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A multiple finger flow guide for a crop residue spreader including an element disposed in a housing and rotatable in a predetermined direction about an axis for driving a flow of crop residue through a discharge opening or outlet of the housing located at a predetermined angular position around the

A multiple finger flow guide for a crop residue spreader including an element disposed in a housing and rotatable in a predetermined direction about an axis for driving a flow of crop residue through a discharge opening or outlet of the housing located at a predetermined angular position around the axis. The flow guide includes at least two elongate fingers, the fingers having proximal ends located adjacent to an upstream end of the discharge opening and the fingers extending from the proximal ends generally circumferentially to an arcuate or circular path of the flow to distal ends located spaced outwardly from the housing and the discharge opening, adjacent ones of the fingers defining spaces therebetween such that a desired portion of the flow will pass through the spaces so as to be spread onto an area of an agricultural field adjacent to the spreader and the remaining portions of the flow will be guided along the fingers so as to be spread over portions of the field a desired distance away from the spreader, such that the crop residue will be distributed evenly over a desired portion of the swath of a combine on which the spreader is used.

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1. In a crop residue spreader including an element disposed in a housing and rotatable in a predetermined direction about an axis for driving a flow of crop residue through a discharge opening of the housing located at a predetermined angular position around the axis, an improvement comprising:a flo

1. In a crop residue spreader including an element disposed in a housing and rotatable in a predetermined direction about an axis for driving a flow of crop residue through a discharge opening of the housing located at a predetermined angular position around the axis, an improvement comprising:a flow guide including at least two elongate fingers, the fingers having proximal ends located adjacent to an upstream end of the discharge opening relative to a direction of the flow and extending from the proximal ends generally circumferentially to the path of the flow to distal ends located spaced outwardly from the housing and the discharge opening, adjacent ones of the fingers defining spaces therebetween such that portions of the flow will pass through the spaces so as to be spread onto areas of an agricultural field adjacent to the spreader and other portions of the flow will be guided along the fingers so as to be propelled from the spreader and spread over areas of the field a desired distance from the spreader; anda shield positioned in covering relation to less than an entire portion of the space between at least two adjacent ones of the fingers adjacent the proximal ends thereof for limiting flow through the portion of the space. 2. In the crop residue spreader of claim 1, the improvement further comprising the shield having a downstream end relative to the direction of the flow which extends diagonally across the portion of the space so as to allow more of the flow to pass between the fingers adjacent to a first axial end of the spreader and less of the flow to pass between the fingers adjacent to a second axial end of the spreader opposite the first end. 3. In the crop residue spreader of claim 1, the improvement further comprising at least one of the fingers having a length measured between the proximal and distal ends thereof which is greater than a length of at least one other of the fingers measured between the proximal and distal ends thereof. 4. In the crop residue spreader of claim 1, the improvement further comprising each of the fingers having a longitudinally extending arcuate shape portion adjacent the proximal end thereof. 5. In the crop residue spreader of claim 4, the improvement comprising some of the fingers having an elongate straight portion extending from the arcuate shape portion to the distal end thereof in tangential relation to the crop flow. 6. In the crop residue spreader of claim 5, the improvement comprising alternating ones of the fingers including the elongate straight portion. 7. In the crop residue spreader of claim 1, the improvement comprising the fingers having a generally round cross sectional shape. 8. A flow guide for a rotary crop residue spreader, the spreader including an element disposed in a housing and rotatable in a predetermined direction therein about a rotational axis for generating a flow of crop residue in the predetermined rotational direction along a generally arcuate flow path within the housing for discharge therefrom through a radially facing opening thereof located at a predetermined position around the axis, the flow guide comprising:a first end disposed adjacent to the discharge opening and extending along the flow path, and a plurality of elongate fingers extending in the predetermined rotational direction from the first end, each of the fingers terminating at a distal end located generally in the predetermined direction radially outwardly of the discharge opening, the fingers being spaced apart in the axial direction one relative to the other defining spaces therebetween, wherein a portion of the flow will be able to pass through the spaces between the fingers so as to be deposited on an area of an agricultural field adjacent to the spreader, and a portion of the flow will be guided by the fingers outwardy from the spreader so as to be spread over an area of the field a desired distance spaced from the spreader; anda shield positioned in covering relation to less than an entire portion of the space between at least two adjacent ones of the fingers adjacent the first end for limiting flow through the portion of the space. 9. The flow guide of claim 8, wherein the fingers are arranged in a single row. 10. The flow guide of claim 8, wherein adjacent ones of the fingers have different lengths as measured between the first end and the distal ends thereof, respectively. 11. The flow guide of claim 8, further comprising at least one deflector disposed along the flow path adjacent the first end of the flow guide for blocking passage of the flow through the space between the fingers. 12. The flow guide of claim 8, wherein some of the fingers include an elongate straight portion adjacent the distal end thereof and extending generally tangentially to the arcuate flow path. 13. The flow guide of claim 8, wherein the fingers each have a generally round cross-sectional shape. 14. The flow guide of claim 8, wherein each of the fingers has an arcuate shape portion adjacent to the first end. 15. The flow guide of claim 14, wherein each of the fingers has an elongate straight portion extending from the arcuate shape portion to the distal end thereof. 16. The flow guide of claim 15, wherein alternating ones of the fingers including the elongate straight portion. 17. The flow guide of claim 8, further comprising the shield having an end which extends diagonally across the portion of the space so as to limit more of the flow adjacent a first axial end of the spreader and less of the flow adjacent a second axial end of the spreader opposite the first end. 18. A rotary crop residue spreader for an agricultural combine, comprising:a housing mountable to the combine in position for receiving crop residue from at least a threshing mechanism thereof and containing an element disposed for rotation in a predetermined direction therein about a rotational axis for generating a rotary flow of the crop residue in the predetermined rotational direction along a flow path within the housing for discharge therefrom through a radially facing outlet; anda flow guide including a shield disposed adjacent to an upstream end of the outlet generally radially outwardly of the flow path, and a plurality of axially spaced elongate fingers extending from the shield in generally circumferential and tangential relation to the flow path, the shield being positioned in covering relation to less than an entire portion of the space between at least two adjacent ones of the fingers adjacent the upstream end for limiting flow through the portion of the space, each of the fingers terminating at a distal end spaced from the shield, adjacent ones of the fingers defining spaces therebetween, respectively, such that some portions of the flow of the crop residue will be propelled from the spreader through the spaces, while remaining portions of the flow will be propelled from the spreader longitudinally along the fingers. 19. The spreader of claim 18, wherein the shield has a downstream edge extending across the spaces between the fingers at an acute angle to the longitudinal extent thereof so as to define upstream peripheries, respectively, of the spaces at different longitudinal positions along the flow path. 20. The spreader of claim 18, wherein the fingers each have a generally round cross-sectional shape. 21. The spreader of claim 18, wherein each of the fingers has a longitudinally extending arcuate shape portion adjacent to the shield. 22. The spreader of claim 21, wherein some of the fingers have a longitudinally extending straight portion extending tangentially relative to the flow from the arcuate shape portion to the distal end thereof. 23. The spreader of claim 22, wherein alternating ones of the fingers include the straight portion. 24. In a crop residue spreader including an element disposed in a housing and rotatable in a predetermined direction about an axis for driving a flow of crop residue through a discharge opening of the hou sing located at a predetermined angular position around the axis, an improvement comprising:a flow guide including at least two elongate fingers, the fingers having proximal ends located adjacent to an upstream end of the discharge opening relative to a direction of the flow and extending from the proximal ends generally circumferentially to the path of the flow to distal ends located spaced outwardly from the housing and the discharge opening, adjacent ones of the fingers defining spaces therebetween such that portions of the flow will pass through the spaces so as to be spread onto areas of an agricultural field adjacent to the spreader and other portions of the flow will be guided along the fingers so as to be propelled from the spreader and spread over areas of the field a desired distance from the spreader;a shield positioned in covering relation to a portion of the space between at least two adjacent ones of the fingers adjacent the proximal ends thereof for limiting flow through the portion of the space, the shield having a downstream end relative to the direction of the flow which extends diagonally across the portion of the space so as to allow more of the flow to pass between the fingers adjacent to a first axial end of the spreader and less of the flow to pass between the fingers adjacent to a second axial end of the spreader opposite the first end. 25. In a crop residue spreader including an element disposed in a housing and rotatable in a predetermined direction about an axis for driving a flow of crop residue through a discharge opening of the housing located at a predetermined angular position around the axis, an improvement comprising:a flow guide including at least two elongate fingers, the fingers having proximal ends located adjacent to an upstream end of the discharge opening relative to a direction of the flow and extending from the proximal ends generally circumferentially to the path of the flow to distal ends located spaced outwardly from the housing and the discharge opening, adjacent ones of the fingers defining spaces therebetween such that portions of the flow will pass through the spaces so as to be spread onto areas of an agricultural field adjacent to the spreader and other portions of the flow will be guided along the fingers so as to be propelled from the spreader and spread over areas of the field a desired distance from the spreader, at least one of the fingers having a length measured between the proximal and distal ends thereof which is greater than a length of at least one other of the fingers measured between the proximal and distal ends thereof. 26. In a crop residue spreader including an element disposed in a housing and rotatable in a predetermined direction about an axis for driving a flow of crop residue through a discharge opening of the housing located at a predetermined angular position around the axis, an improvement comprising:a flow guide including at least two elongate fingers, the fingers having proximal ends located adjacent to an upstream end of the discharge opening relative to a direction of the flow and extending from the proximal ends generally circumferentially to the path of the flow to distal ends located spaced outwardly from the housing and the discharge opening, adjacent ones of the fingers defining spaces therebetween such that portions of the flow will pass through the spaces so as to be spread onto areas of an agricultural field adjacent to the spreader and other portions of the flow will be guided along the fingers so as to be propelled from the spreader and spread over areas of the field a desired distance from the spreader, each of the fingers having a longitudinally extending arcuate shape portion adjacent the proximal end thereof and some of the fingers having an elongate straight portion extending from the arcuate shape portion to the distal end thereof in tangential relation to the crop flow. 27. In the crop residue spreader of claim 26, the improvement comprising alternating ones of the fingers including the elongate straight portion. 28. In a crop residue spreader including an element disposed in a housing and rotatable in a predetermined direction about an axis for driving a flow of crop residue through a discharge opening of the housing located at a predetermined angular position around the axis, an improvement comprising:a flow guide including at least two elongate fingers, the fingers having proximal ends located adjacent to an upstream end of the discharge opening relative to a direction of the flow and extending from the proximal ends generally circumferentially to the path of the flow to distal ends located spaced outwardly from the housing and the discharge opening, adjacent ones of the fingers defining spaces therebetween such that portions of the flow will pass through the spaces so as to be spread onto areas of an agricultural field adjacent to the spreader and other portions of the flow will be guided along the fingers so as to be propelled from the spreader and spread over areas of the field a desired distance from the spreader, the fingers having a generally round cross sectional shape. 29. A flow guide for a rotary crop residue spreader, the spreader including an element disposed in a housing and rotatable in a predetermined direction therein about a rotational axis for generating a flow of crop residue in the predetermined rotational direction along a generally arcuate flow path within the housing for discharge therefrom through a radially facing opening thereof located at a predetermined position around the axis, the flow guide comprising:a first end disposed adjacent to the discharge opening and extending along the flow path, and a plurality of elongate fingers extending in the predetermined rotational direction from the first end, each of the fingers terminating at a distal end located generally in the predetermined direction radially outwardly of the discharge opening, the fingers being spaced apart in the axial direction one relative to the other defining spaces therebetween, wherein a portion of the flow will be able to pass through the spaces between the fingers so as to be deposited on an area of an agricultural field adjacent to the spreader, and a portion of the flow will be guided by the fingers outwardly from the spreader so as to be spread over an area of the field a desired distance spaced from the spreader, wherein adjacent ones of the fingers have different lengths as measured between the first end and the distal ends thereof, respectively. 30. A flow guide for a rotary crop residue spreader, the spreader including an element disposed in a housing and rotatable in a predetermined direction therein about a rotational axis for generating a flow of crop residue in the predetermined rotational direction along a generally arcuate flow path within the housing for discharge therefrom through a radially facing opening thereof located at a predetermined position around the axis, the flow guide comprising:a first end disposed adjacent to the discharge opening and extending along the flow path, and a plurality of elongate fingers extending in the predetermined rotational direction from the first end, each of the fingers terminating at a distal end located generally in the predetermined direction radially outwardly of the discharge opening, the fingers being spaced apart in the axial direction one relative to the other defining spaces therebetween, wherein a portion of the flow will be able to pass through the spaces between the fingers so as to be deposited on an area of an agricultural field adjacent to the spreader, and a portion of the flow will be guided by the fingers outwardly from the spreader so as to be spread over an area of the field a desired distance spaced from the spreader; andat least one deflector disposed along the flow path adjacent the first end of the flow guide for blocking passage of the flow through the space between the fingers. 31. A flow guide for a rotary crop residue spreader, the spreader including an element disposed in a housing and rotatable in a predetermined direction therein about a rotational axis for generating a flow of crop residue in the predetermined rotational direction along a generally arcuate flow path within the housing for discharge therefrom through a radially facing opening thereof located at a predetermined position around the axis, the flow guide comprising:a first end disposed adjacent to the discharge opening and extending along the flow path, and a plurality of elongate fingers extending in the predetermined rotational direction from the first end, each of the fingers terminating at a distal end located generally in the predetermined direction radially outwardly of the discharge opening, the fingers being spaced apart in the axial direction one relative to the other defining spaces therebetween, wherein a portion of the flow will be able to pass through the spaces between the fingers so as to be deposited on an area of an agricultural field adjacent to the spreader, and a portion of the flow will be guided by the fingers outwardly from the spreader so as to be spread over an area of the field a desired distance spaced from the spreader, wherein some of the fingers include an elongate straight portion adjacent the distal end thereof and extending generally tangentially to the arcuate flow path. 32. A flow guide for a rotary crop residue spreader, the spreader including an element disposed in a housing and rotatable in a predetermined direction therein about a rotational axis for generating a flow of crop residue in the predetermined rotational direction along a generally arcuate flow path within the housing for discharge therefrom through a radially facing opening thereof located at a predetermined position around the axis, the flow guide comprising:a first end disposed adjacent to the discharge opening and extending along the flow path, and a plurality of elongate fingers extending in the predetermined rotational direction from the first end, each of the fingers terminating at a distal end located generally in the predetermined direction radially outwardly of the discharge opening, the fingers being spaced apart in the axial direction one relative to the other defining spaces therebetween, wherein a portion of the flow will be able to pass through the spaces between the fingers so as to be deposited on an area of an agricultural field adjacent to the spreader, and a portion of the flow will be guided by the fingers outwardly from the spreader so as to be spread over an area of the field a desired distance spaced from the spreader, wherein the fingers each have a generally round cross-sectional shape. 33. A flow guide for a rotary crop residue spreader, the spreader including an element disposed in a housing and rotatable in a predetermined direction therein about a rotational axis for generating a flow of crop residue in the predetermined rotational direction along a generally arcuate flow path within the housing for discharge therefrom through a radially facing opening thereof located at a predetermined position around the axis, the flow guide comprising:a first end disposed adjacent to the discharge opening and extending along the flow path, and a plurality of elongate fingers extending in the predetermined rotational direction from the first end, each of the fingers terminating at a distal end located generally in the predetermined direction radially outwardly of the discharge opening, the fingers being spaced apart in the axial direction one relative to the other defining spaces therebetween, wherein a portion of the flow will be able to pass through the spaces between the fingers so as to be deposited on an area of an agricultural field adjacent to the spreader, and a portion of the flow will be guided by the fingers outwardly from the spreader so as to be spread over an area of the field a desired distance spaced f rom the spreader, wherein each of the fingers has an arcuate shape portion adjacent to the first end, and wherein each of the fingers has an elongate straight portion extending from the arcuate shape portion to the distal end thereof. 34. The flow guide of claim 33, wherein alternating ones of the fingers including the elongate straight portion. 35. A flow guide for a rotary crop residue spreader, the spreader including an element disposed in a housing and rotatable in a predetermined direction therein about a rotational axis for generating a flow of crop residue in the predetermined rotational direction along a generally arcuate flow path within the housing for discharge therefrom through a radially facing opening thereof located at a predetermined position around the axis, the flow guide comprising:a first end disposed adjacent to the discharge opening and extending along the flow path, and a plurality of elongate fingers extending in the predetermined rotational direction from the first end, each of the fingers terminating at a distal end located generally in the predetermined direction radially outwardly of the discharge opening, the fingers being spaced apart in the axial direction one relative to the other defining spaces therebetween, wherein a portion of the flow will be able to pass through the spaces between the fingers so as to be deposited on an area of an agricultural field adjacent to the spreader, and a portion of the flow will be guided by the fingers outwardly from the spreader so as to be spread over an area of the field a desired distance spaced from the spreader; anda shield positioned in covering relation to a portion of the space between at least two adjacent ones of the fingers adjacent the first end for limiting flow through the portion of the space, the shield having an end which extends diagonally across the portion of the space so as to limit more of the flow adjacent a first axial end of the spreader and less of the flow adjacent a second axial end of the spreader opposite the first end. 36. A rotary crop residue spreader for an agricultural combine, comprising:a housing mountable to the combine in position for receiving crop residue from at least a threshing mechanism thereof and containing an element disposed for rotation in a predetermined direction therein about a rotational axis for generating a rotary flow of the crop residue in the predetermined rotational direction along a flow path within the housing for discharge therefrom through a radially facing outlet; anda flow guide including a shield disposed adjacent to an upstream end of the outlet generally radially outwardly of the flow path, and a plurality of axially spaced elongate fingers extending from the shield in generally circumferential and tangential relation to the flow path, each of the fingers terminating at a distal end spaced from the shield, adjacent ones of the fingers defining spaces therebetween, respectively such that some portions of the flow of the crop residue will be propelled from the spreader through the spaces, while remaining portions of the flow will be propelled from the spreader longitudinally along the fingers, wherein the shield has a downstream edge extending across the spaces between the fingers at an acute angle to the longitudinal extent thereof so as to define upstream peripheries, respectively, of the spaces at different longitudinal positions along the flow path. 37. A rotary crop residue spreader for an agricultural combine, comprising:a housing mountable to the combine in position for receiving crop residue from at least a threshing mechanism thereof and containing an element disposed for rotation in a predetermined direction therein about a rotational axis for generating a rotary flow of the crop residue in the predetermined rotational direction along a flow path within the housing for discharge therefrom through a radially facing outlet; anda flow guide including a shield disposed adjacent to an upstr eam end of the outlet generally radially outwardly of the flow path, and a plurality of axially spaced elongate fingers extending from the shield in generally circumferential and tangential relation to the flow path, each of the fingers terminating at a distal end spaced from the shield, adjacent ones of the fingers defining spaces therebetween, respectively, such that some portions of the flow of the crop residue will be propelled from the spreader through the spaces, while remaining portions of the flow will be propelled from the spreader longitudinally along the fingers, wherein the fingers each have a generally round cross-sectional shape. 38. A rotary crop residue spreader for an agricultural combine, comprising:a housing mountable to the combine in position for receiving crop residue from at least a threshing mechanism thereof and containing an element disposed for rotation in a predetermined direction therein about a rotational axis for generating a rotary flow of the crop residue in the predetermined rotational direction along a flow path within the housing for discharge therefrom through a radially facing outlet; anda flow guide including a shield disposed adjacent to an upstream end of the outlet generally radially outwardly of the flow path, and a plurality of axially spaced elongate fingers extending from the shield in generally circumferential and tangential relation to the flow path, each of the fingers terminating at a distal end spaced from the shield, adjacent ones of the fingers defining spaces therebetween, respectively, such that some portions of the flow of the crop residue will be propelled from the spreader through the spaces, while remaining portions of the flow will be propelled from the spreader longitudinally along the fingers, wherein some of the fingers have a longitudinally extending strait portion extending tangentially relative to the flow from the arcuate shape portion to the distal end thereof. 39. The spreader of claim 38, wherein alternating ones of the fingers include the straight portion.