An agricultural combine (102) includes a rotor (114), a concave (116), a force sensor (134) to indicate the force applied to a crop mat located between the rotor and the concave, a position sensor (132) to indicate the size of a gap (130) between the rotor (114) and the concave (116), an actuator (122, 124) to position the concave (116) with respect to the rotor (114), and an ECU (144) coupled to the sensors (132, 134) and the actuator (122, 124). The ECU (144) contains an economic operating curve (154, 156, 158) that relates the force to the size of the gap. The ECU (144) is configured to receive a signal from the force sensor (134) and a signal from the position sensor (132), and based upon those signals, to control the actuator (122, 124) to change the force and the size of the gap (130) to a point on the economic operating curve (154, 156, 158).

An agricultural combine (102) includes a rotor (114), a concave (116), a force sensor (134) to indicate the force applied to a crop mat located between the rotor and the concave, a position sensor (132) to indicate the size of a gap (130) between the rotor (114) and the concave (116), an actuator (122, 124) to position the concave (116) with respect to the rotor (114), and an ECU (144) coupled to the sensors (132, 134) and the actuator (122, 124). The ECU (144) contains an economic operating curve (154, 156, 158) that relates the force to the size of the gap. The ECU (144) is configured to receive a signal from the force sensor (134) and a signal from the position sensor (132), and based upon those signals, to control the actuator (122, 124) to change the force and the size of the gap (130) to a point on the economic operating curve (154, 156, 158).

A removable cover plate to be used in a threshing module of an agricultural machine, e.g., a grain harvester. The removable cover plate provides a uniform and homogeneous distribution of grains onto a cleaning and harvesting system of the machine. The removable cover plate is designed to be applied to at least one part of a concave of the cleaning and harvesting system of the machine. The cleaning and harvesting system includes at least one rotor and a least one concave mounted around the rotor, to which is attached and installed a removable structure that has a material retention surface, in which there are provided openings to limit grains and/or MOG passage.

A grain cleaning system for a combine harvester having a transmitter adapted to transmit a base signal at a known frequency and one or more spaced receivers for detecting signals of a different frequency as reflected from airborne grain and other materials within the duct of the grain cleaning system. An Electronic Control Unit modulates the base signal and the reflected signals to obtain Doppler signals or frequencies from which an average particle velocity is determined. The particle velocity is used as an input parameter for the generation of control signals for the adjustment of various working units of the combine harvester including, by way of example, the fan and sieves.

A grain cleaning system for a combine harvester having a transmitter adapted to transmit a base signal at a known frequency and one or more spaced receivers for detecting signals of a different frequency as reflected from airborne grain and other materials within the duct of the grain cleaning system. An Electronic Control Unit modulates the base signal and the reflected signals to obtain Doppler signals or frequencies from which an average particle velocity is determined. The particle velocity is used as an input parameter for the generation of control signals for the adjustment of various working units of the combine harvester including, by way of example, the fan and sieves.

A Threshing apparatus in a combine harvester with a main frame and a threshing rotor supported by the main frame. A concave frame supports one or more interchangeable arcuate concave grate segments in a grate reception zone. An adjustment mechanism provides adjustment of clearance between the concave grate segments and the rotor. A multi-position stop device is provided to determine the lower limit of a concave adjustment range. The position of the stop device is determined by a profile of an installed concave grate segment.

A Threshing apparatus in a combine harvester with a main frame and a threshing rotor supported by the main frame. A concave frame supports one or more interchangeable arcuate concave grate segments in a grate reception zone. An adjustment mechanism provides adjustment of clearance between the concave grate segments and the rotor. A multi-position stop device is provided to determine the lower limit of a concave adjustment range. The position of the stop device is determined by a profile of an installed concave grate segment.

An agricultural harvester including a chassis and a threshing and separating section for threshing and separating grain from gathered crop material. The threshing and separating section is carried by the chassis. The threshing and separating section includes at least one concave having a hooking feature, at least one sliding support, and a frame assembly for carrying and coupling the at least one concave thereto. The frame assembly includes a support bar allowing the hooking feature of the at least one concave to hook over the support bar to support one side of the at least one concave. Another side of the at least one concave is coupled to the frame assembly. The at least one sliding support supports the at least one concave as the at least one concave is moved toward or away from the support bar.

An agricultural harvester including a chassis and a threshing and separating section for threshing and separating grain from gathered crop material. The threshing and separating section is carried by the chassis. The threshing and separating section includes at least one concave having a hooking feature, at least one sliding support, and a frame assembly for carrying and coupling the at least one concave thereto. The frame assembly includes a support bar allowing the hooking feature of the at least one concave to hook over the support bar to support one side of the at least one concave. Another side of the at least one concave is coupled to the frame assembly. The at least one sliding support supports the at least one concave as the at least one concave is moved toward or away from the support bar.

A combine for harvesting a harvested material that includes a grain, the combine comprising: a threshing chamber comprising a series of threshing and separating apparatuses, sequentially arranged, comprising at least: (i) a straight bar concave (ii) a first round bar concave, and (iii) a second round bar concave. The size of each of the straight bar throats is smaller than a size of the first openings, and the size of each of the first openings is smaller than the size of each of the second openings.