A threshing or separating concave for grain harvesting is equipped with curved cheeks, between which concave bars having an elongated cross-sectional profile extend, the curved inside edges of which are provided with a rounded inside edge, and having concave rods extending in the direction of the curve, which pass through holes in the concave bars that are immediately adjacent to the rounded inside edge.

A combine (20) harvester includes a cage (32′) at least partially surrounding a rotor (28′) for threshing crops in the space (34) between the cage (321) and the rotor (28′). An auger (302) is at least partially positioned within the cage (32′) and is connected to the rotor (28) for rotating therewith. The auger (302) includes vanes (312) for transporting crop from the rotor (28′) and towards an outlet of the cage (32′). A chopper (320) is positioned either at or adjacent the outlet (310) of the cage (32′). A rotational axis (30) of the chopper (320) is substantially aligned with an axis of rotation of the auger (302) and the rotor (28).

A rotor and cage assembly includes a skeleton of curved spaced-apart side members affixed to laterally extending upper and lower spaced-apart members therebetween and surrounding the rotor. One of the curved spaced-apart side members is terminated with curved fingers. Three concave inserts insert laterally into the skeleton spanning 270° around the rotor. One of the concave inserts carries straight fingers that interlace between the skeleton side member curved fingers. A control assembly of plates having arcuate slots placed at 3 of the pivots of the skeleton assembly, 3 control bars connected to the skeleton pivots, and an actuator is connected separately to each control bar at one end effect arcuate rotation of the control bars resulting in the synchronized rotation of the arcuate slotted plates so that the interlaced straight fingers move closer together or farther apart with the fixed skeleton assembly curved fingers for different types of grain.

An adjustable vane system for use with a rotor cage of a threshing system of an agricultural harvester. The vane system includes a vane having a generally helically curved inner profile; a surface being an outer profile that is opposite the inner profile and is generally helically curved over a portion of the vane; a first flat portion proximate an end of the vane on the outer profile; and a second flat portion proximate to another end of the vane on the outer profile.

A threshing system including a rotor cage with a plurality of slots therein, a first bank of vanes and a second bank of vanes arranged within the cage. An adjustable vane control system is coupled to the rotor cage and the banks of vanes. a first and second member are respectively pivotally coupled the vanes in the first bank and the vanes of the second bank through corresponding slots. Linkages couple an arm to the members. The first and second members each having a range of travel defined by the slots. The members each having a surface facing the outer surface of the rotor cage, the surfaces of the first member and the second member each remain tangent to the outer surface of the rotor cage as the first member and the second member are moved within their range of travel.

A rotary sieve cleaning shoe for cleaning grain, having at least one rotary sieve with a generally cylindrical volume arranged to rotate around a longitudinal axis and having at least one beater bar within the cylinder which remains stationary when the rotary sieve rotates.

A method for controlling crop material speed through a rotor/cage assembly of an agricultural combine. The method includes the steps of monitoring a grain loss of the combine; computing an engine power reserve value; and adjusting an orientation of a vane coupled to the cage responsive to the engine power reserve value and to the grain loss, a cleaning system load and/or a straw length.

In a combine harvester the cleaning arrangement is placed above the threshing and separation system so that the sieves of the cleaning arrangement can be wider than the distance between the front wheels or tracks of the harvester. A supply such as one or more auger beds are provided underneath the threshing and separation system, for gathering the grain/residue mixture in a single location. From that location, an elevator transports the grain/residue mixture up towards the cleaning arrangement, where it is distributed over the width of the cleaning arrangement.

An assembly for rotating a chain or toothed belt includes a shaft and a sprocket rotatably mounted on the shaft. The sprocket includes a plurality of teeth configured to engage the chain or toothed belt. The assembly further includes a shield assembly covering at least a portion of the sprocket. The shield assembly has an interior groove formed therein defining an enclosed interior space. Each of the teeth of the sprocket rotate through the enclosed interior space during a full rotation of the sprocket.

A rotary cleaning system for a combine harvester that includes a hollow drum having a plurality of apertures along at least a portion of a length of an exterior surface of the drum, the drum having a feeding end configured to receive a harvested crop and a discharge end configured to expel chaff from the harvested crop and a guiding vane positioned in an interior of the drum, wherein one of the drum and the guiding vane is configured for rotation while the other one of the drum and the guiding vane is stationary to expel grain through the plurality of apertures in the drum. A feeding mechanism can be attached to supply the crop to the hollow drum. A fan can be attached to the rotary cleaning system to generate an air flow stream. A plurality of fingers can be positioned in the drum.