The invention provides a positioning apparatus (17) for a rotary combine harvester (100) having a threshing concave (6a) and a separation grate (6b). The apparatus (17) has a concave adjustor mechanism for adjusting a threshing gap between the threshing concave (6a) and a rotor or rotors (5) of the harvester (100). The concave adjustor mechanism has a concave actuator (33) including a concave hydraulic cylinder having an adjustable hydraulic pressure to cause rotation of a concave control arm (31) so as to control a position of the threshing concave (6a). The apparatus (17) also has a grate adjustor mechanism for adjusting a separation gap between the separation grate (6b) and the rotor or rotors (5) of the harvester (100). The grate actuator mechanism has a grate actuator (330) including a grate hydraulic cylinder having an adjustable hydraulic pressure to cause rotation of the grate control arm (310) so as to control a position of the separation grate (6b). The concave hydraulic cylinder and the grate hydraulic cylinder both extend in a longitudinal direction (X) of the apparatus (17). Advantageously, the threshing and separation gaps may be adjusted independently and relatively quickly. Also advantageously, the invention provides a compact, space-saving layout for the apparatus (17).

The invention provides a positioning apparatus (17) for a rotary combine harvester (100) having a threshing concave (6a) and a separation grate (6b). The apparatus (17) has a concave adjustor mechanism for adjusting a threshing gap between the threshing concave (6a) and a rotor or rotors (5) of the harvester (100). The concave adjustor mechanism has a concave actuator (33) including a concave hydraulic cylinder having an adjustable hydraulic pressure to cause rotation of a concave control arm (31) so as to control a position of the threshing concave (6a). The apparatus (17) also has a grate adjustor mechanism for adjusting a separation gap between the separation grate (6b) and the rotor or rotors (5) of the harvester (100). The grate actuator mechanism has a grate actuator (330) including a grate hydraulic cylinder having an adjustable hydraulic pressure to cause rotation of the grate control arm (310) so as to control a position of the separation grate (6b). The concave hydraulic cylinder and the grate hydraulic cylinder both extend in a longitudinal direction (X) of the apparatus (17). Advantageously, the threshing and separation gaps may be adjusted independently and relatively quickly. Also advantageously, the invention provides a compact, space-saving layout for the apparatus (17).

A concave section for a harvester includes a concave body having an upstream side, a downstream side, a leading end and a trailing end. The concave body defines an arcuate crop engagement face facing radially inwardly. A plurality of crop passage openings are defined through the arcuate crop engagement face. A cover is configured to at least partially cover at least some of the crop passage openings. The cover is carried by the concave body and is movable thereon between at least two different positions to adjust a degree of openness of at least some of the crop passage openings.

A threshing and separating system for an agricultural vehicle includes: a rotor cage; a first vane rail movably connected to the rotor cage; a first vane portion pivotably connected to the rotor cage and linked to the first vane rail; a second vane rail movably connected to the rotor cage, the second vane rail being movable independently of the first vane rail; and a second vane portion pivotably connected to the rotor cage and linked to the second vane rail, the second vane portion and the first vane portion together defining a substantially continuous vane.

The present invention comprises a removable cover plate assembly, which may be quickly attached, detached and adjusted to the exterior of a concave grate of a combine harvester in order to adjust the flow characteristics of the concave or separator grate assemblies. The cover plate assembly improves the threshing capability of the rasp bar threshing cylinder while simultaneously capturing additional threshed grain. Moreover, the cover plate assembly of the present invention enables a single set of concave grate assemblies to better harvest a wider variety of crop types.

The present invention comprises a removable cover plate assembly, which may be quickly attached, detached and adjusted to the exterior of a concave grate of a combine harvester in order to adjust the flow characteristics of the concave or separator grate assemblies. The cover plate assembly improves the threshing capability of the rasp bar threshing cylinder while simultaneously capturing additional threshed grain. Moreover, the cover plate assembly of the present invention enables a single set of concave grate assemblies to better harvest a wider variety of crop types.

A threshing system for an agricultural harvester includes a rotor and a substantially cylindrical cage that surrounds at least a portion of the rotor. The threshing system also features a material flow adjustor for controlling axial movement of material through the cage. The material flow adjustor is movably mounted adjacent to a threshing space and includes at least one material conveying edge that enters the threshing space. The material flow adjustor is moveable between a first operative position, in which the at least one material conveying edge is spaced from the rotor in a radial direction by a first distance, and a second operative position in which the at least one material conveying edge is spaced from the rotor in the radial direction by a second distance, the second distance being less than the first distance.

An apparatus that controls the position of a component of a mechanical system, such as an adjustable concave in a combine harvester, while at the same time exhibiting a safety function that is reversible without requiring a long downtime of the combine. The apparatus includes a control part and an auxiliary part, both pivotable about the same axis, and a force transmission part to maintain these two parts in an assembled state by a spring force, as long as the component is subjected to forces below a given limit. When the forces exceed the limit, the auxiliary part and the control part are configured to become separated in such a manner that they can be reassembled by the intervention of an actuator. The safety function of the apparatus resembles the operation of a shear bolt.

An apparatus that controls the position of a component of a mechanical system, such as an adjustable concave in a combine harvester, while at the same time exhibiting a safety function that is reversible without requiring a long downtime of the combine. The apparatus includes a control part and an auxiliary part, both pivotable about the same axis, and a force transmission part to maintain these two parts in an assembled state by a spring force, as long as the component is subjected to forces below a given limit. When the forces exceed the limit, the auxiliary part and the control part are configured to become separated in such a manner that they can be reassembled by the intervention of an actuator. The safety function of the apparatus resembles the operation of a shear bolt.

Disclosed is a harvesting combine rotor cage top cover assembly that includes an overhead roof formed from a substantially horizontal flat section and downwardly angled side sections. A series of substantially parallel vanes are located beneath the overhead roof. Each vane is formed from a substantially flat top section located against the roof horizontal flat section and downwardly laterally extending legs being angled on their sides and having an arcuate bottom. The sides of the vanes are rotatable about a central pivot for promoting or retarding the flow of material in the rotor cage.