insertion into at least one hole through the support member, respectively.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for engaging and disengaging the reverse operation of a feederhouse of a harvesting apparatus. The mechanism solves the problem of accurate engagement between the shift collar or driving element and the reverse gear, teeth or splines and the forward gear, teeth or splines of the feederhouse transmission. The mechanism comprises an actuator, electrically controlled, which loads or compresses a spring, wherein the spring exerts a shifting force on a shift shaft or shift fork of the gearbox which automatically moves the shift collar or driving element of the transmission into either a forward or reverse drive position when the gear, teeth of splines of the shift collar is aligned or meshed with the gear, teeth or splines of either the reverse or forward drive of the feederhouse transmission.

Abstract: An axial flow combine harvester having a combination impeller and rotor. The rotor has a front end and is rotatable in a specified rotational direction during normal operation of the combine harvester. The impeller comprises a front, a rear, a mount for fitting the impeller on the rotor with the rear of the impeller adjacent to the front end of the rotor, and a pair of impeller blades extending radially outwards from the mount. The impeller blades are hook-shaped when viewed from the front end of the impeller with outer ends projecting in the rotational direction of the rotor.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for engaging and disengaging the reverse operation of a feederhouse of a harvesting apparatus. The mechanism solves the problem of accurate engagement between the shift collar or driving element and the reverse gear, teeth or splines and the forward gear, teeth or splines of the feederhouse transmission. The mechanism comprises an actuator, electrically controlled, which loads or compresses a spring, wherein the spring exerts a shifting force on a shift shaft or shift fork of the gearbox which automatically moves the shift collar or driving element of the transmission into either a forward or reverse drive position when the gear, teeth of splines of the shift collar is aligned or meshed with the gear, teeth or splines of either the reverse or forward drive of the feederhouse transmission.

Abstract: A variable speed, reversible drive for rotating elements of a feeder and a header of an agricultural combine including a first rotatable power input, a second rotatable power input, and a planetary gear arrangement or set including a first rotatable input, a second rotatable input, and a rotatable output, the rotatable elements of the feeder and the header being connected to the rotatable output of the planetary gear arrangement for rotation thereby.

Abstract: A self-propelled combine harvester having a threshing device, main threshing drum and feed drum for transferring crop to an axial dividing device. The axial dividing device has two housings that are asymmetrical and expand vertically and horizontally at their inlet ends to ensure uniform and trouble-free transfer of the harvested crop to the dividing device.

Abstract: A self-propelled combine harvester includes a transfer zone with side panels and a meshing and feed drum which functions on the tangential flow principle. The feed drum feeds the harvested crop to the separating rotors, which function on the axial flow principle and are rotatably mounted in rotor housings. Side panels are operatively mounted on the rotor housing in the frontal pickup region thereof Guide rails are directed upwardly at an acute angle and become increasingly elevated in the direction of conveyance, for imparting an upward, axially directed pulse to the harvested crop whereby the increasing elevation amplifies this pulse without thereby blocking the pickup zone in a frontal region. Dividing wedge for dividing the harvested crop into two paths, wherein the harvested crop glides over the dividing wedge towards the rotor housings and the long stemmed materials, such as stalks, are caught by the separating rotors and drawn into the corresponding rotor housing via the dividing wedge.

Abstract: An agricultural combine feeder assembly and rotor interface wherein the feeder assembly includes front and rear housing section connected by a pivot. The front section contains a conveyor while the rear section contains a rotating beater. The rearmost extremity of the beater is spaced from 5 to 16 inches from the forwardmost extremity of the impeller blade or blades on the front end of the rotor.

Abstract: A rotary conveyor comprises a rotatable drum-shaped shell, an eccentric axle located in the drum-shaped shell, finger supports mounted to the eccentric axle, and a plurality of fingers mounted to the finger supports that extend outwardly through openings in the drum-shaped shell. The finger supports are rotatively mounted to and spaced radially outward from the eccentric axle by annular bearings. The finger supports are parallel to the eccentric axle and are provided with a plurality of fingers, such that several fingers arranged next to one another in the axial direction are attached to finger supports. The finger supports are distributed around the circumference of the eccentric axle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a self-propelled combine harvester having a ground drive assembly, a frame, working implements for picking up, conveying, processing and expelling the harvested crop, drive devices for driving at least one meshing and feed drum, which functions on the tangential flow principle. The feed drum feeds the harvested crop to the separating rotors, which function on the axial flow principle and are rotatably mounted in rotor housings. Conveying implements are mounted on the separating rotors. A rotor core of the separation rotors has a substantially cylindrical basic shape on the outer contour where the conveying implements are mounted. The rotor core tapers from narrow to wide in a direction away from the feed drum. Side panels are operatively mounted on the rotor housing in the frontal pickup region thereof to improve the transfer of the harvested crop from the feed drum to the rotor housings.

Abstract: A rotary conveyor being disposed above the straw walkers of a combine is provided with a rotating body and disappearing tines. The rotary conveyor is an undershot conveyor and is designed to more aggressively loosen threshed crop material passing over the straw walkers. The tines are eccentrically supported in bearings. The tines can move radially in through tines guides that are located in recessed regions of the rotating body. The recessed regions being parallel to the transverse axis of the rotating body.

Abstract: A combine chain and slat crop conveyor includes a plurality of feed drum chain guides. Each chain guide is a generally cylindrical ring which encircles and is attached to the conveyor feed drum and is shaped as a “W” in cross section. Each chain guide includes two outer flanges which extend away from the feed drum surface at an angle, e.g. in a range from 20 to 70 degrees from parallel with the drum surface. The angled outer flanges insure that, as a chain starts to wander out of its path, it will get tighter, which forces it back toward the center of the guide ring. Each guide ring also has an elevated center portion which directly contacts the chain rollers, thus providing a rolling surface for the chain rollers, which puts all relative rolling motion and metal to metal contact between chain roller and roller pin.

Abstract: A crop harvesting combine having a body with a feeder house at its front end. The feeder house carries a detachable header which may be wider than the body and can thus be detached when moving the combine. The feeder house is vertically moveable in an arcuate path from a header ground contacting position to an elevated position. A first thrashing cylinder is in the header and a second thrashing cylinder is at the front of the combine body. The arcuate path of the feeder house has its center approximately at the rotational axis of the second thrashing cylinder so the distance between the axes of the first and second cylinders remains approximately constant as the feeder house is moved vertically. Downstream of the thrashing cylinder are a plurality of separation cylinders, at least some of which have concaves thereunder for reorienting elongate trash before being discharged.

Abstract: A grain combine has a header, a header discharge port, a feederhouse for transporting the cut crops from the header housing into a rotating concave threshing system. The header, discharge port and feederhouse are separated into separate first and second discrete cut crop passageways extending from the header to the intake end of the concave.

Abstract: A portable device as disclosed for threshing grain to obtain a sample to be tested, for example, for its moisture content, disease, and protein content. The grain sampling device includes a housing with a handle enabling the device to be carried, an inlet for sampled grain, a chaff outlet and a collection drawer for the threshed grain kernels. Grain entering the inlet first passes through a declustering device consisting of a first group of stationary, transversely disposed pins and a second plurality of transversely disposed pins that are carried on a rotating first gear wheel. The threshing function is performed between a vertically disposed, stationary surface having a layer of resilient, frictional material, and a second gear wheel disposed in substantially parallel, spaced relation to the stationary surface, and which includes a layer of resilient, frictional material in disk form that defines a movable threshing surface.

Abstract: A rotary combine including a feeder mechanism and a rotor assembly having an impeller assembly arranged at a forward end of a rotor. The feeder mechanism includes a housing which is pivotally connected to the combine about a transverse axis. The feeder mechanism housing envelops a conveyor assembly used to impart linear movements to the crop materials as they are advanced toward the rotor assembly. Prior to their introduction to the rotor assembly, the linearly advancing crop materials are discharged from a rotary member. A salient feature of the present invention involves the communicative relationship established between the rearmost rotary member from which the crop materials are discharged and the foremost end of the impeller assembly.

Abstract: A feeder assembly for a combine including a conveyor having a plurality of laterally spaced driving chains entrained about and supported by a pair of for-and-aft spaced lateral supports. An elastomeric assembly is removably fitted about and is adapted for rotation with one of the supports to define a replaceable wear surface for the support while attenuating noise generated by the feeder assembly during operation thereof.

Abstract: A combine of the type in which a harvesting head permanently affixed to a feeder housing is modified to permit rapid and simple replacement and exchange of the head without removing the feeder housing from the combine. The head is provided with openings for receiving complementary members extending upwardly from the feeder housing for initially removably mounting the head to the housing. Lower attachment elements are provided on the sides of the feeder housing, and an adjustable connector element secures the lower head portion to the lower feeder housing portion. Guide elements on the head assure ready alignment between the housing and the head during replacement or exchange of the head, and portions of the feeder housing are equipped with reinforcement elements to increase its structural integrity. The feeder housing and the head each include sprockets for an endless drive chain, and the length of the chain is adjusted to accommodate different heads exchangably mounted to the feeder housing.

Abstract: A legume harvester head assembly transports legume pods and a certain amount of vine mass delivered by a picking reel to a main apron immediately adjacent to the picking reel. The main apron moves the pods and the vine mass away from the picking reel toward a pair of vertically arranged gathering conveyors being driven and moving in a direction toward a discharge point. Pods and vine mass is deposited on an elevator conveyor from an opening between the two gathering conveyors.