Cleaning systems for combine harvesters having airbags or other movable side members, and related methods

A cleaning system for a combine harvester, the cleaning system comprising:

• a chaffer comprising:
• a perforated base;
• a plurality of longitudinal lateral walls;
• and
• a plurality of airbags, each disposed adjacent to a lateral wall of the plurality of longitudinal lateral walls;
• a blower configured to direct air rearward and upward through the chaffer;
• and
• an air supply configured to inflate at least one of the airbags, the plurality of lateral walls comprise a left wall, a right wall, and at least one center wall;
• wherein the plurality of airbags comprises a left airbag adjacent the left wall and a right airbag adjacent the right wall, wherein the at least one center wall is flanked by center airbags on both lateral sides thereof.

A cleaning system for a combine harvester, the cleaning system comprising:

• a chaffer comprising:
• a perforated base;
• a plurality of longitudinal lateral walls rigidly connected to the perforated base;
• a plurality of rigid members, each disposed adjacent to a corresponding lateral wall of the plurality of lateral walls;
• and
• at least one actuator configured to move each rigid member relative to the corresponding lateral wall such that moving the rigid member distributes cut crop material laterally across the chaffer;
• and
• a blower configured to direct air rearward and upward through the chaffer.

A method of operating a cleaning system of a combine harvester, the method comprising:

• passing cut crop material comprising grain and chaff to a chaffer comprising a perforated base, a plurality of longitudinal lateral walls, and a plurality of airbags, each airbag disposed adjacent to a lateral wall of the plurality of longitudinal walls;
• directing air from a blower upward through the chaffer;
• vibrating the chaffer to separate the grain from the chaff;
• inflating at least one airbag of the plurality of airbags with an air supply to push the cut crop material to distribute the cut crop material laterally across the chaffer;
• passing at least a portion of the grain downward through the chaffer;
• and
• transferring at least a portion of the chaff rearward on the chaffer.