Flow distribution system for controlling application width of residual crop material

1. A flow distribution system for use with a combine spreader having an inlet opening at the top or front thereof for receiving crop residue, a pair of counter-rotating spreader paddles disposed generally side by side and forward of a back plate of the spreader, and a discharge opening below the spreader paddles, comprising

a flow guide element having

fore and aft ends,

an apex portion, and

a pair of opposed arm portions pivotally connected to the apex portion,

the arm portions laterally extending to free end portions,

the apex portion and the arm portions including surfaces extending longitudinally between the fore and aft ends of the flow guide element, the longitudinally extending surfaces defining crop residue flow surfaces,

wherein the arm portions each include an elongated vane extending along the crop residue flow surface of the arm portion,

the flow guide element disposed generally adjacent to the back plate of the spreader and generally intermediate to the spreader paddles, with the aft end generally proximate to the front side of the back plate of the spreader, with the crop residue flow surfaces generally opposite the inlet opening of the spreader, and with at least the free end portions disposed such that the crop residue flow surfaces are located generally extending circumferentially about portions of the spreader paddles and sidewardly outwardly relative thereto to the free end portions of the arm portions of the flow guide element,

an adjusting mechanism operably connected to the arm portions,

the adjusting mechanism operable to effect rotational movement of the arm portions about the apex portion, the movement of the arm portions relative to the spreader paddles adjustably varying the clearance between the outer swept diameters of the pair of spreader paddles and the crop residue flow surfaces of the arm portions, ends of spreader paddle members defining the outer swept diameters of the pair of spreader paddles and the crop residue flow surfaces of at least the arm portions defining clearance regions therebetween,

whereby, as a flow of crop residue is introduced into the inlet opening of the spreader, at least a portion of such flow is directed toward the crop residue flow surfaces of the flow guide element by operation of the counter-rotating spreader paddles and is adjustably directed by the flow guide element, and guided along the crop residue flow surfaces by the elongated vanes for controllably distributing the crop residue in a desired pattern over a field.

2. The flow distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the clearance regions between ends of spreader paddle members and the crop residue flow surfaces include at least one undulation formed on the arm portions by the elongated vanes that meshes with the spreader paddle members.

3. The flow distribution system of claim 2 , wherein an undulation of the at least one undulation having a similar profile relative to each other.

4. The flow distribution system of claim 2 , wherein an undulation of the at least one undulation having a different profile relative to each other.

5. The flow distribution system of claim 2 , wherein a length of an undulation of the at least one undulation having a similar length relative to each other.

6. The flow distribution system of claim 2 , wherein a length of an undulation of the at least one undulation having a different length relative to each other.

7. The flow distribution system of claim 1 , wherein at least one surface of the apex portion includes an elongated vane extending along the crop residue flow surface of the apex portion.

8. The flow distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the pair of counter-rotating spreader paddles are disposed to rotate about an axis that is substantially vertical.

9. The flow distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the pair of counter-rotating spreader paddles are disposed to rotate about an axis that is substantially horizontal.

10. The flow distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the pair of counter-rotating spreader paddles are disposed to rotate about an axis that is between a substantially vertical position and a substantially horizontal position.

11. The flow distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the adjusting mechanism is disposed between the fore and aft ends of the flow guide element.

12. The agricultural combine of claim 11 , wherein the ends of spreader paddle members and the elongated vane on the crop residue flow surface defining the clearance region do not overlap each other.

13. The flow distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the elongated vane includes a leading edge.

14. The flow distribution system of claim 13 , wherein the leading edge is linear.

15. The flow distribution system of claim 13 , wherein the leading edge is curved.

16. The flow distribution system of claim 1 , wherein at least one elongated vane is formed of a material having a low coefficient of friction.

17. The flow distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the ends of spreader paddle members and the elongated vane on the crop residue flow surface defining the clearance region do not overlap each other.

18. An agricultural combine comprising

a flow distribution system for use with a spreader comprising an inlet opening at the top or front thereof for receiving crop residue, a pair of counter-rotating spreader paddles disposed generally side by side and forward of a back plate of the spreader, and a discharge opening below the spreader paddles, comprising

a flow guide element having

fore and aft ends,

an apex portion, and

a pair of opposed arm portions pivotally connected to the apex portion,

the arm portions laterally extending to free end portions,

the apex portion and the arm portions including surfaces extending longitudinally between the fore and aft ends of the flow guide element, the longitudinally extending surfaces defining crop residue flow surfaces,

wherein the arm portions each include an elongated vane extending along the crop residue flow surface of the arm portion,

the flow guide element disposed generally adjacent to the back plate of the spreader and generally intermediate to the spreader paddles, with the aft end generally proximate to the front side of the back plate of the spreader, with the crop residue flow surfaces generally opposite the inlet opening of the spreader, and with at least the free end portions disposed such that the crop residue flow surfaces are located generally extending circumferentially about portions of the spreader paddles and sidewardly outwardly relative thereto to the free end portions of the arm portions of the flow guide element,

an adjusting mechanism operably connected to the arm portions,

the adjusting mechanism operable to effect rotational movement of the arm portions about the apex portion, the movement of the arm portions relative to the spreader paddles adjustably varying the clearance between the outer swept diameters of the pair of spreader paddles and the crop residue flow surfaces of the arm portions, ends of spreader paddle members defining the outer swept diameters of the pair of spreader paddles and the crop residue flow surfaces of at least the arm portions defining clearance regions therebetween,

whereby, as a flow of crop residue is introduced into the inlet opening of the spreader, at least a portion of such flow is directed towards the crop residue surfaces of the flow guide element by operation of the counter-rotating spreader paddles and is adjustably directed by the flow guide element, and guided along the crop residue flow surfaces by the elongated vanes for controllably distributing the crop residue in a desired pattern over a field.

19. A method for controllably adjusting the flow of crop residue through a spreader and sidewardly outwardly discharge thereof from the spreader for distribution over a field in a desired pattern, including

providing a spreader having an inlet opening at the top or front thereof for receiving crop residue, a pair of counter-rotating spreader paddles disposed generally side by side and forward of a back plate of the spreader, and a discharge opening below the spreader paddles;

providing a flow distributor system for use with the spreader including a flow guide element having

fore and aft ends,

an apex portion, and

a pair of opposed arm portions pivotally connected to the apex portion, the arm portions laterally extending to free end portions, the apex portion and the arm portions including surfaces extending longitudinally between the fore and aft ends of the flow guide element, the longitudinally extending surfaces defining crop residue flow surfaces, the flow guide element disposed generally adjacent to the back plate of the spreader and generally intermediate to the spreader paddles, with the aft end generally proximate to the front side of the back plate of the spreader, with the crop residue flow surfaces generally opposite the inlet opening of the spreader, and with at least the free end portions disposed such that the crop residue flow surfaces are located generally extending circumferentially about portions of the spreader paddles and sidewardly outwardly relative thereto to the free end portions of the arm portions of the flow guide element,

wherein the arm portions each include an elongated vane extending along the crop residue flow surface of the arm portion,

providing an adjusting mechanism operably connected to the arm portions, and

operating the adjusting mechanism to effect rotational movement of the arm portions about the apex portion, the movement of the arm portions relative to the spreader paddles adjustably varying the clearance between the outer swept diameters of the pair of spreader paddles and the crop residue flow surfaces of the arm portions, ends of spreader paddle members defining the outer swept diameters of the pair of spreader paddles and the crop residue flow surfaces of at least the arm portions defining clearance regions therebetween,

whereby, as a flow of crop residue is introduced into the inlet opening of the spreader, at least a portion of such flow is directed towards the crop residue surfaces of the flow guide element by operation of the counter-rotating spreader paddles and is adjustably directed by the flow guide element, and guided along the crop residue flow surfaces by the elongated vanes for controllably distributing the crop residue in a desired pattern over a field.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising raising the crop residue relative to a majority of longitudinally extending surfaces of the arm portions as the flow of crop residue flows along the longitudinally extending surfaces of the arm portions.