Abstract: A backhoe hydraulic system includes a first source of hydraulic fluid, a tank or reservoir, a boom lift cylinder, and a directional control valve that controls fluid flow between the boom swing cylinder and the tank and reservoir. The system also includes a second source of hydraulic fluid (at a higher pressure than the first source) that is connected to one port of the boom lift cylinder via a separate boost valve.

Abstract: A detachable jack assembly for attaching to a hitch, including a leg having a first member movably connected to a foot member; a crank assembly disposed on the first member and having a rotatable arm, the crank assembly operably connecting the first member to move the foot member relative to the first member when the arm is rotated; an attachment member disposed on the first member and having a pin hole formed therein; a pin configured to fit in the pin hole; and a lock-out assembly disposed on the attachment member, including a bar member biased to a first position and movable to a second position, wherein the rotation of the rotatable arm is limited by the bar member when the bar member is in the first position, and the rotatable arm moves freely when the bar member is in the second position, wherein, when the pin is disposed in the pin hole, and the bar member is in the second position, the pin maintains the bar member in the second position.

Abstract: A stabilizing leg for a backhoe is formed with a tubular outer member, a stabilizer rod connected telescopically to the tubular outer member, and a clearance adjusting mechanism for adjusting the clearance between the tubular outer member and the stabilizer rod. The clearance adjusting mechanism is provided with at least one adjusting pad fitted to the tubular outer member so as to rest on an edge between two contiguous outer lateral surfaces of the stabilizer rod.

Abstract: A device controls the operating conditions of a self-propelled vehicle. The device includes a first device for controlling the travelling speed of the self-propelled vehicle, and a second device for controlling the output speed of an internal combustion engine. The first and second devices are separate from each other.

Abstract: A forage harvester having a crop processor unit, a cutter unit operable to comminute crop material and a processor unit movably disposed between first and second positions. In the first position, the processing unit receives comminuted crop material from the cutter unit. In the second position, comminuted crop material from the cutter unit bypasses the crop processor unit. A blower unit is disposed to move with the crop processor between the first and second positions, the blower unit receiving the processed crop material directly form the crop processor unit when in the first position and directly from the cutter unit when in the second position, in both cases accelerating the processed crop material towards a handling apparatus.

Abstract: A disc cutterbar with at least one cutterhead having a two-piece mounting hub, one piece rotatably driven and the other supporting a knife for severing standing crop material, with an epoxy layer bonding the two pieces together and forming a shear device therebetween. A brake is associated with the knife-supporting piece whereby upon failure of the shear device, the knife-supporting piece is stopped from rotating within one revolution. The brake includes upper and lower locking blocks having generally mating teeth. Upon failure of the shear device, the teeth of the upper and lower locking blocks engage, thereby stopping the rotation of the mounting hub.

Abstract: A mult-tier crop residue flow guide for a rotary crop residue spreader of an agricultural combine including an element disposed in a housing and rotatable in a predetermined direction about an axis which is oriented horizontally or at a small acute angle to horizontal for driving a flow of crop residue through a discharge opening of the housing located at a predetermined angular position around the axis, the flow guide including at least two guide surfaces or tiers having inlet ends disposed in at least generally axially side by side relation adjacent to the discharge opening in position for directing portions of the flow of crop residue in generally the predetermined direction radially outwardly.

Abstract: A utility vehicle is provided with a bogey beam on which are mounted the steering axle at the forward end of the bogey beam and the middle axle on the rearward end of the bogey beam. A rear drive axle is supported by the frame of the utility vehicle. The bogey beam is connected to the frame by a pivot assembly defining a transverse pivot axis about which the bogey beam can oscillate. The weight transferred to the bogey beam is proportionately distributed between the front steering axle and middle axle. As a result, the steering characteristics of the steering axle are not impaired by the imposition of a load in the load bed of the utility vehicle, as the middle axle cannot be loaded sufficiently to overpower the front steering axle. The middle axle is rotatably driven by the rear drive axle.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester having a header with a reel and an auger, wherein the reel and the auger provide crop material to an elevator and a foreign object detecting mechanism, wherein the foreign object detecting mechanism includes a foreign object detecting circuit for detecting foreign objects and an object extrusion mechanism operationally connected to be activated by the detecting circuit. The detecting circuit includes a first vibration sensor, a programmable amplifier, a frequency bandpass filter, a variable threshold comparator, and a microprocessor including a pulse rejection network. The microprocessor is electronically connected to control the threshold comparator and the programmable amplifier, and activates the object extrusion mechanism when the pulse rejection network generates an internal signal.

Abstract: A crop residue spreader for an agricultural combine including a unique support element which is an elongate tube, including a center portion and a pair of legs extending outwardly in opposite directions from the center portion, each of the legs including an end portion opposite the center portion and an intermediate portion. The end portions include pivot elements coaxially aligned about a pivotal axis for pivotal connection to a rear end of the combine for movement between spreading and non-spreading positions. The intermediate portions include mounting elements for supporting rotatable crop accelerators in side-by-side relation, and the center portion includes at least one mount for mounting a pair of crop residue deflectors in cantilever relation to the tube and extending partially around the crop residue accelerators, respectively. The tube can also include mounts or supports for holding a shield in desired relation to the crop residue accelerators.

Abstract: A vehicle seat for an operator is disclosed in combination with a mechanical joystick for operating ancillary equipment of the vehicle. The joystick is pivotably mounted on the seat for movement between an active position in which the joystick may be manipulated by a seated operator and a stowed position in which access to the seat is unencumbered by the joystick.

Abstract: An open retainer cage provides for retaining a threaded female fastener having a non-circular cross section such as a nut adjacent to a surface of a component part for blind-hole fastening. The retainer cage includes a web portion and a plurality of legs extending from the web portion toward the surface of the component part. The plurality of legs are configured to position the web portion parallel to the surface of the component part. At least one of the plurality of legs is affixed to the surface of the component part. An opening is provided between the plurality of legs for receiving the nut within the plurality of legs, the web portion and the surface of the component part. At least one leg is configured to abut the non-circular cross section of the nut for resisting rotation of the nut. The web can also be provided with a tongue extending from the web over an area not occupied by one of the legs.

Abstract: A vent tube for a splitter gearbox mounted on the rear axle assembly of a four-wheel drive tractor. The vent tube extends into the rear axle assembly, while in fluid flow communication with the lubricating oil in the splitter gearbox, and either breaks a vacuum at a balance hole or permits oil transfer from the splitter gearbox, depending upon which direction the output gears are being driven. The output gears turn at high rpm and cause churning of the oil. The vent tube assembly relieves this condition and thereby significantly reduces parasitic power losses.

Abstract: A chassis frame for a self-propelled harvester including a pair of rails extending in side-by-side, spaced relation between forward ends thereof and opposite rearward ends thereof, the rails including compound bend portions adjacent to the rearward ends thereof which extend downwardly and convergingly to a cross member which is connected thereto. A rear axle is connected to the cross member in transverse relation to the rails and has wheels located in wheel cavities defined by the compound bend portions of the rails and pivotable about upright steering axes. The rails of the chassis frame can also include elements for mounting at least one radiator or cooler therebetween forwardly of the bend portions, and elements for mounting at least one radiator or cooler therebetween rearwardly of the bend portions, and an air flow duct can be disposed between the rails to provide a straight air flow path between the radiators or coolers.

Abstract: A system for controlling the speed of a feeder and header drive of a harvesting machine at a varying ratio to ground speed as a function of an operator inputted signal and the ground speed. The system utilizes a sensed ground speed of the harvesting machine, a sensed feeder and header drive speed, and a speed control input from an operator, for controlling a feeder and header drive control for controllably varying the ratio of the feeder and header speed to the ground speed as a function of the operator input and the sensed ground speed.

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: A propulsion unit for a tractor includes a diesel engine and two electrical machines. The diesel engine and the two electrical machines are connected mechanically to a device for subdividing and re-combining of the output powers delivered by the diesel engine and delivered or absorbed by the electrical machines. The electrical machines are capable of operating both as generators and as motors. The propulsion unit is operable such that in at least one interval of the ground speed of the tractor, the electrical fraction of the power delivered or absorbed by the electrical machines is zero.

Abstract: A variably positionable chaff pan for attachment to an oscillating element of a cleaning apparatus or system of an agricultural combine for oscillation therewith for conveying chaff from the oscillating element to a non-oscillating chopper or spreader mounted to a fixed frame of the combine. The chaff pan is also sidewardly tiltable with the cleaning apparatus or system, if so capable.

Abstract: A method of regulating and controlling an internal combustion engine forming part of a hybrid power unit of a self-propelled vehicle, the method employing a first graph showing the power transmitted by the engine as a function of the rotation speed of a drive shaft, and for different injector openings of a power-regulating injection device; and a second graph showing the torque transmitted by the drive shaft as a function of the rotation speed of the drive shaft, and for different injector openings of the power-regulating injection device; the second graph also showing the injector opening of the power-regulating injection device.