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 pull type forage harvester including a header, a cylindrical cutter head having rotating knives operatively associated with a shearbar, feed rolls for receiving crop material from the header and conveying it to the cutterhead, and a blower remotely located on the forage harvester relative to the cutterhead. The blower includes a spout for expelling cut crop material to a collecting receptacle. A transverse conveyor consisting of an auger mounted in a trough receives chopped crop material from the cutterhead and conveys it to the blower. Mounted adjacent the cutterhead is a crop processor for crushing chopped crop material received from the cutterhead. The processor comprises a pair of crushing rolls aligned with the cutterhead axis and above the transverse conveyor.

Abstract: A round baler, having a pair of spaced side walls mounted on a main frame, is supported on wheels and adapted to be pulled across a field. Positioned between the side walls is a crop confining apron for defining an expandable chamber that is adapted to rotatably form a cylindrical package of crop material. A pickup picks up crop material and conveys it into the chamber through a generally transverse crop infeed opening operatively associated with the pickup. Knives on a crop cutting device, controlled by an actuator, extend at varying positions into the expandable chamber to cut crop material on the surface of the cylindrical package as it is being formed. A control system. includes a sensor for sensing the size of the cylindrical package of crop material as it is being formed, and for providing a first signal corresponding to such size. Additionally, a second signal is provided corresponding to the position of the knife elements.

Abstract: An air diffuser apparatus is provided for a rotary composter in which the air diffuser is constructed in a conical shape to provide a large area for the dissipation of air into the discharge end of the composter vessel. The surface of the air diffuser is provided with a plurality of holes therethrough for the passage of air into the discharge compartment. The air infeed port terminates within the air diffuser to discharge air directly therein. The sloped surface of the conical shape of the air diffuser permits any material engaging therewith to fall from the diffuser surface and prevents the diffuser from plugging with material.

Abstract: A forage harvester is provided with a rotatable cutterhead (9), a solid cylindrical grinding stone (15), a motor (33) for moving the stone (15) along a path adjacent the cutterhead (9) and an adjustment mechanism for moving the stone (15) towards the cutterhead (9). During the final stage of the sharpening cycle the stone (15) is automatically moved along the path at a substantially lower speed in order to improve the finishing of the cutterhead (9), such that the shearbar (11) can be adjusted closer to the rotating cutterhead (9).

Abstract: A device (21) for metering the mass flow of bulk material, such as grain or other crop material, comprises a sensor member (51) with a curved surface (53) installed adjacent the outlet of a conveyor (12). The sensor member (51) is mounted for pivotment about a transverse axis (P) and is subject to the moment (M) resulting from the material flow along its surface (53). A spring means (66) is provided to keep the sensor member (51) in zero load position. The displacement of the sensor member (51) is proportional to the mass flow rate. Changing friction coefficients .mu. between the bulk material and the surface (53) will affect the flow pattern therealong, but an array (70) of pivot points can be found about which the measured moments (M) remain substantially insensitive to these flow changes. Alternatively a force component may be sensed of the material flow on the sensor surface (53) in a particular direction.

Abstract: Rotationally molded component parts for a skid steer loader are disclosed wherein the parts provide specialized operative functions heretofore unrealized. A fuel tank structure includes both a tank body and a separate filler tube formed from a rotational molding process. The filler tube is connected to the fuel tank body by a fastening mechanism and an O-ring to provide a liquid-tight connection, The coolant recovery bottle formed with the rotational molding process incorporates an inwardly directed vent tube formed as an integral part of the recovery bottle. The container for the operator's manual is formed with the rotational molding process to incorporate a live hinge connecting a lid closable against the body of the container to provide a substantially dirt-free environment. Double walled light housings mounting front and rear lights serve as bumpers protecting the frame of the skid steer loader from damage from impact.

Abstract: A controller system is provided for controlling the power boost operation of an internal combustion engine by increasing fuelling, the controller means comprising a fuel controller for controlling the rate of fuel supplied to the engine and for supplying an increased rate of fuel in response to a power boost demand signal. The controller system further includes a first timer for measuring a first time period during which the power boost signal is supplied to the fuel controller, a comparator for supplying a prevent boost signal when the first time period exceeds a maximum boost time period, and a second timer for preventing the fuel controller from supplying the increased rate of fuel for a second time period in response to the prevent boost signal.

Abstract: A modular disc cutterbar utilizes self-contained cutter modules clamped between alternating spacer modules by fasteners engaged with the spacer modules. Each cutter module has detachably mounted thereon a disc member carrying a pair of opposingly mounted cutting knives pivotally supported on a pivot member to sever standing crop material by impact action upon rotation of the disc member. The disc member also carries on each pivot member above the corresponding cutting knife, but independently movable, a crop mover operable to move the severed crop material away from the corresponding cutting knife. The crop mover has a tapered leading edge that terminates in an outer tip that is narrower than the outer tip of the corresponding cutting knife so as to not interfere with the cutting action of the knife. The crop mover also includes a vertical portion for aggressively moving the severed crop material.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an apparatus for controlling the position of a header relative to the ground surface, the apparatus including one or more pivotable shoes arranged to contact the ground and to move in dependence on changes in the ground contour. A further member secured to such a pivotable shoe includes a reflecting surface remote from the point of contact of the shoe with the ground surface. An emitter/receiver is spaced from the reflecting surface and connected to a control circuit whereby the position of the header relative to the ground may be measured by virtue of the position of the reflecting surface. The position of the header relative to the ground surface is then adjustable in dependence on the detected measurements, by means of various actuators associated with the apparatus.

Abstract: A traveling control system for a hydraulically driven vehicle enables the vehicle to travel at a higher speed and also enables a vehicle body to be braked appropriately when the vehicle descends a slope with a travel control valve kept in its neutral position. The traveling control system includes pressure switches for detecting an operative state of a travel control valve, a detection line for detecting a shift position of a transmission, and a controller, a solenoid valve, load lines, a shuttle valve and a control line for cooperatively increasing the capacity of a travel motor upon the detection of that the travel control valve is in its neutral position and also the transmission is shifted to a high-speed gear. A timer function of the controller allows the capacity of the travel motor to be increased after the elapse of a predetermined time after the detection of that the travel control valve is in the neutral position.

Abstract: A utility vehicle, such as a grape harvester (1), comprises a straddling frame (2), supported at its front and rear ends by double-acting hydraulic cylinders (17, 18 and 23, 24), which can be extended or retracted for levelling the frame (2). During horizontal or uphill travel, the rear cylinders (23, 24) are blocked for providing the vehicle (1) with a fixed rear axle (55), while the front cylinders (16, 17) are hydraulically interconnected in order to let them extend or retract in opposition to each other for providing the vehicle (1) with an oscillating front axle (56). During downhill travel the front cylinders (17, 18) are blocked for fixing said front axle (56) to the frame (2) and the rear cylinders (23, 24) are hydraulically interconnected for letting the rear axle (55) oscillate to the frame (2). The rear and front oscillation is controlled by an inclination sensor (91).

Abstract: A rotatable forage harvester cutterhead having a rotatable shaft, and a plurality of axially spaced disc shaped plate members having substantially the same diameters and affixed in parallel planes transversely along the shaft for rotation therewith. A plurality of mounting members are detachably secured to the plate members for mounting a drum having an inner surface having a diameter at least as great as the diameters of the disc shaped plate members. Attachment means are employed for detachably securing the drum to the mounting members. Each of a plurality of substantially flat knives with a cutting edge extending in a transverse direction less than half the axial length of the drum are mounted on knife support assemblies comprising support blocks. The attachment means for securing the drum to the discs also secures the knife support blocks to the outer surface of the drum.

Abstract: A method for moving a shearbar (102) towards a fixed stop (109), wherein the method comprises the steps of; energizing a bidirectional motor (110/112) for driving a guide screw (106/108) to move the shearbar towards the fixed stop (109), monitoring a variable indicative of the torque or force output of the motor (110/112), limiting the torque or force output to a first maximum value, moving the shearbar (102) against the fixed stop (109) and stalling the motor (110/112) thereby, deenergizing the motor (110/112), when the resulting torque or force output reaches or exceeds the first maximum value; and energizing the motor (110/112) for moving the shearbar (102) in the opposite direction, away from the stop (109), while not limiting the torque or force output or while limiting the same to a second maximum value, which is substantially larger than the first maximum value.

Abstract: A roof for the cab of vehicle is constructed with a hollow plastic body that is molded in one piece with a blower and a heat exchanger fitted to the hollow body. The hollow body defines a cavity that forms an air duct through which air for ventilating the cab is ducted. Shuttered external and internal air intake vents allow the selection between fresh air from externally of the cab and recirculated air from within the cab. A well open through the roof provides an emergency exit from the vehicle cab.

Abstract: An agricultural baler for forming and wrapping cylindrical packages of crop material. The baler includes a sledge assembly moveable between a starting position and full bale position. A plurality of rollers on the sledge assembly cooperate with an apron to define a bale forming chamber. Wrapping is accomplished via a system that includes a dispensing mechanism carried on the sledge assembly for dispensing sheet material, such as net or the like, into the bale forming chamber whereupon it is wrapped circumferentially around a formed cylindrical package of crop material as it is rotated in the chamber. The net wrapping system includes means for controlling the position of the dispensing mechanism relative to the sledge assembly by continuously sensing its position.

Abstract: A method is provided for operating a hydraulic control system for a transmission having first and second torque transmission paths arranged in parallel with one another between a common input shaft and a common output shaft, first and second hydraulically controlled clutches arranged in the first and second torque transmission paths, respectively, and a hydraulically controlled gear synchronizer in the second torque transmission path for selectively coupling a shaft for rotation with a gear wheel to effect a change in the transmission ratio through the second torque path while the second clutch is disengaged. To prevent wear on the synchronizer and the gear, prior to activating the hydraulic control for moving the synchronizer into engagement with the gear wheel, the hydraulic control system is operative first to move the synchronizer into a neutral position in which torque cannot be transmitted through the first torque transmission path.

Abstract: A hydraulic control system for displacing a synchronizer into engagement with a rotating gear in a gearbox includes a hydraulic piston/cylinder unit mechanically coupled to the synchronizer, an electrically controllable pressure regulating valve for supplying hydraulic fluid to the piston/cylinder unit and an electrical control circuit acting on the pressure regulating valve to vary the pressure of the hydraulic fluid supplied to the piston/cylinder unit. In order to effect a rapid and smooth engagement of the synchronizer, the control circuit acts to increase the pressure of the hydraulic fluid supplied to the piston/cylinder unit progressively.

Abstract: A single handle control mechanism has two shafts for connection to two independently operable mechanisms, such as hydraulic valves controlling the position of hydraulic actuators in an agricultural tractor. The shafts are operable to rotate selectively either individually or in combination about a common longitudinal axis of rotation through manipulation of a handle member which is rotatable about two orthogonal axes oriented perpendicularly to the axis of rotation of the shafts. The handle member has a first roller and slot coupling for effecting the rotation of the shafts and a second roller and slot coupling for effecting the rotation of the other coaxial shaft. The slots of the first and second couplings are orthogonal to one another to resolve the rotation of the handle member into a first component for rotating the first shaft and a second component for rotating the second shaft.

Abstract: A machine for harvesting fruits, berries and the like, from fruit trees and bushes planted in rows, the machine comprising a straddling chassis capable of moving across a field, a shaker assembly mounted on the chassis and including at least one pair of elongated shaker members which extend generally in the longitudinal direction of the machine and which are spaced transversely from one another and situated respectively on opposite sides of the central fore-and-aft axis of the machine so as to define an active shaking zone. Each shaker member is formed by a rod of flexible material. The machine further comprises a control mechanism operatively connected to the rods to drive them synchronously with a reciprocating motion in a direction extending transversely relative to said fore-and-aft axis.