Abstract: A method is described for operating an agricultural vehicle to reduce the time taken for rotating components of the crop processing machinery driven by the vehicle engine to reach a standstill. The method comprises the steps of sensing when a signal is generated by the vehicle operator to disengage the drive from the engine to the rotating components, reducing the engine speed in response to the sensed signal to a minimum value below a steady idling speed of the engine, disengaging the drive to the rotating components after the engine speed has reached the minimum value, and increasing the engine speed to a value equal to or greater than the steady idling speed after the disengagement of the drive to the rotating components.

Abstract: An agricultural harvesting machine, such as a forage harvester comprises a set of feedrolls (20, 21, 26, 27) for feeding harvested crop material to a rotating cutterhead (36). The feedrolls are driven by a hydraulic drive means comprising a hydrostatic pump (123) coupled to the engine (70) of the harvesting machine, a hydrostatic motor (80) coupled to said feeder means (20, 21, 26, 27) and hydraulic circuitry (142, 143, 152) interconnecting the pump and the motor. The circuitry comprises a feeder arrest valve (165) which is operable to interrupt the oil flow from said hydrostatic motor (80), thereby arresting said feedrolls (20, 21, 26, 27). The hydrostatic motor (80) is provided with a flushing valve (156) for diverting part of the oil flow in said circuitry through said motor for lubricating and cooling the latter. The arrest valve (165) is provided in said circuitry (142, 143, 152) between the hydrostatic motor (80) and the flushing valve (156).

Abstract: An agricultural harvesting machine, such as a forage harvester comprises a set of feedrolls (20, 21, 26, 27) for feeding harvested crop material to a rotating cutterhead (36). The feedrolls are driven by a hydraulic drive means comprising a hydrostatic pump (123) coupled to the engine (70) of the harvesting machine, a hydrostatic motor (80) coupled to said feeder means (20, 21, 26, 27) and hydraulic circuitry (142, 143, 152) interconnecting the pump and the motor. The circuitry comprises a feeder arrest valve (165) which is operable to interrupt the oil flow from said hydrostatic motor (80), thereby arresting said feedrolls (20, 21, 26, 27). The hydrostatic motor (80) is provided with a flushing valve (156) for diverting part of the oil flow in said circuitry through said motor for lubricating and cooling the latter. The arrest valve (165) is provided in said circuitry (142, 143, 152) between the hydrostatic motor (80) and the flushing valve (156).

Abstract: A forage harvester comprises a rotatable cutterhead (36), operable to comminute crop material and to deliver the same to a blower assembly (48, 49), which propels the material upwardly into a duct (52), which in turn directs it into a collecting vehicle, which is moved aside or behind the harvester. The blower assembly (48, 49) includes a rotatable blower (49) and a housing (48), which is attached to a support frame (60), affixed to the main frame (1) by three bolts (67, 65) only. The duct (52) is mounted onto a base plate (78), which is not connected to the blower (48, 49), and can be rotated at a variable speed with respect to the main frame (1). A set of pull rods (68) and studs (70) permit easy and precise adjustment of the rotor (49) to the housing (48). This arrangement prevents the deformation of the blower housing (48), during and after its assembly to the harvester, and eliminates the need for subsequent readjustment of the blower (49) to the housing (48), in order to restore the blower efficiency.