Abstract: An adjustment that includes preferably a pair of spaced, resiliently supported, holders for supporting a cut-off brush against the perforated inner periphery of an air charged, seed containing rotatable drum to remove excess seeds therefrom. The holders rotatably support a pair of brackets having rotatably mounted gauge rollers that engage the inner periphery of the drum. One of the brackets is rotatably adjustable relative to one of the holders to vary the position of the holders and thus the brush in relation to the drum interior for different size seeds.

Abstract: Linkage is provided for suspending a hay harvesting header beneath a mobile carrying frame having a lateral horizontal beam, the linkage including an upper link pivotally connected to the horizontal beam and extending rearwardly downwardly to a pivotal connection with the header and a pair of laterally spaced lower links extending from pivotal mountings with the header rearwardly to pivotal mountings with the frame. When the header is in the operating position, the instant center of rotation of the header is rearward but adjacent the harvester and when raised to transport the instant center moves rearward toward infinity.

Abstract: A hay harvesting machine of the type having a mobile carrying frame and a header mounted thereto by a pivotal linkage including an upper link and a pair of lower swing links is provided with header flotation means pivotally connected to the lower swing links at points below a line interconnecting the pivotal mountings of said links to said header and said frame and below the latter pivotal connection in the operating position. The lifting cylinders are disposed wholly within the carrying frame.

Abstract: A rotary mower is provided with its knives secured to an elastic member and the elastic member is in turn secured to the rotating cutting element, such as a disc, of the mower. This permits the knife to move radially in response to the centrifugal forces on the elastic member. The elastic member preferably has bulged ends which are mounted in housings attached to the cutting element.

Abstract: A roll opening device is provided for a hay harvesting machine of the type having a wheel supported main frame and a laterally elongated crop harvesting header mounted to the frame by pivotal linkage, the header having a fixed lower conditioning roll and an upper roll mounted on lever arms pivoted on said header and biased by tension spring to an operating position adjacent the lower roll. A toggle link is pivotally mounted to the header at each end of the roll adjacent the roll lever arms and is connected thereto. Tensile members interconnect the free ends of the toggle links with the frame so that when the header is raised to the transport position, the tensile members open the rolls against the force of the tensioning springs.

Abstract: A folding sectional tool bar for agricultural implements and including a series of articulated hollow sections connected together in end-to-end fashion so as to provide an inner main-section, a pair of outer sections, and a pair of intermediate sections. An offset hinge joint between each outer section and its adjacent intermediate section permits them to be latched in an aligned working arrangement and allows generally horizontal folding of the outer sections forwardly relative to the adjacent intermediate sections. An offset hinge joint between each intermediate section and its adjacent main section permits the intermediate sections to float down about 5.degree. relative to the main section and allows vertical folding of the intermediate sections relative to such main section. Hydraulic two-stage cylinders are provided whereby an initial partial fold of 5.degree. intermediate sections can elevate them relative to the inner main section to an angle of about 5.degree.

Abstract: A plow mounting bracket for variable width plows including a mounting post having a free end that extends upwardly from a hub portion and is pivotally received by the plow main frame. The plow bracket can be used for plows that are secured at selected widths or plows in which the width can be varied during the operation of the plow.

Abstract: A crop pickup device is provided with a tine reel having axially spaced sets of outwardly projecting tines, and crop supporting strippers disposed about the reel between the sets of tines, the strippers having forward lower portions disposed at a uniform radius about an axis below the rotational axis of the tine reel, and a forward upper portion having a substantially larger radius of curvature than the lower forward portion and terminating in a straight trailing portion for attachment to the pickup frame, the projection of the tines beyond said strippers being greater at the upper forward portion than at the lower forward portion.

Abstract: A tractor-mounted carrier and dispenser for a cylindrical bale of substantial size and weight. The carrier includes a pair of cantilevered rollers spaced apart in parallel relation to hold a cylindrical bale thereon. The rollers are power-movable toward and away from each other to facilitate lifting a bale from the ground. The rollers are powered in rotation to rotate a bale thereon for progressively feeding hay from the bale onto the ground between rollers. The rollers are moved toward each other to continuously support the bale as it decreases in diameter. Controls permit the operator to vary the rotation speed of the rollers relative to each other to create a peripheral shreading or tearing action to enhance the feeding of the bale. The carrier of the invention is also readily capable of transporting a bale from point to point.

Abstract: A plurality of grain drills are coupled together in end-to-end relation for towing behind a tractor for operation and alternately in an endwise direction for transport. Each drill is supported in field operation by a forward caster wheel and a plurality of side-by-side gangs of press wheels disposed along the rear of the drill. The drills are coupled to the tractor for operation by duplex (or triplex) hitch structure. For endwise transport an endmost drill is provided with a hitch swingable to a transport position for coupling to the tractor. A single transport wheel is mounted on the rear of this drill for movement to a position providing endwise transport. A press wheel gang lock mechanism is arranged for movement to a position locking the gangs against downward movement in response to swinging the endwise hitch to its transport position. This leading drill is thus supported in transport by the front caster wheel, the transport wheel, and the tractor through the endwise hitch.

Abstract: A folding sectional tool bar for agricultural implements and including a series of articulated hollow sections connected together in end-to-end fashion so as to provide an inner main-section, a pair of outer sections, and a pair of intermediate sections. An offset hinge joint between each outer section and its adjacent intermediate section permits them to be latched in an aligned working arrangement and allows generally horizontal folding of the outer sections forwardly relative to the adjacent intermediate sections. An offset hinge joint between each intermediate section and its adjacent main section permits the intermediate sections to float down about 5.degree. relative to the main section and allows vertical folding of the intermediate sections relative to such main section. Hydraulic two-stage cylinders are provided whereby an initial partial fold of 5.degree. intermediate sections can elevate them relative to the inner main section to an angle of about 5.degree.

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 in a zone defined between a lower belt conveyor and a plurality of endless belts disposed in transversely spaced relation above the lower belt. The upper belts are disposed to encompass a substantial portion of the periphery of the bale being formed to compress the same to the desired density. A bale tightener assembly is pivotally mounted on the baler and includes rollers in engagement with the upper belts. The tightener assembly is biased against the belts by tension springs arranged and functional in a novel manner.

Abstract: A forage harvester including a basic processing unit of the type having a cutterhead, a plurality of opposed crop infeed rolls disposed forwardly thereof and a feed roll housing having transversely spaced side walls and a forward opening, and a pair of throat sheet members mounted on the basic processing unit for swinging relative to the housing and disposed adjacent the opening on each side, the sheets extending laterally outwardly from inner rearwardly turned ends inwardly adjacent the side walls to outward ends spaced from the sidewalls; and a crop feeding unit detachably mounted for vertical articulation to said basic unit and having a rear opening in confronting relationship to the sheets such that the sheets close off the portion of the discharge opening external of the feed throat.

Abstract: A hay conditioning roll is provided with a plurality of equally circumferentially spaced ribs extending across the axial length of the roll, the ribs having a slope relative to the axis of the roll reversing from positive to negative at least once. The configuration of the ribs such that the absolute value of the slope gradually decreases to zero, passes therethrough, and gradually increases upon approaching and passing the point of reversal, the rib configuration preferably being sinusoidal. A roll is adapted to run on a parallelly disposed roll of similar configuration reversed end for end, the ribs of one roll intermeshing with the grooves of the adjacent roll.

Abstract: An improved pneumatic material dispenser of the type wherein material is dropped from the periphery of a rotating element into adjacent axially spaced material collecting passages of a collector and an air supply propels the material through discharge tubes attached to the collector to remote locations, the improvement being a plenum chamber which receives the air supply and feeds it to the collecting passages through air passages at a point remote from the material entry thereinto.

Abstract: A scraper mechanism for the disk gangs of disk harrows and embodying a series of flexible scraper arms, one for each disk, which depend from a common scraper support and carry scraper blades at their lower ends. The upper ends of the scraper arms are turned laterally and provide short attachment sections of wide angle concavo-convex configuration. A clamping bolt extends through the apex of each section and the support and, upon tightening thereof progressively flattens the section against the support and thus swings the depending portion of the scraper arm in the direction of the respective disk for regulating the pressure of the scraper blade against the disk. Means are provided for shifting the position of the common scraper support so that collective adjustment of the various scraper blades may be effected.

Abstract: A bale pickup and carrier structure mounted on the 3-point hitch of a tractor for picking up and carrying three or four cylindrical bales of substantial size and weight. The carrier consists of a transversely elongated frame having several pairs of bale supporting tines extending rearwardly for carrying several large bales in side-by-side relation. The carrier further includes a subassembly having a pair of bale-supporting tines extending forwardly from the frame outside of one of the rear wheels of the tractor. Accordingly, a bale can be carried alongside of the tractor in addition to the bales in the side-by-side row. The entire carrier is raised and lowered through conventional control of the 3-point hitch of the tractor. In addition, the subassembly is pivotable relative to the frame to a raised position wherein a bale thereon can be held clear of the ground during retrieval and unloading of the remaining bales.

Abstract: A machine adapted to be towed behind a tractor for loading, shredding, and feeding a cylindrical bale of hay of substantial size and weight. The machine includes a hopper within which a plurality of power driven shredders is disposed for shredding hay from a bale introduced into the hopper. A bale gripping and lifting apparatus is pivotally mounted for engaging a bale on the ground and raising the bale above the hopper. The gripping portion of the apparatus is released to permit the bale to move against the shredders by gravity for progressive shedding of the bale. An auger conveyor is disposed beneath the shredders for conveying the shredded hay out of the hopper. A discharge conveyor receives the hay from the auger and discharges it to the side of the machine for deposit in a windrow on the ground or into a feed bunk as the machine is moved by the tractor.

Abstract: A baler adapted for towing by a tractor to pick up a windrow of hay and roll the hay into a cylindrical bale of substantial size and weight. The baler includes a front mounted pickup and a bale forming structure directly behind the pickup. The bale forming structure is of the type including an endless lower belt and a plurality of upper belts defining an expansible bale forming zone in conjunction with the lower belt. Suitable bale-density and bale-discharge structures are included. The baler includes a wheeled frame which provides a pivot connection for a draft tongue laterally offset from the baler centerline. The draft tongue extends forwardly for hitching to a tractor which can be disposed in towing relation alongside the windrow. A hydraulic cylinder is mounted between the baler frame and the draft tongue for powered steering of the baler relative to the windrow.

Abstract: A crop harvesting vehicle including a self-propelled chassis and a crop harvesting header coupled on the chassis. The header includes a variety of crop handling elements such as a cutter, a reel, a crop-consolidating conveyor, and conditioning rolls which cooperate in a hay windrowing operation. The chassis includes drive wheels driveable from an engine on the chassis through a hydrostatic drive system including two pumps and two motors hydraulically interconnected. The crop handling elements on the header are drivable through a third pump hydraulically connected to a motor on the header. The three pumps are mounted on the chassis with the rotary input drives thereof successively interconnected in coaxial alignment enabling the pumps to be simultaneously driven through a direct common input from the vehicle engine.