Abstract: A brush chipper with feed rollers and a winch has an interlock control with feed roller disabled position and a feed roller enabled position, spring loaded to the feed roller disabled position to encourage or require the use of the winch line to move it into a feed roller enable position. A winch control is provided that selects between a winch freewheel condition and winch drive condition. A connection is provided between the interlock control and winch control such that the interlock control automatically moves to the feed roller disabled position whenever the winch control is moved to the freewheel position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for baling a crop with stiff stalks such as corn stalks has a frame with a front and a rear. At least one ground engaging wheel operatively attached to the frame for facilitating movement of the frame in a forward direction. An accumulator is operatively attached to the frame for holding the crop in various amounts. A pickup is operatively attached to the front of the frame for picking up the crop from a field and transferring the crop into the accumulator. A baler is operatively attached to the frame behind the accumulator for transforming a crop into a bale. A transfer mechanism such as a conveyor is provided in the accumulator for moving the crop in the accumulator to the inlet of the baler. In another embodiment, a pickup of a first predetermined width is provided for picking up the crop from a field and transferring the crop into the accumulator.

Abstract: An improved roller assembly for use in machinery such as round balers is disclosed. The roller assembly of the present invention reduces sensitivity to varying dimensional tolerances on the roller assembly and the structure to which the roller assembly is mounted. At least one elastic member is used to permit the axial position of at least one of the bearings on the roller assembly shaft to vary. Spring washers provide a predetermined, axial force to at least one of the bearings.

Abstract: A system and method of interfacing a drilling machine with one of a number of different walk-over guidance systems involves receiving an ID signal from a particular walk-over guidance system selected for use with the drilling machine. A protocol library associated with the particular walk-over guidance system is accessed in response to the ID signal. The protocol library is used to effect communication between the particular walk-over guidance system and a control system of the drilling machine during cooperative use of the particular walk-over guidance system and drilling machine. Using the protocol library involves converting, as prescribed by the protocol library, locator signals received from the particular walk-over guidance system from a locator protocol to a common protocol used by the control system of the drilling machine. Locator and drilling machine data of various types can be presented to a drilling machine operator via an on-board display.

Abstract: A system and method of interfacing a drilling machine with one of a number of different walk-over guidance systems involves receiving an ID signal from a particular walk-over guidance system selected for use with the drilling machine. A protocol library associated with the particular walk-over guidance system is accessed in response to the ID signal. The protocol library is used to effect communication between the particular walk-over guidance system and a control system of the drilling machine during cooperative use of the particular walk-over guidance system and drilling machine. Using the protocol library involves converting, as prescribed by the protocol library, locator signals received from the particular walk-over guidance system from a locator protocol to a common protocol used by the control system of the drilling machine. Locator and drilling machine data of various types can be presented to a drilling machine operator via an on-board display.

Abstract: An improved roller assembly for use in machinery such as round balers is disclosed. The roller assembly of the present invention reduces sensitivity to varying dimensional tolerances on the roller assembly and the structure to which the roller assembly is mounted. At least one elastic member is used to permit the axial position of at least one of the bearings on the roller assembly shaft to vary. Spring washers provide a predetermined, axial force to at least one of the bearings.

Abstract: A drilling system including a drill head configured to couple to a drill string. The drill head including an offset adapter, a one-way clutch, and a drill bit. The drill head being configured to provide straight drilling along a first axis, and deviated drilling along a second axis. The drilling system further including a gearbox configured to provide selective rotational operation corresponding to the straight drilling and the deviated drilling. The drilling system also including control systems to control the selected rotational operation of the gearbox.

Abstract: A steerable reamer and method for use in horizontal directional drilling. The reamer includes a carrier frame rotatably coupled to a reaming body, a carrier frame housing slidably coupled to the carrier frame, and an hydraulic cylinder for tilting the carrier frame relative to the carrier frame housing. The reamer may also include sondes for monitoring the position and orientation of the reamer during operation or a laser guidance system for automatically steering the reamer along a pilot bore.

Abstract: A reamer with a planetary gear train for use in horizontal directional drilling allows a reaming surface of the reamer to rotate at slower speeds while simultaneously conveying more power to the reamer via fast drill string rotational speeds. The reamer may also include mixing elements that may rotate at the same speed as the drill string. The reamer may further be steerable and include an offset mount that is rotatably coupled to the reamer. The offset mount being configured to couple a ream string to the reamer in such a manner that a longitudinal axis of the ream string is not collinear with the axis of rotation of the reamer. The reamer may also include u-joints which couple the reamer to a drill string and ream string, the u-joints allowing for a greater range of angles to be achieved when tilting the reamer by means of rotating and positioning the ream line.

Abstract: A lubrication system and method for dispensing a lubricant to threads of a drill rod and/or a spindle of a horizontal directional drilling (HDD) machine during a rod loading or unloading operation employs a pumping system having a lubricant reservoir, a pump, an applicator, and a lubricant supply conduit coupled between the pump and applicator. A heating unit is coupled to the pumping station and heats lubricant contained within the pumping system. A control unit coupled to the pumping system activates the pumping system to dispense a volume of lubricant from the applicator to the threads of the drill rod and/or spindle in response to an operator signal or an HDD machine control signal. A lubricant may be sprayed onto the spindle/drill rod threads. Alternatively, the lubricant may be communicated through a passageway defined within the spindle to one or more apertures defined within the threads of the spindle and/or the drill rod.

Abstract: A system and method of interfacing a drilling machine with one of a number of different walk-over guidance systems involves receiving an ID signal from a particular walk-over guidance system selected for use with the drilling machine. A protocol library associated with the particular walk-over guidance system is accessed in response to the ID signal. The protocol library is used to effect communication between the particular walk-over guidance system and a control system of the drilling machine during cooperative use of the particular walk-over guidance system and drilling machine. Using the protocol library involves converting, as prescribed by the protocol library, locator signals received from the particular walk-over guidance system from a locator protocol to a common protocol used by the control system of the drilling machine. Locator and drilling machine data of various types can be presented to a drilling machine operator via an on-board display.

Abstract: A horizontal directional drilling machine including a multi-column magazine, a feed structure for indexing rods to and from the magazine, and a lift unit for loading the magazine by lifting rods from the feed structure into the magazine. The lift unit includes a first portion that extends beneath all of the columns of the magazine, and a second portion that projects outward from beneath the magazine. A retaining structure is provided on the second portion for holding a rod on the second portion of the lift unit.

Abstract: A steerable reamer and method for use in horizontal directional drilling. The reamer includes a carrier frame rotatably coupled to a reaming body, a carrier frame housing slidably coupled to the carrier frame, and an hydraulic cylinder for tilting the carrier frame relative to the carrier frame housing. The reamer may also include sondes for monitoring the position and orientation of the reamer during operation or a laser guidance system for automatically steering the reamer along a pilot bore.

Abstract: A horizontal directional drilling machine including a rod transfer member having a rod retainer that is movable between a first position and a second position. When the rod retainer is in the first position, the rod retainer is adapted to retain a pipe on the transfer member. By contrast, when the rod retainer is in the second position, a rod can be moved from the transfer member without being obstructed by the rod retainer. A sensor is provided for detecting when a pipe is positioned on the pipe transfer member, and for causing the rod retainer to automatically move from the second position to the first position when a rod is detected.

Abstract: A reamer with a planetary gear train for use in horizontal directional drilling allows a reaming surface of the reamer to rotate at slower speeds while simultaneously conveying more power to the reamer via fast drill string rotational speeds. The reamer may also include mixing elements that may rotate at the same speed as the drill string. The reamer may further be steerable and include an offset mount that is rotatably coupled to the reamer. The offset mount being configured to couple a ream string to the reamer in such a manner that a longitudinal axis of the ream string is not collinear with the axis of rotation of the reamer. The reamer may also include u-joints which couple the reamer to a drill string and ream string, the u-joints allowing for a greater range of angles to be achieved when tilting the reamer by means of rotating and positioning the ream line.

Abstract: A method of applying twine to a bale in which the twine is applied between first and second bale positions separated by an axial length along the bale. The method includes the step of applying twine about the bale by rotating the bale while continuously moving a twine dispenser axially from the first bale position to the second bale position such that a continuous helical pattern of twine is wrapped around the bale.

Abstract: A vehicle transmission system having shift lever control of synchronized couplers for selection of ranges of gears and electro-hydraulic powershift clutches for selection of a gear within the selected range is provided with controls for avoiding unexpected speeds or speed changes under certain conditions. On start-up, if the vehicle is stationary, a microprocessor automatically selects which powershift gear is effective, the selection being such that the start-up speed is as nearly uniform as possible within the limits imposed by the positions of the shift levers.

Abstract: An adjustable bale size indicator for a baler which forms cylindrical bales comprising a first indicator member mounted for pivotal movement on the baler and having a bale diameter indicia exposed forwardly of the baler. The first indicator member is attached to the belt tension mechanism and moves pivotally in response to increasing bale diameter. A second indicator member having a shield indicator is adjustably attached to the first indicator member the pointer indicating the maximum bale size position on the bale diameter indicia. A full bale switch mounts adjacent to the second indicator member. The second indicator member contains a flag to change the state of the switch when the bale size reaches a bale diameter equal to that set on the bale diameter indicia by the shield indicator. The change in state of the full bale switch generates a signal to the operator indicating the bale has reached the desired diameter.

Abstract: A lift apparatus for raising and lowering a ground vehicle. A pair of transversely opposite frame members are interconnected at their lower end portions by a transversely extended crank axle. A pair of four-bar parallelogram linkages are located on either side of the vehicle and each of which includes a lever plate which supports a ground wheel of the vehicle. An upper link pivotally interconnects the lever plate to the associated frame member. A lower link is pivotally attached at one end to the lever plate and is secured at its other end to the crank axle, thereby forming a crank arm. A hydraulic cylinder is interconnected between each of the lever plates and the associated frame member. Extension and retraction of the cylinders raises and lowers the vehicle.