Abstract: A baler twine tension measurement assembly including a displacement detector and elements defining a first twine path. The first twine path extends between a first location and a second location which is angularly displaceable with respect to the first location. The displacement detector operates to generate a signal indicative of the angular displacement of the second location with respect to the first location.

Abstract: An adjustment apparatus for a forage harvester including a shear bar which is adjustably mounted on a housing which supports a chopper drum mounted for rotation about an axis and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced knife supports holding adjustably secured chopper knifes. The chopper knives act with the shear bar to chop incoming crop. The adjustment apparatus includes a lateral element, at least one location element and at least one radially inwardly directed guide surface, which follows a desired outer path of an unworn chopper knife.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a skid plate comprising an upper surface and an opposing ground engaging surface, the ground engaging surface comprising one or more optical windows flush or extending beyond a plane of the ground engaging surface, each of the optical windows comprising an optically transparent material.

Abstract: An agricultural apparatus including an agricultural vehicle and a number of work units suitable for cutting standing crop, including a front work unit and two lateral work units located behind and to the sides of the front work unit, each of the work units deposit cut crop as a swath. Each of the lateral work units include a conveyor to deposit cut crop. A plurality of sensors determine the speed of the agricultural apparatus and the speed of operation of each of the conveyors. A control unit receives inputs from the sensors, compares the inputs to a predetermined set of values for a desired vehicle speed and a speed of operation of the conveyors, and as indicated by the comparison, adjusts the speed of operation of at least one conveyor.

Abstract: A chopper drum assembly for a forage harvester including a chopper drum housing, a shear bar, a shear bar holder and a wear plate assembly. The chopper drum housing includes a first part and a wear plate assembly support surface. The shear bar holder is pivotally connected at a first end to the first part of the chopper drum housing and fixedly connected to the shear bar at a second end. A first end of the wear plate assembly is pivotally connected to the second end of the shear bar holder adjacent the shear bar, and a second end of the wear plate assembly is supported by the wear plate assembly support surface wherein, the wear plate support surface is arranged to be inclined to the horizontal.

Abstract: A baler pickup includes crop strippers looped around a reel. A pickup frame has upper and lower mounting stubs, wherein each of the upper mounting stubs has a notch located centrally in a forward end of the upper mounting stub. A rear end section of an upper leg of each stripper is engaged with a respective upper mounting stub and a rear end section of a lower leg is engaged with a respective lower mounting stub. A distal end of each upper leg has an outer plate separated from an inner plate so as to form a gap. The upper leg has an alignment tab such that when the leg is received on the stub, the tab engages with the notch in the stub. A gap-facing surface of the inner plate has a detent, the upper mounting stub comprises a keyhole opening formed therein rearward of the notch.

Abstract: An adjustment apparatus for a forage harvester having a shear bar adjustably mounted on a housing. A chopper drum is supported from the housing and mounted for rotation about an axis and further provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced knife supports to which at least one chopper knife can be adjustably secured. In use the chopper knives cooperate with the shear bar to chop incoming crop. The adjustment apparatus includes a lateral element, at least one location element and at least one radially inwardly directed guide surface. The adjustment apparatus also includes at least one shear bar alignment surface on one or more of the location elements.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes an electromagnetic detecting and ranging module for detecting a location of an object relative to the agricultural harvester and a camera for capturing images of an area within a field of view of the electromagnetic detecting and ranging module. One or more computing devices receive first data from the electromagnetic detecting and ranging module, the first data indicating the location of the object relative to the agricultural harvester, receive image data from the camera and use the image data to determine whether the object is a receiving vehicle. If the object is a receiving vehicle, the one or more computing devices use the first data and the second data to generate graphic data defining a graphical representation illustrating the relative positions of the unload conveyor and the receiving vehicle. An electronic device including a graphical user interface presents the graphical representation on the graphical user interface.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling operation of a trailer brake system associated with an agricultural vehicle-trailer combination. A coupling force between the vehicle and the trailer is determined and used to control operation of the trailer brake system in dependence thereon. A primary control strategy is used in dependence on the determined coupling force being within a coupling force range; and one or more secondary control strategies are used in dependence on the determined coupling force being outside of the coupling force range.

Abstract: A mower combination including an agricultural vehicle and a front mowing unit as well as two lateral mowing units located behind and to the sides of the front mowing unit. Each of the lateral mowing units has a conveyor unit to deposit cut crop as a swath. A control unit receiving a plurality of signals from the combination including signals representing a steering angle of the agricultural vehicle, a speed of operation of each conveyor unit and a lateral displacement of each conveyor unit and comparing them against a predetermined set of values. As required the control unit adjusts the speed of operation of at least one conveyor unit based on this comparison. Swaths produced by towed rear mowing units are controlled, in particular to enable aligned curved swaths to be produced when the mower combination is turned, or to enable a narrow swath to be produced when the mower combination is turned.

Abstract: An adjustment apparatus for a forage harvester having a shear bar adjustably mounted on a housing. A chopper drum is supported from the housing and mounted for rotation about an axis and further provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced knife supports to which at least one chopper knife can be adjustably secured. In use the chopper knives cooperate with the shear bar to chop incoming crop. The adjustment apparatus includes a lateral element, at least one location element and at least one radially inwardly directed guide surface, each radially inwardly directed guide surface describing a desired outer path of an unworn chopper knife. Each guide surface is adjustably located with respect to the lateral element.

Abstract: A knot stretcher for use in tightening splice knots that connect twine balls on an agricultural baler. The knot stretcher includes a pair of pulling bars connected at pulling bar pivot at one end of each of the pulling bars, and a pair of levers, where one of the pair of levers is attached in a middle section of its respective pulling bar. Each lever has a handle portion at one end and an arm portion extending from an elbow formed in the lever. Each lever attaches to its respective pulling bar with a fixed pivot located near the elbow and distal ends of the arm portions of the two levers are attached at a moving pivot. The knot stretcher has clamping jaws positioned on the pulling bars to securely clamp a respective one of the twine tails of the splice knot that is to be tightened.

Abstract: A mower combination having an agricultural vehicle and a number of mowing units suitable for cutting a standing crop connected to the agricultural vehicle, including a front mowing unit and two lateral mowing units located behind and to the sides of the front mowing unit, each of the lateral mowing units being provided with conveyor units to deposit cut crop as a swath. A control unit receives a plurality of signals, representing the location of the mower combination, a displacement of each of the conveyor units and/or a direction of operation of each of the conveyor units. The control unit receives the plurality of signals and compares them against a predetermined set of values and as required adjusts the displacement or direction of operation of at least one conveyor unit based on this comparison.

Abstract: A system comprises a first portable electronic device associated with an agricultural harvester and a second portable electronic device associated with a crop transport vehicle. At least one of the first portable electronic device and the second portable electronic device is configured to receive a geographic position of the other portable electronic device and, using only the first geographic position and the second geographic position, identify a harvesting operation performed by the agricultural harvester; determine a harvesting distance, a harvesting duration of time, or both of the harvesting operation; and estimate a current fill level of the crop transport vehicle based on the harvesting distance, the harvesting duration of time, or both.

Abstract: A system includes an agricultural harvester with an electromagnetic detecting and ranging module and a camera for capturing images of an area within a field of view of the electromagnetic detecting and ranging module. One or more computing devices detect the presence of an object using data from the electromagnetic detecting and ranging module, use image data from the camera to determine whether the object is a receiving vehicle and, if the object is a receiving vehicle, generate automated navigation data to automatically control operation of at least one of the agricultural harvester and the receiving vehicle to align an unload conveyor of the agricultural harvester with a grain bin of the receiving vehicle.

Abstract: A mower combination including an agricultural vehicle and a number of mowing units suitable for cutting standing crop, including a front mowing unit and two lateral mowing units located behind and to the sides of the front mowing unit. Each of the lateral mowing units includes a conveyor to deposit cut crop as a swath. Sensors determine the slope and lateral displacement of each conveyor. A control unit receives inputs from the sensors and compares the inputs to a predetermined set of values of slope and, as indicated by the comparison, adjusts the lateral displacement of at least one conveyor.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling operation of a trailer brake system associated with an agricultural vehicle-trailer combination, comprising: determining abase value for a temperature associated with the trailer brake system; determining a coupling force between the vehicle and the trailer; determining a corrected value for the temperature associated with the trailer brake system in dependence on the determined coupling force; and controlling one or more components of the vehicle trailer combination in dependence on the corrected value.

Abstract: A break-away apparatus for a boom arm is positioned at a joint between a main boom and a boom tip to allow the boom tip to assume a neutral position and forward, rearward, and upward positions. A hinge assembly is positioned between the boom tip and main boom. The hinge assembly includes an upper ball joint, a first hinge, and a second hinge. The boom tip is movable relative to the main boom about an axis of the first hinge, about an axis of the second hinge axis, and/or about a pivot defined by the upper ball joint. A first spring assists a return of the boom tip to the neutral position.

Abstract: An agricultural apparatus including an agricultural vehicle together with a front work unit and two lateral work units located behind and to the sides of the front work unit. The front work unit has a connection to the front of the agricultural vehicle and the lateral work units share a connection to the rear of the agricultural vehicle. Each of the work units deposits cut crop as a swath. One or more sensors determine a height of the rear connection above the ground surface. A control unit is provided for controlling the height of the connections above the ground surface, such that if the height of the rear connection is determined to deviate from a predetermined value, the control unit causes the height of the rear connection to be adjusted towards the predetermined value.

Abstract: A mowing sickle drive system comprises a knife bar supported by a frame and drive apparatus operable to drive the knife bar in a reciprocating linear motion at a variable drive frequency. A spring is coupled to the knife bar for applying a restoring force to the knife bar toward a neutral position when in motion. The spring has a variable modulus of elasticity that is controlled dependent upon the drive frequency.