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An adjustable flow distributor for a spreader of an agricultural combine operable for discharging a flow of straw and other crop residue in a sideward direction for deposition over a field, the flow distributor including an edge portion oriented at an oblique angle to a reference such as a back plat

An adjustable flow distributor for a spreader of an agricultural combine operable for discharging a flow of straw and other crop residue in a sideward direction for deposition over a field, the flow distributor including an edge portion oriented at an oblique angle to a reference such as a back plate of the spreader, defining an oblique shaped space therebetween, the edge portion being pivotally adjustable in the fore and aft direction for controlling the portions of the flow of crop residue deposited beneath the spreader and discharged sidewardly therefrom, respectively, for instance, so as to better and more evenly distribute the crop residue over a swath of an agricultural field from which the crop was harvested, particularly a region of the swath in proximity to the spreader and/or chopper.

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1. 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 resi

1. 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; andan 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. 2. The flow distributor of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the aft edge has a fore and aft extending tapered shape bounding and defining in part the oblique shaped space, and wherein at least the edge portion comprises a metering edge bounding and defining in part the oblique shaped space and the tapered shape extends sidewardly outwardly and forwardly toward the second end portion of the flow guide. 3. The flow distributor of claim 1, further comprising a second adjustable mechanism which includes one attachment point at the pivot point of the first end portion of the flow guide that connects the flow guide to the pivotable member and another attachment point including a bolt positioned through a slot in the first end portion and a portion of the pivotable member that connects the flow guide to the pivotable member. 4. The flow distributor of claim 1, wherein the crop residue flow surface has an upwardly and sidewardly outwardly facing concave shape so as to be capable of guiding a flow of crop residue discharged downwardly from the discharge opening upwardly and sidewardly outwardly therefrom. 5. The flow distributor of claim 1, wherein the flow guide is supported on the pivotable member such that the second end portion thereof is pivotable about the pivotable member of the movable portion for varying the oblique angle to the reference plane and moving the flow surface upwardly and downwardly relative to the discharge opening. 6. The flow distributor of claim 1, wherein the flow guide is supported on the pivotable member such that the second end portion thereof is pivotable about the pivotable member of the movable portion for varying the oblique shape of the space and the second portion of the flow deposited beneath the spreader. 7. The flow distributor of claim 1, wherein the actuator is remotely controllable for moving the second end portion of the flow guide and varying the oblique angle such that the oblique shaped shape beneath the discharge opening will vary in shape as a function of the movement of the second end portion. 8. The flow distributor of claim 1, wherein the first adjusting mechanism is further configured and operable for moving the flow guide in the fore and aft directions relative to the discharge opening via the movable portion and the actuator. 9. 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 positioned forward of a back plate of the housing and 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 bounded and defined in part by the back plate; andan adjustable crop residue flow distributor including a flow guide supported by an adjustable support structure, the flow guide having a first end portion and an opposite second end portion, the flow guide including fore and aft edges which extend between the first and second end portions, the first end portion connected to a pivotable member of a movable portion of the support structure and adjustable 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, at least a portion of the aft edge oriented at an oblique angle relative to the back plate defining a space therebetween, the flow guide being supported adjacent to the discharge opening in a position so as to receive the crop residue flow discharged through the discharge opening for guiding and carrying at least a first portion of the flow sidewardly outwardly away from the spreader and for allowing at least a second portion of the flow to pass through the space between the aft edge and the back plate so as to be distributed beneath the spreader, and a first adjusting mechanism including an actuator engaged to the movable member of the support structure and configured and operable for moving the flow guide such that portions along the aft edge will move at different rates in relation to the back plate for changing the oblique angle and controlling the second portion of the crop residue flow distributed beneath the spreader. 10. The crop residue spreader of claim 9, wherein the first adjusting mechanism is operable for pivoting the second end portion of the flow guide in the fore and aft directions about the pivotable member of the movable portion to vary the oblique angle between the flow guide and the back plate to position at least one of the fore and aft edges of the flow guide beneath the discharge opening in a position such that a first portion of a flow of crop residue discharged through the opening will be guided sidewardly outwardly along the flow guide so as to be distributed onto a region of a field located sidewardly outwardly of the spreader, and the second portion of the flow will flow downwardly past the flow guide through the space defined by the flow guide and the back plate so as to be distributed onto a region of a field located generally beneath the spreader. 11. The crop residue spreader of claim 10, wherein the first adjusting mechanism is further operable for moving the second end portion upwardly and downwardly relative to the discharge opening. 12. The crop residue spreader of claim 9, wherein the flow guide has a curved shape which is concave in the upward direction. 13. The crop residue spreader of claim 9, wherein the first adjusting mechanism is further 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. 14. The crop residue spreader of claim 9, wherein the actuator is remotely controllable for moving the flow guide such that points along the aft edge will move at different rates in relation to the back plate for varying the oblique angle. 15. The crop residue spreader of claim 14, further comprising a second adjustable mechanism which includes one attachment point at the pivot point of the first end portion of the flow guide that connects the flow guide to the pivotable member and another attachment point including a bolt positioned through a slot in the first end portion and a portion of the pivotable member that connects the flow guide to the pivotable member. 16. An adjustable flow distributor for a vertical crop residue spreader of an agricultural combine, comprising: a flow guide supported on a support structure and 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, the first end portion connected to a pivotable member of a movable portion of the support structure such that the first end portion of the flow guide is pivotable and adjustable 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 flow guide being supported with the first end portion disposed adjacent to a generally downwardly facing discharge opening bounded and defined in part by an upstanding back plate of a spreader, such that the crop residue flow surface and the fore and aft edges are located generally beneath the opening and extend sidewardly outwardly relative thereto to the second end portion of the flow guide, andat least the aft edge situated at an oblique angle relative to the back plate of the spreader; andan adjusting mechanism engaged to the movable portion of the support structure and configured and operable for pivotally moving the second end portion of the flow guide in the fore and aft directions about the pivotable member of the movable portion for varying the oblique angle between the aft edge of the flow guide and the back plate. 17. The flow distributor of claim 16, wherein the adjusting mechanism is operable for pivoting the second end portion of the flow guide in the fore and aft directions about the pivotable member of the movable portion to position at least one of the fore and aft edges of the flow guide in a position such that a first portion of a flow of crop residue discharged through the discharge opening will impinge and flow sidewardly outwardly along the flow guide so as to be distributed on a region of a field located sidewardly and outwardly of the spreader, and a second portion of the flow will flow downwardly through a space defined by the oblique angle between the aft edge and the back plate so as to be distributed on a region of a field located generally beneath the spreader. 18. The flow distributor of claim 17, wherein the flow distributor comprises a first adjusting mechanism and a second adjusting mechanism, wherein the first adjusting mechanism is further operable for moving the second end portion upwardly and downwardly relative to the discharge opening, and wherein the first adjusting mechanism is further operable for moving the flow guide in the fore and aft directions. 19. The flow distributor of claim 18, wherein the first adjusting mechanism includes an actuator remotely controllable for pivoting the second end portion of the flow guide in the fore and aft directions about the pivotable member of the movable portion guide for varying the oblique angle between the aft edge and the back plate. 20. The flow distributor of claim 18, wherein the second adjustable mechanism includes one attachment point at the pivot point of the first end portion of the flow guide that connects the flow guide to the pivotable member and another attachment point including a bolt positioned through a slot in the first end portion and a portion of the pivotable member that connect the flow guide to the pivotable member.