Abstract: The invention relates to a groundspeed power take-off (PTO) shaft arrangement in a commercial agricultural vehicle. The groundspeed PTO shaft arrangement has a groundspeed PTO shaft device with a differential gear (222). The differential gear contains an input shaft (221) which is coupled to a gear (212). A right wheel output shaft (232) is coupled to an end drive (233) of a right wheel (234) and driven via the input shaft (221); a left wheel output shaft (239) is coupled to an end drive of a left wheel and is driven via the input shaft (221). Provided in this case is a first PTO shaft (236) which issues from the differential gear (222) relative to the input shaft (221), is driven by the input shaft (221) and is coupled to the right or left wheel output shaft (232, 239).

Abstract: A system for regulating the maximum speed of a vehicle (10) having wheels (11, 12) fitted with tyres and driven from an engine (13) via a driveline (14, 15, 16) with a total overall gear ratio, the system including a means such as a GPS or radar based system for determining the actual vehicle speed of the vehicle without using a calculation based on engine speed. A control unit (18) is also provided which adjusts the engine speed and/or overall driveline gear ratio so that the maximum speed which the vehicle can attain remains substantially constant at a predetermined value irrespective of the diameter of the tyres fitted to the wheels.

Abstract: A compression roll housing (1) for an agricultural machine having opposing front and rear ends (11b, 12) for connection to parts of the machine, an upper and a lower panel (16) and two opposing side panels (15). Each of said side panels is provided with at least one substantially vertical elongated aperture (7) for receiving a shaft (3) of a compression roll (2a). Each of the side panels is also provided with a horizontal aperture (8) which extends across the at least one elongated aperture to the front or rear end of the housing.

Abstract: A fluid tank (20) has at least two deaeration ports (24,25) provided in at least two upper regions of the tank. A first conduit (30) is connected at one end to one deaeration port (24) and connected at its other end to a compensating reservoir (50) at a higher level. At least one additional conduit (40) is connected at one end to an other deaeration port (25) and also connected at its other end to the compensating reservoir (50). A filter (60) is connected with the upper part of the reservoir to allow air to escape from the reservoir. The height of the compensating reservoir (50) above the tank (20) ensures that the filter (60) is protected from immersion in tank fluid and deaeration is ensured at normal working inclinations of the tank. The tank may be provided by part of the chassis of a tractor which is located below a cab of the tractor.

Abstract: A display terminal for a tractor or other agricultural machine. The terminal has a screen and a control unit, wherein the control unit comprises a steadying portion and at least one push button. The steadying portion provides a grip for steadying the operator's hand whilst allowing operation of the at least one button by the thumb of the hand.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a drive system for vehicles with at least two drivable vehicle axles (V, H), in particular for utility vehicles and farm tractors. The drive system has an infinitely variable transmission with no intermediate axle differential comprising at least a first (11) and a second (12) motor. The first motor (11) in this case is propulsively connected to a first vehicle axle (H) and the second motor (12) is propulsively connected to a second vehicle axle (V). Furthermore the drive system has a clutch (20), by which a propulsive connection can be made between at least the first (H) and the second (V) vehicle axle, wherein the position of the clutch is adjustable (20) in a range between an engaged position and a disengaged position, and a control unit (30), which actuates the clutch (20) in such a manner that its torque transmission capacity is adjusted as a function of a driving state of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle has an engine (10) which drives wheels (16,24) of the vehicle via a CVT (11). The vehicle also has a driver operated braking system which brakes wheels of the vehicle, and an electronic control system (28,60) which, in the event of deceleration of the vehicle, detects when the driven wheels are about to lock and increases the currently operative CVT ratio to allow the locking wheels to speed up towards a rotational speed corresponding with the current vehicle speed whilst ensuring that any braking operation selected by the driver is maintained subject to the avoidance of wheel locking. The CVT is of the hydrostatic/mechanical power split type and the braking system includes an anti-lock braking (ABS) function which can provide the wheel speed and vehicle speed values and prevent wheel locking under braking.

Abstract: A display terminal for a tractor or other agricultural machine. The terminal has a touch sensitive screen in which the pressing of pre-determined areas of the screen designated as control areas initiates pre-determined actions in the operation of the terminal or machine. The terminal also has a control unit and a matrix of push buttons external to the screen the pressing of which duplicates the pressing of the touch sensitive screen areas.

Abstract: A tractor has a chassis (10) which supports an engine (4) towards the front thereof. A deflecting shield (8) is positioned to the rear of the engine to deflect sideways hot air which has passed over the engine, and a tank (15) for the storage of urea based fluid for injection into an exhaust system of the engine is located behind the engine to the rear of the deflecting shield. The chassis to the rear of the engine may have an open-topped section (11a) between the engine (4) and a transmission housing (12), the tank being at least partially housed within the open-topped section of the chassis to shield the tank from the hot air which has passed over the engine and from the heating effects of the sun.

Abstract: A vehicle body part (60) has a perforated grid portion (61) secured in an aperture in a non-perforated portion (601,602), an edge portion of the grid portion defining part of the edge of the body part. A support member (8) extends along the edge portion of the grid portion (60) and supported from the non-perforated portion (601,602), and a seal (9) for contact with an adjacent body part extends around at least said part of the edge of the body part. The seal has a cross-section which includes a first lobe (9c) which covers the edge portion of the grid (61) to protect a vehicle operator from injury by this edge portion and improving styling. The seal cross-section also has a second lobe (9d) which extends between the grid (61) and the support member (8) to prevent vibration of the grid and damage of the paint finish of these components. The seal cross-section also includes a U-shaped channel portion (9a) which encloses the edge of the support member (8).

Abstract: A front rigid axle arrangement for an agricultural vehicle, wherein an axle is pivotally mounted to an axle carrier for movement about a first pivot axis allowing movement of the axle in a transverse vertical plane and wherein the axle is pivotable about a second axis for movement of the axle in a vertical plane. The first and second pivot axes are parallel to each other. The axle is provided with at least two dampers which control movement of the axle both in a vertical plane and a transverse vertical plane.

Abstract: An axial piston machine, in particular an axial piston pump, of the swashplate or bent axis type, is described, wherein a fixed control plate (12), which comprises at least one control passage (12a) consisting of a plurality of control passage sections (12b, 12c) separated from each other by bridges (12d), is arranged between a cylinder drum, rotatable in both directions of rotation, and a fixed housing. The object of the invention is to design the control plate of an axial piston machine in such a way that damage by cavitation to the structural parts is prevented over the entire extent of the control passages for the supply and removal of the operating fluid. For this purpose the at least one control passage (12a) in the region at least of one bridge (12d) is provided with a pressure balance opening (13) connecting the surfaces of the control plate (12) with one another.

Abstract: A tractor cab HVAC system having an HVAC unit (11) which receives and processes fresh air drawn in via an air intake (43) and recirculated air from at least one recirculation duct (47). The system has at least one air distribution duct (27,28) through which processed air from the HVAC unit is introduced into the cab. A first blower (23) is provided which primarily distributes processed air from the HVAC unit (11) to the distribution duct (27,28), and a second blower (22) which selectively draws air into the HVAC unit (11) through the air intake (43) and/or re-circulation duct (47). The ratio of fresh air to recirculated air drawn into the HVAC unit (11) by the second blower (22) is variable by one or more flaps (60,62) which control the flow of air into the HVAC unit (11) through the air intake (43) and circulation duct (47).

Abstract: A tractor braking system (10) having independent brake circuits (L,R) for each of a left and a right wheel is provided. Each circuit is activated by a respective brake pedal (16,17). The system comprises a releasable locking mechanism (25) to lock the two pedals together and sensors (50) to detect depression of the respective pedals (16,17). In response to a detection of only one pedal being depressed, warning means are provided to indicate to a driver that the pedals are in an unlocked state. A sensing of simultaneous depression of the pedals may be used to indicate that the pedals are in a locked state.

Abstract: An exhaust system for an agricultural and/or industrial tractor (10) having an internal combustion engine (11) located in an engine compartment covered by an engine hood (11a). The system includes an exhaust gas treatment unit (16) located inside the engine compartment hood and having a main chamber (18) fed by an inlet pipe (15) which receives exhaust gases from the engine and an outlet pipe (17) which passes treated gases into a final portion (14a,14b) of the exhaust system. The inlet and outlet pipes (15,17) are non-aligned and extending alongside the main chamber (18) in opposite directions to reduce the overall length of the treatment unit. The treatment unit (16) may be installed above the engine (11) with the exhaust gases passing through the unit either generally normal or parallel to the direction of driving (D) of the tractor.

Abstract: An exhaust system for a vehicle having a cab (53) and an internal combustion engine (1) located in an engine compartment (51). The system includes an exhaust gas treatment unit (9) located outside the engine compartment and having an inlet (9a) which receives exhaust gases from the engine and an outlet (9e) which passes treated gases into a final portion (E) of the exhaust system. The treatment unit (9) is arranged to extend generally vertically with the outlet (9e) generally vertically above the inlet (9a) and adjacent a corner post (52) of the cab of the vehicle to reduce impact on the visibility from the cab. A cage (C) surrounds the exhaust gas treatment unit (9) and has a support means (12) for attachment to a chassis of the vehicle and an outlet (15e) which the outlet (9e) of the treatment unit is connected.

Abstract: A generally rectangular tractor cab air filter housing arrangement (20) has a main body portion with inlet zones (20a) at each end through which air enters the housing, a first outlet aperture (20c) in the housing over which a filter element (18) is supported, and a second aperture in the housing in which a door (21) is pivoted to provide access to the filter for maintenance. The inlet zones (20a) are formed as chambers which are structurally interconnected by side portions (20d) of the housing so that the housing can be formed as a single piece hollow plastics moulding. The door (21) may also be a hollow single piece plastics moulding. Both the housing and/or the door may be formed by blow moulding or rotational moulding.

Abstract: A tractor cab HVAC system has a blower (22) which draws air into the system via air intake means (13) in the roof (14) of the cab (10). Ducting (15) in the roof of the cab directs air drawn in via the intake means down the centre of one or more hollow adjacent pillars (16) of the cab to an air filter (18) contained in a housing (20) located between the adjacent pillars. Further ducting (19) extends from the air filter housing to an HVAC unit (11), the HVAC unit processing the air drawn into the system prior to discharging the processed air into the cab. The filter housing (20) is of generally rectangular form and is connected at opposite ends to the two hollow adjacent pillars (16) of the cab via inlet openings (20a) in the housing to allow the passage of intake air from the pillars to the filter (18).

Abstract: A tractor cab has a floor (12) at least part of which is of a double layer construction having an upper layer (12a) and a lower layer (12b) spaced vertically below the upper layer to define a cavity (29,30) between the layers. The cavity being used for a) the passage of air associated with heating, ventilating, demisting or air conditioning the cab and/or b) the passage of electrical wiring or hydraulic pipes and hoses and/or c) the storage of fluids or other materials or equipment. Part of the floor supports an HVAC unit (11) whose output is directed between the upper and lower layers. The upper layer (12a) includes output apertures (27a, 28a) through which air from the HVAC unit can be discharged or recirculated.

Abstract: A tractor cab filter housing (20) has at least one air intake (20a) through which air is drawn into the housing, an outlet (20c) through which air leaves the housing, a filter element (18) positioned between the inlet and outlet, and an opening access door (21) through which the filter element can be accessed for servicing/replacement. The housing access door (21) includes an integral storage chamber (21f) in which liquids or other items can be stored. The housing door is a hollow plastics moulding having an access opening (21d) through which liquid can be introduced into the storage chamber, the opening having a cap (21e) for closing of the opening. A pump (50) may be provided for pumping the liquid out of the storage chamber.