Abstract: A wrapping material brake release assembly, including a wrapping material dispenser roll mount pivotable between a first functional position to dispense material from a dispenser roll and a second access position to provide access to the dispenser roll. A brake assembly having a brake member is arranged to brake the dispenser roll when the mount is in the first functional position. A ramp-shaped lifting member is arranged to lift the brake member from the dispenser roll when the mount is pivoted from the first position to the second position. The roll mount includes a pivot plate arranged to pivot from the first to the second positions, and a shaft attached at one end to the pivot plate. The roll mount has a brake drum, and the brake member has a brake arm and a brake pad attached to the brake arm.

Abstract: A crawler vehicle has a frame extending along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and two lateral track carriages oscillating with respect to the frame about a rear transverse axis. Each carriage is connected to a front cross member by a respective connecting assembly having a pin, which permits relative oscillation of the cross member and the carriage about a hinge axis perpendicular to the rear transverse axis, and has an eccentric portion for varying the effective length of the cross member between two given values as the carriages oscillate about the rear transverse axis.

Abstract: These and other objects are attained by providing an improved harvester header side shield and latch mechanism consisting of a shield vertically pivotable upwardly and rearwardly about a horizontal hinge located on the upper rear portion of the header. The shield is lockable in the operational position and automatically engages a latch mechanism in the raised position that is manually released by the operator for lowering. Guides are provided on the inner side sheet of the header to assure that the shield moves into, and stays, in the proper location during operation.

Abstract: A piston assembly for use in a hydraulic cylinder includes a piston head configured to slide axially within the hydraulic cylinder in response to changes in hydraulic pressure. The piston head has an axial through-hole. A piston rod has a proximal end axially abutting the piston head and a distal end extending outward through an end of the hydraulic cylinder. The proximal end of the piston rod has a threaded bore co-axial with the axial through-hole in the piston head. A bolt has a bolt head and an unthreaded shank portion adjacent the bolt head and a threaded shank portion away from the bolt head. The bolt secures the piston head to the proximal end of the piston rod when the bolt shank is inserted through the axial through-hole in the piston head and is threadingly engaged in the threaded bore in the piston rod. An annular washer is positioned and held captive on the unthreaded portion of the bolt shank between the bolt head and the piston head.

Abstract: The device consists of a replaceable windguard tine for a windguard assembly on an agricultural round baler. The windguard tine comprises a first tine portion parallel to a second tine portion. A support region connects the first tine portion and second tine portion. The windguard pipe has a series of tine apertures through which the first and second tine portions are inserted. The support region is bound to the windguard pipe by using a clip. The clip has a tine catch and a pipe release to allow for easy removal and installation of the windguard tine.

Abstract: A door for the operator's cab on an agricultural tractor is formed from a frameless single pane of transparent material pivoted at one edge on a pillar of the tractor. The pivot is formed of two hinges affixed to the pane and a reinforcing member extending generally parallel to the pivot axis and interconnecting the wings of the hinges that are affixed to the pane. The reinforcing member is arranged in line with the pillar on which the door is mounted, when viewed from the position of the driver of the vehicle, so as to minimize obstruction of the field of view of the driver. In another aspect of the invention, the surfaces on the hinges that mate with the pane are machined to match the contours of the pane while the reinforcing member and the hinges are in one piece.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically swinging a center pivot, towed implement from one side to the other side of a farm machine. The apparatus includes a Global Positioning System for locating the farm machine and sensors and remote controls for various functions of the machine to check and change the status of each machine function. An on-board computer uses the sensors and the GPS and a previously installed program to automatically determine what portion of the field has been worked and to direct the farm machine to swing the implement from one side to the other as required.

Abstract: A utility vehicle is provided with a middle axle that is mounted at the end of a bogey beam for both flotational and oscillatory movement relative to the frame of the vehicle. The middle axle is restrained longitudinally by support links that are pivotally connected to the frame at a location that is forward of the rear drive axle. The middle axle is formed by a pair of stub axles interconnected by a support beam that is pivotally connected to the rearward end of the bogey beam. Vertical movement of the middle axle support wheels results in a corresponding vertical movement of the rearward end of the bogey beam and a rotation of the support beam about its pivotal connection on the bogey beam. The oscillatory movement is accomplished by a pivotal connection via a ball joint between a central support bracket mounting the transverse support beam to the longitudinally extending bogey beam.

Abstract: A fluid flow control mechanism includes a crossover fuel assembly which controls fuel flow between tanks such that an engine fuel intake pipe remains submerged. It is for a work vehicle with a fuel system which has two tanks, three flexible couplings, a tube assembly and a valve assembly. The crossover fuel assembly includes a suction tube assembly, a check valve assembly, a connecting polymeric or elastomeric coupling and multiple clamping mechanisms. The engine fuel intake pipe fluidly connects the crossover fuel assembly to the engine.

Abstract: A skid steer vehicle has a drive system that includes hydraulic motor coupled to a reduction gearbox. A driveshaft extends fore-and-aft from the gearbox and is coupled at each end to a combined housing including a reduction gear set and an axle. The axle extends laterally outward from the vehicle and a wheel is fixed to its outer end. There are two housings on either end of the driveshaft. There are two such drive systems on the vehicle, one on either side. Thus the vehicle has two separate drive systems, each capable of independently driving two wheels on opposing sides of the vehicle.

Abstract: A fuel system for a work vehicle such as a tractor includes a pair of fuel tanks located on either side of the vehicle that are connected by a cross feed fuel line. The fuel line permits fuel to flow from both tanks to a common fuel suction line, which, in turn, feeds the vehicle's engine with fuel. The fuel line includes a check valve that prevents the free flow of fluid through the cross feed line when the vehicle is driven across a slope. The check valve is disposed to prevent liquid fuel from flowing away from a fuel suction line and starving the suction line for fuel.

Abstract: The apparatus is a spring system on forage harvester feedrolls. The upper forward feedroll has two concentric springs on each side. The outer spring is operative over the whole range of displacement. The inner spring exerts tensioning force on the feedroll only as of a certain minimal lifting of the feedroll. The rear upper feedroll has one spring on each side. This one spring has a substantially smaller spring force than the forward spring package. The feedroll supporting linkages are arranged with complementary and cooperating cam surfaces which are disposed so that, when the forward feedroll is lifted above a predetermined minimum value, the rearward feedroll is also lifted thereby (to a lesser degree) without even any lifting force from the crop material passing therebelow.

Abstract: An insert or cartridge that fits into a cavity in a valve body provides a check valve function and an anti-cavitation function and a pressure relief function. This insert is substantially circular and has an internal cavity with a valve assembly that has two pairs of valve seats, one pair of valve seats providing the anti-cavitation function and the other pair of valve seats providing the pressure relief function. The outside of the insert itself engages with a sealing surface in the cavity in the valve body to provide the check valve function.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention relates to an adapter assembly for a towing vehicle having a drawbar hitch for connecting a towed implement having a pull-through swivel hitch assembly to the towing vehicle. The adapter assembly includes a drawbar extension member having a horizontal cross pin, a clamp assembly to secure the drawbar extension member to the drawbar, an adapter frame having a hook to engage the cross pin, and a trunnion pin to couple the adapter frame to the swivel hitch assembly.

Abstract: A work vehicle including at least one implement lifting arm connected to an implement and a hydraulic implement circuit, the implement circuit having a pump and a fluid reservoir connected to conduits of the implement circuit. The implement circuit further includes at least one implement cylinder, the implement cylinder being connected to the conduits of the implement circuit so as to be powered by the pump; and a latch mechanism comprising a latch valve with integral sequence valve mechanism, wherein the latch valve is connected to receive fluid from the implement cylinder, and a latch cylinder is connected to receive fluid from the latch valve, wherein the latch mechanism operates to securely connect the implement at one end of the at least one lifting arm when the implement cylinder is in a first state and the latch valve is operated to direct fluid to the latch cylinder.

Abstract: A round baler including a housing; a bale chamber; bale forming apparatus; and bale wrapping apparatus including: four twine supply rolls defining four twine strands; four twine dispensing tubes, each tube presenting one of the strands so that each strand dangles from the corresponding tube, each tube movable between home and twine insert positions, wherein each strand dangles adjacent to a bale rotating in the chamber when the tubes are in the insert position; and two twine tensioning members disposed so that each tensioning member receives two strands, wherein each tensioning member has a receiving portion through which two strands are threaded, wherein each tensioning member is positioned to provide slack tension on two respective strands when the tubes are in the insert position, and wherein each tensioning member is positioned to increase wrapping tension on the two strands after the two respective strands have started to wrap the bale.

Abstract: A strut is provided for a three-point hitch device used to attach farm implements to an agricultural tractor. The strut is substantially symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal axis of symmetry, and has a system for adjusting its length along the axis. The adjusting system has fast, discrete length adjustment devices, and two infinite length adjustment devices. The two infinite length adjustment devices are located on opposite sides of a dividing member positioned crosswise to the axis of the strut.

Abstract: An agriculture baler having a bale-forming mechanism; a pick-up assembly disposed forward of the bale-forming mechanism to pick up a cut crop material and convey the crop material towards the bale mechanism, the pick-up assembly having: (a) a pick-up apparatus; (b) a conveying rotor disposed to receive cut crop material from the pick-up apparatus and to move the cut crop material towards the bale forming mechanism; (c) a floor having a first slot formed therein; (d) a cutting mechanism including a first knife disposed to rotate from a first resting position to a second cutting position extending through the first slot in the floor; and (e) a first guide plate disposed adjacent to the first slot.

Abstract: A hydraulic actuator is disclosed having a cylinder with a piston that is moved by hydraulic fluid. A light guide in one end of the cylinder directs a laser beam into the cylinder, and off the piston where the beam is reflected. The beam then exits the cylinder through at least two light guides connected to two corresponding optical fibers. Each of the optical fibers are joined together into one fiber that carries the reflected beam of light to a photo-diode located remote from the cylinder. A control circuit measures the time of flight of the laser beam.