Patent ID: 8118650

Claim:
An adjustable flow distributor for a crop residue spreader of an agricultural combine, comprising: a flow guide having a first end portion, a second end portion opposite the first end portion, and opposite fore and aft edges extending between the first and second end portions defining a crop residue flow surface extending therebetween; and an adjustable support structure supporting the flow guide with at least the first end portion thereof disposed beneath a downwardly facing portion of a discharge opening of the spreader, the second end portion extending sidewardly beneath the discharge opening such that at least a first portion of a flow of crop residue discharged through the opening will strike and flow sidewardly along the flow surface and sidewardly therefrom so as to be distributed thereby over a region of a field located sidewardly of the spreader, the first end portion is connected to a pivotable member of a movable portion of the support structure such that a portion of the first end portion of the flow guide is pivotable so that the fore edge of the flow guide is movable to form an acute angle or an oblique angle relative to the movable portion of the support structure, the first end portion configured to pivot on a pivot point that is relatively perpendicular to the first end portion of the flow guide, the aft edge includes an edge portion oriented at an oblique angle to a reference plane perpendicular to an axis of rotation of an impeller of the spreader, the edge portion bounding and defining in part an oblique shaped space beneath the discharge opening such that a second portion of the flow of crop residue will pass through the space beneath the discharge opening so as to be distributed beneath the spreader, the support structure including a first adjusting mechanism including an actuator engaged to the movable portion of the support structure and configured and operable for moving the flow guide such that points along the edge portion will move at different rates in relation to the plane to change the oblique shape of the space for controlling the second portion of the flow of crop residue distributed beneath the spreader.