System and method for positively discharging crop residue from a combine

A system for positively discharging crop residue from an agricultural combine including a body defining a space containing a separating system, the system comprising:

• a rotary beater for propelling a flow of crop residue rearwardly along a crop flow path through the space from the separating system toward a rear end of the space;
• a rotary crop residue chopper having an upwardly facing inlet opening disposed in a lower portion of the rear end of the space;
• a rear opening through a rear end of the body rearwardly of the inlet opening of the chopper;
• a door arrangement disposed in the rear end of the space and configurable in a first configuration in closing relation to the rear opening and positioned for directing at least a portion of the flow of crop residue into the inlet opening of the chopper, and in a second configuration covering the inlet opening and adjacent to the rear opening for directing the flow of crop residue over the inlet opening of the chopper and outwardly from the space through the rear opening;
• and
• a conveyor mechanism disposed in the space forwardly of the inlet opening of the chopper and the rear opening, the conveyor mechanism having an upwardly facing conveyor surface disposed for receiving at least a portion of the flow of the crop residue, the conveyor surface being continuously movable in a rearward direction for conveying the crop residue received thereby rearwardly so as to be directed by the door arrangement into the inlet opening of the chopper for discharge from the combine thereby when the door arrangement is in the first configuration, and so as to be directed through the rear opening by the door arrangement so as to be discharged from the combine for forming a windrow when in the door arrangement is in the second configuration.

Apparatus for an agricultural combine, for selectably directing crop residue propelled rearwardly within a space defined by a body of the combine outwardly through a rear opening of the body or into a chopper located in a lower rear portion of the space, the apparatus comprising:

• a door arrangement disposed in a rear end of the space and configurable in a first configuration in closing relation to the rear opening and positioned for directing at least a portion of the flow of crop residue into an inlet opening of the chopper disposed forwardly of the rear opening, and in a second configuration covering the inlet opening and adjacent to the rear opening for directing the flow of crop residue outwardly from the space over the inlet opening and through the rear opening;
• and
• a conveyor mechanism disposed in the space forwardly of the inlet opening of the chopper and the rear opening, the conveyor mechanism having an upwardly facing conveyor surface disposed for receiving at least a portion of the flow of the crop residue, the conveyor surface being continuously movable in a rearward direction for conveying the crop residue received thereby rearwardly so as to be directed by the door arrangement into the inlet opening of the chopper when the door arrangement is in the first configuration, and so as to be directed through the rear opening by the door arrangement when in the second configuration.

A method for configuring a combine for directing a rearward flow of crop residue within a space defined by a rear end of a body of the combine, outwardly through a rear opening of the body for forming a windrow, or into a chopper located in a lower rear portion of the space, comprising steps of:

• providing a door arrangement in the rear end of the space and configurable in a first configuration in closing relation to the rear opening and for directing at least a portion of the flow of crop residue into an inlet opening of the chopper located forwardly of the rear opening, and in a second configuration covering the inlet opening and adjacent to the rear opening for directing the flow of crop residue over the inlet opening and outwardly from the space through the rear opening;
• providing a conveyor mechanism disposed in the space forwardly of the inlet opening of the chopper and the rear opening, the conveyor mechanism having an upwardly facing conveyor surface disposed along a path of the flow of the crop residue, the conveyor surface being continuously movable in a rearward direction for conveying at least a portion of the crop residue flow rearwardly to the door arrangement;
• configuring the door arrangement in the first configuration so as to direct the flow of the crop residue into the inlet opening of the chopper so as to be chopped thereby;
• and
• configuring the door arrangement in the second configuration so as to direct the flow of the crop residue from the combine through the rear opening for forming a windrow on a field behind the combine.

An agricultural combine comprising:

• a body defining a space containing a separating system, the body having a rear opening defined therein, the rear opening being located rearwardly of the inlet opening of the chopper;
• a rotary beater for propelling a flow of crop residue rearwardly along a crop flow path from the separating system toward a rear end of the space;
• a rotary crop residue chopper having an upwardly facing inlet opening disposed in a lower portion of the rear end of the space;
• a door arrangement disposed in the space and configurable in a first configuration closing the rear opening and in position for directing at least a portion of the flow of crop residue into the inlet opening of the chopper, and in a second configuration covering the inlet opening and adjacent to the rear opening for directing the flow of crop residue outwardly from the space through the rear opening;
• a conveyor mechanism disposed in the space forwardly of the inlet opening of the chopper and the rear opening, the conveyor mechanism having an upwardly facing conveyor surface disposed for receiving at least a portion of the flow of the crop residue, the conveyor surface being continually movable rearwardly for conveying the crop residue received thereby to the door arrangement for direction thereby into the inlet opening of the chopper when the door arrangement is in the first configuration, and for direction through the rear opening when the door arrangement is in the second configuration;
• and
• a chaff spreader device disposed in the space forwardly of the chopper, wherein the door arrangement is configurable in a third configuration for covering the rear opening and the inlet opening and directing the flow of the crop residue in to the chaff spreader device.

An agricultural combine comprising:

• a body defining a space containing a separating system, the body having a rear opening defined therein, the rear opening being located rearwardly of the inlet opening of the chopper;
• a rotary beater for propelling a flow of crop residue rearwardly along a crop flow path from the separating system toward a rear end of the space;
• a rotary crop residue chopper having an upwardly facing inlet opening disposed in a lower portion of the rear end of the space;
• a door arrangement disposed in the space and configurable in a first configuration closing the rear opening and in position for directing at least a portion of the flow of crop residue into the inlet opening of the chopper, and in a second configuration covering the inlet opening and adjacent to the rear opening for directing the flow of crop residue outwardly from the space through the rear opening;
• a conveyor mechanism disposed in the space forwardly of the inlet opening of the chopper and the rear opening, the conveyor mechanism having an upwardly facing conveyor surface disposed for receiving at least a portion of the flow of the crop residue, the conveyor surface being continually movable rearwardly for conveying the crop residue received thereby to the door arrangement for direction thereby into the inlet opening of the chopper when the door arrangement is in the first configuration, and for direction through the rear opening when the door arrangement is in the second configuration;
• and
• a chaff spreader device disposed in the space forwardly of the chopper, wherein the conveyor mechanism is repositionable so as to be located at least partially in the flow of crop residue for directing at least a portion of the flow into the spreader device.

An agricultural combine comprising:

• a body defining a space containing a separating system, the body having a rear opening defined therein, the rear opening being located rearwardly of the inlet opening of the chopper;
• a rotary beater for propelling a flow of crop residue rearwardly along a crop flow path from the separating system toward a rear end of the space;
• a rotary crop residue chopper having an upwardly facing inlet opening disposed in a lower portion of the rear end of the space;
• a door arrangement disposed in the space and configurable in a first configuration closing the rear opening and in position for directing at least a portion of the flow of crop residue into the inlet opening of the chopper, and in a second configuration covering the inlet opening and adjacent to the rear opening for directing the flow of crop residue outwardly from the space through the rear opening;
• a conveyor mechanism disposed in the space forwardly of the inlet opening of the chopper and the rear opening, the conveyor mechanism having an upwardly facing conveyor surface disposed for receiving at least a portion of the flow of the crop residue, the conveyor surface being continually movable rearwardly for conveying the crop residue received thereby to the door arrangement for direction thereby into the inlet opening of the chopper when the door arrangement is in the first configuration, and for direction through the rear opening when the door arrangement is in the second configuration;
• and
• a controller operable to control and move the conveyor surface at a variable speed, the controller controlling the speed as a function of at least one predetermined parameter.

A system for positively discharging crop residue from an agricultural combine including a body defining a space containing a separating system, the system comprising:

• a rotary beater for propelling a flow of crop residue rearwardly along a crop flow path through the space from the separating system toward a rear end of the space;
• a rotary crop residue chopper having an upwardly facing inlet opening disposed in a lower portion of the rear end of the space;
• a rear opening through a rear end of the body rearwardly of the inlet opening of the chopper;
• a door arrangement disposed in the rear end of the space and configurable in a first configuration in closing relation to the rear opening and positioned for directing at least a portion of the flow of crop residue into the inlet opening of the chopper, and in a second configuration covering the inlet opening and adjacent to the rear opening for directing the flow of crop residue outwardly from the space through the rear opening;
• a conveyor mechanism disposed in the space forwardly of the inlet opening of the chopper and the rear opening, the conveyor mechanism having an upwardly facing conveyor surface disposed for receiving at least a portion of the flow of the crop residue, the conveyor surface being continuously movable in a rearward direction for conveying the crop residue received thereby rearwardly so as to be directed by the door arrangement into the inlet opening of the chopper for discharge from the combine thereby when the door arrangement is in the first configuration, and so as to be directed through the rear opening by the door arrangement so as to be discharged from the combine for forming a windrow when in the door arrangement is in the second configuration;
• and
• a chaff spreader device disposed in the space forwardly of the chopper, and wherein the door arrangement is configurable in a third configuration for covering the rear opening and the inlet opening and directing the flow of the crop residue into the chaff spreader device.

A system for positively discharging crop residue from an agricultural combine including a body defining a space containing a separating system, the system comprising:

• a rotary beater for propelling a flow of crop residue rearwardly along a crop flow path through the space from the separating system toward a rear end of the space;
• a rotary crop residue chopper having an upwardly facing inlet opening disposed in a lower portion of the rear end of the space;
• a rear opening through a rear end of the body rearwardly of the inlet opening of the chopper;
• a door arrangement disposed in the rear end of the space and configurable in a first configuration in closing relation to the rear opening and positioned for directing at least a portion of the flow of crop residue into the inlet opening of the chopper, and in a second configuration covering the inlet opening and adjacent to the rear opening for directing the flow of crop residue outwardly from the space through the rear opening;
• a conveyor mechanism disposed in the space forwardly of the inlet opening of the chopper and the rear opening, the conveyor mechanism having an upwardly facing conveyor surface disposed for receiving at least a portion of the flow of the crop residue, the conveyor surface being continuously movable in a rearward direction for conveying the crop residue received thereby rearwardly so as to be directed by the door arrangement into the inlet opening of the chopper for discharge from the combine thereby when the door arrangement is in the first configuration, and so as to be directed through the rear opening by the door arrangement so as to be discharged from the combine for forming a windrow when the door arrangement is in the second configuration;
• and
• a chaff spreader device disposed in the space forwardly of the chopper, and wherein the conveyor mechanism is repositionable so as to be located at least partially in the flow of crop residue for directing at least a portion of the flow into the spreader device.

A system for positively discharging crop residue from an agricultural combine including a body defining a space containing a separating system, the system comprising:

• a rotary beater for propelling a flow of crop residue rearwardly along a crop flow path through the space from the separating system toward a rear end of the space;
• a rotary crop residue chopper having an upwardly facing inlet opening disposed in a lower portion of the rear end of the space;
• a rear opening through a rear end of the body rearwardly of the inlet opening of the chopper;
• a door arrangement disposed in the rear end of the space and configurable in a first configuration in closing relation to the rear opening and positioned for directing at least a portion of the flow of crop residue into the inlet opening of the chopper, and in a second configuration covering the inlet opening and adjacent to the rear opening for directing the flow of crop residue outwardly from the space through the rear opening;
• a conveyor mechanism disposed in the space forwardly of the inlet opening of the chopper and the rear opening, the conveyor mechanism having an upwardly facing conveyor surface disposed for receiving at least a portion of the flow of the crop residue, the conveyor surface being continuously movable in a rearward direction for conveying the crop residue received thereby rearwardly so as to be directed by the door arrangement into the inlet opening of the chopper for discharge from the combine thereby when the door arrangement is in the first configuration, and so as to be directed through the rear opening by the door arrangement so as to be discharged from the combine for forming a windrow when in the door arrangement is in the second configuration, and wherein the conveyor surface comprises an endless belt movable at a variable speed;
• and
• a control for automatically controlling the speed of the belt as a function of at least one predetermined parameter.

Apparatus for an agricultural combine, for selectably directing crop residue propelled rearwardly within a space defined by a body of the combine outwardly through a rear opening of the body or into a chopper located in a lower rear portion of the space, the apparatus comprising:

• a door arrangement disposed in a rear end of the space and configurable in a first configuration in closing relation to the rear opening and positioned for directing at least a portion of the flow of crop residue into an inlet opening of the chopper, and in a second configuration covering the inlet opening and adjacent to the rear opening for directing the flow of crop residue outwardly from the space through the rear opening;
• a conveyor mechanism disposed in the space forwardly of the inlet opening of the chopper and the rear opening, the conveyor mechanism having an upwardly facing conveyor surface disposed for receiving at least a portion of the flow of the crop residue, the conveyor surface being continuously movable in a rearward direction for conveying the crop residue received thereby rearwardly so as to be directed by the door arrangement into the inlet opening of the chopper when the door arrangement is in the first configuration, and so as to be directed through the rear opening by the door arrangement when in the second configuration;
• and
• a chaff spreader device disposed in the space forwardly of the chopper, and wherein the door arrangement is configurable in a third configuration for covering the rear opening and the inlet opening and directing the flow of the crop residue into the chaff spreader device.

Apparatus for an agricultural combine, for selectably directing crop residue propelled rearwardly within a space defined by a body of the combine outwardly through a rear opening of the body or into a chopper located in a lower rear portion of the space, the apparatus comprising:

• a door arrangement disposed in a rear end of the space and configurable in a first configuration in closing relation to the rear opening and positioned for directing at least a portion of the flow of crop residue into an inlet opening of the chopper, and in a second configuration covering the inlet opening and adjacent to the rear opening for directing the flow of crop residue outwardly from the space through the rear opening;
• a conveyor mechanism disposed in the space forwardly of the inlet opening of the chopper and the rear opening, the conveyor mechanism having an upwardly facing conveyor surface disposed for receiving at least a portion of the flow of the crop residue, the conveyor surface being continuously movable in a rearward direction for conveying the crop residue received thereby rearwardly so as to be directed by the door arrangement into the inlet opening of the chopper when the door arrangement is in the first configuration, and so as to be directed through the rear opening by the door arrangement when in the second configuration;
• and
• a chaff spreader device disposed in the space forwardly of the chopper, and wherein the conveyor mechanism is repositionable so as to be located at least partially in the flow of crop residue for directing at least a portion of the flow into the spreader device.

Apparatus for an agricultural combine, for selectably directing crop residue propelled rearwardly within a space defined by a body of the combine outwardly through a rear opening of the body or into a chopper located in a lower rear portion of the space, the apparatus comprising:

• a door arrangement disposed in a rear end of the space and configurable in a first configuration in closing relation to the rear opening and positioned for directing at least a portion of the flow of crop residue into an inlet opening of the chopper, and in a second configuration covering the inlet opening and adjacent to the rear opening for directing the flow of crop residue outwardly from the space through the rear opening;
• a conveyor mechanism disposed in the space forwardly of the inlet opening of the chopper and the rear opening, the conveyor mechanism having an upwardly facing conveyor surface disposed for receiving at least a portion of the flow of the crop residue, the conveyor surface being continuously movable in a rearward direction for conveying the crop residue received thereby rearwardly so as to be directed by the door arrangement into the inlet opening of the chopper when the door arrangement is in the first configuration, and so as to be directed through the rear opening by the door arrangement when in the second configuration;
• and
• a controller operable to control and move the conveyor surface at a variable speed, the controller controlling the speed responsive to at least one predetermined parameter.

A method for configuring a combine for directing a rearward flow of crop residue within a space defined by a rear end of a body of the combine, outwardly through a rear opening of the body for forming a windrow, or into a chopper located in a lower rear portion of the space, comprising steps of:

• providing a door arrangement in the rear end of the space and configurable in a first configuration in closing relation to the rear opening and for directing at least a portion of the flow of crop residue into an inlet opening of the chopper, and in a second configuration covering the inlet opening and adjacent to the rear opening for directing the flow of crop residue outwardly from the space through the rear opening;
• providing a conveyor mechanism disposed in the space forwardly of the inlet opening of the chopper and the rear opening, the conveyor mechanism having an upwardly facing conveyor surface disposed along a path of the flow of the crop residue, the conveyor surface being continuously movable in a rearward direction for conveying at least a portion of the crop residue flow rearwardly to the door arrangement;
• configuring the door arrangement in the first configuration so as to direct the flow of the crop residue into the inlet opening of the chopper so as to be chopped thereby;
• configuring the door arrangement in the second configuration so as to direct the flow of the crop residue from the combine through the rear opening for forming a windrow on a field behind the combine;
• and
• providing a chaff spreader device disposed in the space forwardly of the chopper, and configuring the door arrangement in a third configuration for covering the rear opening and the inlet opening and directing the flow of the crop residue into the chaff spreader device.

A method for configuring a combine for directing a rearward flow of crop residue within a space defined by a rear end of a body of the combine, outwardly through a rear opening of the body for forming a windrow, or into a chopper located in a lower rear portion of the space, comprising steps of:

• providing a door arrangement in the rear end of the space and configurable in a first configuration in closing relation to the rear opening and for directing at least a portion of the flow of crop residue into an inlet opening of the chopper, and in a second configuration covering the inlet opening and adjacent to the rear opening for directing the flow of crop residue outwardly from the space through the rear opening;
• providing a conveyor mechanism disposed in the space forwardly of the inlet opening of the chopper and the rear opening, the conveyor mechanism having an upwardly facing conveyor surface disposed along a path of the flow of the crop residue, the conveyor surface being continuously movable in a rearward direction for conveying at least a portion of the crop residue flow rearwardly to the door arrangement;
• configuring the door arrangement in the first configuration so as to direct the flow of the crop residue into the inlet opening of the chopper so as to be chopped thereby;
• configuring the door arrangement in the second configuration so as to direct the flow of the crop residue from the combine through the rear opening for forming a windrow on a field behind the combine;
• providing a chaff spreader device disposed in the space forwardly of the chopper, and repositioning the conveyor mechanism so as to be located at least partially in the flow of crop residue for directing at least a portion of the flow into the spreader device.

A method for configuring a combine for directing a rearward flow of crop residue within a space defined by a rear end of a body of the combine, outwardly through a rear opening of the body for forming a windrow, or into a chopper located in a lower rear portion of the space, comprising steps of:

• providing a door arrangement in the rear end of the space and configurable in a first configuration in closing relation to the rear opening and for directing at least a portion of the flow of crop residue into an inlet opening of the chopper, and in a second configuration covering the inlet opening and adjacent to the rear opening for directing the flow of crop residue outwardly from the space through the rear opening;
• providing a conveyor mechanism disposed in the space forwardly of the inlet opening of the chopper and the rear opening, the conveyor mechanism having an upwardly facing conveyor surface disposed along a path of the flow of the crop residue, the conveyor surface being continuously movable in a rearward direction for conveying at least a portion of the crop residue flow rearwardly to the door arrangement;
• configuring the door arrangement in the first configuration so as to direct the flow of the crop residue into the inlet opening of the chopper so as to be chopped thereby;
• configuring the door arrangement in the second configuration so as to direct the flow of the crop residue from the combine through the rear opening for forming a windrow on a field behind the combine;
• wherein the step of configuring the door arrangement in the second configuration reduces the flow of the crop residue in vertical extent prior to passage through the rear opening, and wherein the step of configuring the door arrangement forms the flow of the crop material from the combine into a substantially continuous mat prior to passage through the rear opening and the mat is laid in a layer of stubble on the field for forming the windrow.