Abstract: A spring loaded snubber brake is provided for a Power Take Off (PTO) shaft of a tractor. The brake is carried by the PTO shaft and utilizes the centrifugal force created by the spinning shaft to become disengaged as the shaft rotates and become engaged as the shaft is declutched. Since the brake does not apply any frictional force on the shaft as it rotates, there is no parasitic loss of PTO output horsepower. As the shaft is declutched and comes to rest, the brake springs urge it into engagement with the shaft to prevent inadvertent rotation of the shaft due to residual forces produced by hydraulic fluid forces operating on the PTO drive components.

Abstract: A retaining arrangement, including a support arm is proposed, by means of which an operating unit is connected with a vehicle. The retaining arrangement includes a safety device which operates such that, as long as a predetermined condition is not fulfilled, the connection of the operating unit with the vehicle is maintained. The operating unit is connected with the support arm in such a way that the operating unit can pivot with respect to the support arm about at least one axis provided with at least one vertical component that is arranged in a generally central region of the operating unit, when the safety device frees the connection.

Abstract: A bale unloading arrangement of a large round baler includes a bale take-up device mounted to a carrier which is in turn mounted to the axle of the baler for vertical pivoting movement beneath the baling chamber of the baler. A spring is mounted between the carrier and the axle for keeping the carrier in an elevated position until a completed bale is discharged onto the carrier. The carrier is shaped such that the bale take-up device, which is mounted for movement along the carrier, moves down the carrier to the rear and into a position for gently depositing the bale on the ground. The bale take-up device includes an upper bale-receiving structure that may be selectively pivoted about a fore-and-aft axis so as to deposit a bale on its end, and the carrier is mounted for being shifted sideways so that a bale deposited in this manner may be deposited outside the path traveled by the baler.

Abstract: The pinion gears of a rotary cutterbar equipped with a parallel-series arrangement of idler gears and pinion gears includes a pinion gear support pad formed integrally with the bottom wall of the gear housing and located in close relationship to a bottom surface of the pinion gear so as to prevent the latter from moving, once bearing wear or loosening of mounting hardware has occurred, to the extent that rolling elements of a bearing arrangement supporting the pinion drive shaft are permitted to fall out into the gear housing and cause additional damage to the gearing located in the housing.

Abstract: A actuator for a brake ort clutch includes a support member which has a flange projecting radially therefrom. An annular piston is slidably and sealingly mounted on the support member on one side of the flange. A pair of disk springs are mounted on the support member on the other side of the flange. A hollow brake-engaging member surrounds the flange, the piston and the disk springs. A first end of the brake-engaging member is coupled to the piston. A second end of the brake-engaging member is coupled to the disk springs and is adapted to engage a wheel brake. The flange, support member, piston and brake-engaging member enclosing a piston chamber. The disk springs are biased to urge the second end of the brake-engaging member away from the flange. Fluid pressure in the piston chamber urges the second end towards the flange.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing dimensionally stable rotationally molded parts from semi-crystalline materials. A test mold is constructed having dimensions closely approximating the desired dimensions of the final part. A test part is then molded in the test mold using conventional rotational molding techniques. After the test part has partially cooled, it is removed from the mold, allowed to cool to ambient temperature, measured and annealed in an oven. During annealing, the part is heated to the crystallization temperature, midway between the glass transition temperature and the crystalline melting temperature. After annealing, the part is allowed to cool to ambient temperature and measured again. The post annealing dimensions are then compared with the dimensions determined before annealing to determine the amount of shrinkage. A production mold is then constructed to take into account the amount of shrinkage calculated.

Abstract: A suspension system supports a seat with respect to a base mounted on a frame of a vehicle. The system includes a hydraulic actuator coupled between the seat and the base. A single accelerometer is attached to the base and generates a base acceleration signal in response to motion of the base. A control unit actively controls the hydraulic actuator as a function of the base acceleration signal. The control unit generates a base velocity signal by integrating the base acceleration signal, generates a seat position signal representing a position of the seat relative to the base, generates a seat position error signal representing a difference between a desired position and the seat position signal, and generates a command signal as a function of the velocity signal and of the position error signal. The control unit controls the actuator by applying the command signal thereto.

Abstract: A detent mechanism is provided for minimizing the force balance condition of an operating lever assembly. The detent mechanism has a detent housing with first and second detent members disposed therein. Means are provided for biasing the first detent member against rotation. The second detent member frictionally engages the first detent member while being capable of movement relative thereto. The second detent member is also disposed for selective engagement of detent notches provided on the first detent member, whereby movement of the second detent member with and relative to the first detent member causes the first detent member to rotate in a first direction until the means for biasing exerts enough force on the first detent member to cause the first detent member to rotate in a second direction causing the second detent member to engage an adjacent detent notch of the first detent member.

Abstract: The invention comprises a work vehicle, a boom attached to the vehicle, a tool pivotally attached to the boom, an actuator for controllably moving the tool about its pivot, and an angular velocity sensor for sensing the angular velocity of the tool. A controller is adapted to perform a tool auto-hold function, automatically maintaining an initial tool orientation by processing the angular velocity data and commanding movement of the tool actuator to hold the angular velocity at zero. The controller is adapted to discontinue the tool auto-hold function when the operator manipulates a tool command input device affecting tool actuator movement, and resume the tool auto-hold function at the new orientation affected by the operator. Manipulation of an auto-hold command input device allows the operator to selectively enable and disable the tool auto-hold function.

Abstract: A fuel cell assembly includes a manifold having a plurality of fuel cell connecting zones. At least some of the zones have differing characteristics such as area and arrangement of electrical connections and inlet and outlet ports corresponding to differing electrical power capacities. The assembly also includes one or more fuel cell stacks. At least some of the stacks have differing electrical power capacities, differing characteristics corresponding to the differing characteristics of the manifold zone, and corresponding differing arrangements of electrical connections and inlet and outlet ports. These differing characteristics are designed so that a fuel cell stack of a particular capacity can be connected only to a manifold zone corresponding to such capacity. A block-off plate is provided for coupling to a manifold zone where it is desired not to place a fuel cell stack.

Abstract: A large round baler is provided with a crop take-up arrangement as well as a knife shaft ahead of the inlet of a baling chamber which carries knives that cooperate with blades of a first rotor to cut crop material into pieces before the first rotor delivers the crop directly into the baling chamber. A second rotor is provided between the take-up rotor and the first rotor shaft for narrowing the crop flow from that of the crop take-up arrangement to that of the first rotor. All of the rotors perform an overshot conveying that requires a relatively low drive energy and guarantees a continuous flow of the crop into the chamber.

Abstract: A control lever assembly for a vehicle transmission includes a housing which supports a guide plate having a slot and a recess formed in a central portion of the slot. A carrier member is pivotally coupled to the housing about a pivot pin. A lever has a shaft which is supported by the carrier and which is rotatable and axially movable relative to the carrier. The lever has a knob which is mounted on an end of the shaft and which is received by the slot. A spring is coupled between the shaft and the carrier and is biased to rotate the knob and to urge the lever towards the pivot pin. When the knob is in the slot and outside of the recess, the slot walls prevent rotation of the knob and maintain the lever in a first rotary orientation. When the knob is moved into the recess, the spring is automatically able to rotate the knob and lever into a second rotary orientation.

Abstract: An air quality monitoring arrangement is associated with an enclosed cab of an agricultural tractor used for towing or carrying spraying implements for treating crop with substances which might be toxic or otherwise harmful to people. A signal from a contaminant sensor is sent to a control arrangement which compares the actual sensed contamination of the air within the cab over time with a value from a performance map representing the performance expected from normal performance of the air circulating system of the cab. When the sensed contamination is higher than that of the performance map the operator is warned of a malfunction. The blower of the air circulating system may have its speed increased so as to pressurize the cab so as to exclude the entry of contaminated air through seals and other small openings of the cab.

Abstract: A method and system for determining a work path for a machine determines a path that minimizes energy consumption of the machine to enhance a usable duration of an electrical charge of an energy source or to conserve fuel. A work area is defined and is divisible into a number of cells. Respective geographic factors associated with corresponding cells within the work area are defined. An estimator estimates energy levels, associated with a machine moving in or between adjacent cells, in corresponding proposed directions based on at least one geographic factor (e.g., any change in elevation between or within the adjacent cells). Candidate total energy levels are determined for moving the machine through the cells along corresponding alternate proposed work paths for the work area. A selector selects a preferential work path from the proposed work paths consistent with the determined lowest energy level of the candidate total energy levels.

Abstract: A forage harvester includes feed rolls operable to convey crop to a crop cutter drum. The forage harvester is provided with a control arranged to produce a controller output signal based upon a sensed number of rotations of the crop cutter drum or the feed rolls. The controller output signal operates such that a difference between an actual relation between the feed roll and cutter drum speeds and a nominal relation is at least reduced. The control is operable to produce the controller output signal independent from a detection of the speed of the feed rolls or the chopper drum. The speed of the feed rolls or chopper drum is hence controlled without feedback, but with an open loop. Thus, a sensor is saved and control oscillations are avoided.

Abstract: A fuel injector assembly includes a housing having a plurality of injector bores, a plurality of fuel feed bore, each intersecting a corresponding one of the injector bores, and a common return passage which communicates all the fuel feed bores with a fuel reservoir. A fuel injector is mounted in each of the injector bores. Each injector has a return fuel port which communicates return fuel to an exterior of the injector. A fuel feed member is mounted in each of the fuel feed bores. Each fuel feed member has a fuel feed passage which communicates pressurized fuel to a corresponding one of the injectors. An outer surface of each fuel feed member and a wall of each fuel feed bore forms a return chamber which is communicated with a corresponding return fuel port and which is communicated with the common return passage.

Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing a compound helically toothed planet gear for a planetary gear set wherein the individual gear elements of the compound planet gear have different leads. The method identifies and utilizes the several factors affecting gear timing for compound helical planet gears having different leads to provide planet gears capable of attaining equal load share among the several gears of the planetary gear set. Specifically, the method of the present invention utilizes a mounting shoulder and bore axis to provide common locating features for use throughout the manufacturing process The method further provides for bore honing and removal of equal amounts of material from both sides of each gear tooth in the gear finishing process so as not to alter gear timing between the compound gear elements.

Abstract: A flexible rotatable drive shaft is used to drive a seed meter of a seeding machine. The seeding machine is provided with a seed meter gearbox. The seed meter gearbox has a flexible rotatable drive shaft receiving portion and a gear receiving portion. The gearbox output is drivingly coupled to the seed meter for driving the seed meter. The flexible rotatable drive shaft receiving portion extends outwardly from the gear receiving portion for receiving the drive ferrule of the flexible rotatable drive shaft. The gearbox restrain extends outwardly from the seeding machine and engages the flexible rotatable drive shaft receiving portion. The gearbox restrain comprises two legs that are parallel to the gearbox drive axis. The flexible rotatable drive shaft receiving portion is sandwiched between the two legs to prevent rotation of the gearbox.

Abstract: A grain tank cover having a tarp and support structure, the support structure including legs and an upper frame structure that are shiftable downwardly into the tank to assume a lowered position.

Abstract: A PTO switch for the attachment drive of a lawn and garden tractor includes a solenoid activated detent to retain the normally off switch in an on position. The switch includes an interlock override position for permitting a function such as mow in reverse. An interlock circuit interrupts drive to the attachment under certain conditions. Once drive is interrupted for any reason, the solenoid deactivates and the switch is moved to the off position so that PTO switch position corresponds to attachment drive condition, even when the drive is interrupted by means other than movement of the switch.