Patent ID: 8585475

Claim:
A crop residue distribution apparatus for an agricultural harvesting machine, comprising: a spreader assembly including side by side first and second spreader disks supported for rotation about generally upstanding rotational axes therethrough, respectively, and first and second spreader drive units connected in rotatably driving relation to the spreader disks, respectively, and extending axially upwardly therefrom, respectively, defining an aperture between the drive units, the spreader assembly being supported in or adjacent to a lower opening of a rear cavity of the harvesting machine, said spreader assembly being supported for pivotable movement along a path between a forward spreading position for receiving a flow of crop residue from a cleaning system of the harvesting machine disposed forwardly of the lower opening of the rear cavity thereof, and a rear position upwardly and rearwardly of the forward spreading position; and a pivotably supported deflector door bounding a rear end of the rear cavity, the deflector door having a lower portion configured and dimensioned to be cooperatively received in enclosing relation to the aperture defined between the drive units, the deflector door being pivotally movable between a forward closed position wherein the lower portion is disposed in and encloses the aperture to at least substantially prevent flow of crop residue through the aperture, and an open position rearward of the forward position to allow flow of crop residue through the aperture.