Apparatus for Chopping and Discharging Straw from a Combine Harvester

Abstract

A chopper for receiving the straw and / or chaff from a combine harvester includes a housing with a chopping rotor to transport the materials though a discharge opening onto a tailboard construction with downwardly facing guide surface and fins for spreading of the crop materials. A rotary spreader has a plurality of fan members with blades rotatable for discharge to a respective side of the rotary spreader. An arrangement is operable so that in a first mode the crop material is spread wholly by the tailboard and in a second mode the crop material is spread at least mainly by the rotary spreader. In the second mode the tailboard remains position above the rotary spreader which is therefore located underneath a guide surface with fins of the guide surface facing downwardly adjacent the blades. The movement to the second ode is provided by the rotary spreader being moved forwardly and downwardly.

Description

[0001]This application claims the benefit under 35 USC 119 (e) of Provisional Application 62 / 026,901 filed Jul. 21, 2014.[0002]This invention relates to an apparatus for chopping and discharging straw from a combine harvester.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]In U.S. Pat. No. 6,840,854 issued Jan. 11, 2005 of Redekop is disclosed an apparatus for chopping and discharging straw from a combine harvester of the type which includes a plurality of blade members mounted on a hub for rotation about an axis of the hub with the blade members being arranged at spaced positions along the length of the hub substantially in radial planes of the hub so as to pass adjacent a plurality of axially spaced stationary blades again arranged in radial planes of the hub. The straw and other material discharged from the combine is fed into one side of the housing of the apparatus onto the hub and the material is carried around by the hub past the stationary blades in a chopping action. The material is then ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This patent describes a system that improves the distribution of straw by a chopper. The system includes a rotating rear floor and adjustable spreader angle, which allows the straw to be better controlled and evenly spread. The design also prevents the material from escaping and leaving a strip in the field. These features make the system more efficient and effective in spreading straw.

Problems solved by technology

The following problems can arise with existing technology:

When residue is not distributed evenly into a straw choppers by the threshing rotor(s) due to green, moist conditions it cannot be evenly distributed out of a chopper.

Even with good distribution into a chopper, a traditional tailboard with fins does not do a good job distributing wet straw and chaff, often ending up with rows of undispersed green residue corresponding to each fin.

Powered rotating discs do not work well in dry conditions in that they can provide uneven distribution in that long straw can be thrown farther, short straw and chaff when dry cannot be thrown far, leaving problems for spring seeding.

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