Abstract: Self propelled harvesting apparatus for processing plant material. The apparatus comprises a pair of cylindrical crushing rolls for crushing plant material and a rotor with radial fins operably associated with the rolls for impacting the crushed plant material. A hood is associated with the impact rotor for redirecting impacted plant material back to the rotor for reimpacting the plant material and to provide severely conditioned plant material. A press assembly presses the severely conditioned plant material and subsequently discharges a cohesive mat of compressed plant material from the harvesting apparatus onto the stubble in the field over which the apparatus is being operated.

Abstract: The invention relates to a modular stalkroll for a corn head on a corn harvester. The apparatus consists of a drive shaft, fabricated stalkroll and a front auger. The drive shaft has several milled regions and a tapered region. The fabricated stalkroll has an upper and lower hub. The lower hub is inserted onto the drive shaft and is in contact with the tapered region. The upper hub has a drive shaft receptacle which receives the milled region of the drive shaft. The upper hub also has a female receptacle for receiving the front auger. A retaining bolt is inserted through the front auger and through the upper hub so as to clamp the front auger and fabricated stalkroll to the drive shaft. The fabricated stalkroll can be replaced by removing the single retaining bolt for either maintenance or replacement of a flute.

Abstract: A windrow pickup attachment for a forage harvester having a crop processing device including an input opening for receiving crop material. The attachment includes a main frame positioned on the front of the forage harvester adjacent the input opening with a transverse reel and an auger conveyor mounted on the main frame for picking up crop material from the ground, consolidating it and conveying it to the forage harvester base unit via the input opening. An intermediate frame assembly is mounted on the forage harvester. The main frame of the attachment is pivotally mounted on the intermediate frame for rotation of the reel and conveyor about an axis extending in a generally for and aft direction to permit the position of the reel assembly to change from a home position under conditions where the ground is substantially level to left or right tilt positions in response to the contour of the ground.

Abstract: A material spreader comprising a mobile tank for receiving and discharging waste material, such as manure. The spreader includes a conveying assembly comprising one or more augers rotatably mounted in the tank for conveying material received in the tank to a discharge area. An opening in the vicinity of the discharge area permits material to be dispensed to a slinger assembly mounted outside the tank adjacent the opening. Material is distributed by the slinger in a controlled pattern as the tank is transported over a field.

Abstract: A hitch assembly for coupling a first agricultural implement, such as a forage wagon, to a second agricultural implement, such as a self propelled or pull type forage harvester. The hitch assembly includes a substantially vertical hitch pin affixed to the first agricultural implement, and a drawbar affixed to and extending rearwardly from the second agricultural implement. A hitch plate, affixed to the drawbar, has a rearwardly facing notch adapted to accommodate the pin under conditions where the first agricultural implement is positioned adjacent the drawbar. A latch plate pivotally mounted on the hitch plate, reciprocates between open and closed positions, for holding the pin in the notch under conditions where the pin is accommodated by the notch and the latch plate is in the closed position. The latch plate is held in the closed position by a latch reciprocal between extended and retracted conditions.

Abstract: A crop harvester having a wheeled frame with a tongue pivotally connected to the frame in the vicinity of a longitudinal centerline. The tongue, rotatable about a first generally vertical pivot axis, is swingable between extreme left and right positions on opposing sides of the longitudinal centerline with its distal end adapted for connection to a prime mover. A drive line transmits rotational power from the prime mover. A crop harvesting header, suspended from the frame in a forward disposition, includes operable components for engaging and processing crop material as the harvester is pulled over a field of standing crop. A gearbox receives rotational power from the drive line and transmits it to the operable components. The gearbox, mounted on the crop harvesting header in the vicinity of the longitudinal centerline forwardly of the first generally vertical pivot axis, is journaled for rotation about a second generally vertical pivot axis.

Abstract: Self propelled harvesting apparatus for processing plant material. The apparatus comprises a pair of cylindrical crushing rolls for crushing plant material and a rotor with radial fins operably associated with the rolls for impacting the crushed plant material. A hood is associated with the impact rotor for redirecting impacted plant material back to the rotor for reimpacting the plant material and to provide severely conditioned plant material. A press assembly presses the severely conditioned plant material and subsequently discharges a cohesive mat of compressed plant material from the harvesting apparatus onto the stubble in the field over which the apparatus is being operated.

Abstract: An agricultural baler having a baling chamber and apparatus for loading successive charges of crop material into the chamber. The cross section of the baling chamber is automatically adjusted to the load experienced by the plunger during compression of these charges and thereby controlling the density of the bales formed therein. The density control system further comprises elements associated with the actuator of the baling chamber for precluding adjustment of the cross section when no new charge of crop material has been introduced into the baling chamber. These elements comprise a sensor sensing the passage of such charge along a wall portion of the baling chamber and a by-pass valve which controls the pressure of hydraulic oil provided to the actuator. Thus the cross section of the baling chamber is prevented from being reduced further when the baler is turned on headlands.

Abstract: A curved implement tongue improves the turning characteristics of the implement, such as a mower-conditioner. The tongue is bent in the horizontal plane and incorporates a generally vertical box section at the end of the tongue. The tongue supports a driveline transmitting rotational power from a prime mover to the operative components of the mower-conditioner. The driveline incorporates a clutch assembly mounted on the input shaft of a bevel gearbox. The forward end of the input shaft is formed with a conical surface that mates with a corresponding conical hub bore formed within the clutch assembly. The end of the input shaft is formed as a truncated cone to provide a gap between the end of the shaft and the bottom of the bore and assure a proper seating of the two members.

Abstract: A round baler having a tailgate, pivotally connected to a main frame, operative between a closed position during which a bale is being formed, and an open position during which a formed bale is being discharged. A sledge assembly, mounted on the main frame for movement between a bale starting position and a full bale position, has at least two transverse cylindrical rolls mounted in spaced relationship along an arcuate path. An apron, supported along a continuous path on the main frame and tailgate by a plurality of rotatable guide members, includes an inner course that cooperates with the transverse rolls on the sledge assembly to define a bale forming chamber. The apron is driven along a continuous path in the same direction as the outer surfaces of the transverse rolls. A dispensing assembly dispenses wrapping material into the bale forming chamber between the adjacent outer surfaces of the transverse rolls for wrapping the cylindrical package of crop material.

Abstract: A forage harvester is equipped with a device for measuring the mass flow rate of the crop material processed by the machine. The device comprises a sensor member having a curved surface which is mounted for pivotment in an aperture in the spout of the harvester. The moment resulting from the mass flow is measured by a transducer. A resilient sealing is provided between the sensor member and the spout.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for harvesting fruit determines the proportion of fruit in a mixture of products containing fruit and bodies foreign to the fruit by capturing at least one initial image of a surface of the mixture to be examined. The device then assigns to each image pixel of one of two extreme grey levels according to the initial grey level of the pixel relative to a set threshold and then records the number of pixels of at least one extreme grey level to determine a area ratio between areas occupied by fruit and foreign bodies in the image. The invention has particular application to the harvesting of fruit, berries and the like produced on trees or bushes grown in rows to use the calculated proportion of fruit to adapt at least one of the functioning parameters of the machine.

Abstract: A rotary composter is provided with a control system that is operable to control the operation of a rotary composter equipped with a variable rate air flow mechanisms and a variable speed drive for rotating the composter vessel. The control system includes a microprocessor in which is stored a look-up table to control the variable rate of application of both air flow and vessel rotation in response to sensed parameters corresponding to the operation of the composter. The control system further includes sensors at each digesting compartment within the composter vessel to provide information relating to the temperature within the vessel. Gas sensors detect the levels of carbon dioxide and ammonia within the air flow through the composter vessel. The microprocessor compares the temperature and gas data to permissible ranges therefor and determines if the composter is operating properly.

Abstract: A transmission is provided for a tractor having a rear permanently engaged drive axle and a front selectively engaged drive axle and includes a coupling for selectively applying torque to the front drive axle of the vehicle to switch between two wheel drive and four-wheel drive in dependence upon slipping of the wheels of the rear axle. The coupling includes first and second gears, arranged to rotate with the rear and front axles, respectively, and having teeth which mesh with one another, and a rotary fluid valve sensitive to the rear wheel slip dependent relative angular position of the first and second members for actuating a jacking device that is operative to enable and disable the transmission of drive torque through the coupling to the front axle.

Abstract: A modular disc cutterbar utilizes self-contained cutter modules clamped between alternating spacer modules by fasteners engaged with the spacer modules. To resist bending moments in the cutterbar, selected fasteners can have a length to span more than one cutter module. The drive mechanism is also of a modular construction including a symmetrical, reversible sealed drive apparatus within each cutter module and a transfer shaft passing through each interstitial spacer module to interconnect each cutter module drive mechanism. The drive apparatus incorporates an oil slinger to keep the remote seals lubricated. The rock guard for each cutter module is mounted on the adjacent spacer modules, while the skid shoe mounting is simplified. A crop mover mounted on each disc member above the cutting knife improves the transfer of severed crop material.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a self-centering and dampening hydrostatic transmission linkage. The invention consists of a pivot link that is pivotally attached to an isolator plate. Connecting the isolator plate to the pivot link is a centering damper. An upper rocker arm and lower rocker arm connect the pivot link to the hydrostatic transmission system control pedal. The pivot link also has a hydrostatic transmission adjustment rod and an aperture. The movement of the pedal controls the movement of the rod which adjust the tractor transmission for either forward or rearward travel. When a no force is placed on the pedal, the centering damper moves the aperture into contact with an adjustable spring steel detent. This ensures that the tractor transmission will remain in neutral. The pedal is designed with a foot rest and two elongated pads. This allows the operator flexibility when using the tractor for a variety of farm operations.

Abstract: In the field of agricultural tillage, there is a need for accurate, automated control of the widths of tilling implements, such as ploughs. The invention concerns methods of controlling a plough operatively combined with a vehicle such as a tractor, the methods including logging a series of values of the strength of soil encountered during a pass along a field; selecting the most frequently occurring soil strength value; and, for a subsequent pass of the tractor/plough combination along the field in the same direction, setting the width of the plough in dependence on the most frequently logged soil strength value. A microprocessor is provided to carry out the methods of the invention.

Abstract: An agricultural baler comprising a baling chamber and a mechanism for loading successive charges of crop material into the chamber. The baler also comprises a tying mechanism for forming a plurality of loops of binding material around the packages of crop material formed in the baling chamber. The movement of the strands of binding material is monitored by sensors and compared. In case the movement of a strand deviates substantially from the movement of the other strands a mistie indication is generated. Such mistie detection system is operable to detect a wide range of mistie conditions.

Abstract: A forage harvester is provided with a front unit, comprising a rotatable cutterhead to which crop material is fed by feeding apparatus comprising stationary lower feedrolls and movable upper feedrolls. The upper feedrolls are suspended from the feeder frame by a pair of belts, which define the lowermost position of the movable feedrolls, under conditions where no or very little crop is introduced into the harvester. Inevitable accumulation of crop material or dirt on the components of the feeding apparatus will not influence the position to which the feedrolls may be lowered. A steady and even flow of crop material to the cutterhead can hence be maintained, even when little material is introduced.

Abstract: A vehicle is disclosed having a hub assembly for a steerable wheel mounted for pivoting movement relative to an axle about a first axis. A mudguard is mounted for pivotal movement relative to the axle (or the hub assembly) about a second axis offset from the first axis. A linkage acting on the mudguard, the axle and the hub assembly rotates the mudguard about the second axis in response to and in synchronism with the pivoting of the hub assembly about the first axis so as to cause the position of the mudguard relative to the wheel to vary with the steering angle.