Abstract: A hydraulic actuator is disclosed having a cylinder with a piston that is moved by hydraulic fluid. A light guide in one end of the cylinder directs a laser beam into the cylinder, and off the piston where the beam is reflected. The beam then exits the cylinder through at least two light guides connected to two corresponding optical fibers. Each of the optical fibers are joined together into one fiber that carries the reflected beam of light to a photo-diode located remote from the cylinder. A control circuit measures the time of flight of the laser beam.

Abstract: A round baler including a housing; a bale chamber; bale forming apparatus; and bale wrapping apparatus including: four twine supply rolls defining four twine strands; four twine dispensing tubes, each tube presenting one of the strands so that each strand dangles from the corresponding tube, each tube movable between home and twine insert positions, wherein each strand dangles adjacent to a bale rotating in the chamber when the tubes are in the insert position; and two twine tensioning members disposed so that each tensioning member receives two strands, wherein each tensioning member has a receiving portion through which two strands are threaded, wherein each tensioning member is positioned to provide slack tension on two respective strands when the tubes are in the insert position, and wherein each tensioning member is positioned to increase wrapping tension on the two strands after the two respective strands have started to wrap the bale.

Abstract: A strut is provided for a three-point hitch device used to attach farm implements to an agricultural tractor. The strut is substantially symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal axis of symmetry, and has a system for adjusting its length along the axis. The adjusting system has fast, discrete length adjustment devices, and two infinite length adjustment devices. The two infinite length adjustment devices are located on opposite sides of a dividing member positioned crosswise to the axis of the strut.

Abstract: These and other objects are attained by providing an improved harvester header side shield and latch mechanism consisting of a vertical plastic shield pivotable upwardly and rearwardly about a horizontal hinge located on the upper rear portion of the header. The shield is lockable in the operational position and automatically engages a latch mechanism in the raised position that is manually released by the operator for lowering. The shield is open at the bottom to permit cut crop material and chaff to continually fall through to the ground. Guides are provided on the inner side sheet of the header to assure that the shield moves into, and stays, in the proper location during operation.

Abstract: An agriculture baler having a bale-forming mechanism; a pick-up assembly disposed forward of the bale-forming mechanism to pick up a cut crop material and convey the crop material towards the bale mechanism, the pick-up assembly having: (a) a pick-up apparatus; (b) a conveying rotor disposed to receive cut crop material from the pick-up apparatus and to move the cut crop material towards the bale forming mechanism; (c) a floor having a first slot formed therein; (d) a cutting mechanism including a first knife disposed to rotate from a first resting position to a second cutting position extending through the first slot in the floor; and (e) a first guide plate disposed adjacent to the first slot.

Abstract: A utility vehicle includes a middle axle that is mounted at the end of a bogey beam for flotational movement relative to the frame of the vehicle. The rear axle is carried by a suspension mechanism supported from the frame of the vehicle. The middle axle is formed by a pair of stub axles interconnected by a support beam that is pivotally connected to the rearward end of the bogey beam. The rear suspension mechanism includes a pair of transversely spaced suspension struts interconnecting the frame and a rear axle member having the rear drive wheels mounted thereon. Connecting support links interconnecting the middle and rear axles maintain proper positional spacing between the middle and rear axles.

Abstract: A control for an unloader of a cotton module builder or other cotton compactor for controlling unloading and loss of uncompacted or loose cotton from the compactor. The unloader includes an unloading element having a first end, an opposite second end, and an intermediate portion located between the ends. A first cotton driver is positioned and operable for moving cotton over a first portion of the unloading element from the chamber to the intermediate location, and a second cotton driver is positioned and operable for moving the cotton over the unloading element from the intermediate location to the second end. The control includes apparatus for selectably operating the first cotton driver in an unloading direction and apparatus operable during operation of the first cotton driver for detecting passage of a trailing end of the module or mass of compacted cotton.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a cab pressure drop warning to an off-road machine operator and instructions for increasing the cab pressure and for providing incentive to correct the pressure drop, the method including comparing ambient and cab pressures and threshold pressure (i.e., the ambient plus a differential value), causing a vehicle operation disruption for at least a short period during which the operator may elect to remedy the cab pressure drop.

Abstract: A control system for a skid steer vehicle reads a load height sensor, a load amount sensor, and a vehicle speed sensor to derate the otherwise commanded acceleration, deceleration and turning rate on the vehicle when the vehicle has too great a load, too high a load, or the vehicle is going too fast.

Abstract: A round baler, including a housing and bale wrapping apparatus, the bale wrapping apparatus comprising: a rotating twine supply roll defining a twine strand; a twine dispensing arm presenting the twine strand; a shear bar having a cutting surface; a knife assembly rotatingly connected to the housing by an elongated bar and rotatable from a first position to a second cutting position in contact with the cutting surface, wherein the twine dispensing arm is movable from a first position to a second cutting position wherein the twine strand extends transversely between the shear bar and the knife assembly; and a wiper is mounted to the twine dispensing arm so that when the twine dispensing arm moves from the first position to the cutting position, the wiper engages the cutting surface of the shear bar to clean trash from the cutting surface of the shear bar.

Abstract: A skid steer vehicle with steerable suspension has hydraulic motors coupled to four steerable wheels. The wheels are turned by hydraulic actuators and the vehicle is steered either by turning the wheels or by driving the wheels on opposite sides of the vehicle in opposite directions and skid steering the vehicle.

Abstract: An adjustment control system for a grain cleaning sieve or sieves of an agricultural combine, a method of automatic operation of a sieve control system for adjusting the sieve opening size or position while mitigating error and inaccuracy resulting from tolerance stack-up of mechanical components in the system.

Abstract: A work vehicle having an implement, including: a frame; a boom arm assembly connected at one end to the frame; an implement assembly pivotally connected to another end of the boom arm assembly and including the implement; a first hydraulic implement cylinder connected to the implement assembly and positioned to pivotally rotate the implement relative to the boom arm assembly when a piston of the first implement cylinder is extended or retracted, the first hydraulic implement cylinder being connected to a first electrohydraulic valve for activating extension and retraction of the piston of the first implement cylinder; and a controller connected to send control signals to activate the first electrohydraulic valve, wherein the controller sends a series of shaking control signals to alternately extend and retract the first implement cylinder to effect a shaking movement of the implement.

Abstract: The apparatus is a rear extension on a conventional round baler that already produces round bales partially wrapped with plastic around only their cylindrical surface. The additional structure includes a table to receive the bale and rotate the bale so that the unwrapped surfaces face forward and back, after which pivoting arms aligned with the sides of the baler clamp the bale, lift it off the table, and rotate it end over end to continue the wrapping process around the previously uncovered ends. When the bale is completely wrapped, the baler's knife cuts the plastic sheet, and the arms continue pivoting rearward before releasing the bale onto the ground.

Abstract: A one piece blow molded cover panel removably positionable in an access opening in a structure adjacent to a threshing region of an agricultural combine. The cover panel includes an inner wall, an outer wall generally co-extending with the inner wall in spaced relation thereto defining at least one cavity therebetween, and elongate upper and lower peripheral edge, and elongate spaced, side peripheral edges.

Abstract: A hitch control system for a work vehicle combines a front suspension position signal, a hitch load signal and a hitch position signal to generate a valve command signal that controls hitch position so as to alleviate pitching and maximize front wheel ground contact time.

Abstract: The apparatus is a fluffing roll for installation on a crop harvesting machine to disperse the crop before it hits the ground thereby facilitating drying. The fluffing roll is a cylinder with auger flights on one half of the cylindrical surface that direct the cut crop in one direction, and auger flights on the other half of the cylindrical surface that direct cut crop in the direction opposite from the direction of the first half.

Abstract: A method of manual control neutral drift correction for a work vehicle is characterized by the steps of: sensing a position of a first manual control using a first position sensor when an activation switch is activated, wherein the first position sensor generates a first input signal; sending the first input signal to a controller; retrieving a stored first manual control neutral position value from a memory unit; calculating a first corrected manual control neutral position value using the controller, wherein the first corrected manual control neutral position value is calculated using the first input signal and the first manual control position value; and utilizing the first corrected manual control neutral position value to generate a first control signal for operating a first electro-hydraulic valve, wherein the first control signal is generated by the controller to operate the first electro-hydraulic valve to effect movement of a first assembly.

Abstract: A stud plate is disclosed comprising a steel plate with two spaced-apart threaded stainless steel studs stud-welded thereto. In use, the stud plate has two forged sickle bar hold-downs attached thereto such that a nut on the studs may be selectively tightened to flex a portion of the hold-down and thus adjust the spatial relationship between the hold-down and a knife section.