Abstract: An operator cab for a skid steer vehicle is equipped with an inwardly folding front access door that can be locked in either a fully closed position or a fully open position. A pair of over-centered cylinders assists with closing and opening of the front access door. A lever, located in the operator cab, may be used to unlock the door from either its fully open position or its fully closed position. The skid steer vehicle may be operated effectively when the front access door is locked in the fully open position.

Abstract: A foot pod for use with the operator cab of a construction vehicle is designed to pivot separately from the operator cab. The operator cab may be pivoted toward the rear of the construction vehicle and the foot pod may be pivoted toward the front of the construction vehicle. Pivoting the foot pod toward the front of the vehicle permits ground access to the foot pod and any controls carried thereby. Separately pivoting the foot pod forward is particularly advantageous for cleaning the foot pod or servicing any controls carried by the foot pod. Isolation mounts may be used to dampen vibrations from the chassis to the foot pod and the operator cab.

Abstract: A tensioning system for an endless track of a crawler-type vehicle includes an actuator, such as a dual-acting hydraulic cylinder and piston, which is coupled to a roller to translate the roller into and out of engagement with the endless track to tension or slack the endless track, respectively. The tensioning system has a mechanical stop that limits retraction of the actuator, and thus limits how much slack can be created in the endless track. The actuator automatically adds tension to the endless track when an undertensioned condition is present and automatically removes tension from the endless track when an overtensioned condition is present. To add additional slack to the endless track for removing the endless track for service, repair, or replacement, the mechanical stop may be removed which allows additional retraction of the actuator and thus disengagement of the roller from the endless track.

Abstract: A control arrangement is configured to remotely control operation of a windrow merger pulled by a tow vehicle. The windrow merger includes a plurality of functional systems or assemblies configured to selectively collect and discharge crop material, and that can be adjusted to alter the operating characteristics or parameters of the windrow merger. The control arrangement includes a controller, a housing, and a harness configured to communicate control signals from the controller to the number of functional assemblies. The control arrangement further includes a manifold assembly configured to the control signals from the controller to respective control valves operable to control operation of the number of functional assemblies. Thereby, the controller allows the operator to regulate operation and activation of each of the number of functional assemblies from the operator's cab of the tow vehicle.

Abstract: A wrap material dispensing system for a round baler includes a wrap material drive system for advancing wrap material from a supply roll to a wrap material feeding arrangement, and a selectively operable knife mechanism for severing the wrap material. The wrap material drive arrangement includes a pair of rollers that are driven by a motor. The knife mechanism is mounted to a pivotable shaft to which a one-way knife actuating clutch is mounted. A flexible drive member, such as a chain, is engaged with a rotatable output member of the drive motor, and with the one-way knife actuating clutch and a driven one of the wrap material drive rollers. Operation of the motor to rotate the motor output member in a first direction causes advancement of the wrap material, and the one-way knife actuating clutch is configured to maintain the knife mechanism in an inoperable rest position during advancement of the wrap material.

Abstract: A round baler for forming round bales of agricultural crop material includes a bale kicker mechanism for ensuring that the bale is clear of the path of movement of the baler tailgate after the bale has been discharged from the baler and before movement of the tailgate from its open position to its closed position. The bale kicker mechanism includes an inner section which is movably mounted to the baler for movement between a raised position and a lowered position, and an outer section which is pivotably mounted to the inner bale kicker section, to form a jointed bale kicker construction. The inner bale kicker section extends downwardly and rearwardly from the bale-forming chamber at a relatively sharp angle when in its lowered position, to facilitate discharge of the bale from the bale-forming chamber. The outer bale kicker section defines an outer end which engages the ground when the inner bale kicker section is in its lowered position, to provide a ramp for moving the bale onto the ground.

Abstract: A bale shape monitoring system for a round baler for detecting a misshapen bale during bale formation. The system includes a pair of spaced apart rollers mounted to a movable member located within the bale-forming chamber, and which are normally engaged with spaced apart baler belts when the bale has a uniform diameter in the vicinity of the rollers. A rotation sensing arrangement detects the rotation of the rollers, caused by engagement of the rollers with the belts during normal bale formation. In the event the bale is formed with a lesser diameter in the vicinity of one of the rollers, the associated belt moves out of contact with the roller, and the lack of roller rotation is sensed so as to provide a signal to the operator to steer the baler to supply crop material to the lesser diameter area of the bale. Once a uniform diameter is again obtained, both rollers continue to rotate so as to indicate to the operator that the bale has a uniform diameter.

Abstract: An operation sensor for a wrap material dispensing system of a round baler. The operation sensor includes a rotatable member with which the wrap material is engaged, and which rotates along with the wrap material as the wrap material is fed to a wrap material feeding arrangement for introduction into the round baler. Rotation of the rotatable member is detected by a sensing arrangement, which is interconnected with a visual display for providing a user with a visual indication as to the rate of advancement of the wrap material.

Abstract: A round baler for forming round bales of crop material includes a crop pickup which feeds crop material rearwardly toward a bale-forming chamber defined by a series of rollers in combination with a bale-forming section of a series of side-by-side baler belts. The series of rollers include front and rear floor rollers which rotate in the same direction, as well as an upper stripping roller and a powered feed roller. The powered feed roller cooperates with the front floor roller to define a crop inlet, and the feed roller and the front floor roller aggressively feed crop material into the bale-forming chamber. The front and rear floor rollers cooperate with the bale-forming section of the baler belts and the upper stripping roller to define an open initial bale-forming chamber. As the bale grows, the bale-forming section of the belts expands and the bale is supported by the rear floor roller without support from the front floor roller.

Abstract: An overload and overfill protection system for a round baler includes a selectively engageable drive mechanism located between a rotary input member of the baler and an input driven member, such as a sprocket, which drives a pickup mechanism forming a part of the round baler. The selectively engageable drive mechanism includes a fixed drive member mounted to the rotary input member, and a shiftable engagement member mounted to the sprocket for movement between an engaged position for transferring power to the pickup mechanism, and a disengaged position in which power from the rotary input member is not transferred to the sprocket. The fixed drive member is in the form of a shear bolt, which is sheared by an overload force applied to the engagement member when the pickup mechanism is overloaded so as to disable the pickup mechanism. The overfill protection system is in the form of a clutching mechanism interconnected between a movable member of the baler, e.g.

Abstract: A crop material feeding and directing system for use with an agricultural implement having a crop pickup which is wider than a crop inlet associated with the agricultural implement. A lower roller member includes a central portion which extends across the crop inlet, and auger sections at its ends located outwardly of the crop inlet. A pair of upper stub augers are located above the end auger sections of the lower roller member. The stub augers and the end auger sections of the lower roller member cooperate to inwardly direct crop material which is supplied by the pickup mechanism to a location outwardly of the crop inlet, and the central portion of the lower roller member functions to move the inwardly directed crop material rearwardly into the crop inlet.

Abstract: A vehicle, such as an extendible boom forklift, that includes a personnel work platform (PWP). The personnel work platform includes a shut-off switch that is connected to the electronic controls for the extendible boom forklift. The operational controls of the extendible boom forklift include a personnel work platform control system that modifies the operation of the extendible boom forklift when the forklift is in a PWP mode. The PWP control system receives inputs from the shut-off switch, a PWP system actuation switch, a service brake pressure switch and a level sensor/switch such that the control system enables the PWP mode only upon satisfying certain safety-related concerns. In the PWP mode, the control system engages the parking brake, declutches the transmission, locks the frame stabilizing cylinder, deactivates the auxiliary and tilt hydraulic functions and limits the frame leveling rate to slow speeds.

Abstract: A vehicle, such as an extendible forklift, includes a chassis or frame carrying a set of ground-engaging wheels, and a boom assembly pivotably mounted to the frame. A leveling cylinder is interposed between the frame and the wheels for leveling the frame when the vehicle is on uneven terrain and prior to raising the boom assembly to elevate a load. A switch mechanism is interposed between the frame and the boom assembly, for detecting when the boom assembly reaches or exceeds a predetermined angle relative to the frame. Actuation of the switch mechanism results in a restriction in the flow of fluid to the leveling cylinder, to reduce the speed at which the frame leveling cylinder can be operated. Simultaneously, the switch mechanism is operable to actuate the parking brake of the forklift, to prevent movement when the boom is raised above the predetermined angle.

Abstract: A pull-type harvesting machine is adapted for laterally offset attachment to a tractor. The machine has a frame and a harvesting head supported by the frame including a cutting apparatus for cutting crops as the machine is towed across a field, and a gear box operably connected with the cutting apparatus. A pull tongue is pivotally coupled to the frame about a first vertical axis for varying the position of the machine relative to the tractor. A mechanical drive line extends along and is rotatably supported by the pull tongue for supplying driving power to the cutting apparatus through the gear box. The gear box is pivotally mounted on the header about a second vertical axis spaced from the first vertical axis. The drive line includes a fixed position portion and a telescoping portion supported at fore and aft ends by the tongue and the gear box, respectively.

Abstract: A mobile loading machine having a frame and an operator's cab mounted thereon has a load arm assembly adapted to be pivotably mounted at a rear end of the frame, and support a power tool between a lowered position and a raised position at a forward end thereof. The load arm assembly includes an outer load arm section for supporting the tool, an inner load arm section pivotably mounted to the frame independent of the cab, and an intermediate load arm section integrally connected between the outer and inner load arm sections. The intermediate load arm section and inner load arm section are in overlapping relationship with each other such that the intermediate load arm section is positioned alongside a lowermost portion of the cab when the load arm assembly is in the lowered position to maximize the lateral visibility of the operator from the cab.

Abstract: A drive train arrangement for a construction-type vehicle having a central frame member includes an engine, a transmission, and a transfer case extending between and interconnecting the engine and the transmission. The vehicle includes a side frame assembly which extends laterally from the central frame member, and which defines a drive train receiving space within which the engine, transmission and transfer case are received. A second side frame assembly extends laterally from the central frame member in an opposite direction, and is adapted to support an operator cab. The engine and the transmission extend along longitudinal axes which are substantially parallel to each other, and the transfer case drivingly interconnects the engine output with the transmission input. The transmission is drivingly engaged with a pair of drive shafts, which extend along a longitudinal axis coincident with the longitudinal axis of the central frame member.

Abstract: A pull-type harvester includes a cutterhead assembly and a conveying assembly, such as an auger, which conveys cut crop material to a discharge blower. These components define a flow path for cut crop material through the harvester, and a crop processing mill is removably positionable within the flow path for processing the cut crop material in certain conditions for enhancing digestibility of the crop material. The auger assembly is pivotably mounted to the harvester, and is movable so as to accommodate placement of the crop processing mill in the flow path or removal of the crop processing mill therefrom. Filler members are provided for enclosing spaces formed in the crop material flow path resulting from pivoting movement of the auger assembly. The crop processing mill can be selectively installed between the cutterhead and the auger for selectively providing crop processing capability when desired, and the crop processing mill can be removed if conditions do not require crop processing capabilities.

Abstract: A pull-type harvesting machine is adapted for laterally offset attachment to a tractor. The machine has a frame and a harvesting head supported by the frame including a cutting apparatus for cutting crops as the machine is towed across a field, and a gear box operably connected with the cutting apparatus. A pull tongue is pivotally coupled to the frame about a first vertical axis for varying the position of the machine relative to the tractor. A mechanical drive line extends along and is rotatably supported by the pull tongue for supplying driving power to the cutting apparatus through the gear box. The gear box is pivotally mounted on the header about a second vertical axis spaced from the first vertical axis. The drive line includes a fixed position portion and a telescoping portion supported at fore and aft ends by the tongue and the gear box, respectively.

Abstract: A belt separating arrangement for a round baler includes a separating member positioned in a run of belts between a pair of spaced baler rollers. The separating member may be in the form of a separating roller with which each belt in a pair of adjacent belts is engaged in a different location, such that the separating member is operable to separate the belts to enable trash to fall into the crop inlet stream for incorporating into a baler. In one form, the separating arrangement includes a separating roll and an auxiliary roll, and each belt in a pair of adjacent belts is trained about the separating roll in a different location, as well as about the auxiliary roll. In another form, the separating arrangement is in the form of a sectioned separating roll, which includes a series of side-by-side roller sections mounted to a shaft such that each roller section can rotate in either direction.

Abstract: An agricultural harvesting machine includes a frame section carrying a pair of ground-engaging wheels and a header section carrying a crop cutting mechanism and pivotably mounted to the frame section. An adjustable link arrangement is interposed between the frame section and the header section, for controlling the angular relationship of the header section relative to the frame section to vary the elevation of the cutting mechanism carried by the header section. The adjustable link arrangement includes a rear link connected to the frame section and a front link pivotably connected to the rear link. An adjustment assembly is interconnected with the front link at a location spaced from the connection of the front link to the rear link, and the adjustment assembly is interconnected with the header section.