Abstract: A planter apparatus includes a seed meter including a housing assembly with a cover releasably connected to a shell. The housing assembly includes at least one opening formed therein adjacent a seed discharge area to promote the release of seeds from a disc rotatably attached to the housing assembly. The disc divides an interior of the housing assembly to include a vacuum chamber and a seed chamber. The disc including a plurality of openings formed adjacent a periphery of the disc. The planter apparatus may also include a singulator assembly having rotatably spools, a rotatable chute door, a disc having clusters of openings for simultaneous release, and a one-piece baffle.

Abstract: An apparatus for use with a planting assembly including a mounting member and comprising a hopper including first and second wall members that form first and second hopper external surfaces wherein first and second forces applied perpendicular to the first and second surfaces include at least components along first and second opposing trajectories, respectively, a first elongated bearing member rigidly linked to the mounting member and forming a first bearing surface that applies a first applied force to the first hopper surface wherein the first applied force includes at least a first compressing component along the first trajectory, a second elongated bearing member forming a second bearing surface and having a first end and a retainer linked to the first end of the second bearing member and rigidly linking the second bearing member to the mounting member in any of several different positions relative to the first bearing member so that the second bearing surface applies a second applied force to the second

Abstract: A two speed shift mechanism for a belt drive that includes a rotatable shaft with a first pulley, and a tube concentric with the shaft and rotatable therearound. The tube includes a shift hub supporting a second pulley in axially spaced relation to the first pulley for concentric rotation about the shift hub. The mechanism further includes a collar mounted around the shift hub for rotation with the fit hub and for axial movement between a position adjacent the first pulley and a position adjacent the second pulley. In a first position, the collar and the first pulley include elements engageable for connecting the collar to the first pulley for rotation of the collar, the shift hub and the tube. In a second position, the collar and the second pulley include elements engageable for connecting the collar to the second pulley for rotation of the collar, the shift hub, and the tube.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A control for an unloader of a cotton module builder or other cotton compactor for controlling unloading and loss of uncompacted or loose cotton from the compactor. The unloader includes an unloading element having a first end, an opposite second end, and an intermediate portion located between the ends. A first cotton driver is positioned and operable for moving cotton over a first portion of the unloading element from the chamber to the intermediate location, and a second cotton driver is positioned and operable for moving the cotton over the unloading element from the intermediate location to the second end. The control includes apparatus for selectably operating the first cotton driver in an unloading direction and apparatus operable during operation of the first cotton driver for detecting passage of a trailing end of the module or mass of compacted cotton.

Abstract: There is disclosed a primary tillage system in combination with a soil conditioner rotary reel that addresses the performance requirement differences due to soil types and moisture conditions that other tillage systems do not address. The combination provides a one-pass seedbed preparation process of a superior quality to that of any heretofore known one-pass systems through the improved performance of the soil conditioning rotary reel. The rotary reel includes a plurality of flat bars attached to support plates in a symmetrical helix arrangement that provide a thorough breakup of clods not heretofore possible.

Abstract: An agricultural primary tillage implement is disclosed with a row cleaner assembly attached in front of the shank. That row cleaner is adjustable fore-and-aft for optimum clearance between the shank and a leading soil preparation apparatus to maximize clearance for residue movement. The row cleaner is also adjustable for depth. The row cleaner assembly reduces the amount of residue in line with the shank path (row) and creates smaller clod sizes of soil in line with the shank swath, resulting in a better seedbed and faster warm up in the spring, enabling the planter to run in cleaner soil, preventing planter plugging and uneven seed planting depth as well as resulting in better seed-to soil-contact.

Abstract: A tool that is provided for the removal and the installation of a threshing concave is disclosed. The tool has a pair of spaced support arms for slideably receiving end sections of a threshing concave. The support arms are provided with mechanism for attachment of the arm to the housing. The housing has an inner arm section that extends to one side of the attachment mechanism for supporting the concave inside the housing when the support arm is attached to the housing. The outer arm section extends to the other side of the attachment mechanism for supporting a threshing concave outside the housing when the support arm is attached to the housing.

Abstract: A fertilizer system that employs an independent hydraulic motor and variable speed pump to deliver the selected application rate from the convenience of the operator's cab. The application rate can be changed while planting without changing seed population and the application rate can be controlled sectionally as well. The system may additionally be used in combination with more sophisticated multi-functional control systems that read maps and use GPS technology to control the entire preparation and planting operation.

Abstract: A planter apparatus includes a seed meter including a housing assembly with a cover releasably connected to a shell. The housing assembly includes at least one opening formed therein adjacent a seed discharge area to promote the release of seeds from a disc rotatably attached to the housing assembly. The disc divides an interior of the housing assembly to include a vacuum chamber and a seed chamber. The disc including a plurality of openings formed adjacent a periphery of the disc. The planter apparatus may also include a singulator assembly having rotatably spools, a rotatable chute door, a disc having clusters of openings for simultaneous release, and a one-piece baffle.

Abstract: A planter apparatus includes a seed meter including a housing assembly with a cover releasably connected to a shell. The housing assembly includes at least one opening formed therein adjacent a seed discharge area to promote the release of seeds from a disc rotatably attached to the housing assembly. The disc divides an interior of the housing assembly to include a vacuum chamber and a seed chamber. The disc including a plurality of openings formed adjacent a periphery of the disc. The planter apparatus may also include a singulator assembly having rotatably spools, a rotatable chute door, a disc having clusters of openings for simultaneous release, and a one-piece baffle.

Abstract: A dual power path drive for rotatably driving a threshing rotor of an agricultural combine. The drive includes a planetary gear arrangement having an output connected to the rotor for rotation therewith, a rotatable input connected in rotatably driven relation to a rotatable output of a rotatable power source such as a fluid motor of a hydro-static drive controllably operable for variably rotating the output of the fluid motor, and the gear arrangement including an input connectable by engagement of a device such as an engine-to-ring clutch in rotatably driven relation to a rotatable output of an engine of the combine, the clutch including faces connected in rotatably driven relation to the engine and to the ring gear for rotation therewith, respectively.

Abstract: A pulley plate, a pulley and a belt drive system are disclosed. Each include a pulley plate or a pulley having an inner surface adapted to be driven about an axis of rotation and having a perimeter. The inner surface additionally includes a plurality of belt-wiping grooves at least partially between the axis and the perimeter. The plurality of belt-wiping grooves are located or patterned in the inner surface so as to contact the belt in different locations to reduce wear on the wall of the belt. In one embodiment, the plurality of belt-wiping grooves are centered about the axis and are unequally circumferentially spaced from one another. In another embodiment, the plurality of belt-wiping grooves are centered about a center offset from the axis.

Abstract: An agricultural harvesting machine includes an operator station. The operator station provides an operator console. An adjustable mount provides a swivel and tilt adjustment for an electronic display panel connected to the console. Adjustment is provided by an elongated member with a first end pivotably connected to the operator console. The elongated member is pivotable about a first axis. An ICDU is pivotably attached to the elongated member and is pivotable about a second axis orthogonal to the first axis.

Abstract: A combine having a camera system is disclosed in which pictures of the ground in front of the vehicle are processed to extract the slope and intercept of a characteristic line indicative of the boundary between the cut and uncut portions of the field. A fuzzy logic algorithm compares the slope and intercept using four input membership functions and a single output membership function. If the slope and intercept extracted from the image are deemed acceptable, they are used to navigate the vehicle through the field. If they are not acceptable, the combine continues to use slope and intercept values previously deemed acceptable to guide the vehicle. This process of image data extraction and quality analysis continues repetitively as the combine traverses the field harvesting crops.

Abstract: A hydraulic actuator is disclosed having a cylinder with a piston that is moved by hydraulic fluid. A laser diode emits a pulse or pulses of light that form laser light beam. These pulses are provided to two or more optical fibers that extend into two or more corresponding cylinders. For each of these cylinders, the optical fiber enters the cylinder at one end of the cylinder and directs a laser beam into the cylinder, and off the piston where the beam is reflected. The reflected beam then exits the cylinder through at least two corresponding optical fibers disposed on either side of the fiber that conducted the light into the cylinder. Each of the optical fibers that receives reflected light is joined together with the others of the optical fibers into one fiber that carries the reflected beam of light to a photo-diode located remote from the cylinder. Each of the photo diodes for each of the two or more cylinders has a corresponding photo diode amplifier.

Abstract: A control system is disclosed for an agricultural implement, such as an agricultural sprayer, used to dispense a product to the ground wherein the dispensing units for the product are provided with control valves that can reduce the flow rate of product through selected dispensing units to zero. By controlling the rate of flow through the dispensing units, overlap of the application of the product to the ground can be substantially eliminated. In alternative embodiments of the invention, the control mechanism can receive data from a remote source, such as a central controller or another implement operating in the field, to define where the product needs to be applied to the ground. The application of the product can also be controlled through or in conjunction with a prescription map.

Abstract: An agricultural combine is provided that estimates a hydraulic pressure of a rotor drive system based upon the speeds of the pump (or engine) and motor that drive the rotor. The pressure is estimated by generating a pump displacement control signal in a convention feedback control algorithm and using that signal together with a sensed motor speed signal and a sensed pump speed (proportional to engine speed) to estimate the hydraulic pressure.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a method and apparatus for changing the real speed of a work vehicle with a continuously variable transmission and an electronic control device having a cruise control function.

Abstract: An agricultural combine is provided with a controller that estimates a hydraulic pressure of a rotor drive system based upon the speeds of the pump (or engine) and motor that drive the rotor. The pressure is estimated by generating a pump displacement control signal in a convention feedback control algorithm and using that signal together with a sensed motor speed signal and a sensed pump speed (proportional to engine speed) to estimate the hydraulic pressure.