Abstract: A mowing machine has mowing units that are connected to a tractor's three point lifting device or devices at the front and/or rear side of the tractor. The units can be pivoted to an intermediate frame portion to extend laterally of that portion and hydraulic assemblies are connected to pivot each unit to a raised inoperative or transport position. The units each include a respective reciprocating cutter bar, and a crushing device with guides to move cut crop to the device. A drum mower can be positioned between the cutter bars. In another arrangement, a further unit can be attached at the front, with respect to the direction of machine travel. The frame portion includes beams that can form a sliding support for the frame portion and the units pivoted to that portion. Each unit can have vertical side walls and a driving transmission. Swath boards on the rear of each portion guide crop away from the tractor wheels.

Abstract: A hay stacking machine having a platform for supporting a stack of hay. A radial trough extends from the center to the outer peripheral edge of the platform for accommodating hay being transported to it from a rake pickup. The trough includes a longitudinally extending side wall and a bottom wall which extends laterally to merge with the platform top surface. The bottom wall merges at its forward inner end with a portion of the bottom wall extending upwardly to merge with the platform surface. A portion of the platform surface extends over the vertical wall of the trough and over reciprocating out of phase feed teeth in the bottom wall and vertical wall of the trough. An annular frame extends around the platform and rotates relative thereto. A plurality of upright posts are attached to the annular frame. Compression arms extending to the center of the platform are pivoted on the posts and engage hay located on the platform.

Abstract: A tractor drawn and powered impeller mower-conditioner includes a transverse cutter bar comprising a series of pairs of side-by-side contra-rotating cutting disks. An impeller rotor with free swinging flails is mounted above and slightly to the rear of the cutter bar with its axis of rotation parallel to the cutter bar. A hood over the rotor includes a confining forward conditioning plate conforming fairly closely to the rotor periphery to form a conditioning zone and a rearwardly extending deflecting and windrow forming portion. The rotor is disposed and rotated so that the flails intercept cut material delivered rearwardly by the cutter bar and carry it, inside the hood, up and over the rotor through the conditioning zone to be discharged rearwardly into a windrow. The flow of cut material from each pair of disks tends to be concentrated into a rearwardly directed stream by the bite or convergence of the contra-rotating disks.

Abstract: Linkage is provided for suspending a hay harvesting header beneath a mobile carrying frame having a lateral horizontal beam, the linkage including an upper link pivotally connected to the horizontal beam and extending rearwardly downwardly to a pivotal connection with the header and a pair of laterally spaced lower links extending from pivotal mountings with the header rearwardly to pivotal mountings with the frame. When the header is in the operating position, the instant center of rotation of the header is rearward but adjacent the harvester and when raised to transport the instant center moves rearward toward infinity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to pull-type harvesting machines such as mower-conditioners and comprises a main frame fitted with ground-engaging wheels, a header adjustably mounted on and forwardly of the main frame and comprising drum type mower units, lifting means operable to move the main frame relative to the ground and the header relative to the main frame and an arched drawbar pivotally attached to the main frame and pivotable over the header from a machine operative position to a machine transport position and vice versa.

Abstract: A hay harvesting machine of the type having a mobile carrying frame and a header mounted thereto by a pivotal linkage including an upper link and a pair of lower swing links is provided with header flotation means pivotally connected to the lower swing links at points below a line interconnecting the pivotal mountings of said links to said header and said frame and below the latter pivotal connection in the operating position. The lifting cylinders are disposed wholly within the carrying frame.

Abstract: A crop harvesting machine has a crop harvesting header, a mobile frame and improved header stabilizing system. The frame is adapted to move across a field in a forward direction and includes upper frame structure extending transversely to the forward direction and a lower wheel frame assembly. The assembly includes a transverse cylindrical member being rotatably mounted to and supporting the upper frame structure. Lift means is provided, being actuatable for moving the lower assembly, and thereby rotating the cylindrical member thereof, relative to the upper frame structure to effectuate raising of the upper frame structure and the cylindrical member relative to the field. A header suspension and lift means includes upper means pivotally interconnecting an upper portion of the header with the upper frame structure and lower elongated means pivotally interconnecting a lower portion of the header with the cylindrical member of the wheel frame assembly.

Abstract: A crop harvesting machine has a crop harvesting header, a mobile frame and improved header stabilizing system. The frame is adapted to move across a field in a forward direction and includes upper frame structure extending transversely to the forward direction and a lower wheel frame assembly. The assembly includes a transverse cylindrical member being rotatably mounted to and supporting the upper frame structure. Lift means is provided, being actuatable for moving the lower assembly, and thereby rotating the cylindrical member thereof, relative to the upper frame structure to effectuate raising of the upper frame structure and the cylindrical member relative to the field. A header suspension and lift means includes upper means pivotally interconnecting an upper portion of the header with the upper frame structure and lower elongated means pivotally interconnecting a lower portion of the header with the cylindrical member of the wheel frame assembly.

Abstract: A mower-conditioner for agricultural use employing one or more rotatably mounted drum type cutter units, each of which supports at least one cutter blade for cutting standing crop by impact under conditions where the drums are rotated about generally upright axes. A frame assembly is provided on which a crop conditioner is mounted for receiving severed crop material as it is being conveyed rearwardly by the cutter units.

Abstract: An agricultural harvesting machine, such as a mower-conditioner or the like, includes a pair of meshing crop conditioner rolls between which harvested crop material is passed to accelerate the drying of the crop in the field. The rolls are of identical construction, each roll being made of a tubular metal core with a molded body of elastomeric material molded onto the core. Each roll has a plurality of generally radially extending lugs that are disclosed in axially extending rows, with the lugs on one roll meshing with and extending into the space between the lugs on the opposite roll, each lug having an arcuate outer surface coaxial with the roll axis so that the outer surfaces of the lugs conjunctively form an interrupted and generally cylindrical outer roll periphery. The outer surface of each lug is in the shape of a parallelogram having two opposite sides parallel to the roll axis and the other opposite sides canted relative to the roll axis.

Abstract: The disclosure is of a machine of mower or mower-conditioner type in which the working width is substantially equal to the total width and a drive element directly communicates its rotating movement to one of the discs mounted on an elongated housing which supports all the discs, of which that which co-operates with the drive element can advantageously be uncoupled therefrom.

Abstract: A mower with two pairs of counterrotating cutting disks has a frame on which two yokes are mounted for independent swinging about a horizontal axis transverse to the direction of travel, each yoke carrying a pair of coacting horizontal conditioning rollers which in a working position lie in the wake of a respective disk pair to gather and press the mown crop coming from these disks. The conditioning rollers are driven from a pair of ancillary shafts on the machine frame, operatively linked with the disk drive, through extensible and universally jointed transmission shafts enabling each yoke to be separately swung into a retracted position.

Abstract: A crop harvesting machine has a crop harvesting header, a mobile frame and improved header suspension and lift means. The frame is adapted to move across a field in a forward direction and includes upper frame structure extending transversely to the forward direction and a lower wheel frame assembly. The assembly includes a transverse cylindrical member being rotatably mounted to and supporting the upper frame structure. Lift means is provided, being actuatable for moving the lower assembly, and thereby rotating the cylindrical member thereof, relative to the upper frame structure to effectuate raising of the upper frame structure and the cylindrical member relative to the field. The improved header suspension and lift means includes upper means pivotally interconnecting an upper portion of the header with the upper frame structure and lower elongated means pivotally interconnecting a lower portion of the header with the cylindrical member of the wheel frame assembly.

Abstract: A forage harvester including a basic processing unit of the type having a cutterhead, a plurality of opposed crop infeed rolls disposed forwardly thereof and a feed roll housing having transversely spaced side walls and a forward opening, and a pair of throat sheet members mounted on the basic processing unit for swinging relative to the housing and disposed adjacent the opening on each side, the sheets extending laterally outwardly from inner rearwardly turned ends inwardly adjacent the side walls to outward ends spaced from the sidewalls; and a crop feeding unit detachably mounted for vertical articulation to said basic unit and having a rear opening in confronting relationship to the sheets such that the sheets close off the portion of the discharge opening external of the feed throat.

Abstract: A hay conditioning roll is provided with a plurality of equally circumferentially spaced ribs extending across the axial length of the roll, the ribs having a slope relative to the axis of the roll reversing from positive to negative at least once. The configuration of the ribs such that the absolute value of the slope gradually decreases to zero, passes therethrough, and gradually increases upon approaching and passing the point of reversal, the rib configuration preferably being sinusoidal. A roll is adapted to run on a parallelly disposed roll of similar configuration reversed end for end, the ribs of one roll intermeshing with the grooves of the adjacent roll.

Abstract: A crop harvesting machine includes a mobile frame, a header movably suspended from the frame, a pair of upper and lower conditioner rolls rotatably mounted on the frame rearwardly of the header, and drive means for operating the conditioner rolls and the cutterbar and reel of the header. The drive means includes a gearbox assembly mounted on the frame and having rotary input drive transmission means and a transversely extending rotary output shaft drivingly coupled to the input means. An upper telescopible shaft articulately intercouples one end of the output shaft with the upper roll for rotatably driving the latter which accommodating movement thereof relative to the lower roll. Gear means is drivingly coupled between an opposite end of the output shaft and lower transversely extending shaft means which, in turn, is drivingly intercoupled to the lower roll, such that the lower roll is rotatably driven in a direction opposite to that of the upper roll.

Abstract: This invention relates to mower conditioners of the type having at least two rotatable cutter units mounted side-by-side and each supporting at least one cutter blade to cut the standing crop by impact, as opposed to shearing. The mower-conditioner comprises a rotary crop conditioning and spreading apparatus extending rearwardly of the mower and having a pair of rotary units disposed rearwardly of each pair of cutter units, with each rotary unit being rotatable about a generally upright axis. One rotary unit of each pair of rotary units is located closer to the mower than the other rotary unit of the pair.

Abstract: An agricultural implement for conditioning a crop comprising a plurality of beaters mounted for rotation about a common axis, a cutter for cutting a crop, and mounting means for mounting the beaters and cutter, during a cutting operation, in cooperating relationship such that the beaters engage crop cut by said cutter before said cut crop falls to the ground, and condition said crop. The cutter may be a horizontal reciprocatory cutter mounted across the line of travel of the implement or may be a rotary drum, disc or the like.

Abstract: A novel combination of a resilient upper roller having circumferentially spaced rib formations and a rigid lower roller having complementary rib formations. The formations are spiral or herringbone-like and register rib-to-rib while the conditioner provides a crushing action. The rolls are driven in timed synchronism.

Abstract: A tobacco harvester having a hydraulic control system for automatically and continuously controlling and maintaining the speed of a leaf defoliator assembly relative to and in proportion to the ground speed of the tobacco harvester. The hydraulic control system is adapted to continuously control the horizontal rearward speed component of the defoliating elements of a leaf defoliator assembly such that the defoliating elements move rearwardly during leaf defoliation at approximately the same speed the harvester is moving forward.To provide for continuous speed control of the defoliator assembly, the hydraulic speed control system is operative to continuously effectively sense or monitor harvester ground speed and to continuously drive the defoliator assembly in proportion to the effectively sensed or monitored ground speed.

Abstract: A tractor-drawn and powered hay harvester and conditioner has a box-type frame to which a pair of wheels are rigidly attached. The frame supports a sickle bar cutter and journals both a pick-up reel and a pair of ribbed crop conditioner rolls which crimp and flatten the stems of the hay cuttings, thereby facilitating curing and drying. A novel power drive subsystem is featured which enables both control of cutter bar height above ground and automatic adjustment of the spacing between the crop conditioner rolls as a function of crop density.

Abstract: In a mowing device comprising a frame, cutting members supported by the frame and being movable in a horizontal plane and at least one rotor journalled in said frame so as to be rotatable about a rotary axis for transporting cut crop, said rotor comprising at least one support and at least one catch connected with the support so as to be pivotable about a pivotal axis and adapted to engage the crop, for maintaining the catch in its predetermined position the catch abuts against a stop, viewed in the direction of rotation of the rotor, whilst the center of gravity of the catch is located behind the radial plane going through the pivotal axis.

Abstract: A hay harvesting machine comprises a movable support; a drum supported on the support for rotation about a horizontal axis transversal to the direction of motion of the machine; driving means for rotating the drum; conveying members for the cut mass provided on the periphery of said drum; and a plurality of rollers each supported on said chassis for freewheeling about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the drum, said rollers being arranged concentrically about the periphery of the drum and being closely spaced peripherally from each other and from the drum, whereby the cut mass is moved by said conveyor means upon rotation of the drum into the space between the rollers and the drum where it is broken up before being discharged to the ground.

Abstract: A device for mowing and subsequently crushing crop comprises cutting members and a pair of relatively deflectable crushing rollers, at least one of which rollers is driven through a pivotable driving shaft, which passes through an ample opening in one side face and into the hollow roller.

Abstract: A roll forming machine picks up crop material and forms, twine wraps and discharges rolls or large round bales thereof as the machine is continuously moving across the field. The machine has a mobile frame supporting a pickup and a floor, the latter supporting a lower conveyor. A front upper apron is supported on the frame above a front portion of the lower conveyor and floor and defines a front roll forming region therewith. A rear upper apron is supported on the frame above a rear portion of the lower conveyor and floor and defines a rear roll forming region therewith. Formation of a crop material roll is initiated in the front region and completed in the rear region after the roll has been partially formed in the front region and transferred to the rear region. Mechanism on the frame is operable to lower or raise a rear end of the front upper apron in order to correspondingly initiate formation of a roll in the front region or permit transfer of the roll to the rear region.

Abstract: Diametrically opposed, outwardly projecting elements of a rotor have rubber pads clamped between the same and the hub of the rotor by one or more fasteners common to both elements. The fasteners can shift axially through the hub in response to deflection of one of the elements counter to the direction of rotation of the rotor so that such deflection causes compression not only of the pad associated with the element encountering the deflecting force, but the pad of the opposite element as well.

Abstract: A roll forming machine picks up crop material and forms, twine wraps and discharges rolls or large round bales thereof as the machine is continuously moving across the field. The machine has a mobile frame supporting a pickup and a floor, the latter supporting a lower conveyor. A front upper apron is supported on the frame above a front portion of the lower conveyor and floor and defines a front roll forming region therewith. A rear upper apron is supported on the frame above a rear portion of the lower conveyor and floor and defines a rear roll forming region therewith. Formation of a crop material roll is initiated in the front region and completed in the rear region after the roll has been partially formed in the front region and transferred to the rear region.

Abstract: A roll forming machine picks up crop material and forms, twine wraps and discharges rolls or large round bales thereof as the machine is continuously moving across the field. The machine has a mobile frame supporting a pickup and a floor, the latter supporting a lower conveyor. A front upper apron is supported on the frame above a front portion of the lower conveyor and floor and defines a front roll forming region therewith. A rear upper apron is supported on the frame above a rear portion of the lower conveyor and floor and defines a rear roll forming region therewith. A twine wrapping mechanism is supported by the frame above the lower conveyor and between the front and rear upper aprons and is operable for twine wrapping a roll formed at the rear region of the machine. Wrapping of a roll being formed in the rear region is initiated in response to the roll reaching a predetermined size.

Abstract: A crop collection vehicle can be coupled to a prime mover for movement over the ground to collect and move crop to a desired site. A pick up and feeding mechanism at the front of the vehicle feeds crop to a chamber that is defined by a forward wall, a rear wall, side walls and a top. The chamber is enlarged with its walls bulged outwardly and a conveyor system within the chamber is positioned to receive and move crop received from the mechanism towards the rear of the chamber. The conveyor system includes a floor conveyor that slopes downwardly to the rear and articulated conveyors that coextend upwardly with a portion of the rear wall. The latter portion can be tilted together with the articulated conveyors to a downwardly extending position so that crop received from the floor conveyor can be formed and discharged as a coherent mass of crop intact. The rear wall and top of the chamber can be tilted by hydraulic piston assemblies and the mechanism together with conveyor system can be driven from the p. t. o.

Abstract: A crop harvesting machine has a mobile frame adapted to move across a field, an elongated crop material harvesting header and an improved pair of assemblies laterally spaced apart along the frame for suspending the header from the frame. Each of the assemblies includes a lower link pivotally interconnecting a lower portion of the header and a lower portion of the frame and an upper link pivotally mounted on an upper frame portion and having front and rear portions which respectively extend forwardly and rearwardly from the location of pivotal mounting of the upper link on the upper frame portion. The front portion of each upper link is pivotally connected to an upper header portion.

Abstract: A ferrous material detector operably associated with a crop harvesting machine including a signal generating means operably associated with the compressing means of a harvester. The signal generating means generates a signal during the normal operation of the harvester and interrupts the signal whenever undesirable objects pass in the vicinity of the compressing means. The ferrous material detector also includes a drive system interrupting means which is activated whenever the signal is interrupted.

Abstract: A crop harvesting machine has a mobile frame adapted to move across a field, an elongated crop material harvesting header and an improved pair of assemblies laterally spaced apart along the frame for suspending the header from the frame. Each of the assemblies includes a lower link pivotally interconnecting a lower portion of the header and a lower portion of the frame and an upper link pivotally mounted on an upper frame portion and having front and rear portions which respectively extend forwardly and rearwardly from the location of pivotal mounting of the upper link on the upper frame portion. The front portion of each upper link is pivotally connected to an upper header portion.