Abstract: A drive for a cleaning fan of an agricultural combine that provides resilient flexibility in connection to a structural element of the combine and/or to the fan for correcting or allowing angular misalignment and axial movement between an output of the drive and the fan input. In one embodiment the drive includes a resiliently flexible member connecting the output of the motor in rotatably driving relation to the rotatable input of the fan, the flexible member having sufficient resiliently flexibility so as to allow limited variations in relative angular orientation and axial spacing between the input and the output. In another embodiment a mounting element for mounting the motor to the structural element includes a resiliently flexible member for supporting and holding the motor in alignment with the fan while allowing a limited amount of relative axial and angular movement therebetween.

Abstract: An agricultural harvesting machine is includes a first gathering element (14) adapted to be driven by a first drive mechanism (161) so as to gather crop and to feed the crop in a direction substantially opposite to a direction of motion of the harvesting machine. A second gathering element (16) is adapted to receive the crop from the first gathering element (14) and is further adapted to be driven so as to transfer the crop in a direction substantially transverse to the direction of motion. Intake elements (20, 21, 26, 27) are adapted to receive the crop from the second gathering element (16). The second gathering element (16) and intake elements (20, 21, 26, 27) are adapted to be driven at related rates. The first gathering element (14) is driveable at a rate independent from a driven rate of the second gathering element (16) and the intake elements (20, 21, 26, 27).

Abstract: A tillage implement includes a hitch adapted for connection to a prime mover. A cultivator section is attached to the hitch. The cultivator section includes a plurality of transversely spaced cultivator members. A tine harrow assembly is connected to the cultivator section in a trailing relationship thereto. The tine harrow assembly includes at least two transversely oriented rows of transversely spaced tines. A first row of tines are adjacent to the cultivator section having the tines arranged such that one of the tines is positioned along a line of travel offset laterally from a line of travel of each the cultivator members to engage soil positioned in a mound to opposing sides of the cultivator members.

Abstract: Rotary accelerating apparatus for a vertical crop residue spreader of an agricultural combine capable of receiving, combining and accelerating a relatively high velocity of voluminous flow of relatively heavy, bulky crop residue including straw and the like deflected downwardly from the thresher of the combine, and a weaker, less voluminous flow of chaff and air from the cleaning system of the combine located forwardly of the spreader, by generating a negative pressure or suction condition in the vicinity of the chaff flow for overcoming any undesirable back pressure condition that interferes with induction of the crop residue flow from the cleaning system and which facilitates air flow through the chassis region of the combine to reduce conditions leading to undesirable dust buildup and other problems.

Abstract: A drive for transferring sideward motion from a first or driving elongate sickle knife to a second or driven elongate sickle knife longitudinally aligned with the first sickle knife. A double rack and pinion arrangement is used including at least one pinion mounted at a fixed location, a first sidewardly extending rack is connected to the first sickle knife for sideward movement therewith and a second sidewardly extending rack is connected to the second sickle knife for sideward movement therewith, the racks both being enmeshed with the pinion such that sideward movement of the driving knife causes corresponding opposite sideward movement of the longitudinally aligned driven knife.

Abstract: An apparatus for installing and removing a harvesting combine rotor includes a harvesting combine having a frame portion. A linkage assembly is operatively connected to the frame portion A cab is operatively connected to the linkage assembly to allow the cab to be raised to allow the installation and removal of a combine rotor.

Abstract: A control system for setting operation positions and operating modes for a combine header and automatically moving the header to those positions and modes. The system includes first and second operator inputs that can be located on a propulsion handle of the combine and can be actuated for inputting commands for causing manual and automatic movements, respectively. A third operator input is actuable for setting positions and modes to which the header is automatically movable and can be positioned at a different location. As a result, in operation, an operator can utilize the first input for manually controlling the header, and the second input for initiating automatic movements to at least two predetermined positions and modes, without removal or repositioning of his or her hand on the propulsion handle.

Abstract: A system for propelling a combine over the ground and driving other components of the combine includes an engine driving a transmission via a hydrostatic drive system. A microprocessor stores a work table and a road table for controlling engine speed. A gear selector operates a switch to select one of the tables and a throttle control operates switches to select a speed value from the selected table. When working a field, the work table is selected so that the engine runs at speeds in a range suitable for driving the other components. For transport of the combine the road table is selected so that the engine may run at a speed higher than speeds suitable for driving the other components. For a given setting of the throttle control, the engine is controlled to run at either a first or second speed depending on the setting of the gear select lever.

Abstract: A combine harvester has at its rear end a crop residue chopper and a deflector plate for defining the path followed by the crop residue discharged from the rear end of the combine harvester. The deflector plate has a first position to direct the crop residue into the chopper and a second position to direct the crop residue forward of the chopper. In the invention, the deflector plate also has a third position in which the crop residue is directed to flow over the top and to the rear of the chopper.

Abstract: A drive coupling system and method of engaging/disengaging the coupling provided by a drive coupling system are disclosed. The drive coupling system includes first and second torque couplers coupled respectively to drive and driven shafts. One of the couplers includes a support and first and second members rotatably coupled to the support, where each coupler includes a respective extension and a respective plurality of gear teeth. The first and second members are capable of being respectively rotated to first and second rotational positions beyond which the first plurality of gear teeth are able to at least begin to slip out of alignment with the second plurality of gear teeth. The relative slipping of the first plurality of gear teeth with respect to the second plurality of gear teeth is limited due to contact occurring between the extensions. As the relative slipping occurs, teeth of the two members become locked.

Abstract: A shroud for the infeed section impeller in a rotary combine. The shroud includes a rear converging wall cone and a front diverging wall cone. A feed plate extends transversely across the front of the shroud and a sump is formed in the shroud behind the feed plate. The front diverging wall cone comprises top and bottom, rearwardly diverging walls. Transitions castings separate the top and bottom walls on left and right sides and have rearwardly converging front faces.

Abstract: An elevator for bulk material includes an elevator head that mounts a mass flow measuring device. The mass flow measuring device includes an achoring plate, a resiliently deformable connection; a mounting plate and a load cell series interconnected in a load transferring circuit. One end of the load cell is secured to the anchoring plate; and the other end thereof is secured to a fixing member protruding from the mounting plate. Consequently the moment arm between the resiliently deformable connection and the load cell is longer than in prior art devices. This in turn reduces the effect of thermal expansion and contraction on the accuracy of the device.

Abstract: A planting unit is provided having a seed trench opener that forms a seed trench in a ground surface as the planting unit travels along the ground. A depth regulating member is provided that has a predetermined vertical position relative to the opener. The depth regulating member is operable to ride along the ground and thus predetermined the seed trench depth. A down pressure assembly is provided that maintains the depth regulating member in proper engagement with the ground.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling positions of an implement and a marker associated with a work vehicle. The apparatus includes a hydraulic circuit coupled to a first cylinder that governs the position of the marker, a first valve coupled to a second cylinder that governs the position of the implement and also coupled to a first port of the circuit, and a second valve coupled to a second port of the circuit. The circuit is configured to isolate the first port of the circuit from secondary pressure supplied to the second port by way of the second valve, and further configured to isolate the primary port of the circuit from primary pressure supplied to the first port by way of the first valve. The primary pressure influences movement of both the marker and the implement, while the secondary pressure influences movement of the marker only.

Abstract: A combine having a camera system is disclosed in which pictures of the ground in front of the vehicle are processed to extract the slope and intercept of a characteristic line indicative of the boundary between the cut and uncut portions of the field. A fuzzy logic algorithm compares the slope and intercept using four input membership functions and a single output membership function. If the slope and intercept extracted from the image are deemed acceptable, they are used to navigate the vehicle through the field. If they are not acceptable, the combine continues to use slope and intercept values previously deemed acceptable to guide the vehicle. This process of image data extraction and quality analysis continues repetitively as the combine traverses the field harvesting crops.

Abstract: A crop harvesting machine is provided having a crop feeder device that is movable through various heights via manipulation of first hydraulic cylinders. A crop gathering attachment is mounted onto a front side of the crop feeder device. A crop gathering attachment is provided having fixed height sensors that measure a distance of the attachment above the ground. A second hydraulic cylinder is provided between the crop feeder device and the crop gathering attachment to control the angle of tilt of the crop gathering attachment relative to the crop feeder device. The angle of tilt is measured by a tilt sensor. A controller is connected to the sensors and provides output to the cylinders to control the machine height and angle of tilt.

Abstract: A pivot pin assembly is provided including a rotatable member having a hole therethrough with tapered ends, a pivot pin including a cylindrical portion and a conical portion engagable with a corresponding end of the tapered ends of the rotatable member, a pivot bearing engagable with the pivot pin to aid in rotation of said pivot pin; and a nut and bolt to lock said pivot pin to said rotatable member. The pivot pin is typically a conventional bearing having an inner race, an outer race, and bearings located between the inner and outer race. Optionally a washer is utilized to hold the bearings in place. In a preferred embodiment, the angle of the tapered end and the angle of the conical portion of the pivot pin are equal to each other and the angle is 20 degrees.

Abstract: A particulate distribution system for transporting seed or other particulate from a source into a plurality of metering bins, the system including a manifold duct that begins and ends at the source and an air delivery system mounted to the duct to transport particulate there through and a plurality of particulate flow diverting structures that extend from the manifold into each metering bin, whereby each metering bin is filled in accordance with the flow of air available thereto.

Abstract: An integrated combine reel drive system for an agricultural vehicle such as a combine harvester, the drive system having the features of a single integrated hydraulic circuit for activating multiple hydraulic devices carried by the agricultural vehicle. The integrated circuit includes a header circuit, wherein the header circuit includes a steering circuit, an implement circuit, and a reel circuit. The header circuit includes two valve stacks for operating multiple hydraulic devices which enables the integrated circuit to drive the multiple hydraulic devices using manageable hydraulic pressures. Specifically, the integrated hydraulic circuit activates a hydraulic power steering mechanism, a hydraulic header adjusting apparatus and other hydraulic devices associated with the header, a hydraulic drive for the reel, and a hydraulic positioning mechanism for the reel of an agricultural vehicle.