Weed seeds are destroyed in the chaff from a combine harvester by repeated high speed impacts caused by a rotor mounted in one of a pair of side by side housings which accelerate the discarded seeds in a direction centrifugally away from the rotor onto a stator including angularly adjustable stator surfaces around the axis. Thus the discarded seeds rebound back and forth between the rotor and the stator to provide a plurality of impacts. The seeds are carried axially of the rotor by a controlled airstream so that they move to an axial discharge location where a discharge fan is mounted. The angle of the discharge around the rotor axis can be changed to direct the seeds to the side of the combine away from a straw chopper, towards the guide fins of the tailboard of the chopper, or into the housing of the straw chopper.

A residue chopper comprising a housing forming a cutting chamber, a shaft, knives extending from the shaft, a counterknife support, a counterknife, and a fin. The counterknife and fin are attached to the counterknife support, with the fin behind the counterknife. the fin has a blunt side facing against the operating direction. The counterknife support is movable between a first position in which the counterknife extends a minimum predetermined distance into the cutting chamber and the fin is not within the cutting chamber, a second position in which the counterknife extends an intermediate predetermined distance into the cutting chamber and within the cutting volume and the fin is not within the cutting chamber, and a third position in which the counterknife extends a maximum predetermined distance into the cutting chamber and into the cutting volume and the fin extends into the cutting chamber.

A residue chopper comprising a housing forming a cutting chamber, a shaft, knives extending from the shaft, a counterknife support, a counterknife, and a fin. The counterknife and fin are attached to the counterknife support, with the fin behind the counterknife. the fin has a blunt side facing against the operating direction. The counterknife support is movable between a first position in which the counterknife extends a minimum predetermined distance into the cutting chamber and the fin is not within the cutting chamber, a second position in which the counterknife extends an intermediate predetermined distance into the cutting chamber and within the cutting volume and the fin is not within the cutting chamber, and a third position in which the counterknife extends a maximum predetermined distance into the cutting chamber and into the cutting volume and the fin extends into the cutting chamber.

A method for the operation of a combine harvester includes processing a harvested material flow by at least one axial separator and ejecting a residual material flow formed in this way from the combine harvester by at least two ejection devices. The axial separator is formed by a movable vane element by means of which the residual material flow exiting from the axial separator is distributed on a work member downstream of the axial separator. In order to further improve the distribution of the residual material flow on the field, an actual distribution of the residual material flow on the two ejection devices is detected, wherein, when a deviation of the actual distribution from a predetermined reference distribution is detected, the vane element is readjusted so that the actual distribution is at least approximated to the reference distribution.

A method for the operation of a combine harvester includes processing a harvested material flow by at least one axial separator and ejecting a residual material flow formed in this way from the combine harvester by at least two ejection devices. The axial separator is formed by a movable vane element by means of which the residual material flow exiting from the axial separator is distributed on a work member downstream of the axial separator. In order to further improve the distribution of the residual material flow on the field, an actual distribution of the residual material flow on the two ejection devices is detected, wherein, when a deviation of the actual distribution from a predetermined reference distribution is detected, the vane element is readjusted so that the actual distribution is at least approximated to the reference distribution.

A residue handling system of an agricultural harvester includes a straw beater for receiving material other than grain from a threshing and separating system. A subsequent residue treatment device receives the material from the straw beater and breaks down larger parts of the material prior to discharge from the agricultural harvester. At least one wind generating system is located at an end of the straw beater and directs a flow of air from the vicinity of the straw beater to the subsequent residue treatment device. The flow of air is directed to pass substantially through an upper rearward part of the residue handling system. The flow of air operates to further entrain, render airborne, and transport material other than grain proceeding from the straw beater to the subsequent residue treatment device.

A system for detecting a condition indicative of onset of plugging or actual plugging of a discharge of an agricultural combine, utilizing a pressure sensor disposed at a location within the combine spaced from the discharge and operable for sensing an air pressure condition relating to a flow indicative of a reduced crop residue flow condition toward or in the discharge.

A chopper for an agricultural harvester comprises a housing, a rotor, a bank of counter-knives, and an adjuster. The housing comprises a variable geometry outlet floor. The is positioned in an interior region of the housing for rotation therein relative to the housing. The bank of counter-knives is movable relative to the rotor between a first aggressiveness position and a second aggressiveness position to adjust chopping aggressiveness of the chopper. The outlet floor comprises a ramp movable relative to the rotor between a first ramp position and a second ramp position. The adjuster positions the ramp in the first ramp position when the bank of counter-knives is positioned in the first aggressiveness position and positions the ramp in the second ramp position when the bank of counter-knives is positioned in the second aggressiveness position.

Weed seeds are destroyed in the chaff from a combine harvester by repeated high speed impacts caused by a rotor mounted in one of a pair of side by side housings which accelerate the discarded seeds in a direction centrifugally away from the rotor onto a stator including angularly adjustable stator surfaces around the axis. Thus the discarded seeds rebound back and forth between the rotor and the stator to provide a plurality of impacts. The seeds are carried axially of the rotor by a controlled airstream so that they move to an axial discharge location where a discharge fan is mounted. The angle of the discharge around the rotor axis can be changed to direct the seeds to the side of the combine away from a straw chopper, towards the guide fins of the tailboard of the chopper, or into the housing of the straw chopper.

Weed seeds are destroyed in the chaff from a combine harvester by repeated high speed impacts caused by a rotor mounted in one of a pair of side by side housings which accelerate the discarded seeds in a direction centrifugally away from the rotor onto a stator including angularly adjustable stator surfaces around the axis. Thus the discarded seeds rebound back and forth between the rotor and the stator to provide a plurality of impacts. The seeds are carried axially of the rotor by a controlled airstream so that they move to an axial discharge location where a discharge fan is mounted. The angle of the discharge around the rotor axis can be changed to direct the seeds to the side of the combine away from a straw chopper, towards the guide fins of the tailboard of the chopper, or into the housing of the straw chopper.