Abstract: A system for monitoring an extractor fan of an agricultural harvester includes an extractor fan having a shaft configured to be coupled to a rotational drive source for rotationally driving the shaft, a fan hub coupled to a lower shaft end of the shaft such that rotation of the shaft rotationally drives the fan hub about a fan hub axis, with the fan hub extending between an upstream side and a downstream side along the fan hub axis, and fan blades coupled to and extending radially outwardly from the fan hub. The system further includes a sensor that generates data indicative of acceleration of the extractor fan. Additionally, the system includes a computing system that determines an acceleration of the extractor fan based at least in part on the data, and determines whether the extractor is imbalanced based at least in part on the acceleration of the extractor fan.

Abstract: A procedure for collection and processing of weed seeds of the type which includes: a first step of collecting of a plant material; fourth step of threshing of the harvested material; a fifth step of separating of grains from material other than the grains; a sixth step of cleaning of the main material; a seventh step of transporting the main material to a discharge device; and an eighth step of storing the main material in an appropriate media. Also includes a second step of placing the material obtained by a thresher head assembly into at least one conveyor belt towards a trailer; a third step of transferring the plant material into a transport and hauling vehicle to a stationary processing plant; a ninth step of grinding the residues; a tenth step of introducing the MDG into densification device; and a tenth step of incorporating in a mixer the resulting grinding of the ninth step along with at least one supplement.

Abstract: A folding rear cross system for a harvesting device having a harvesting direction and a discharge includes first and second substantially linearly aligned reversible endless belt sections, positioned near the discharge and oriented transverse to the harvesting direction. Each belt section has an inboard end disposed in overlapping relationship with the inboard end of the other. A lifting device is attached to selectively lift and lower the first and second reversible endless belt sections to reverse the overlapping relationship.

Abstract: A sweep auger shield assembly for inhibiting grain from being spilled over a sweep auger in a grain bin includes a sweep auger that has a back shield which is coupled to the sweep auger. An extension shield is provided that is mountable to the back shield of the sweep auger. Thus, the extension shield increases the overall height of the back shield. In this way the extension shield inhibits grain from passing over the back shield when the sweep auger is removing grain from a floor of a grain bin.

Abstract: A harvester feeder may include a housing forming a crop passage having a width and a conveyor supported by the housing to extend above crops being conveyed along the crop passage. The conveyor may include a frame, at least one forward tensioner, at least one drive sprocket and at least one belt about the forward tensioner and the drive sprocket. In one implementation, the at least one belt forms a substantially uninterrupted crop engaging belt surface extending across a majority of the width. In one implementation, each belt has an upper portion and a lower portion with the lower portion being adjacent the crop passage, wherein a crop massager extends between the upper portion and the lower portion and resume only presses the lower portion of the continuous belt towards the crop passage.

Abstract: An agricultural harvesting system including a chassis, a plurality of ground support devices carrying the chassis in a direction of travel, and a threshing section carried by the chassis. The threshing section produces residue that is sent to a spreader system. The spreader system has a first orientation and a second orientation. The spreader system includes a support device and a spreader. The support device is in ground contact and is positioned to a side of the chassis relative to the direction of travel when the spreader system is in the first orientation. The support device is positioned aft of the chassis relative to the direction of travel when the spreader system is in the second orientation. The spreader is carried by the support device and is configured to receive at least some of the residue.

Abstract: A harvesting machine for threshing crop materials includes a platform supported in front of a chassis, an erecting device having a number pairs of guiding bars attached to the platform and having a channel formed between two bar members of each pair of guiding bars, a guiding element disposed between every two adjacent pairs of guiding bars for guiding a stalk of the crop materials into the channel of the guiding bars, a number of pawls extended into the channel for sending the stalk of the crop materials into the channel, and a cutting device having two or more cutting elements for cutting the stalk into a lower base segment that carries no grain and an upper straw segment that carries grains.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for harvesting bast plants that have stalks, husks, and seeds. The method includes cutting the bast stalks from the bast plants and receiving the bast stalks onto a first belt. The method then orients at least a portion of the bast stalks on the first belt, the longitudinal axis of the at least a portion of the bast stalks being generally oriented in the direction the first belt is moving. The husks and seeds may be removed from the bast stalks. The bast stalk may be packaged.

Abstract: A harvesting machine for threshing crop materials includes a platform supported in front of a chassis, an erecting device having a number pairs of guiding bars attached to the platform and having a channel formed between two bar members of each pair of guiding bars, a guiding element disposed between every two adjacent pairs of guiding bars for guiding a stalk of the crop materials into the channel of the guiding bars, a number of pawls extended into the channel for sending the stalk of the crop materials into the channel, and a cutting device having two or more cutting elements for cutting the stalk into a lower base segment that carries no grain and an upper straw segment that carries grains.

Abstract: A method for harvesting crop materials each having a grains carrying stalk, includes erecting the stalk, cutting the stalk of the crop materials with two or more cutting blades or elements into a lower base segment carrying no grain and an upper straw segment that carries grains, discarding the lower base segment which carries no grain, threshing the upper straw segment which carries the grains for separating the grains from the upper straw segment, and collecting the grains. A blowing process is used for blowing the upper straw segment away from the grains before collecting device the grains. A determining process is used for determining a length of the lower base segment to be cut before erecting the stalk.

Abstract: A combine harvester is described having a stalk discharge system 10 which incorporate a chopper 12, a spreader 14 and flow control guides for defining multiple operator configurable flow paths through the stalk discharge system, The flow paths include a first flow path in which the stalks pass sequentially through the chopper 12 and the spreader 14 to be chopped and evenly distributed over the ground traversed by the header, and a second flow path in which the stalks bypass the chopper 12 and the spreader 14 to be deposited as a swath on the ground. In the invention, the flow control guides are additionally configurable to define a third flow path in which the stalks enter the spreader 14 without first passing through the chopper 12, to be evenly distributed un-chopped over the ground traversed by the header.

Abstract: A combine harvester is provided that separates grain material from material other than grain using multiple processing areas, including a harvesting area, a feederhouse area, a threshing area, a cleaning area, and a grain delivery area. In a location at or prior to entering one of the processing areas, the material may be collected and held until a collection threshold is reached. Once it is determined that the collection threshold is reached, the material forming a first group of material may be transported from the location to the processing area or a subsequent processing area. The first group of material is transported from the location to the processing area or the subsequent processing area substantially simultaneously and thus simulates the gathering of a large amount of crop material even when small plots are involved. In this way, reduced cycle times may be achieved, and the efficiency benefits of large-plot harvesting may be extended to small-plot applications.

Abstract: Methods for obtaining soybean plants that produce seed with low linolenic acid levels and moderately increased oleic levels are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for producing seed with low linolenic acid levels, moderately increased oleic levels and low saturated fatty acid levels. These methods entail the combination of transgenes that provide moderate oleic acid levels with soybean germplasm that contains mutations in soybean genes that confer low linolenic acid phenotypes. These methods also entail the combination of transgenes that provide both moderate oleic acid levels and low saturated fat levels with soybean germplasm that contains mutations in soybean genes that confer low linolenic acid phenotypes. Soybean plants and seeds produced by these methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A reaper of grains is for reaping bean grains that is classified as a trailer. More specifically, a bean reaper for carrying out two different operations, the first one of which is gathering various plants, such as bean plants, peanuts and other grains, which have been previously plucked and aligned, whereas the second function of which is to perform a whole cleaning process by separating the grains (seeds) from the remaining unwanted parts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a reaper for grains, specially for the bean grains. More specifically, the present invention refers to technical and functional improvements specially developed and introduced which configures a bean reaper that is classified as a trailer to carry out two different operations, the first one of which is gathering various plants, such as bean plants, peanuts and other grains, plants which are previously plucked and aligned, whereas the second function of which is to perform a whole cleaning process by separating the grains (seeds) from the remaining unwanted parts.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for harvesting and processing produce including a produce seat having a cutter aperture, wherein the produce seat receives produce such that the produce is aligned with a cutter. The cutter is secured with a shaft that is rotationally coupled with a motor configured to rotate the shaft and cutter. A support is configured to position the produce seat proximate the cutter and the support is configured to allow the produce seat to be moved from a first position where the produce seat is proximate the cutter, to a second position such that at least a portion of the cutter extends through the cutter aperture, and to allow the produce seat to be returned to the first position.

Abstract: A method of harvesting grain involves placing a cutting and harvesting head on the front of a prime mover, moving the prime mover and the head through a field of mature grain plants with grain thereon. The grain bearing plants are then cut with the head, and then moved to a grain separating station on the head. The grain is then separated from the plants within the head, captured, and then moved to a grain reservoir on the prime mover. The severed plants are then deposited into the field after the grain is separated therefrom. A combine or prime mover has a grain harvesting head on the forward end thereof. A cutter bar or the like is on the head to cut grain bearing field plants. A conveyor moves the cut plants to threshing elements on the head for separating grain from the severed plants. A grain conveyor on the head moves the grain to a grain reservoir on the combine. An exit port is on the head for depositing all of the plants in the head on the field from which the plants were cut.

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: The invention provides self propelled harvester that tops, cuts, cleans and oads "whole stalk green sugar cane".The canes are flexed forward by the movement of the harvester by means of a roller, while the base is cut with a pair of counter rotating disk cutters per row. The base cutters automatically follow the level of the ground using by spherically dished sliders pivotably connected to cutter shafts. The topped canes, with attached green and dry leaves are fed gently but firmly into the front section of the machine through a single, full width, large 100 dm2 throat, helped by vertical and-horizontal rubber rollers. By the action of the rotation of preferably three pairs of rollers and paddles, rocks, tramp iron, cans, bottles, soil, and mud, fall through the paddles, and through grizzlies back to the ground; all materials over 0.05 Mt. are retained by the grizzlies, which can be emptied at the operators choice.

Abstract: A crop or produce cutting assembly for mounting in a combine header, which assembly is characterized by multiple cutter blades mounted by means of a pair of blade mount brackets on the platform of the combine header, such that the cutter blades are located in close proximity to the combine cross auger. The blades serve to cut vines associated with crop or produce such as soybeans which tend to wrap around the rotating cross auger and reduce efficient processing of the crop through the combine. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the cutter blades are characterized by triangular, double-serrated blades and the blade mount brackets are adjustable to facilitate location of the blades in a selected close proximity to the rotating cross auger. The blades are spaced from each other to facilitate access by auger fingers projecting from the cross auger, which fingers aid in movement of the crop or produce from the rotating cross auger through the combine.

Abstract: A grain harvesting combine drives the grain in the combine vehicle using three separate chambers connected by auger conveyors. The grain is heated in the first two chambers and air is circulated through them to move the moisture away from the grain. The first chamber is preferably heated by a heat exchanger having fluid that is heated by rejected heat from the combine engine, while in the second chamber a hollow body having a diesel or propane burner within it is provided. In the third chamber ambient or cooled air is passed through perforated walls of the chamber to cool the grain before it is discharged through a load out tube auger to a waiting truck.

Abstract: A self-propelled harvester, in particular for green fodder, comprises a cutter bar, an auger, a conveyor belt, a first crop conditioning device, a transport belt, a buffer space, a dosing roller, a second crop conditioning device, and a depositing belt for depositing the harvested and conditioned fodder onto the ground in the form of a substantially endless mat. The first conditioning device serves to injure the outer cellulose layer of the crop stems and blades; the second conditioning device serves to press the crop into a mat of substantially uniform thickness and width.

Abstract: The apparatus for harvesting crops, particularly seed crops, comprises a mobile support structure (20) and a crop stripping device in the form of a rotor (30), which may be attached to height adjustable arms and is driven by drive means (22). The rotor (30) carries transverse rows of crop stripping elements (1) which may be combined with transverse ribs. The crop stripping elements have prominent leading edges, for example each formed at the junction between two faces which are acutely inclined with respect to each other. The drive to the rotor is so arranged that during forward movement of the apparatus the crop engaging elements (32) are propelled progressively through the crop, moving upwards at the front region. Seeds and other plant parts detached by the action of the rotor are impelled into a crop flow passage (27) under a crop guide cover (21). A transverse auger (83) transfers the detached material into a duct (84) where an elevator (85) moves it over a screen (86) for separation of the seeds.

Abstract: A cane harvester cleaning system for removing dirt and trash from cane billets, including a cleaning chamber. Cane billets mixed with trash are conveyed into an upper portion of the cleaning chamber. A fan and air duct are provided to blow air into the cleaning chamber and up through cane billets. A trash discharge is provided on the upper portion of the cleaning chamber to direct air from the fan and entrained trash out of the cleaning chamber. Cleaned cane billets pass out the lower portion of the cleaning chamber and into a discharge conveyor.

Abstract: A drying attachment for use with a combine (10) for harvesting grain is disclosed and claimed. The attachment includes a distributor receptacle (18) in which the shelled corn or other grain is received after being separated from cobs, husks, and other residue material. After being received in the receptacle (18), it is transferred through a plurality of drying tubes (20) to a storage bin (19). The residue material is burned in a furnace (22) which is carried by the combine (10). The heat thereby generated is conducted to the drying tubes (20) wherein moisture is absorbed from the grain passing through the tubes (20).

Abstract: The disclosed grain harvesting machine has a grain threshing mechanisn, a storage hopper into which grain from the threshing mechanism is transported for temporary storage, and an apparatus for drying the grain while in the storage hopper. The drying apparatus comprises a grain collecting system, a grain drying column, and plenum means for feeding air into the column and system. The grain collecting system is mounted substantially horizontally in the storage hopper proximate to the bottom thereof. It has an outlet and conduit means extending from perimeter portions of the storage hopper to the outlet. The conduit means has inlet openings along its upper portions for entry of grain mechanism by gravity and has grain transport means therewithin for moving grain therethrough to the outlet. The grain drying column is mounted at the outlet of the collecting system and extends upwardly from the outlet. The column has an elevated exit port for discharge of grain therefrom back into the hopper.

Abstract: A grain dryer for drying grain crops as they are harvested, comprising a combine having a grain storage bin and a grain dryer supported on the bin and having an air discharge portion extending into the bin and an air intake portion external of the bin, heater elements in the dryer for heating the air discharged therefrom and control elements connected with the dryer to control the flow of air therethrough and the temperature to which the air is heated.

Abstract: A blower apparatus for a plant cutter including a hollow member affixed to conduct exhaust gases from the cutter. The hollow member conducts exhaust gases from the plant cutter to a connected rotatable hollow member and through a terminal opening in the rotatable hollow member. The rotatable hollow member adjusts the distance between the terminal opening and the cut vegetable resulting from the cutting mechanism of the lawn cutter.

Abstract: A heat exchanger is mounted to the combine and receives waste heat from the combine engine. A blower is mounted to the combine and sucks ambient air through the heat exchanger to heat the air and blows the heated air into a closed end duct that has a portion mounted in the combine crop hopper. The portion of the closed end duct mounted in the crop hopper has a plurality of perforations therein so that the heated air can dry the combined crops. An apparatus is provided for controlling the temperature of the air blown into the combined crops including a damper for supplying a desired mixture of ambient air and heated air to the closed end duct. A transducer mounted in the closed end duct and a transducer responsive damper actuating apparatus moves the damper in response to the transducer response to the temperature of the air passing the transducer. The transducer responsive damper actuating apparatus is shown as a mechanical, pneumatic and electrical apparatus.

Abstract: A cross flow blower unit for use in a grain cleaning system of a self-propelled combine harvester. The rotor of the blower unit doubles as a rotary heat exchanger for use in the engine coolant system and furnishes a heated air stream to the grain cleaning system for drying and removing moisture from the kernels of grain undergoing cleaning treatment therein.