Abstract: An agricultural baler including a base unit, a plurality of ground engaging devices supporting the base unit and at least one tie system mounted to the base unit. The at least one tie system including a needle moveable relative to the base unit and a needle stabilizer. The needle stabilizer attached to the base unit with the needle stabilizer contacting the needle over a portion of the movement of the needle.

Abstract: A bale wrapping mechanism for feeding bale surface wrapping material to an inlet of a baling chamber containing a bale to be wrapped includes a support arrangement for supporting a plurality of wrapping material supply rolls disposed with their adjacent ends either overlapping each other or disposed in axially aligned or end-to-end relationship with each other. In the case of overlapping ends, the adjacent runs of material respectively emanating from the plurality of supply rolls overlap each other and are applied to the circumference of a bale being wrapped in an overlapped arrangement. In the case of axially aligned supply rolls and when the wrapping material is a spreadable net material, a material spreading arrangement is located between the supply rolls and an inlet to the baling chamber and acts to spread the net so that adjacent runs of wrapping material respectively emanating from the plurality of material supply rolls overlap each other and remain overlapped as they are applied to the bale.

Abstract: A bale wrapping mechanism for feeding bale surface wrapping material to an inlet of a baling chamber containing a bale to be wrapped includes a support arrangement for supporting a plurality of wrapping material supply rolls disposed with their adjacent ends either overlapping each other or disposed in axially aligned or end-to-end relationship with each other. In the case of overlapping ends, the adjacent runs of material respectively emanating from the plurality of supply rolls overlap each other and are applied to the circumference of a bale being wrapped in an overlapped arrangement. In the case of axially aligned supply rolls and when the wrapping material is a spreadable net material, a material spreading arrangement is located between the supply rolls and an inlet to the baling chamber and acts to spread the net so that adjacent runs of wrapping material respectively emanating from the plurality of material supply rolls overlap each other and remain overlapped as they are applied to the bale.

Abstract: A steam injection manifold assembly is mounted to a crop pick-up assembly and is provided with an elongate manifold disposed lengthwise of the pick-up assembly. A plurality of steam injection tubes are releasably mounted to the manifold to receive steam exiting through respective steam outlet openings provided in the manifold. In one embodiment the injection tubes are shaped similarly to tine stripper bands of the pick-up, and in another embodiment the injection tubes define the stripper bands of the pick-up.

Abstract: Components of a crop re-hydration system are advantageously carried on free space of a large square baler. Specifically, a direct-fired steam generator is mounted at a rear location on the baler so as not to transfer heat to a hydraulic fluid supply tank located at a forward location on the baler. Further, the combustion chamber of the steam generator is coupled to a forwardly extending main steam conduit having a length sufficient for ensuring that the water injected into the combustion chamber is thoroughly mixed with hot combustion gases and changed to steam prior to reaching a steam distribution manifold located at a forward end of the baler. A combustion air intake filter is positioned in a relatively clean zone at an elevated location at the rear of the baler. Water tanks are mounted closely adjacent ground wheel axles of the baler so that the weight of the water does not unduly load the baler frame.

Abstract: A baler is equipped with a crop re-hydration system including a steam injection manifold mounted for discharging steam onto a windrow of crop as the windrow is being fed into the baler. The steam injection manifold has a steam discharge orifice arrangement which can be adjusted to vary the discharge width. A flexible duct guides discharged steam to the crop windrow.

Abstract: A direct-fired steam generator body defines a combustion chamber and having an exhaust outlet. A mixing chamber is provided for receiving the exhaust gases from the combustion chamber. A flange joint between an elbow forming part of the mixing chamber and the end of the steam generator body defining the exhaust outlet is designed so as to be cooled by process water coupled to the joint by an injection port provided in one of the flanges.

Abstract: A direct-fired, propane powered steam generator is provided with a carburetor, which receives vaporized propane from a converter arrangement which converts liquid propane to vapor, receives pressurized air and feeds a mixture of vaporized propane and air into the combustion chamber of the steam generator. The amount of air delivered to the carburetor is variable, with the amount of vaporized propane entering the carburetor being determined by the position of a metering valve which varies in accordance with the amount of air passing through the carburetor. The converter arrangement receives liquid propane and is coupled to process water heated in the water jackets of the combustion chamber and adjacent structure, the converter arrangement being designed so that heat from the water is transferred for effecting vaporization of the liquid propane.

Abstract: A direct-fired steam generator system is used in conjunction with a baler for providing steam for re-hydrating the crop being baled. Cooling water is pumped through water jackets defined by double walls surrounding the combustion chamber and adjacent components, with this water being routed exteriorly of the water jackets and back to a three-way water control valve provided for normally routing the water back to the cooling water reservoir. The control valve is selectively actuated to couple the returning water to an injector flange for metering the water into an outlet end of the combustion chamber only when a flame is present or soon to be present in the combustion chamber, whereby the water will come into contact with hot combustion gases and be changed to steam which is routed on to be applied to the crop being baled.

Abstract: A self-propelled agricultural vehicle is constructed by assembling the parts of a standard row-crop tractor to the point where the next step is that of mounting the cab to the chassis. At this point, a cab adapter module is mounted to the chassis using the mounting points normally used for mounting the cab to the chassis. The cab, provided in a form without the usual access ladder and fenders, is mounted to the cab adapter module so as to face in a direction opposite to that which it would face if mounted to the chassis. The seat and all controls for operating the tractor remain in the same locations in the cab regardless which direction the cab faces. Minor reconfigurations of hydraulic circuitry and the differential are required for permitting the vehicle to be operated in a forward direction opposite to that for the operation of the standard tractor.

Abstract: A baler for forming large parallelepiped bales is equipped with a crop re-hydrating system for re-hydrating dry crop having a moisture content no greater than 14% with steam during the baling process. In one embodiment, the re-hydrating system includes a steam generator which mixes the steam with hot gas during the steam generation process, with the hot gas/steam mixture being distributed to treat the crop. In another embodiment, hot gas, in the form of hot air, is produced separate from the steam and is joined with it to form a mixture for distribution to treat the crop. In both embodiments, the hot gases serve to insulate and to transfer energy to the gaseous steam (saturated vapor), and are at no more than a minimum temperature required for preventing the steam from condensing prior to being applied to the crop.

Abstract: A three-point hitch suitable for operation with wide implements is constructed by substituting a pair of flotation actuators for the usual drop links that are normally coupled between a pair of rocker arms and a pair of lower draft links. These drop links are coupled to a hydraulic circuit including, according to one embodiment, individual accumulators for each flotation actuator, and according to a second embodiment, both actuators are coupled to a single accumulator. The accumulator(s) act to cause a pre-selected lifting force to be exerted by the flotation actuators so that a predetermined amount of the weight of an implement mounted to the draft links is counterbalanced, leaving a desired ground pressure being exerted by the implement during operation. When using individual accumulators, a side-to-side weight balance can be achieved since different accumulator settings may be used.

Abstract: A baler for forming large parallelepiped bales is equipped with a crop re-hydrating system for re-hydrating dry crop having a moisture content no greater than 14% with steam during the baling process. In one embodiment, the re-hydrating system includes a steam generator which mixes the steam with hot gas during the steam generation process, with the hot gas/steam mixture being distributed to treat the crop. In another embodiment, hot gas, in the form of hot air, is produced separate from the steam and is joined with it to form a mixture for distribution to treat the crop. In both embodiments, the hot gases serve to insulate and to transfer energy to the gaseous steam (saturated vapor), and are at no more than a minimum temperature required for preventing the steam from condensing prior to being applied to the crop.

Abstract: A three-point hitch suitable for operation with wide implements is constructed by substituting a pair of flotation actuators for the usual drop links that are normally coupled between a pair of rocker arms and a pair of lower draft links. These drop links are coupled to a hydraulic circuit including, according to one embodiment, individual accumulators for each flotation actuator, and according to a second embodiment, both actuators are coupled to a single accumulator. The accumulator(s) act to cause a pre-selected lifting force to be exerted by the flotation actuators so that a predetermined amount of the weight of an implement mounted to the draft links is counterbalanced, leaving a desired ground pressure being exerted by the implement during operation. When using individual accumulators, a side-to-side weight balance can be achieved since different accumulator settings may be used.