An elevator assembly for a harvester may include an elevator extending within between proximal and distal ends. The elevator may be configured to carry harvested crops between its proximal and distal ends. The elevator assembly may also include a storage hopper at a location adjacent to the distal end of the elevator. The storage hopper may include a rear deflector and a hopper gate. The hopper gate may be movable between a discharge position, at which the hopper gate exposes a discharge opening of the storage hopper, and a storage position, at which the hopper gate covers the discharge opening to prevent harvested crops from being discharged from the elevator assembly. Additionally, when the hopper gate is moved to the storage position, the hopper gate and the rear deflector may at least partially define a storage volume adjacent to the distal end of the elevator for storing the harvested crop.

An elevator assembly for a harvester may include an elevator extending within between proximal and distal ends. The elevator may be configured to carry harvested crops between its proximal and distal ends. The elevator assembly may also include a storage hopper at a location adjacent to the distal end of the elevator. The storage hopper may include a rear deflector and a hopper gate. The hopper gate may be movable between a discharge position, at which the hopper gate exposes a discharge opening of the storage hopper, and a storage position, at which the hopper gate covers the discharge opening to prevent harvested crops from being discharged from the elevator assembly. Additionally, when the hopper gate is moved to the storage position, the hopper gate and the rear deflector may at least partially define a storage volume adjacent to the distal end of the elevator for storing the harvested crop.

A chopper system and method for cutting crop material with a rotating first drum having first blades and a counter-rotating second drums having second blades. Blade pairs with one first blade and one second blade contact one another and cut the crop material. The blades of each blade pair contact one another for at least ten degrees of rotation. The blades can have beveled cutting edges, and the blade pairs can make bevel to bevel contact. The initial contact of the blade pairs during each rotation can form a swipe angle of 15 degrees or less. The initial contact of the blade pairs during each rotation can have the acute end of the first blade contact the second blade near the middle of the beveled edge. During each rotation, the acute end of the second blade can contact the back of the first blade.

A chopper system and method for cutting crop material with a rotating first drum having first blades and a counter-rotating second drums having second blades. Blade pairs with one first blade and one second blade contact one another and cut the crop material. The blades of each blade pair contact one another for at least ten degrees of rotation. The blades can have beveled cutting edges, and the blade pairs can make bevel to bevel contact. The initial contact of the blade pairs during each rotation can form a swipe angle of 15 degrees or less. The initial contact of the blade pairs during each rotation can have the acute end of the first blade contact the second blade near the middle of the beveled edge. During each rotation, the acute end of the second blade can contact the back of the first blade.

A sugarcane harvester for harvesting sugarcane including a main frame, a basecutter, and a coupler configured to couple the main frame to the basecutter, the coupler including a leg rotatably coupled to and extending from one of the main frame or a frame of the basecutter and a receiver fixedly coupled to the other of the main frame or the basecutter frame. A catch is located at the receiver, wherein the catch engages the leg to locate the main frame at a fixed distance with the basecutter. The catch includes a spring actuated plunger to engage a depression in the arm to fixedly couple the basecutter and the main frame. In one embodiment, the sugarcane harvester includes basecutter frames or split frames, each of which is rotatably connected to the mainframe with a coupler.

A sugarcane harvester for harvesting sugarcane including a main frame, a basecutter, and a coupler configured to couple the main frame to the basecutter, the coupler including a leg rotatably coupled to and extending from one of the main frame or a frame of the basecutter and a receiver fixedly coupled to the other of the main frame or the basecutter frame. A catch is located at the receiver, wherein the catch engages the leg to locate the main frame at a fixed distance with the basecutter. The catch includes a spring actuated plunger to engage a depression in the arm to fixedly couple the basecutter and the main frame. In one embodiment, the sugarcane harvester includes basecutter frames or split frames, each of which is rotatably connected to the mainframe with a coupler.

A sugarcane harvester for harvesting sugarcane including a cutter configured to cut sugarcane into a sugarcane mat and a primary extractor disposed adjacent to the sugarcane mat configured to remove crop residue from the sugarcane mat. An elevator includes a conveyor to move the sugarcane mat to an end of the conveyor and an extractor is operatively connected to the elevator. The extractor includes a fan housing having an arm extending laterally from a sidewall of the fan housing and toward a center of the fan housing. A fan assembly is supported by the arm and is configured to remove crop residue from the sugarcane mat at the end of the conveyor. A cover assembly is fixedly connected to the support arm and subtends a fan of the fan assembly and a portion of the support arm, wherein the cover assembly directs crop debris away from the fan and the support arm.

A sugarcane harvester for harvesting sugarcane including a cutter configured to cut sugarcane into a sugarcane mat and a primary extractor disposed adjacent to the sugarcane mat configured to remove crop residue from the sugarcane mat. An elevator includes a conveyor to move the sugarcane mat to an end of the conveyor and an extractor is operatively connected to the elevator. The extractor includes a fan housing having an arm extending laterally from a sidewall of the fan housing and toward a center of the fan housing. A fan assembly is supported by the arm and is configured to remove crop residue from the sugarcane mat at the end of the conveyor. A cover assembly is fixedly connected to the support arm and subtends a fan of the fan assembly and a portion of the support arm, wherein the cover assembly directs crop debris away from the fan and the support arm.

A fan hub for an extractor for a harvesting machine that harvests a crop. The fan hub having a hub cover positioned along a rotation axis of a fan of the extractor. The hub cover is adjustable to alter the profile of the hub cover relative to the rotation axis.

A fan hub for an extractor for a harvesting machine that harvests a crop. The fan hub having a hub cover positioned along a rotation axis of a fan of the extractor. The hub cover is adjustable to alter the profile of the hub cover relative to the rotation axis.