Abstract: A rotary cleaning system for a combine harvester that includes a hollow drum having a plurality of apertures along at least a portion of a length of an exterior surface of the drum, the drum having a feeding end configured to receive a harvested crop and a discharge end configured to expel chaff from the harvested crop and a guiding vane positioned in an interior of the drum, wherein one of the drum and the guiding vane is configured for rotation while the other one of the drum and the guiding vane is stationary to expel grain through the plurality of apertures in the drum. A feeding mechanism can be attached to supply the crop to the hollow drum. A fan can be attached to the rotary cleaning system to generate an air flow stream. A plurality of fingers can be positioned in the drum.

Abstract: A self-adaptive throwing device for stalks cutting and discharging in the longitudinal axial flow combine harvesters comprises a longitudinal axial flow stalk discharging and guiding device, a stalks remnant shredding device, a wind direction and wind speed detection device, a reaping region identification device, an operating speed sensor, a shredding revolution speed sensor, a width adjustable throwing device, a self-adaptive throwing real-time control system. The throwing width is self-adaptive based on the machine operating speed, wind speed, wind direction, the position of the region having been cut and the region waiting to be cut, so as to achieve the full width throwing of the stalks remnant. An arc stalk guiding plate and a flow separating bar are mounted in the longitudinal axial flow stalk guiding device to make the shredding load more even.

Abstract: A combine harvester processing system comprises a rotor and a rotor cage encircling the rotor. The rotor cage comprises an arcuate section having an interior surface which includes a first vane and a second vane each disposed at an angle relative to a radial axis. The first vane is disposed forwardly of the second vane. The angle of the first vane is less than the angle of the second vane.

Abstract: A combine harvester includes a separating device that extends in a longitudinal direction of the combine harvester. In front of the separating device, a tangentially disposed feed drum is installed. The feed drum is configured with substantially axially parallel guide plates on a circumference thereof. The substantially axially parallel guide plates bear against the jacket surface of the feed drum via support elements. The support elements extend between adjacent guide plates in the circumferential direction and, extend between the adjacent guide plates in the radial direction across an entire free jacket surface of the feed drum.

Abstract: Separably-driven rotor portions for a combine harvester and a method for threshing grain using separably-driven rotor portions are provided. The combine harvester is moved through harvest material comprising grain material and material-other-than-grain (“MOG”). The grain material is separated from the MOG using multiple processing areas. The auger portion may be stopped or rotated at a slower speed with respect to rotation of the threshing portion to simulate the gathering of a large amount of crop material even when small plots are involved, thereby providing the benefits of large-plot harvesting to small-plot applications.

Abstract: A threshing system for an agricultural harvester including a plurality of threshing elements supported on a rotor at spaced intervals in a generally helical pattern about an outer surface of the rotor, each threshing element including a set of discrete threshing bars including a leading threshing bar proximate the outer surface of the rotor and a succession of threshing bars located progressively farther from the outer surface forming a ramp and defining a wedge shaped opening between the threshing bars and the outer surface, each set of threshing bars extending generally axially along the rotor defining axially extending spaces therebetween sufficiently large for passage of grain therethrough to the wedge shaped opening.

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 mounting component for securing a crop handling element to a separator rotor is embodied as a profile-section component, with side walls facing toward one another and extending in some portions in the circumferential direction of the separator rotor; for securing the mounting component to the surface of the separator rotor, and each of the side walls of the mounting component has a longitudinal weld seam, extending essentially parallel to the side wall, with a weld seam portion extending beyond the length of the respective side wall, which weld seam portion is embodied at an angle to the respective side wall.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved threshing and separating mechanism and method for a combine. The mechanism includes an elongated rotor mounted for rotation about a rotor axis within a rotor housing on the combine. The rotor has a threshing portion and a separating portion. The housing has a threshing section and a separating section corresponding to the threshing portion and the separating portion. The housing surrounds the rotor and is spaced from the rotor to form an annular space between the rotor and the housing for crop material to flow through in an axial crop flow direction from an inlet end of the housing to an outlet end of the housing. A rear portion of the rotor is tapered in a rearward direction to create an increased volume at the outlet of the rotor housing to prevent stagnation of flow of straw material in the transition of velocity between the housing outlet and the straw beater.

Abstract: A threshing system for an agricultural harvester including a plurality of threshing elements supported on a rotor at spaced intervals in a generally helical pattern about an outer surface of the rotor, each threshing element including a set of discrete threshing bars including a leading threshing bar proximate the outer surface of the rotor and a succession of threshing bars located progressively farther from the outer surface forming a ramp and defining a wedge shaped opening between the threshing bars and the outer surface, each set of threshing bars extending generally axially along the rotor defining axially extending spaces therebetween sufficiently large for passage of grain therethrough to the wedge shaped opening.

Abstract: A method of making a rotor for a threshing system of an agricultural combine, the rotor including a main body segment made from a sheet formed into a tube and including specially shaped interlocking edges forming a serpentine joint routed locations where threshing element mounts attach to the rotor.

Abstract: A harvested crop processing unit with a rotor and a rotor housing enclosing the rotor, that includes a cover element under which a first group of helically shaped guide rails and a second group of helically shaped guide rails are attached, where the guide rails of the two groups follow each other alternately and are provided with a leading end and a trailing end in the direction of rotation of the rotor and the guide rails of the first group are arranged offset to the rear of the guide rails of the second group in the direction of rotation of the rotor. The trailing ends of the guide rail of the first group are directed at the leading end of the guide rails of the second group following in the axial direction of the rotor housing.

Abstract: A rotor for a threshing system of an agricultural combine and method for making the same, including a main body segment made from a sheet formed into a tube and including specially shaped interlocking edges forming a serpentine joint routed locations where threshing element mounts attach to the rotor.

Abstract: The invention concerns a harvested crop processing unit with a rotor, a rotor housing enclosing the rotor, a cover element of the rotor housing, and a first group of helical guide rails that can be moved relative to the cover element between an operating position in which they are located underneath the cover element in engagement with harvested crop and a non-operating position in which they are located above the cover element. The invention proposes that a second group of helical guide rails be provided that can be moved alternately with the first group of helical guide rails relative to the cover element between an operating position in which they are located underneath the cover element in engagement with harvested crop and a non-operating position in which they are located above the cover element, and that are provided with an inclination that differs from the inclination of the guide rail of the first group.

Abstract: A clean grain and tailings conveying system for an agricultural combine, including a pan fixedly mounted beneath a lowermost sieve of a cleaning system. The pan includes a tailings receiving portion disposed below a peripheral edge portion of the sieve, for receiving tailings which fall downwardly from the edge portion during operation of the sieve, and a clean grain receiving portion disposed beneath the sieve for receiving clean grain which falls downwardly therethrough during the operation of the sieve. The pan includes at least one elongate collecting conveyor including a clean grain collecting portion which extends longitudinally through the clean grain receiving portion of the pan, and a tailings collecting portion which extends longitudinally through the tailings receiving portion, for separately receiving and collecting the clean grain and the tailings received by the pan, and conveying the clean grain and tailings to transfer conveyors that can also be part of the pan.

Abstract: A grate for an agricultural combine includes curved grate segments, each of which include mounting holes in at least one end segment. To provide a threshing grate, the end segments of the grate segments are offset to provide a “step”, or discontinuity in the radius of the assembled grate, which improves the threshing efficiency of the combine. The step can be provided by offsetting mounting holes between adjacent grate segments, and securing the grates to a frame member.

Abstract: A combine harvester with a rotor housing which is positioned in a lengthwise direction and with an inclined angle towards the horizontal line inside of the combine. To arrange the rotor housing in a favorable way inside of the combine harvester, it is suggested to use a feeder house which comprises elements which distribute harvested material from the cutterbar in an up and rearward direction towards its discharge end, said discharge end being arranged in a height substantially above of the rotational axis of the front wheels and in a region before the rotational axis of the front wheels, the discharge end feeds the harvested material into the feeding opening of the rotor housing of the separation unit being arranged in the upper half of it, whereby the rotor housing reaches with its front from a region before the rotational axis of the front wheels and a lower third of the height of the combine harvester to its rear being arranged in the top rear half portion of the combine harvester.

Abstract: An axial flow combine harvester comprises a rotor having a separator section which can be adapted to suit different crops. Within the separator section staggered crop engaging elements are spaced from one another along a first helical crop flow path. The crop flow path can be modified to suit crops such as corn and sunflowers by attaching at least one separator blade to the rotor in place of or in addition to selected crop engaging elements of the rotor. The separator blade forms a continuous crop engaging surface defining a second helical crop flow path of greater pitch than the first path defined by the staggered strop engaging elements.

Abstract: A rotor for a combine harvester comprises a thresher portion to which a plurality of thresher elements are fitted for threshing the crop material and a driver portion for driving the threshed material rearwardly through the housing. Impeller blades are fitted to the front of the rotor for facilitating the entry of the crop material into the cylindrical housing. A plurality of pins are attached to the driver portion of the rotor to drive the threshed material rearwardly through the combine harvester and at the same time to separate the crop from the chaff.

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: A combine harvester comprises a threshing and separating mechanism mounted to a main frame, which includes a generally cylindrical chamber having a generally longitudinal axis, and a separating concave assembly. The arrangement further includes a rotor assembly mounted for rotation in the chamber and comprising a generally cylindrical rotor body with a separating section associated with the separating concave assembly. The separating mechanism further comprises a beater assembly arranged behind the concave assembly for receiving threshed and separated crop material therefrom and projecting it rearwardly. The beater assembly comprises a transverse guide mounted behind the separating concave assembly and below the rotor body, and a transverse beater rotor. The chamber comprises a curved guide plate arranged behind the separating concave assembly and above the guide.

Abstract: A rotary combine is disclosed to include a wheel-supported main frame supporting, among other components, a cylindrically shaped rotor and a grain bin having sides and a bottom for the temporary storage of crop material treated by the combine. A support structure supported by the main frame overlying the rotor and including a lower portion having a semi-circular surface partially surrounding the upper longitudinal half of the rotor and including an upper portion having two inclined surfaces meeting to form an inverted-V shaped surface extending, in spaced-apart relationship, along and above the semi-circular surface and comprising at least a portion of the bottom surface of the grain bin.

Abstract: A rotary threshing and separation unit for grain harvesting comprising a rotor housing with a feeding zone, separation zone and discharge zone, sieve at least partially located within the separation zone, rotary driven separation rotor arranged in the rotor housing, fan or blower for generating a main air flow stream moving through at least the separation zone and discharge zone, an auxiliary flow stream, adjustable flaps and grain collecting element arranged below the sieve.

Abstract: A combine harvester comprises a threshing and separating arrangement mounted to a main frame, which includes a generally cylindrical chamber having a generally longitudinal axis and comprising a separating concave assembly and an upper guide cover provided with fins arranged to move harvested crop material along a helical path inside the chamber. The threshing and separating arrangement further comprises a rotor assembly mounted for rotation in the chamber and comprising a generally cylindrical rotor body with a separating section associated with the separating concave assembly and having a circumscribed diameter D. The pitch angle &agr; of the rotor fins has been optimized with respect to power requirements and rotor losses.

Abstract: A rotary combine is equipped with a rotor that has a separating portion having at least one ramp segment mounted to the rotor. The ramp segments provide an inclined face that directs the grain radially outward as the ramp segments move through the crop material. The ramp segments are intermixed with tines on the separator section of the rotor. The ramp segments provide a face that is trapezoidal in shape, having inwardly inclined front and rear edges so that the radially distal edge of the face is shorter than the proximal edge of the face. The trapezoidal shape of the ramp segments assists the ramp segments in shedding crop material and thereby preventing the crop material from becoming entangled thereon.

Abstract: The discharge section of an axially arranged rotary combine is provided with a metering edge overhanging a discharge chute. The metering edge is asymmetrical having a downswept edge and an upswept edge. The downswept edge is more open that the upswept edge. The downswept edge opens continually until the bottom dead center of the metering edge. The upswept edge closes continually form the bottom dead center of the metering edge.

Abstract: A rotary threshing and separation unit for grain harvesting comprising a rotor housing with a feeding zone, separation zone and discharge zone, sieve at least partially located within said separation zone, rotary driven separation rotor arranged in said rotor housing, fan or blower for generating a main air flow stream moving through at least the separation zone and discharge zone, an auxiliary flow stream, adjustable flaps and grain collecting element arranged below the sieve. To improve the performance of the rotary threshing and separation unit in more difficult conditions, an air flow stream is created between the sieve and grain collector element in at least the separation zone.

Abstract: The crop engaging element of the present invention is a hollow structure having a smooth curved convex top portion which terminates in a concave trough before extending into a radially extending lip. The hollow structure is provided with sidewalls and a rear wall. The sidewalls extend upwardly to enclose the sides of the trough. The element is provided with leading and trailing mounting flanges for mounting the element to the exterior surface of a combine rotor.

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.

Abstract: A harvester thresher includes a chassis, a housing, a threshing mechanism operating in accordance with the principle of a tangential flow, straw shaking means, and a threshing and separating unit located after the straw shaking means in the housing including a rotor and a casing, the threshing and operating unit operating in accordance with the principle of an axial flow and formed as a separate unit which is supported in the housing exchangeably so that it can be exchanged by another structural unit.

Abstract: A distinguishing feature of the threshing unit resides in its concave (4) being made up of a number of independent sections (5 and 6) arranged on both sides of the threshing cylinder rotor (1) longitudinal axis. The first section (5) of the concave (4), as along the direction of the cylinder rotation, is fixed rigidly with respect to the cylinder (1), while the other section (6) is articulated with respect to the first section (5) and has a device (7) for adjusting the outlet threshing clearance.

Abstract: An axial flow harvesting machine having at least one generally cylindrical rotor rotatably mounted within a casing and operable, in conjunction with the casing, to thresh and separate grain from straw material, and a plurality of mounting members permanently provided at predetermined positions over the periphery of the rotor is disclosed wherein the height of each mounting member is less than the height of crop operating members mountable thereon for operation on the straw material in use of the machine to thresh and separate grain therefrom.

Abstract: An axial flow harvesting machine having at least one generally cylindrical rotor rotatably mounted within a casing and operable, in conjunction with the casing, to thresh and separate grain from straw material, and a plurality of threshing elements provided around the periphery of the rotor is disclosed wherein the threshing elements are staggered along the axis of the rotor and configured for optimum crop flow along the rotor. The threshing elements are also arranged to overlap axially, and preferably also circumferentially, with respect to the associated rotor.

Abstract: In an axial flow rotary separator, the crop material engaging elements of the eccentrically mounted rotor include helically oriented deflecting surfaces of significant axial extent which in operation, sweep closely or "wipe" a separating grate of the separator casing while the helical surfaces contribute to axial indexing of the material.

Abstract: A self-propelling harvester thresher, particularly a caterpillar-driven small harvester thresher for rice or the like comprises a threshing and separating mechanism operating in accordance with an axial flow system, a sieve device for separating a grain-chaff mixture and having a transporting bottom, and a transporting device arranged to transport the grain-chaff mixture from the threshing and separating mechanism to the sieve device, the transporting device including a trough and at least one collecting and transferring screw which is supported in the trough and extends transversely to a travelling direction, the collecting and transferring screw having two oppositely running screw plates provided on its ends and a throwing scoop provided in its center, the collecting and transferring screw and the trough being arranged before the transporting bottom as considered in a product throughgoing direction and substantially in a same horizontal plane with the transporting bottom.

Abstract: An axial flow combine harvester feed plate assembly for directing crop material from an elevator into a longitudinally extending threshing and separating rotor is disclosed wherein the feed plate assembly includes a surface extending upwardly and rearwardly to a junction with an arcuate surface to direct the mat of crop material being conveyed by the elevator in a linear path into a spirally extending flow path around the threshing and separating rotor. For axial flow harvesters having a pair of threshing and separating rotors, the feed plate includes a central divider member and a pair of transversely spaced side members providing an infeed configuration that eliminates dead spots in the transition of the flow of crop material from the elevator to the threshing and separating rotors to provide a smooth and efficient harvesting operation.