A dryer for installation on a self-propelled machine, such as a combine harvester, with recovery of the exhausted thermal energy coming from the endothermic engine of the latter. The dryer is of the on-line type and comprises at least two feed screws, internally to which grain is moved towards a tank and dried by the hot air coming from a first and second heat exchangers respectively, the first heat exchanger being crossed by the high temperature exhaust fumes of said endothermic engine and the second heat exchanger by the cooling liquid.

An agricultural crop harvester (1) includes a tank in which harvested crops are stored, a stored amount calculation section (51) that calculates a current stored amount of harvested crops stored in the tank, a communication section (61) which receives drier operation information indicative of a drier operational status transmitted from a drying facility 7, a work management section 62 that determines completion timing of a harvesting work based on the current stored amount and the drier operation information, and a notification section 63 which notifies the completion timing.

An agricultural crop harvester (1) includes a tank in which harvested crops are stored, a stored amount calculation section (51) that calculates a current stored amount of harvested crops stored in the tank, a communication section (61) which receives drier operation information indicative of a drier operational status transmitted from a drying facility 7, a work management section 62 that determines completion timing of a harvesting work based on the current stored amount and the drier operation information, and a notification section 63 which notifies the completion timing.

A cooling system for a crop harvester. The cooling system includes a thermal transfer system configured to transfer heat from an engine of the crop harvester to air and crops passing through a crop chute of the crop harvester to cool the engine and dry crops passing through the crop chute.

A harvesting machine is disclosed along with a method of operation. The harvesting machine includes a frame having a flail cutter mounted on a first end of the frame. The flail cutter can cut the stems of growing plants. A housing surrounding a portion of the flail cutter for directing the cut plants rearward. An idler roller is positioned rearward of the flail cutter. First and second moisture removal mechanisms are positioned downstream of the cutting mechanism, and each includes a suction roll and a press roll. A moving belt forms a closed loop around the idler roller and the pair of suction and press rolls, and has a plurality of apertures formed therethrough. The moving belt forms first and second nips between each pair of suction and press rolls for squeezing moisture out of the cut stems as the stems are routed therebetween.

A harvesting machine is disclosed along with a method of operation. The harvesting machine includes a frame having a flail cutter mounted on a first end of the frame. The flail cutter can cut the stems of growing plants. A housing surrounding a portion of the flail cutter for directing the cut plants rearward. An idler roller is positioned rearward of the flail cutter. First and second moisture removal mechanisms are positioned downstream of the cutting mechanism, and each includes a suction roll and a press roll. A moving belt forms a closed loop around the idler roller and the pair of suction and press rolls, and has a plurality of apertures formed therethrough. The moving belt forms first and second nips between each pair of suction and press rolls for squeezing moisture out of the cut stems as the stems are routed therebetween.

Disclosed is a grain drying apparatus installed in a combine harvester. The grain drying apparatus using exhaust heat of a combine harvester according to the present invention comprises: an intake duct one end of which is connected to an exhaust port of the combine harvester and the other end of which outputs the hot air discharged from the exhaust port; a filter unit located at the other end of the intake duct for removing harmful components from the hot air; and an exhaust duct connected to the other end of the filter unit to supply the hot air from which the harmful components are removed to a grain selection pan of the combine harvester.

Disclosed is a grain drying apparatus installed in a combine harvester. The grain drying apparatus using exhaust heat of a combine harvester according to the present invention comprises: an intake duct one end of which is connected to an exhaust port of the combine harvester and the other end of which outputs the hot air discharged from the exhaust port; a filter unit located at the other end of the intake duct for removing harmful components from the hot air; and an exhaust duct connected to the other end of the filter unit to supply the hot air from which the harmful components are removed to a grain selection pan of the combine harvester.

A harvesting system includes at least one modular unit coupled to a harvester includes a drying unit to dry a harvested material introduced into the harvester including at least one rotating drum, a number of appendages extending from the at least one rotating drum, at least one sensor to determine at least one environmental state within the drying unit, and at least one environmental state adjustment device to adjust at least one environmental attribute within the drying unit. The modular unit also includes a collection unit to collect the harvested material into a unit, a first conveyor mechanism to convey the harvested material from the drying unit to the collection unit, and a control system to control at least the harvester, the drying unit, the collection unit, the first conveyor mechanism, the sensor, and the environmental state adjustment device based on a signal received from the at least one sensor.

A harvesting system includes at least one modular unit coupled to a harvester includes a drying unit to dry a harvested material introduced into the harvester including at least one rotating drum, a number of appendages extending from the at least one rotating drum, at least one sensor to determine at least one environmental state within the drying unit, and at least one environmental state adjustment device to adjust at least one environmental attribute within the drying unit. The modular unit also includes a collection unit to collect the harvested material into a unit, a first conveyor mechanism to convey the harvested material from the drying unit to the collection unit, and a control system to control at least the harvester, the drying unit, the collection unit, the first conveyor mechanism, the sensor, and the environmental state adjustment device based on a signal received from the at least one sensor.