Crop residue spreader for a combine harvester
A spreader system of an agricultural vehicle for spreading crop residue including a spreader device and a fan. The spreader device includes a plurality of paddles configured to rotate about a first axis, with the rotation of the paddles producing a stream of crop residue. The fan includes a plurality of impellers configured to rotate about a second axis, with the rotation of the impellers producing a stream of air. The stream of air is directed to exit the spreader system beneath the stream of crop residue as the crop residue leaves the spreader device.
1. A spreader system of an agricultural vehicle for spreading crop residue, comprising:
a spreader device including a plurality of paddles configured to rotate about a first axis, the rotation of the paddles producing a stream of crop residue; and
a fan including a plurality of impellers configured to rotate about a second axis, the rotation of the impellers producing a stream of air, the stream of air being directed to exit the spreader system beneath the stream of crop residue as the crop residue leaves the spreader device, the stream of air being kept separate from the stream of crop residue until the streams travel beyond the spreader device.
2. The spreader system of claim 1 , wherein the fan is adjacent the spreader device.
3. The spreader system of claim 1 , wherein the first axis and the second axis are coaxial.
4. The spreader system of claim 1 , further comprising a shaft to which the paddles and impellers are coupled.
5. The spreader system of claim 1 , wherein the first axis and the second axis are generally horizontal.
6. The spreader system of claim 1 , further comprising a motor powering the fan.
7. The spreader system of claim 6 , wherein the motor additionally drives the spreader device.
8. The spreader system of claim 1 , further comprising a divider plate positioned below the spreader device having the stream of crop residue above the divider plate and the stream of air beneath the divider plate, the divider plate keeping the stream of air from mixing with the stream of crop residue until the streams travel beyond the spreader device.
9. The spreader system of claim 1 , further comprising an air inlet for the fan, the air inlet being generally open toward an aft portion of the agricultural vehicle.
10. The spreader system of claim 9 , wherein the air inlet is arranged around the second axis.
11. An agricultural vehicle for harvesting a crop, the vehicle comprising:
a threshing system producing a first stream of crop residue;
a cleaning system producing a second stream of crop residue; and
a spreader system including:
a spreader device including a plurality of paddles configured to rotate about a first axis, the rotation of the paddles receiving at least one of the first stream of crop residue and the second stream of crop residue, the rotating paddles producing an exit stream of crop residue; and
a fan including a plurality of impellers configured to rotate about a second axis, the rotation of the impellers producing a stream of air, the stream of air being directed to exit the spreader system beneath the exit stream of crop residue as the crop residue leaves the spreader device, the stream of air being kept separate from the stream of crop residue until the streams travel beyond the spreader device.
12. The agricultural vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the fan is adjacent the spreader device.
13. The agricultural vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the first axis and the second axis are coaxial.
14. The agricultural vehicle of claim 11 , further comprising a shaft to which the paddles and impellers are coupled.
15. The agricultural vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the first axis and the second axis are generally horizontal.
16. The agricultural vehicle of claim 11 , further comprising a motor powering the fan.
17. The agricultural vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the motor additionally drives the spreader device.
18. The agricultural vehicle of claim 11 , further comprising a divider plate positioned below the spreader device having the stream of crop residue above the divider plate and the stream of air beneath the divider plate, the divider plate keeping the stream of air from mixing with the stream of crop residue until the streams travel beyond the spreader device.
19. The agricultural vehicle of claim 11 , further comprising an air inlet for the fan, the air inlet being generally open toward an aft portion of the agricultural vehicle.
20. The agricultural vehicle of claim 19 , wherein the air inlet is arranged around the second axis.