Abstract: An airflow system for a rotary harvester includes a cleaning charge fan assembly, a cleaning fan assembly, and bonus sieves with fan assemblies. Each of the fan assemblies is powered by a hydraulic motor. By linking the charge fan motor, the left/right tailings fan motors, and the cleaning fan motor in a series hydraulic circuit, each of the motors will increase/decrease in speed at the same time and by the same proportional amount.

Abstract: A support assembly for supporting a moveable member of an agricultural combine is provided. The support assembly includes a moveable member, such as a foldable chaff pan assembly for spreading chaff and other crop residue from the rear of an agricultural combine, a support member and a resilient member connected to the support member for supporting the moveable member. The resilient member can be configured as an arched shaped or cylindrically shaped member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for unblocking a perforated rotary filter screen. In the invention, at least one jet of high pressure air is directed at a surface of the filter screen as the filter screen is rotated and the or each jet of air is moved in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the perforations in the screen in order to cause the or each air jet to trace a spiral or helical path over the surface of the screen.

Abstract: A method and system of harvesting crops involves cutting and threshing the crop, separating graff from straw, and returning the straw to the field. This is carried out in a harvesting unit of the pull type having a graff storage tank. The collected graff is moved to a stationary cleaning mill in a different location by means of a suitable vehicle such as a truck. Storage of the graff prior to cleaning is avoided and the cleaning mill, and the harvesting unit and vehicle.

Abstract: A cleaning assembly for an agricultural combine comprises a cleaning shoe with at least one sieve. The sieve is provided with adjustable blades. The sieve is provided with an adjustment element for adjusting the position of the blades. A driving element is connected to the adjustment element. The sieve can be removed from the cleaning shoe without disassembling the connection between the drive element and adjustment element. The connection is automatically disengaged when the sieve is being removed from the cleaning shoe and automatically engaged when the sieve is being reinstalled in the cleaning shoe.

Abstract: A variably positionable chaff pan for attachment to an oscillating element of a cleaning apparatus or system of an agricultural combine for oscillation therewith for conveying chaff from the oscillating element to a non-oscillating chopper or spreader mounted to a fixed frame of the combine. The chaff pan is also sidewardly tiltable with the cleaning apparatus or system, if so capable.

Abstract: A variably positionable chaff pan for attachment to an oscillating element of a cleaning apparatus or system of an agricultural combine for oscillation therewith for conveying chaff from the oscillating element to a non-oscillating chopper or spreader mounted to a fixed frame of the combine. The chaff pan is also sidewardly tiltable with the cleaning apparatus or system, if so capable.

Abstract: A harvesting machine having a dividing device for dividing granular material from stem- or stalk-like material, and a separating device connected downstream of the dividing device, in which there is a conveying unit for conveying the stream of material from the dividing device to the separating device. In order to satisfactorily discharge the stem- or stalk-like material from the conveying tines of the conveying unit, cleaning elements are provided for cleaning away the material being conveyed over the free ends of the conveying tines.

Abstract: A method and system of harvesting crops involves cutting and threshing the crop, separating graff from straw, and returning the straw to the field. This is carried out in a harvesting unit of the pull type having a graff storage tank. The collected graff is moved to a stationary cleaning mill in a different location by a truck. Storage of the graff prior to cleaning is avoided and the cleaning mill, and preferably the harvesting unit and vehicle, are designed to make this possible.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a cleaning assembly for an agricultural combine having a cleaning shoe with at least one sieve. The sieve is provided with adjustable blades. The sieve is provided with an adjustment element for adjusting the position of the blades. A driving element is connected to the adjustment element. The sieve can be removed from the cleaning shoe without disassembling the connection between the drive element and adjustment element. The connection is automatically disengaged when the sieve is being removed from the cleaning shoe and automatically engaged when the sieve is being reinstalled in the cleaning shoe.

Abstract: A rotary threshing and separation unit, comprising a rotor housing with a feeding zone, a separation zone and a discharge zone, parts of the circumferential housing being closed and other parts having openings, a rotary driven threshing and separation rotor arranged in the rotor housing, beater plates fixed on the threshing and separation rotor, and sucking air flow stream generating means sucking an air flow stream from the discharge zone through the rotor housing.

Abstract: A harvesting method gathers and threshes grain in the field, leaving behind the straw. It removes chaff and weed seeds from the field with the harvested grain, and separates the chaff, grain leavings and weed seeds from the grain in a separate yard plant. The chaff, grain leavings and weed seeds are compacted and crushed in a mill for use as animal feed. The simplified harvest units have augmented holding tanks, one version of which can be attached to (and detached from) existing farm tractors. An automated integrated yard plant (1) separates and cleans harvested grain and (2) compacts and crushes chaff, grain leavings and weed seeds for use as animal feed.

Abstract: This invention is a separator-conveyor that uses a scissors action to cut stems, roots, vines and other debris from a crop being harvested and processed. This is accomplished by providing a plurality of multi-sided rollers having sharp edges disposed alternately at an angle to adjacent rollers causing a scissors type cutting action that starts at one end of such rollers and continues to the other end. A plurality of the scissors action separator-conveyors can be used in conjunction with drying systems on a crop harvester-processor. This harvester-processor allows root crops such as peanuts to be harvested, cleaned, dried and graded in one continuous operation.

Abstract: A harvesting method gathers and threshes grain in the field, leaving behind the straw. It removes chaff and weed seeds from the field with the harvested grain, and separates the chaff, grain leavings and weed seeds from the grain in a separate yard plant. The chaff, grain leavings and weed seeds are compacted and crushed in a mill for use as animal feed. The simplified harvest units have augmented holding tanks, one version of which can be attached to (and detached from) existing farm tractors. An automated integrated yard plant (1) separates and cleans harvested grain and (2) compacts and crushes chaff, grain leavings and weed seeds for use as animal feed.

Abstract: A harvesting method gathers and threshes grain in the field, leaving behind the straw. It removes chaff and weed seeds from the field with the harvested grain, and separates the chaff, grain leavings and weed seeds from the grain in a separate yard plant. The chaff, grain leavings and weed seeds are compacted and crushed in a mill for use as animal feed. The simplified harvest units have augmented holding tanks, one version of which can be attached to (and detached from) existing farm tractors. An automated integrated yard plant (1) separates and cleans harvested grain and (2) compacts and crushes chaff, grain leavings and weed seeds for use as animal feed.

Abstract: A device for separating vegetables and root-crops from admixtures, comprising a transporter mounted on a frame and a device mounted on the exit end of the transporter for removing the vegetables from the transporter. The transporter has a plurality of protruding fingers for receiving separation products comprised of vegetables and admixtures and an upper bed with at least one bent part so as to create upwardly and downwardly inclined parts. The bent part causes the protruding fingers to move apart and allow the separation products to drop therebetween, wherein after the fingers pass through the bent part, the fingers clamp together and destroy at least a portion of the admixtures.

Abstract: A cleaning arrangement for a combine is equipped with return gutters, inclined and attached to the sides of the cleaning shoe and which serve to capture crop which accumulates on the upper surface of the cleaning shoe, during operation on a slope, and escapes across the side walls of the upper sieve. The crop is conducted by the return gutters to screw conveyors operating in opposite directions which direct the crop to vertical conveyors, which return the crop upstream of the cleaning shoe.

Abstract: The invention comprises a grain cleaning apparatus having a frame with a plurality of augers mounted beside one another in parallel relation. Screens surround the augers except at the ends of the augers to allow grain to enter and leave at the ends of the augers. A boxlike frame encloses the rearward ends of the augers with an open top to allow grain to be cleaned to be dumped into the open rear ends of the augers. A motor is provided with drive member to rotate the augers simultaneously whereby the augers will auger the grain from the box along the augers within the screens to the forward end of the frame, a chute is provided at the forward end for the grain to leave the frame after traveling along the augers. The mesh of the screens is smaller than the grain so as to retain the grain within the screens as it travels along. The mesh allows foreign particles and chaff smaller than the size of the openings to pass through the openings and drop downward from the screens.

Abstract: A combine harvester, having threshing and separating means for threshing and separating crop material and a cleaning apparatus disposed to receive threshed and separated grain from said treshing and separating means and being operable to clean unwanted residue from the threshed and separated grain is disclosed wherein the cleaning apparatus, including at least a pair of cleaning sieves arranged to be oscillated generally back-and-forth for moving threshed and separated grain therealong while permitting the passage of cleaned grain therethrough, and further including a cleaning fan operable to direct a cleaning air blast to the cleaning sieves for urging unwanted residue to the threshed and separated grain into an airborne state for discharge from the combine harvester, is provided with an agitator positioned between the cleaning sieves.