Combine harvesters may include crop processing systems having a grate subassemblies with flaps that, in some instances, are divided into groups that are independently movable and moveable in opposite directions between a fully open position and a fully closed position. Further, each of the grate assemblies may include an actuator that is operable to actuate simultaneously a portion of the flaps on each of the grate assemblies.

A concave assembly for an agricultural combine harvester comprises a concave, a cover, and a cover actuator. The concave comprises a grate. The cover has an opened position uncovering at least a portion of the grate to allow crop flow through the at least the portion of the grate and a closed position covering the at least the portion of the grate to block crop flow through the at least the portion of the grate. The cover actuator comprises a four-bar linkage and moves the cover between the opened position and the closed position.

A concave assembly for an agricultural combine harvester comprises a concave, a cover, and a cover actuator. The concave comprises a grate. The cover has an opened position uncovering at least a portion of the grate to allow crop flow through the at least the portion of the grate and a closed position covering the at least the portion of the grate to block crop flow through the at least the portion of the grate. The cover actuator comprises a four-bar linkage and moves the cover between the opened position and the closed position.

A monitoring system for a combine harvester. The monitoring system includes a sensor configured to provide a measurement wave to a flow of crop residue on the harvester and to receive a response wave from the flow of crop residue. The monitoring system further includes a processor having an input terminal for receiving a response signal of the sensor representative of the response wave. The processor is configured to determine a crop parameter associated with the density of the flow of crop based on the response signal of the sensor. The processor further has an output terminal for outputting a density signal representing the crop parameter.

A monitoring system for a combine harvester. The monitoring system includes a sensor configured to provide a measurement wave to a flow of crop residue on the harvester and to receive a response wave from the flow of crop residue. The monitoring system further includes a processor having an input terminal for receiving a response signal of the sensor representative of the response wave. The processor is configured to determine a crop parameter associated with the density of the flow of crop based on the response signal of the sensor. The processor further has an output terminal for outputting a density signal representing the crop parameter.

A concave for an agricultural combine includes threshing beds carried by a base frame and forming openings therebetween for grain to pass through. Each threshing bed includes a first end, a second end, a length from the first end to the second end, an inner extremity, an outer extremity, and a separating grate extending across one of the openings for separating grain from threshed crop material. The separating grate extends along the length between the first end and the second end, is between the inner extremity and the outer extremity and includes grate openings and spaced-apart bars. The bars are between adjacent grate openings and include struts each connecting two adjacent parts of the separating grate between adjacent grate openings and severed bars each including bar segments extending inwardly toward one another to respective free ends on either side of a gap between adjacent grate openings.

A concave for an agricultural combine includes threshing beds carried by a base frame and forming openings therebetween for grain to pass through. Each threshing bed includes a first end, a second end, a length from the first end to the second end, an inner extremity, an outer extremity, and a separating grate extending across one of the openings for separating grain from threshed crop material. The separating grate extends along the length between the first end and the second end, is between the inner extremity and the outer extremity and includes grate openings and spaced-apart bars. The bars are between adjacent grate openings and include struts each connecting two adjacent parts of the separating grate between adjacent grate openings and severed bars each including bar segments extending inwardly toward one another to respective free ends on either side of a gap between adjacent grate openings.

A material processing system having a barrel also referred to hereinafter having a milling or impact surface and a central axis. The impact surface is impervious, in that material cannot pass through the surface, but rather is contained by the surface. An impact mechanism is located within barrel and is rotates about the central axis. The system has inlet openings and formed in the barrel at axially spaced locations along the axis. At least one outlet opening is formed in the barrel at a location intermediate of the inlets. The impact mechanism includes a plurality of hammers mounted on shaft which rotates about the axis.

A material processing system having a barrel also referred to hereinafter having a milling or impact surface and a central axis. The impact surface is impervious, in that material cannot pass through the surface, but rather is contained by the surface. An impact mechanism is located within barrel and is rotates about the central axis. The system has inlet openings and formed in the barrel at axially spaced locations along the axis. At least one outlet opening is formed in the barrel at a location intermediate of the inlets. The impact mechanism includes a plurality of hammers mounted on shaft which rotates about the axis.

The concave section includes a first concave body. The first concave body includes a first leading end, a first trailing end, a first upstream side and a first downstream side. A width between the first upstream side and the first downstream side is no greater than 10 inches. The first concave body includes a first crop engagement face that extends between the first ends and the first sides. The first crop engagement face includes at least one of a first thresher profile portion and a first separator profile portion.