Abstract: A grain cleaning system for a combine harvester, comprises a frame supporting a grain pan and a sieve. The grain pan receives grain and chaff separated from the crop by a threshing mechanism and is reciprocable relative to the frame in order to separate the grain from the chaff and to propel the grain and chaff towards the sieve. The sieve is reciprocable relative to the frame and is connected to the frame by front and rear support arms and that are pivotably secured to the frame and to the sieve. In the invention, the front support arms have different geometries from the rear support arms such that when the sieve is reciprocated relative to the frame, the vertical component of oscillation is greater at the front end than at the rear end of the sieve.

Abstract: A deslugging method and system for an agricultural combine, providing several semi- and fully automated operating modes or routines for removing or dislodging a slug of crop and/or other material from the threshing system and/or a feeder of the combine for conveying crop material to the threshing system. The routines can include reciprocating, agitating and jogging routines, which can be automatically altered during execution responsive to sensed or changing conditions, as processed by a suitable filter such as a simplified Kalman type signal filter, for generating a real time estimation and prediction of the various states of the threshing system.

Abstract: A header for a plant cutting machine uses a plurality of compact sickle drive mechanisms incorporated into or beneath a floor or pan of the header at a location between and spaced from the sides or ends of the header, each of which mechanisms can be configured for reciprocatingly driving two knife assemblies disposed in end to end relation, in opposite directions, such that potentially vibratory forces, including those generated by the moving masses of the knife assemblies, at least substantially cancel one another and thus are not transferred to structure of the header. As a result, the knife assemblies can each be relatively short, to lessen the mass thereof so as to be capable of being operated at higher speeds, to enable operation of the header at faster ground speeds.

Abstract: A cable actuated pin latching mechanism adapted for releasably connecting a header to a feeder of a combine, which automatically maintains predetermined tension conditions on the cable during normal latching and unlatching operation, and when an actuator of the mechanism is held in an unlatch position with the latch pin stuck or restrained, applies and maintains a tension force for releasing the pin, for instance, to enable a user to move to the operator cab to operate lift, tilt and/or other controls, as required for freeing the pin.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for automatically recognizing a header connected to a harvesting machine and setting operating and/or adjustment parameters of a spreader of the machine for use with the header. The apparatus includes a memory containing information representative of predetermined spreader settings for at least one header connectable to the harvesting machine, such as a grain header and a corn or maize header. A detector element is operable for automatically identifying a header connected to the machine and outputting a signal or information representative thereof, to a controller automatically operable for using that information for retrieving the stored information representative of the predetermined spreader settings for that header. Input commands and/or information, for instance, relating to crop type, and/or crop and environmental conditions, can also be inputted using either an onboard or remote input device.

Abstract: A counter knife bank or knife rank for use with a stationary knife assembly, such as by attachment to a knife mounting assembly of the stationary knife assembly, of a chopper assembly of an agricultural combine, including a plurality of individual double-sided knife blades or elements joined together, such as by a spline connector that extends through aligned openings in the base body portions of the knife blades or elements, in an aligned columnar arrangement to form a knife formation that is connected to a support member, such as to an underlying member having an inverted U-shape, that is removably connectable to a depending side wall of the knife mounting assembly to permit initial use of the first cutting edges of the knife blades or elements, easy reversal of the counter knife bank or rank at a later time, and subsequent use of the second cutting edges of the knife blades or elements.

Abstract: A rotor for a threshing system of an agricultural combine and method for making the same, including a body of simplified, three part press fit construction including an inlet segment, a main body segment having threshing elements therearound, and a bulkhead to be connected to a drive mechanism. The inlet segment, main body segment and bulkhead are configured so as to facilitate press fit assembly thereof concentric about a rotational axis about which the rotor will be rotated during operation, while also minimizing eccentricities of those components. As a result, the manufacture of the rotor is simplified by the elimination of the need for an internal skeleton structure and associated welds and/or fasteners.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for improving the operation of a grain cleaning system in a combine harvester characterized in that the method comprises the step of adjusting the position of the upper sieve in the grain cleaning system upon registering a deviance from a threshold value for crop material load on the upper sieve such that the material return flow is adjusted. The present invention further relates to a sieve overload control algorithm capable of activating an optimal sieve control action upon registration of a deviance from a threshold value for crop material load on the upper sieve of a grain cleaning system.

Abstract: A system, and the method of operation and use thereof, for controlling and adjusting the height of a base cutter of a sugar cane harvester, during a harvesting operation, and without the necessity for continuous user intervention and adjustment, to maintain the height of the cut at approximately a desired height, including a control system that has a processor unit which is operable under program control during a harvesting operation, following initiation of program operation by a machine operator, to simultaneously monitor both the detected base cutter height and the detected cutting resistance encountered by the harvester as it traverses a particular ground track, and, based upon such detected conditions, to automatedly control the adjustment of the height of the harvester chassis above the ground surface so that the cutting apparatus of the base cutter unit is continuously adjusted to cut at approximately the desired cutting height, within an acceptable vertical movement range or bandwidth, during the cour

Abstract: A system and method for detecting existence of a failed or broken shear bolt supporting all or a portion of a concave of a threshing system of an agricultural combine and utilizing information relating to rates of movement and absence of movement of a concave to determine the existence and non-existence of a failed or broken shear bolt supporting the concave. More particularly, the present system and method is operable to diagnose existence of a broken shear bolt from a rapid downward movement of the concave and non-movement of the concave during operation of a driver for repositioning the concave. Also, existence of a false broken concave condition can be diagnosed by movements of the concave responsive to operation of the driver.

Abstract: An agricultural combine has a variable displacement pump connected to four drive motors that drive four wheels. An electronic controller monitors the speed of each wheel and reduces the torque of the motor that drives the wheel when the wheel slips. The controller reduces the torque by reducing the specific displacement of the slipping motor. Once the wheel has ceased slipping, the controller increases the specific displacement of the motor back to its original displacement.

Abstract: The apparatus for directing a flow of air and cotton from a cotton conveyor duct of a cotton harvester into a cotton receiver includes a cover member and a mounting element configured for mounting the cover member to a cotton conveyor duct for movement between a first position located at least partially in a path of a flow of air and cotton discharged through a discharge outlet of the duct, and a second position located adjacent to the path for directing the flow therealong. The cover member when in the first position is movable to the second position by a force exerted thereagainst by a flow of at least air discharged from the duct. A locking element of the apparatus is configured for automatically holding the cover member in the second position, the locking element being automatically operable for releasing the cover member when a downward force is applied thereagainst by the cotton receiver for moving the cover member to the first position.

Abstract: A clean grain and tailings conveying system for an agricultural combine, including a pan fixedly mounted beneath a lowermost sieve of a cleaning system. The pan includes a tailings receiving portion disposed below a peripheral edge portion of the sieve, for receiving tailings which fall downwardly from the edge portion during operation of the sieve, and a clean grain receiving portion disposed beneath the sieve for receiving clean grain which falls downwardly therethrough during the operation of the sieve. The pan includes at least one elongate collecting conveyor including a clean grain collecting portion which extends longitudinally through the clean grain receiving portion of the pan, and a tailings collecting portion which extends longitudinally through the tailings receiving portion, for separately receiving and collecting the clean grain and the tailings received by the pan, and conveying the clean grain and tailings to transfer conveyors that can also be part of the pan.

Abstract: An adjustable flow distributor for a vertical spreader operable for discharging a flow of straw and other crop residue in a sideward direction for deposition over a field, the flow distributor including a metering edge and the adjustability allowing positioning the metering edge for tailoring or adjusting a pattern of discharged flow of crop residue, for instance, so as to be better and more evenly distributed over a swath of an agricultural field from which the crop was harvested, particularly a region of the swatch in proximity to the spreader and/or chopper.

Abstract: An adjustable flow distributor for a vertical spreader operable for discharging a flow of straw and other crop residue in a sideward direction for deposition over a field, the flow distributor including a metering edge and the adjustability allowing positioning the metering edge for tailoring or adjusting a pattern of discharged flow of crop residue, for instance, so as to be better and more evenly distributed over a swath of an agricultural field from which the crop was harvested, particularly a region of the swatch in proximity to the spreader and/or chopper.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use with a non-frangible object detection mechanism on an agricultural harvester, the detection mechanism including a sensing surface and a sensor for sensing force applied to the sensing surface that is associated with a foreign object adjacent the sensing surface, the harvester including a transport surface along which harvested materials are transported toward the sensing surface, the apparatus including at least first and second ramp members positioned between the transport surface and the sensing surface, the ramp members separated by a gap, each ramp member including a front ramp surface that extends between a front ramp end adjacent the transport surface and a ramp member apex, the ramp member apexes positioned at a location higher than the sensing surface and proximate the sensing surface, wherein, as harvested material and non-frangible objects are conveyed along the transport surface and toward the sensing surface, at least a portion of the harvested material passes betwee

Abstract: An agricultural combine including an unloading system wherein an unloading conduit assembly is, in an operational set-up, rotatable or swivelable through an arc of 360° to permit grain unloading into a grain truck located at any point around the combine, whether the combine is stationary or moving. For road travel or storage the unloading conduit assembly, or some portion of it, is pivoted into a set-up wherein the longitudinal conduit is retracted into nesting relationship against the side of the combine and below the top of the grain tank.

Abstract: A grate for an agricultural combine includes curved grate segments, each of which include mounting holes in at least one end segment. To provide a threshing grate, the end segments of the grate segments are offset to provide a “step”, or discontinuity in the radius of the assembled grate, which improves the threshing efficiency of the combine. The step can be provided by offsetting mounting holes between adjacent grate segments, and securing the grates to a frame member.

Abstract: An agricultural harvesting machine, such as a forage harvester comprises a set of feedrolls (20, 21, 26, 27) for feeding harvested crop material to a rotating cutterhead (36). The feedrolls are driven by a hydraulic drive means comprising a hydrostatic pump (123) coupled to the engine (70) of the harvesting machine, a hydrostatic motor (80) coupled to said feeder means (20, 21, 26, 27) and hydraulic circuitry (142, 143, 152) interconnecting the pump and the motor. The circuitry comprises a feeder arrest valve (165) which is operable to interrupt the oil flow from said hydrostatic motor (80), thereby arresting said feedrolls (20, 21, 26, 27). The hydrostatic motor (80) is provided with a flushing valve (156) for diverting part of the oil flow in said circuitry through said motor for lubricating and cooling the latter. The arrest valve (165) is provided in said circuitry (142, 143, 152) between the hydrostatic motor (80) and the flushing valve (156).

Abstract: An automatic end of row detection and compacting sequence for a cotton harvesting machine which is initiated responsive to the machine ceasing harvesting at the end of a crop row, as represented by a condition such as raising a picker drum of the machine from a harvesting position to a non-harvesting position. Steps of the sequence can include ceasing operation of augers of compactor apparatus located in the cotton receiver are turned off, and moving the compactor apparatus downwardly within a cotton receiver of the machine and against cotton accumulated in the lower region of the receiver, one or more times, for further and better compacting the cotton. Then, when the machine is aligned with a new swath or row and a condition such as the picker unit being lowered to the harvesting position, normal operation of the compactor apparatus can be resumed.