Yoosta B - 3/15/2019 19:25

My guess goes like this: Think of the general flow of crop material through a conventional combine. It starts more-or-less at the ground and goes diagonally up and back over the straw walkers, leaving open space above and below that diagonal line (actually more of a wedge- starts with a thin mat and then flairs into a thicker mat so grain can fall out). Below and behind that line is the perfect place for the gravity-based cleaning system. Above and in front is space for grain storage and the operator's station. Where to put the engine? Behind the grain tank, space is getting very limited if we don't want to 'pinch' the straw walkers or increase the height of the machine. No one ever really thought putting the engine beside the cab was ideal, it just was about the only place left.

Rotary combines solve this problem by eliminating straw walkers and the height associated with their efficient operation. Crop moves through the machine at a slightly lower angle, leaving room above for the engine.

The early Gleaners solved the problem by moving the cylinder in front of the axle, thus the line of processing could be at a lower angle. Oliver, Massy Harris, and Uni put the engine down below, which solved one problem but created another...