Fluted rotor

An agricultural thresher comprising:

• a rotor cage having a rotor cage inlet;
• and
• a rotor mounted within the rotor cage that rotates relative to the rotor cage about a rotation axis, the rotor comprising:
• a main body extending along the rotation axis in a processing direction from a front main body end to a rear main body end, wherein the main body is located inside the rotor cage, and the main body and the rotor cage define a threshing chamber;
• a rotor transition surface extending from the front main body end and tapered to decrease in cross-sectional size away from the main body;
• and
• at least one impeller extending away from the rotation axis from the rotor transition surface that moves crop material towards the rotor cage inlet and the main body upon rotation of the rotor about the rotation axis;
• wherein the rotor transition surface and the main body comprise at least one flute located downstream of the at least one impeller, defining a recessed flute volume in the rotor transition surface and the main body;
• and
• wherein the at least one impeller comprises a helical vane and the at least one flute comprises a helical recess corresponding to the helical vane.

An agricultural combine comprising:

• a chassis that moves along a surface;
• a feeder housing;
• and
• a thresher comprising:
• a rotor cage having a rotor cage inlet in communication with the feeder housing;
• and
• a rotor mounted within the rotor cage that rotates relative to the rotor cage about a rotation axis, the rotor comprising:
• a main body extending along the rotation axis in a processing direction from a front main body end to a rear main body end, wherein the main body is located inside the rotor cage and the main body and the rotor cage define a threshing chamber;
• a rotor transition surface extending from the front main body end and tapered to decrease in cross-sectional size away from the main body;
• and
• at least one impeller extending away from the rotation axis from the rotor transition surface that moves crop material from the feeder housing towards the rotor cage inlet and the main body upon rotation of the rotor about the rotation axis;
• wherein the rotor transition surface and the main body comprise at least one flute located downstream of the at least one impeller, defining a recessed flute volume in the rotor transition surface and the main body;
• and
• wherein the at least one impeller comprises a helical vane and the at least one flute comprises a helical recess corresponding to the helical vane.