Abstract: A self-propelled forage harvester is equipped with a crop gathering device which transports crop material from the ground to feed rolls that position the crop for being chopped into small pieces by a chopper drum. To prevent pieces of crop material from accumulating on top of the housing structure for the feed rolls and the chopper drum, a flexible shield is mounted between the bottom of the operator's cab and the top of the crop gathering device. Various different access elements of the shield may be quickly opened to provide access to the feed rolls, chopper drum and other functioning elements provided for processing the crop.

Abstract: A grinding arrangement for grinding knives of a chopper drum of a forage harvester includes a movement arrangement for effecting movement of a grinding stone over the length of each of the knives, where individual locations of the knives can be associated with differing grinding times in order that the knives be ground to produce a desired cylindrical profile. A control for the movement arrangement may include either a sensor for determining the need for grinding a given knife at a precise location along the knife and the grinding time required for achieving a desired profile, or predetermined information stored in memory which operates to automatically cause a certain amount of grinding time to elapse in accordance with a specific axial position of the grinding stone.

Abstract: A sharpening apparatus for sharpening the blades of a forage harvester chopper drum includes a carriage to which is mounted a grindstone carrier that holds a grindstone that is moved across the chopper drum during sharpening operation. The grindstone carrier includes an element which is mounted to the carriage for movement towards the chopper drum in order to advance the grindstone. The carrier element contains a threaded bore in which is received a threaded shaft that has a ratchet wheel fixed to it. A pawl is located in the path of movement of the ratchet wheel so as to be engaged thereby when the carriage reaches a reversal point at one side of the drum, this engagement causing the ratchet wheel to be rotated by an angular distance occupied by one tooth so that the threaded shaft causes the grindstone carrier to move axially therealong and toward the chopper drum so as to advance the grindstone.

Abstract: A self-propelled forage harvester is equipped with a crop gathering device which transports crop material from the ground to feed rolls that position the crop for being chopped into small pieces by a chopper drum. To prevent pieces of crop material from accumulating on top of the housing structure for the feed rolls and the chopper drum, a flexible shield is mounted between the bottom of the operator's cab and the top of the crop gathering device. Various embodiments are disclosed which feature different access elements of the shield which may be quickly opened to provide access to the feed rolls, chopper drum and other functioning elements provided for processing the crop.

Abstract: A grinding arrangement for grinding knives of a chopper drum of a forage harvester includes a movement arrangement for effecting movement of a grinding stone over the length of each of the knives, where individual locations of the knives can be associated with differing grinding times in order that the knives be ground to produce a desired cylindrical profile. A control for the movement arrangement may include either a sensor for determining the need for grinding a given knife at a precise location along the knife and the grinding time required for achieving a desired profile, or predetermined information stored in memory which operates to automatically cause a certain amount of grinding time to elapse in accordance with a specific axial position of the grinding stone.