Abstract: There is provided a rotary corn stalk cutter for use as an attachment on a combine type of harvesting machine which is equipped with a vertically inclined corn head and platform. The cutter includes a housing which is dependingly attached to the bottom of the platform in the open space between two successive row divider points. A telescopic linkage is provided for adjusting the attitude of the cutter housing in order to maintain the knives of the cutter in parallel relationship with the ground regardless of the angular position of the corn head and platform. A ledger blade in combination with the cutter knives is provided for comminutating the cut stalks and an opening is provided in the housing for discharging the chopped material rearwardly of the direction of travel of the combine.

Abstract: A normally closed solenoid valve operates conjunctively with a two position pilot valve to limit the amount of engine braking through the drive train of a vehicle by reducing the drive relief valve setting in the disengaged side of a hydrostatic transmission. A second normally closed solenoid valve operates a second two position pilot valve to modulate the rate that the forward drive relief valve in the engaged side of the transmission hydrostatic drive loop permits drive pressure to build up as the vehicle is started in motion. An electrical switch on the transmission control rod initiates activation of the normally closed solenoid valves when the vehicle operator selects a direction of travel.

Abstract: An adjustable fairlead roller system which uses a winch to pivotally vary the position of the fairlead roller assembly on a logging arch.

Abstract: A hood for a tractor loader vehicle which is provided with baffles and ducts, for changing the direction of air flow through a heat exchanger in order to reduce the level of sound generated by the fan of the vehicle's cooling system.

Abstract: A general purpose rasp bar carrying rotor construction for an axial flow-type harvester combine embodying a vaned impeller and a series of bars which cooperate with elements within the surrounding rotor casing for crop threshing and grain separation purposes in a novel and efficient manner. The rotor proper is generally of imperforate tubular cylindrical construction so that the crop material in its entirety is confined to the annulus which exists between the rotor and its casing. The threshing portion of the rotor having both helical and longitudinal extending rasp bars.

Abstract: A brake with multiple friction plates supplied with both a steady, plate cooling and lubrication flow, and a controlled supplemental flow specially provided therefor. The specially provided flow is delivered onto, and leaves from, the friction plates being cooled thereby, under automatic control when needed, by utilization and adaptation of a simple gravity head and of operating parts already at hand in a standard traction drive mechanism.

Abstract: A general purpose rasp bar carrying rotor construction for an axial flow-type harvester combine embodying a vaned impeller and a series of bars which cooperate with elements within the surrounding rotor casing for crop threshing and grain separation purposes in a novel and efficient manner. The rotor proper is generally of imperforate tubular cylindrical construction so that the crop material in its entirety is confined to the annulus which exists between the rotor and its casing.

Abstract: A tractor drawn agricultural implement of the folding wing type having right and left toolbar frames, the inner ends of which are pivoted to a tongue or drawbar for horizontal swinging movement about closely spaced vertical axes between extended operative positions of end-to-end alignment and folded positions wherein the frames lie close to each other in trailing relationship with respect to the drawbar. The outer ends of the frames are independently supported upon lift wheels of the caster type which do not leave the ground during swinging movement of the frames. A hydraulic cylinder on the drawbar has a plunger which operates through the medium of a pair of thrust links to swing the frames between their two extreme positions. Latch means normally maintains the frames extended but a cam element on the plunger trips the latch means at the commencement of the plunger stroke, thereby freeing the frames for movement to their folded positions.

Abstract: Safety bar for maintaining a piston rod in an extended position with respect to its cylinder. The rod-and-cylinder function as the hydraulic actuator for the lift arm in a front-end crawler-loader, and are connected at the rod end to the loader lift arm and at the cylinder end to a loader carrier frame in the crawler-loader. The safety bar has an operative position where it is retained, under compression, adjacent the piston rod to prop the raised rod and lift arm against retrograde collapse, and the bar is swingably mounted to the lift arm for elevation into an inoperative position adjacent the lift arm.

Abstract: A leveling mechanism for harvester platforms or headers which is predicated upon the fact that a slight forcible distortion of the feeder housing to which the platform is secured will, when the distortion is effected in a particular manner, result in a side-to-side rocking motion of the platform. The mechanism for effecting such distortion is disposed immediately beneath the usual access door in the top wall of the feeder housing where it is readily accessible for manipulation, and locking means are provided for releasably securing the feeder housing in any of the distorted conditions of which it is capable of assuming.

Abstract: A safety support for maintaining the feeder of a harvester combine, together with its associated header, in an elevated position in case of failure of the usual lift cylinder. A telescopic brace has its forward end pivoted to the feeder and, when in a predetermined extended operative condition, has facilities at its rear end whereby it is supported on the front axle housing of the combine so that it may function under compression to assimilate the weight of the feeder and maintain the latter elevated. In a collapsed inoperative position the brace closely underlies the bottom wall of the feeder in a stored position and is held in such position by a suspension bracket which supports the rear end of the brace. A single anchor pin cooperates with the brace to maintain the latter in its extended position and also cooperates with the suspension bracket to maintain the rear end of the collapsed brace in an elevated position.

Abstract: A baler adapted to be pulled along the ground to pick up a windrow of hay and roll the hay into a cylindrical bale of substantial size and weight. The bale is formed between a plurality of upper belts and an endless power-driven lower belt which is disposed in upper and lower runs between a forward drive roller and a rear tightener roller. Due to variations in the volume and density of the hay being introduced onto the lower belt, the same is subject to non-uniform loading transversely thereof. This uneven loading creates forces which tend to shift the belt away from the desired centered position in its path of movement. A system of rollers is disposed in rolling engagement with the underside of the lower run of the belt for maintaining the belt in centered relation even though the upper run is subjected to non-uniform loading. The system includes a pair of troughing rollers and a compensating roller successively engaged by the lower run in its path of movement toward the power-driven roller.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and improved structure having as their common basis the sequence of collapsing a piston ring in a fixture approximating engine bore diameter, and separately lapping a major portion of the ring side and a remaining locality --narrow in width, of band size and preferably line size-- of the side of the ring while it is so collapsed, until circumferentially continuous portions of the side are flat in the range of at least about 10 to five light bands. That is, out-of-flatness of the two circumferentially continuous portions, stated another way, is limited in each case to a range equivalent to about five to 10 light bands at maximum, at standard inspection wave length.

Abstract: A removal control system for a scraper having a tractor pivotally attached to a bowl, said bowl having a cutting blade attached thereto, an elevator pivotally mounted on said bowl, an engine and utilizing an elevator control system and a cutting depth control system either in combination or separately whereby the optimum removal rate is maintained during operation of said scraper.

Abstract: An adjustable steering wheel assembly for a motor vehicle comprises an elongated guide member secured to the motor vehicle body having an arcuate shaped longitudinal axis that intersects with the axis of the steering shaft, and an elongated side member secured to the steering wheel shaft support having an arcuate shaped longitudinal axis conforming to the longitudinal axis of the guide member for providing a sliding engagement therebetween. A releasable lock means is provided for selectively holding the slide member in one of a plurality of pre-set positions along the guide member.

Abstract: An arrangement of components for a tractor vehicle wherein the vehicle fuel tank is located at the front of the vehicle. A heat exchanger is located between the fuel tank and the vehicle engine and is provided with air flow from intake areas around the perimeter of the fuel tank as well as from intake ducts located at the side of the vehicle. A flow improving fan shroud surrounds the flow inducing fan which directs air flow for cooling through a heat exchanger then past the vehicle engine to expel radiantly heated air from around the engine.

Abstract: A harvesting combine header or platform having facilities whereby, by a quick attach and release operation, several crop pickup components may be operatively applied thereto. Anchor devices on the platform cooperate with special divider components on the reel assembly and with fast pins to releasably hold the reel assembly in place. Withdrawal of the fast pins frees the reel assembly from the platform. Similarly, bolting facilities are provided on the bottom and back wall of the platform and provide anchor points for a windrow pickup assembly. Unfastening of these bolting facilities frees the windrow pickup from the platform.

Abstract: Computer means for sequential fuel injection including coupling means for applying manifold pressure and speed signals to control fuel injection time in accordance with the product of the signals, at least one of the coupling means including conditioning means having a predetermined non-linear characteristic. In one embodiment, conditioning means having non-linear characteristics are included in both the pressure and speed signal coupling means and each comprises operational amplifier and diode blocking means operative to provide two break point, three slope characteristics. In another, the conditioning means is included in the pressure signal coupling means and a biasing circuit responds to the speed signal to bias the fuel injection time.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and improved structure having as their common basis the sequence of collapsing a piston ring in a fixture approximating engine bore diameter, and separately lapping a major portion of the ring side and a remaining locality -- narrow in width, of band size and preferably line size -- of the side of the ring while it is so collapsed, until circumferentially continuous portions of the side are flat in the range of at least about ten to five light bands. That is, out-of-flatness of the two circumferentially continuous potions, stated another way, is limited in each case to a range equivalent to about five to ten light bands at maximum, at standard inspection wave length.

Abstract: Hydrostatic transmission having a crossover which is provided with check valves. The check valves are automatically controlled by a series of power chambers that respond to different hydrostatic pressures.