Abstract: A mower has a plurality of rotary cutters for cutting a crop and a swathing unit for forming a cut crop into a swath. In some embodiments, the swathing unit includes an auger and a housing that extends around at least part of the auger and provides a swathing aperture through which cut crop material is ejected to form a swath. In some embodiments, the housing includes at least one guide plate that can be adjusted to adjust the width W of the swathing aperture.

Abstract: An improved feeder house assembly has a front end header adapter assembly formed from a front hook assembly for carrying a grainhead and a front header cradle assembly supporting the front hook assembly and including a pair of frame assemblies, each frame assembly having mated top domed surfaces. One of the frame assemblies is stationary and the other frame assembly has laterally tilting along the mated top domed surfaces along an arc of rotation by a pair of linear actuators located at either top side of the front end header adaptor and tangential to the arc of rotation.

Abstract: A method of controlling an angular orientation of an agricultural combine having a chassis includes: determining a slope angle of the ground over which the combine is traveling; determining a tilt angle of the chassis; receiving an angle signal from an operator input device; combining the slope angle of the ground and the angle signal from the operator input device to calculate a desired angle of the chassis that is greater than horizontal (0°) and less than the slope angle of the ground.

Abstract: An inclined conveyor assembly (20) for a combine harvester (10) comprises a housing (62) on whose rear end an upper conveyor roller (64) is supported such that it can rotate, a lower conveyor roller (90) positioned on the front end of the housing (62); an extendible, endless conveyor element (82) circulating around the lower conveyor roller (90) and around the upper conveyor roller (64), with carriers (84) and a pendulum plate (78), which is hinged on the front end of the housing (62) and which can swivel around a pendulum axle (76), on which a harvesting attachment (18) can be affixed. Below the endless conveyor element (82), there is a flexible bottom element (100), which is coupled with the pendulum plate (78) on its front end, and with the housing (62) of the inclined conveyor assembly (20) on its rear end.

Abstract: A modular transmission assembly is disclosed, including a bracket having separate, integrally formed pump and motor mounting areas disposed generally perpendicular to one another, a pump assembly engaged and fastened to the bracket proximate to the pump mounting area, the pump assembly having an end cap secured to a pump housing and having at least two system ports on one side of the end cap, a motor assembly engaged and fastened to the bracket proximate to the motor mounting area, the motor assembly having a front housing with at least two motor system ports and an output shaft and at least two hoses connecting the pump system ports to the motor system parts to form a hydraulic circuit.

Abstract: A grain turner for turning grain in a drying tower includes opposed generally vertical side walls and a generally vertical dividing plate (which is shorter than the side walls) extending between the side walls; the dividing plate defining inner and an outer vertical channels in a portion of the turner. An inner inclined plate is pivotally connected to one side wall to be within the inner channel and an outer inclined plate is connected to the other side wall to be within the outer channel. The inclined plates are pivotal between a first position in which they are inclined downwardly in a opposite widthwise directions and a second position in which they are generally adjacent their respective side walls. The inclined plates have a length such that when they are in the first position, their lower edges are proximate a bottom of the divider plate.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating swath lines including compensation for sloping terrain in a field for use in an automatic guidance system of a work machine. The swath lines are created as a function of the position, elevation and/or orientation of the work vehicle.

Abstract: A riding-type mower includes a plurality of wheels, a body supported by the plurality of wheels, at least one draft link couplable at one end to the body, a pair of support links coupled at one end to the body and arranged rearwardly from the at least one draft link, and a mower unit whose front is supported from the body via the at least one draft link and whose rear is supported from the body by the pair of support links.

Abstract: A drive train for a header of a harvesting machine. The harvesting machine has a main frame on which a feeder house is mounted. On the front face of the feeder house a mounting device is provided which is pivots with respect to the main frame about a fore/aft extending axis. A header is releasably fixed to the mounting device. The drive train for the header comprises a header drive shaft mounted to the mounting device driving a secondary drive shaft mounted on the header.

Abstract: A combine lateral tilt assembly which attaches a crop harvesting header to a combine includes a stationary extension of a combine feeder housing with a pair of rollers positioned on an upper surface thereof. A movable member is removably attachable to a header and includes a pair of roller tracks positioned to receive respective ones of the rollers on the stationary extension such that the movable member is substantially supported by the rollers. The movable member is mounted to tilt while riding on the rollers about an axis which is formed by a pivot pin positioned in a bottom portion of both the movable member and the stationary extension. A single hydraulic piston and cylinder unit connects between the movable member and the stationary extension to thereby selectively tilt the movable member, and the attached header, laterally relative to the combine.

Abstract: A harvesting machine with a slope equalizing arrangement having a gearbox housing that is pivotally mounted to a pivot bearing. The gearbox housing having a sleeve that is pivotally received in a bushing formed in the pivot bearing. The gearbox housing is also provided with a mandrel to which is coupled one end of a hydraulic cylinder. The other end of the hydraulic cylinder is coupled to the pivot bearing. The gearbox housing has first and second parts. The first and second parts (66, 68) are assembled at a vertical interface surface that extends in the direction of travel. The mandrel being mounted to the second part.

Abstract: A header adjusting system for a hillside combine harvester includes a master hydraulic cylinder assembly and a slave hydraulic cylinder assembly. The master hydraulic cylinder assembly is slaved to movement of the wheels relative to the combine frame. The slave hydraulic cylinder assembly is slaved to extension and retraction of the master hydraulic cylinder assembly. The slave hydraulic cylinder assembly causes the header to pivot about the longitudinal axis of the harvester in order to follow the contour of the ground. A header trimming mechanism is also provided to enable direct operator control of some of the pivoting action of the header about the longitudinal axis. A leveling system for a hillside combine harvester includes a cable and a biased, moveable reference pulley associated therewith.

Abstract: A mower vehicle includes a vehicle frame and single front and rear driven wheels. First and second blade housings are pivotally connected to each other along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle frame and are attached to first and second side frames, respectively. Each side frame is pivotally attached to the vehicle frame near the rear thereof with a hydraulically retractable and extendable cylinder assembly urging each side frame downward or upward in response to changes automatically sensed in the slope of the terrain. Ground engaging outrigger wheels attached to each side frame contact the terrain and the vehicle frame is thus maintained in a generally upright position.

Abstract: A compost windrow turner that uses an elevating conveyor to pick up, mix and aerate the composted material and then redeposit the material. The machine is moved by attachment to the loader bucket of a tractor which then moves and controls the operation of the machine. The machine is firmly held in place by a clamping mechanism that is hydraulically powered. The tractor can also be used to transport the machine or load it onto a transport carrier. The machine also has an attachment for separating plastic trash bags from their contents as they pass through the machine.

Abstract: A self-propelling agricultural machine, especially a self-propelling harvester thresher comprises a machine part having a front side, a working implement mounted on the front side of the machine part and turnable in a direction which is transverse to a travelling direction, and a unit for mounting the working implement on the machine part and including two cylinder-piston units having pistons with piston rods which are connected with the working implement and also having cylinders which are connected with the machine part, the connecting unit also having a switching valve, the cylinders of the cylinder-piston units having piston-side chambers which are connected with one another and piston rod-side chambers which are individually connected to the switching valve.

Abstract: A self-propelling agricultural machine, particularly a harvester thresher, comprises a machine unit provided with supporting elements, a front working implement turnable transversely to a traveling direction and having upper receiving elements for the supporting elements, and lower locking elements, and cylinder-piston units each having a cylinder and a piston with a piston rod having a free end, the supporting elements being mounted on the free ends of the piston rods of the cylinder-piston units, while the cylinders being connected with the machine unit.

Abstract: In a harvester thresher an arrangement for uniform distribution of agricultural product on a reciprocating transporting and cleaning organs of a sieve conveyor includes an upper sieve of a sieve box which is formed so that it has a transporting component toward a side changeable in its value in dependence upon an inclined position of the harvester thresher during threshing on an inclined surface.

Abstract: A harvester having a mobile base unit adapted for movement over the ground, a transversely extending crop harvesting header supported from the base unit for allowing pivotal movement about a generally fore-and-aft axis of the machine, and a lateral flotation system for pivoting the header about the generally fore-and-aft axis is disclosed wherein the lateral flotation system includes a two way hydraulic actuator means extending between the header and the base unit for pivoting the header in the one or the other direction and positioning the header in a nominal position intermediate opposed extreme positions prior to starting flotation operation, a pressure source coupled by a pair of pressure fluid supply lines to the hydraulic actuator means, and energy storage means connected to the hydraulic actuator means.

Abstract: A mower vehicle includes a vehicle frame and single front and rear driven wheels. The vehicle is adapted to conform generally to slopes and the like by maintaining the frame in a generally upright orientation. First and second blade housings are pivotally connected to the frame and swingable about an axis extending longitudinally of the frame. The first and second blade housings extend laterally from opposite sides of the frame. Each blade housing carries a driven cutting blade. The blade housings are open to one another and have a shared discharge passage at a center rear section thereof. The blades overlap slightly and rotate in synchronized reverse rotations relative to one another. Hydraulic cylinder assemblies are provided to actuate the first and second blade housings about the longitudinal axis in response to changes in slope of the surrounding terrain.

Abstract: A self propelled riding mower includes a power unit (11) that pushes its cutter unit (12), and the units are connected together by an impact resistant pivot connection (25) which permits the cutter unit to pivot with respect to the power unit when travelling over uneven terrain. The pivot connection includes or is supplemented by bumpers (44, 45) carried by one unit in an array about or straddling the pivot bar (40) and pivot tube (58), and a bumper plate or plates (55) carried by the other unit that is or are maintained in sliding relationship with the bumpers.

Abstract: Apparatus for leveling the front axle of an agricultural combine includes left and right wheel linkages in the form of four-bar linkages. A connecting rod synchronizes the motion of the four-bar linkages. Hydraulic cylinders are connected between the vehicle frame and the wheel linkages respectively to actuate the linkages such that as one wheel is raise above the axle the other wheel is lowered beneath the axle substantially the same amount as the first wheel is raised thereby maintaining the axle in a generally horizontal disposition.

Abstract: In a harvester thresher an arrangement for uniform distribution of agricultural product on a reciprocating transporting and cleaning organs of a sieve conveyor includes an upper sieve of a sieve box which is formed so that it has a transporting component toward a side changeable in its value in dependence upon an inclined position of the harvester thresher during threshing on an inclined surface.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for a combine harvester is disclosed wherein the grain pan and chaffer sieve are mounted for pivotal leveling movement about both a transversely extending axis and a longitudinally extending axis. The grain pan and chaffer sieve are mounted in a subframe pivotally supported by a shaker shoe such that the subframe is pivotable about a longitudinally extending axis relative to the shaker shoe, which in turn is pivotally supported on the combine main frame for pivotal movement about a transversely extending axis. A pair of inclinometers disposed to sense the inclination of the combine are utilized to control the flow of hydraulic fluid to hydraulic actuators arranged to pivotally move the shaker shoe and the subframe in response to a sensing of a non-horizontal inclination by the inclinometers.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for a combine harvester is disclosed wherein the grain pan and sieves are mounted in a shaker shoe pivotally supported on the main frame of the combine for movement about a transversely extending axis. Hydraulic actuators interconnecting the main frame and the shaker shoe affect a pivotal movement of the shaker shoe to level the cleaning apparatus under conditions where the combine has an inclined fore-and-aft orientation. An inclinometer is utilized to control the flow of hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic actuators to permit the shaker shoe to be leveled in response to a sensing of a non-horizontal fore-and-aft inclination by the inclinometer.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for a combine harvester is disclosed wherein the grain pan and chaffer sieve are mounted in a subframe pivotally supported by a shaker shoe for a laterally tilting movement about a fore-and-aft extending axis. The shaker shoe is connected to an eccentric drive to effect a generally fore-and-aft shaking action to convey threshed grain thereon in a rearward direction. The pivotal movement of the subframe relative to the shaker shoe is accomplished through the use of a hydraulic cylinder interconnecting the shaker shoe and the subframe to permit a lateral leveling of the grain pan and chaffer sieve when the combine is operated under sidehill conditions. An inclinometer is utilized to control the flow of hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic cylinder to permit the subframe to be leveled in response to a sensing of a non-horizontal transverse inclination by the inclinometer.

Abstract: A lateral flotation mechanism for the header on a combine harvester is disclosed wherein a pair of springs provide a counterbalancing force to stabilize the pivotal movement of the header about a centrally disposed pivot from externally imposed loads. After the external load is removed from the header, the springs effect a rotation of the header about the center pivot to return the header to a predetermined stabilized position. The compression of the springs is adjustable to pre-load the springs and compensate for any imbalance in the header.

Abstract: The present invention provides a combine of the type having a laterally extending header with proximal and distal ends, and a wheel/feeder separator assembly extending rearwardly from the header. The invention includes the following components: a circle mounted to the header adjacent a rearward facing portion of the proximal end for facilitating pivoting of the header along a longitudinal axis extending through the center of the circle; a frame member pivotally mounted to and extending laterally outwardly from the feeder/separator assembly to support the distal header end, the frame member defining a frame member pivot axis extending at a rearwardly converging angle with respect to the longitudinal axis; and a header support wheel rotatably mounted to the frame member and disposed laterally outwardly from the frame member pivot axis for supporting weight from the header.

Abstract: A combine for harvesting and threshing grain has features to prevent grain and time wastage even if the combine is tilted sideways, and other features to simplify the threshing equipment. The combine has a sieve housing that is mounted on rollers to the frame. These rollers allow the sieve housing to swing like a pendulum if the combine tilts sideways. The combine has inner and outer cylindrical bodies that rotate together opposite to the rotation of a threshing drum. The threshing drum and grate are conical with the rearward end being smaller than the forward end. A beater for beating grain rotates with the threshing drum, causing grain to fall through slots located in the inner body. The space between the inner and outer body contains a helical flight for transporting this rescued grain back to the forward end and to the sieves. Elevating rings mounted to the outer body rotate with the outer body to lift material from the sieve to the bin, if clean grain, and back to the threshing grate, if tailings.

Abstract: A mower hitch support (103) pivoted to the front of a tractor (11) has a connection (126, 128, 132) with an axle link (46) interconnecting front wheels (17, 18) mounted individually on the tractor frame (12) to cause an underslung mower to tilt laterally in response to the front wheels encountering undulations in the ground thereby substantially avoiding scalping of the lawn.

Abstract: A combined harvester has a sieve box having a receiving plate for receiving the grain threshed by the combined harvester and at least one sieve receiving the grain from the receiving plate, a drive operatively connected to the sieve box for oscillating the same in a predetermined direction, and a device operatively connected to the sieve box for changing the direction of oscillation of the latter during movement of the combined harvester over a slope inclined in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis and concomitant lateral inclination of the receiving plate and the sieve in dependence upon the lateral inclination to thereby obtain a uniform distribution of the grain on the receiving plate and the sieve by changing the transportation direction of the grain.

Abstract: A means and method are provided for harvesting field crops such as watermelon, tomatoes, cabbages, brocolli, cauliflower, cucumbers, spinach, onions, red beets, turnips, squash, mixed melons, and others. The system utilizes about six identical or very similar trucks, one of which is modified to act as the harvesting truck by the attachment of a series of conveyors and hydraulic structure whereby laterally directed wing conveyors extend out over the fields and convey crops deposited thereon through other conveying mechanism up to the truck bed where it is put directly into crop shipping containers which are palletized on a roller grid attached to the truck bed. The trucks other than the harvesting truck act as shuttle trucks and back up in sequence to the rear of the harvesting truck and are coupled to it, subsequent to which a winch and T-bar are extended from the shuttle truck into the harvesting truck to draw, in a single pull, all of the filled containers onto a roller grid in the bed of the shuttle truck.

Abstract: The header or platform of a harvesting machine such as a combine is tiltable laterally relative to the throat of the combine about a lower, fore-and-aft extending pivot located adjacent a normally lower, forwardmost section of the throat so that variations in ground contour between opposite lateral ends of the header can be accommodated. A hydraulic piston-and-cylinder unit provides remotely operable, powered tilting, and a special adapter assembly renders existing combines having non-tilting headers capable of achieving the aforementioned header tilt. One tubular component of the assembly is adapted to be detachably mounted onto the throat while the other tubular component of the assembly is adapted to be detachably mounted onto the header, there being a lower pivot between the two components providing the relative rocking therebetween to present the desired tiltability of the header relative to the throat.

Abstract: A lateral float mechanism for a combine header is disclosed wherein the header is detachably mounted to a separate cradle assembly which is centrally pivotably mounted on the feeder house. Structure is provided for locking the header to the cradle assembly for preventing fore-and-aft movement between the cradle assembly and the feeder house and for selectively controlling the extent of pivotal movement of the cradle assembly.

Abstract: An attachment for a conventional level-land grain combine which allows the combine to be operated and the grain to be harvested on the slopes of hillsides without excessive buildup of the grain on the low side of the machine. The attachment includes movable doors which vary the size of the opening between the gathering and cutting unit and the feeding and separating unit. By partially closing off the opening on the low side of the machine, more of the grain is fed to the high side thus providing for more even distribution of the grain into the threshing and separating units. Movement of the doors is remotely controlled by the operator according to the slope of the hillside on which the machine is operating.

Abstract: A self-propelled windrower has a traction unit that includes a generally horizontal subframe in the form of a regular trapezoid, the subframe including transverse front and rear beams and a pair of rearwardly converging side beams connecting the opposite ends of the front and rear beams. The rear beam has a central fore and aft pivot, which carries an oscillating rear axle structure that includes a pair of caster wheels at opposite ends of the axle structure. A pair of drive wheel support housings extend downwardly and forwardly from the opposite ends of the front beam, each housing including a vertical plate that forms the outer housing side wall, the upper end of the plate abutting and being welded to the end of the front beam and also overlapping and being welded to the outer side of the forward end of the side beam. The inner vertical wall of the housing is welded to the under side of the beam a short distance from the end of the beam.

Abstract: A filament-trimmer/mower having a wheel mechanism supported frame articulated to provide semi-universal adjustment of the filament-to-work aspect through independent but co-acting side-by-side and fore-and-aft tip mechanisms, shielding being carried by the wheel support mechanism permitting the frame to move relative to the shielding for better access for trimming when the frame is tipped; a lever-actuated dynamic feed for the filament as needed for replacement of expended portions while operating is provided.

Abstract: A device for the automatic adjustment of the position of the cutting platm of a grain-harvesting machine has a hydraulic cylinder attached both to a harvester body and to the cutting platform, the cylinder being supplied with oil under pressure from a pump by means of a differential distributor driven by feelers (sensors) mounted at the ends of the cutting platform.The differential distributor of the device, according to the invention is made up of a body provided with holes by means of which the distributor is connected to the pump to an oil tank and to the cylinder; inside the body, a casing and a plug are mounted. The casing is provided with holes which when the cutting platform is parallel with the soil register with holes in the plug which has a diametral channel, and with peripheral channels through which the oil passes when the cutting platform is not parallel to the soil.

Abstract: A harvesting header for a combine in which a consolidating auger of appreciable length extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of the combine and said auger having reversely spiralled flights respectively extending inward from opposite ends of the auger toward the midpoint of the axis thereof, the improvement comprising barrier means in the form of one or more discs on said auger between the inner ends of said flights and operable to prevent any substantial movement of ears of corn along the auger trough past the center of the auger when the combine is operating on a sloping field area.

Abstract: A cushioning, leveling and lockup system for a suspended axle vehicle having a leveling control subsystem which automatically corrects any changes in the distance between a vehicle frame and axle by communicating pressurized fluid from a pressure source to reposition fluid suspension cylinder struts, and a lockup subsystem having a lockup valve which isolates spring cushioning devices from the suspension struts, to reduce suspension cushioning, the lockup subsystem permitting rotation about the longitudinal axis of the vehicle or roll oscillation during lockup by interconnecting the cylinders through a flow path across the lockup valve.