Patent ID: 7874135

Claim:
A harvester adapter with stalk shredder for harvesting grain crops, comprising: a frame structure configured to be attached to a combine harvester; at least two crop gathering units each having a snout, the crop gathering units being secured to the frame structure, adjacent crop gathering units arranged such that a channel with an open leading end is formed therebetween; a stalk gathering unit disposed in driving connection with a harvesting mechanism on at least one side of each channel; a collecting auger disposed rearward from the harvesting mechanism; and at least one stalk shredder unit attached to the frame structure, each stalk shredder unit having rotors disposed for rotation in a common housing, wherein the speed of the stalk gathering unit is continuously adjustable according to control orders received from at least one of the combine harvester, a speed meter disposed on the adapter, and an operator, the stalk shredder units are attached to the frame structure such that their position is adjustable with respect to the frame structure in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel, and the stalk shredder units are suspended on the frame structure of the adapter by three articulated levers, where the length of a forward lever of the articulated levers is adjustable and the length of two rearward levers of the articulated levers is fixed and the rotors of the stalk shredder depend behind and below upper suspension points of the articulated levers with respect to the direction of travel.