Abstract: A threshing element includes a structure having an outside surface for threshing a crop material, and an inside surface. A body is operatively connected to a sensor. The body is secured to the inside surface of the structure, the body having a connecting feature for securing at least the body and the structure to each other. The structure is securable to a rotatable threshing rotor of a harvester threshing system. In response to operation of the threshing rotor of the harvester threshing system, the sensor outputs a signal corresponding to forces generated by contact between the outside surface of the structure and the crop material.

Abstract: A threshing mechanism for a combine harvester has a cylindrical rotor for moving crop materials and a plurality of separator tines secured thereon for threshing crop material. A rotor chamber has a top casing forming an upper portion defining a volume of space between the rotor and the top casing. A plurality of crop transport vanes extend away from an inward surface of the top casing to direct the crop material generally helically along the chamber. The vanes have a rotor-facing edge at an outer end away from the inward surface of the top casing. The vanes are positionable between a base position and at least one extended position with respect to the rotor, wherein in the base position, the rotor-facing edge is positioned a greater distance from the rotor than when in the at least one extended position.

Abstract: An adjustable vane system for an axial-flow, rotary combine housing that incorporates at least one flat wall section as part of the otherwise cylindrical or oblong, curved housing cover, and adjustable vanes having flat bases that are angularly adjusted on the surface of the flat wall section. The housing includes fixed vanes on a curved portion of the housing cover that have a lead ends, in a direction of circumferential crop movement, substantially in registry with trailing ends of the adjustable vanes. The adjustable vanes include pivot connections near the trailing ends and swing connections near the lead ends of the adjustable vanes. All of the adjustable vanes are gang together and moved together. A mechanism is provided to swing the adjustable vanes from a position corresponding to the normal helical path of the fixed vanes to a bypass position wherein crop flow through the adjustable vanes will skip one or more passes between the fixed vanes on the next pass through the fixed vanes.

Abstract: A threshing unit for combine harvesters has a cylinder, an assigned concave, at least one drum situated downstream of the cylinder, redirecting a threshed crop material out of a threshing region, and conveying it further in a direction of a remaining-grain separating device, wherein threshing slats of the cylinder and slats of at least one downstream drum are situated at a distance from one another in a circumferential region of the cylinder, and wherein peripheral speeds of the cylinder and the drum are synchronized with one another such that in a turning and scraping region the slats of the cylinder and the drum are always positioned opposite each other, or in a leading position that slightly deviates from the position opposite each other, or in a trailing position which slightly deviates from the position opposite each other.

Abstract: A threshing unit for combine harvesters has a cylinder, an assigned concave, at least one drum situated downstream of the cylinder, redirecting a threshed crop material out of a threshing region, and conveying it further in a direction of a remaining-grain separating device, wherein threshing slats of the cylinder and slats of at least one downstream drum are situated at a distance from one another in a circumferential region of the cylinder, and wherein peripheral speeds of the cylinder and the drum are synchronized with one another such that in a turning and scraping region the slats of the cylinder and the drum are always positioned opposite each other, or in a leading position that slightly deviates from the position opposite each other, or in a trailing position which slightly deviates from the position opposite each other.

Abstract: The concave adjust assembly uses a torsion axle connecting a drive to a concave. The torsion axle includes an inner element having an angular sectional shape, a tubular outer element disposed about the inner element and having a larger angular sectional shape oriented such that corners of the tubular element are disposed opposite flats of the inner element, the elements being laterally relatively rotatable, and damping elements disposed between the inner and outer elements such that the rotation will compressively load the damping elements. The drive includes a motor, such that operation of the motor will adjustably move the concave, and the damping elements will damp impulse loads generated from threshing, to reduce transmission of the loads to the drive.

Abstract: A method of loosening crop material jammed between a cylinder and concave grate of an agricultural combine includes attaching a winch to a portion of the combine such that the winch location is fixed relative to the cylinder. An arm member is engaged with the cylinder, and a free end of the winch cable is attached to the arm member. The winch pulls the arm member toward the winch and rotates the cylinder in a reverse direction through a portion of a revolution, and then the winch is reversed to provide slack to allow disengaging the arm member from the cylinder, and reengaging the arm member at a different location to attain a suitable orientation. The winch is then again operated to rotate the cylinder in reverse through a further portion of a revolution, and steps are repeated as required to loosen the crop material.

Abstract: An combine harvester comprises threshing and separating chambers having cover plates on which groups of vanes may be adjusted by individual tie plates utilizing an off-center pivot point for the vanes and a two-bolt system. The two-bolts being the maximum number of bolts needed to secure each vane wherein one of the bolts is an off-center pivot point while the other of the bolts extends through the cover plate to secure the tie plate for each group of vanes.

Abstract: A rotary combine includes a rotor having a longitudinal axis of rotation and a concave removably mounted adjacent the rotor. The concave assembly includes a longitudinally extending frame having first and second sides spaced circumferentially around the rotor. Each of the first and second sides is transversely moveable relative to the axis of rotation of the rotor. A method for adjusting the position of the concave assembly is provided and includes moving at least one of the first and second sides of the frame in a direction transverse to the axis of rotation.

Abstract: A method for replacing the concave insert of a rotary combine. The rotary combine includes a rotor having a longitudinal axis of rotation and a concave removably mounted adjacent the rotor. The concave is removable in a direction outwardly transverse relative to the axis of rotation of the rotor. In a preferred embodiment, a concave assembly includes a longitudinally extending frame having first and second sides spaced circumferentially around the rotor. Each of the first and second sides is transversely moveable relative to the axis of rotation of the rotor. A concave insert is removably mounted to the frame.

Abstract: A rotary combine includes a rotor having a longitudinal axis of rotation and a concave removably mounted adjacent the rotor. The concave is removable in a direction outwardly transverse relative to the axis of rotation of the rotor. In a preferred embodiment, a concave assembly includes a longitudinally extending frame having first and second sides spaced circumferentially around the rotor. Each of the first and second sides is transversely moveable relative to the axis of rotation of the rotor. A concave insert is removably mounted to the frame. A method for adjusting the position of the concave assembly is also provided and includes moving at least one of the first and second sides of the frame in a direction transverse to the axis of rotation. A method for replacing the concave insert is also provided.

Abstract: A rotary combine includes a rotor having a longitudinal axis of rotation and a concave removably mounted adjacent the rotor. The concave is removable in a direction outwardly transverse relative to the axis of rotation of the rotor. In a preferred embodiment, a concave assembly includes a longitudinally extending frame having first and second sides spaced circumferentially around the rotor. Each of the first and second sides is transversely moveable relative to the axis of rotation of the rotor. A concave insert is removably mounted to the frame. A method for adjusting the position of the concave assembly is also provided and includes moving at least one of the first and second sides of the frame in a direction transverse to the axis of rotation. A method for replacing the concave insert is also provided.

Abstract: A control unit for an agricultural harvesting machine is arranged so that the width of a passage or opening between two machine elements can be precisely adjusted as simply as possible. Adjustable stops are in the form of plungers are displaceably guided in cylinders. Each cylinder is connected to a multi-chamber pump which contains a displaceable stepped piston. Individual chambers of the multi-chamber pump and the steps of the piston are mutually matched so that the same quantity of hydraulic fluid is squeezed out from the two chambers of the multi-chamber pump and the plungers move in and out in synchronism. The control unit is particularly suitable for use in foragers, combines other agricultural harvesting machines.

Abstract: A harvester thresher has two threshing mechanisms which are located directly one behind the other and each have a threshing drum and a threshing basking. The threshing baskets are jointly adjustable so that the basket of the first threshing mechanism is adjustable parallel to itself and by its adjustment the basket of the second threshing mechanism is turnable about an axle provided at the end of the second basket which is spaced from the basket of the first threshing mechanism.

Abstract: A turning drum of self-propelling harvester thresher is arranged after a threshing mechanism and has a closed casing with a plurality of rows of ribs extending parallel to a rotary axis of the drum. The ribs are inclined by substantially 20.degree.-40.degree. relative to a traveling direction of the harvester thresher. Thereby, the grains which strike against the inclined ribs are deviated, and as a result their striking energy is reduced and the grain breakage is prevented.

Abstract: A rotary combine including an elongated rotor assembly having a rotor mounted within a rotor casing for threshing crop materials passing through the rotor assembly. The rotor casing includes an axially elongated threshing section defined by a plurality of concaves that define an arcuate section extending axially along a underside of the rotor casing. Each concave extends in partial circumferential relation relative to the rotor and is supported for movement toward and away from the rotor. An improved concave adjustment mechanism including a powered motor assembly is operably disposed between the frame of the combine and each of the concaves so as to permit on-the-go adjustment of the concaves in unison relative to the rotor to variably control the cooperative threshing relationship between the rotor and the concaves.

Abstract: A self-propelling harvester thresher has two threshing mechanisms located one after the other in a direction which is transverse to a transporting direction and each having a threshing drum and a threshing basket. The threshing mechanism operate in accordance with the principle of a tangential flow and both drums of the thresing mechanisms rotate in the same direction. The threshing basket and the threshing drum of the first threshing mechanism and the threshing basket and the threshing drum of the second threshing mechanism are arranged with a gap relative to one another which gap is adjustable. The threshing drum of one of the threshing mechanisms which is the first threshing mechanism as considered in a working direction has a circumferential speed which is smaller than the circumferential speed of threshing drum of the other of the threshing mechanisms which is a second threshing mechanism as considered in the working direction.

Abstract: A rotor for a rotary threshing combine which is readily adjustable to provide a great variety of threshing patterns to suit the particular crops and conditions of use. The rotor drum has a plurality of mounting lugs affixed thereto in an array that includes longitudinal, circumferential, and helical rows. A variety of differently shaped threshing elements, each designed for efficient operation under particular conditions, is provided and said elements are selectively and interchangeably and releasably connectable to the mounting lugs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a maize sheller having at least one drum and counter drum (concave). The counter drum has an adjustable part and a non-adjustable part. The maize sheller according to the invention possesses a regulating mechanism for regulating clearance between the drum and the adjustable part of the counter drum. The use of a counter drum of such a construction economizes a significant amount of metal and enhances the screening capacity and the productivity of the entire device. The regulation of the outlet aperture within a comparatively wide range permits the use of the maize sheller for shelling corn cobs of different sizes and with different moisture content without causing damage to the grain. In case of penetration of foreign matter into the shelling apparatus, the drum and the counter drum are protected against deformation by a safety sector which is automatically opened.