Patent ID: 7281973

Claim:
A crop residue spreader for an agricultural combine, comprising: a housing mountable to a rear end of the combine in position for receiving crop residue from a threshing mechanism thereof and containing an element disposed for rotation in a predetermined direction therein about a generally fore and aft extending rotational axis for generating a rotary flow of the crop residue in the predetermined rotational direction along a circumferential flow path within the housing for discharge therefrom through an at least partially downwardly facing discharge opening; and an adjustable crop residue flow distributor including a flow guide having a first end portion and an opposite second end portion, the flow guide being supported adjacent to the discharge opening in a position so as to receive at least a portion of the crop residue flow discharged through the discharge opening for guiding and carrying the discharged flow sidewardly outwardly away from the spreader and distributing the crop residue in a pattern on a field, the flow guide including fore and aft edges extending between the first and second end portions defining a crop residue flow surface extending therebetween, wherein the flow surface has an upwardly directed concave shape, and an adjusting mechanism operable for moving the flow guide in fore and aft directions relative to the discharge opening to enable adjusting a pattern of crop residue distribution over a field.