Abstract: A telescoping rotatable tool includes a first shaft and a second shaft. The first shaft has a first material-engaging element extending from an exterior surface of the first shaft. The second shaft has a second material-engaging element extending from an exterior surface of the second shaft. The second shaft is configured to extend from and retract within an interior space presented by the first shaft. The first shaft includes at least one helical-shaped groove extending along an interior surface of the first shaft. The second shaft includes at least one guide element extending from the exterior surface of the second shaft. The guide element is configured to engage with the groove, such that as the second shaft extends from and retracts within the first shaft, the second shaft is configured to rotate with respect to the first shaft.

Abstract: An attachment apparatus for a distributor vehicle configured to apply asphalt onto a surface is provided. The attachment apparatus comprises a truss and a broom head attached to the truss. The broom head comprises a plurality of bristles. The attachment apparatus further comprises a drive assembly configured to shift the truss and the broom head between a raised position and a lowered position with respect to the surface.

Abstract: A telescoping rotatable tool includes a first shaft and a second shaft. The first shaft has a first material-engaging element extending from an exterior surface of the first shaft. The second shaft has a second material-engaging element extending from an exterior surface of the second shaft. The second shaft is configured to extend from and retract within an interior space presented by the first shaft. The first shaft includes at least one helical-shaped groove extending along an interior surface of the first shaft. The second shaft includes at least one guide element extending from the exterior surface of the second shaft. The guide element is configured to engage with the groove, such that as the second shaft extends from and retracts within the first shaft, the second shaft is configured to rotate with respect to the first shaft.

Abstract: A telescoping rotatable tool includes a first shaft and a second shaft. The first shaft has a first material-engaging element extending from an exterior surface of the first shaft. The second shaft has a second material-engaging element extending from an exterior surface of the second shaft. The second shaft is configured to extend from and retract within an interior space presented by the first shaft. The first shaft includes at least one helical-shaped groove extending along an interior surface of the first shaft. The second shaft includes at least one guide element extending from the exterior surface of the second shaft. The guide element is configured to engage with the groove, such that as the second shaft extends from and retracts within the first shaft, the second shaft is configured to rotate with respect to the first shaft.

Abstract: A telescoping rotatable tool includes a first shaft and a second shaft. The first shaft has a first material-engaging element extending from an exterior surface of the first shaft. The second shaft has a second material-engaging element extending from an exterior surface of the second shaft. The second shaft is configured to extend from and retract within an interior space presented by the first shaft. The first shaft includes at least one helical-shaped groove extending along an interior surface of the first shaft. The second shaft includes at least one guide element extending from the exterior surface of the second shaft. The guide element is configured to engage with the groove, such that as the second shaft extends from and retracts within the first shaft, the second shaft is configured to rotate with respect to the first shaft.

Abstract: A walking walls bale ejector with one stationary floor wall, one horizontal and lateral moveable side wall, one horizontal moveable side wall and an upper horizontal moveable wall. The side walls and top wall can be moved horizontally in relation to the frame.

Abstract: A buckle for use in securing a band around a bale of material includes a socket member having an aperture formed therein and a wedge member having a portion shaped to maximize friction with a band and a rounded portion opposite the portion shaped to maximize friction with a band. The wedge member is initially connected to the socket member by at least one frangible link in an initial orientation having the rounded portion oriented toward the aperture in the socket member and the portion shaped to maximize friction with a band oriented away from the aperture. The buckle is used in a automated method wherein both ends of a band extending around a bale are clamped to the wedge member, the wedge member is rotated to a final position wherein the portion shaped to maximize friction with a band of the—wedge member is oriented toward the aperture and urged into the aperture, thereby capturing, both ends of the band between the portion shaped to maximize friction with a band of the wedge member and the socket member.

Abstract: A buckle for use in securing a band around a bale of material comprises a socket member having an aperture formed therein and a wedge member having a portion shaped to maximize friction with a band and a rounded portion opposite the portion shaped to maximize friction with a band. The wedge member is initially connected to the socket member by at least one frangible link in an initial orientation having the rounded portion oriented toward the aperture in the socket member and the portion shaped to maximize friction with a band oriented away from the aperture. The buckle is used in an automated method wherein both ends of a band extending around a bale are clamped to the wedge member, the wedge member is rotated to a final position wherein the portion shaped to maximize friction with a band of the wedge member is oriented toward the aperture and urged into the aperture, thereby capturing both ends of the band between the portion shaped to maximize friction with a band of the wedge member and the socket member.

Abstract: A combine harvester has a crop processing rotor and a concave assembly having at least one concave extending at least partially beneath the rotor in a circumferential manner. The concave assembly is pivotable about pivot point to move the concave in a generally concentric manner toward and away from rotor. An operating mechanism pivots the concave assembly to adjust the operating clearance between the concave assembly and the rotor. The operating mechanism includes an actuator and a linkage assembly connecting the actuator to the concave assembly. The linkage assembly includes a hydraulic cylinder that applies a substantially constant force to the concave assembly to control the pressure put on the crop while the rotor is rotating. A hydraulic supply ports hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic cylinder. The combine harvester also has an accumulator located between the hydraulic supply and the hydraulic cylinder.

Abstract: The airflow through a harvesting machine is adjusted by calculating a G-factor at a first point on an upper chaffer to determine if it is greater than 1+n, where n represents a desired factor. A blower is adjusted to reduce an airstream if the G-factor is greater than 1+n. A MOG factor is calculated if the G-factor is less than 1+n. The blower is adjusted to increase the airstream if the MOG-factor is less than 1+x, where x represents a desired factor. A MOG-factor is calculated at a second point if the MOG-factor at the point is greater than 1+x and the blower is adjusted to reduce the airstream if the MOG-factor at the second point is greater than 1+y, where y represents a desired factor or adjusted to increase the airstream if the MOG-factor at the second point is less than 1+y.

Abstract: The airflow through a harvesting machine is adjusted by calculating a G-factor at a first point on an upper chaffer to determine if it is greater than 1+n, where n represents a desired factor. A blower is adjusted to reduce an airstream if the G-factor is greater than 1+n. A MOG factor is calculated if the G-factor is less than 1+n. The blower is adjusted to increase the airstream if the MOG-factor is less than 1+x, where x represents a desired factor. A MOG-factor is calculated at a second point if the MOG-factor at said the point is greater than 1+x and the blower is adjusted to reduce the airstream if the MOG-factor at the second point is greater than 1+y, where y represents a desired factor or adjusted to increase the airstream if the MOG-factor at the second point is less than 1+y.

Abstract: A combine harvester has a crop processing rotor and a concave assembly having at least one concave extending at least partially beneath the rotor in a circumferential manner. The concave assembly is pivotable about pivot point to move the concave in a generally concentric manner toward and away from rotor. An operating mechanism pivots the concave assembly to adjust the operating clearance between the concave assembly and the rotor. The operating mechanism includes an actuator and a linkage assembly connecting the actuator to the concave assembly. The linkage assembly includes a hydraulic cylinder that applies a substantially constant force to the concave assembly to control the pressure put on the crop while the rotor is rotating. A hydraulic supply ports hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic cylinder. The combine harvester also has an accumulator located between the hydraulic supply and the hydraulic cylinder.

Abstract: The airflow through a harvesting machine is adjusted by calculating a G-factor at a first point on an upper chaffer to determine if it is greater than 1+n, where n represents a desired factor. A blower is adjusted to reduce an airstream if the G-factor is greater than 1+n. A MOG factor is calculated if the G-factor is less than 1+n. The blower is adjusted to increase the airstream if the MOG-factor is less than 1+x, where x represents a desired factor. A MOG-factor is calculated at a second point if the MOG-factor at the point is greater than 1+x and the blower is adjusted to reduce the airstream if the MOG-factor at the second point is greater than 1+y, where y represents a desired factor or adjusted to increase the airstream if the MOG-factor at the second point is less than 1+y.

Abstract: A harvesting header includes a header frame, a flexible cutterbar assembly mounted to the header frame, a plurality of laterally spaced apart support arms, and a draper assembly. The support arms are attached to and cooperatively support the cutterbar assembly and are pivotally coupled to the frame for swinging movement about a laterally extending axis. The draper assembly includes a side draper carried on multiple ones of the support arms so as to flex with the cutterbar assembly. The draper assembly includes rollers and a roller frame that operably interconnects the interior support arm and a respective one of the rollers.

Abstract: A harvesting header includes a header frame, a cutterbar assembly mounted to the header frame, and a conveyor assembly supported behind the cutterbar assembly to receive crop severed by the cutterbar assembly. The conveyor assembly includes a pair of side conveyors and a fore-and-aft draper located between the side conveyors. The header further includes a central crop-conveying member that overhangs the rear margin of the fore-and-aft draper and a floor pan that at least partly defines a transition area. The floor pan presents a forwardmost edge adjacent to and rearward of the rear margin. The forwardmost edge is located above a lower run of the draper to direct severed crop materials from the upper run of the draper and to facilitate crop material flow through the transition area.

Abstract: A harvesting header includes a header frame, a flexible cutterbar assembly, and a plurality of laterally spaced apart support arms that are attached to and cooperatively support the flexible cutterbar assembly. The header also includes a draper assembly with a side draper carried on multiple ones of the support arms so as to flex with the cutterbar assembly. The side draper includes an endless flexible draper belt presenting laterally endmost margins, with upper and lower crop-conveying runs extending between the margins. The header further includes pivoting structure mounted relative to the header frame at a rear pivot location so that the pivoting structure projects forwardly from the rear pivot location.

Abstract: A harvesting header having a flexible cutterbar assembly utilizes draper belts behind the cutterbar assembly to gently consolidate the severed crop materials and deliver them to a point of discharge and delivery, such as to the feederhouse of a combine harvester. One embodiment has draper assemblies and a central conveyor fixed relative to the flexible cutterbar assembly, while another has the draper assemblies and central conveyer flexible with the cutterbar assembly.

Abstract: A harvesting header having a flexible cutterbar assembly utilizes draper belts behind the cutterbar assembly to gently consolidate the severed crop materials and deliver them to a point of discharge and delivery, such as to the feederhouse of a combine harvester. The cutterbar assembly is supported by pivotable support arms such that it is operable to flex along the length thereof in response to changes in terrain as the header is advanced. One embodiment has draper assemblies and a central conveyor fixed relative to the flexible cutterbar assembly, while another has the draper assemblies and central conveyer flexible with the cutterbar assembly.

Abstract: A harvesting header having a flexible cutterbar assembly utilizes draper belts behind the cutterbar assembly to gently consolidate the severed crop materials and deliver them to a point of discharge and delivery, such as to the feederhouse of a combine harvester. One embodiment has draper assemblies and a central conveyor fixed relative to the flexible cutterbar assembly, while another has the draper assemblies and central conveyer flexible with the cutterbar assembly.

Abstract: A harvesting header having a flexible cutterbar assembly utilizes draper belts behind the cutterbar assembly to gently consolidate the severed crop materials and deliver them to a point of discharge and delivery, such as to the feederhouse of a combine harvester. The header includes laterally spaced support arms attached to and cooperatively supporting the flexible cutterbar assembly. The support arms are pivotally coupled to the frame for swinging movement about a laterally extending axis so that the cutterbar assembly is operable to flex along the length thereof in response to changes in terrain as the header is advanced.