Abstract: Apparatus measures the throughput of material being conveyed through a conveyer, wherein the conveyer blades carrying the material (in particular, cereal grains) are continuously moved in a conveyer shaft and a photoelectric device is mounted perpendicularly on the shaft. A light beam of a photoelectric device is aligned substantially parallel to the plane surfaces of the blades. A signal processor determines the distance between the top edge of the material and the passing blade carrying this material from the light-dark periods of the signal. By taking into account the spacing of the blades, the thickness of the blades, and the cross-sectional area of the shaft, the signal processor then determines the apparent volume of material on each blade. Further measuring devices are connected to the signal processor and the inclination and/or shape of the material surface is determined via signals from the measuring means.

Abstract: A sugar cane harvester has a cutting mechanism which utilizes pairs of cutting disks and does not require synchronization of the cutting disks. Each of the cutting disks has a revolving cutter mounted on its circumference. The cutters are formed from saw-toothed, concatenated arcuate segments which are removably mounted on the cutting disks. The arcuate segments of each pair of cooperating cutting disks overlap slightly where the two disks meet and are slightly eccentrically arranged on the cutting disks such that the external boundary line of the circumference of the segments tapers off from a maximum to a minimum.

Abstract: A multi-stage gearbox has at least one shifter rod which may be engaged and locked in a predetermined position by at least one locking element. The locking element is coupled to a setting element such that the setting element can be set in at least two different positions relative to the locking element by a control device. A method of controlling such a gearbox includes the step of moving the setting element from a retention position into a shift position by actuating a push-button.

Abstract: A mobile harvesting machine, in particular a forage harvester, has a measuring device for determining a parameter specific to crop material or conveyed material. Here the harvesting machine comprises an attachment for picking up the crop material and at least one implement for working the crop material. The measuring device in the harvesting machine is arranged on the path of crop material between the implement and the region in which the stream of crop material has been brought to its final stream width. In this region it is ensured that the stream of crop material exerts a low pressure on the measuring device. Another advantage is that due to the site of attachment, the pressure difference is minimal for different throughputs of crop material. This arrangement of the measuring device further allows good checking of the measuring device for wear and soiling and is easily accessible in case of possible repairs.

Abstract: A metal detecting device for a crop conveyor has several closely spaced permanent magnets fixed within a hollow feed-roller in parallel with the shaft thereof. One pole of each magnet is directed radially outwardly such that its magnetic field penetrates through the hollow feed-roller and an adjoining crop-feed slot from inside to out, and wherein said magnetic field also passes axially through a respective sensor winding that is likewise arranged within the hollow feed-roller.

Abstract: The transfer device of an agricultural harvester, in particular a self-propelled forage harvester, is controlled to avoid crop loss and improve operating efficiency. The harvested crop is transferred from the agricultural harvester to a transport receptacle via an upper discharge chute. Apparatus controls the pivoting and vertical movement of the transfer device while the crop stream is spewed in a manner to avoid crop loss and improve the filling capacity during the transfer. The angle between the pivotable transfer device and the longitudinal direction of the agricultural harvester is calculated from the quantity of the correcting value to predetermine the direction of travel of the agricultural harvester. During travel, the apparatus is effective even during a curved path of travel.

Abstract: A position-finding device for locating the position of a working edge, especially the edge of a crop, wherein the position-finding signal therefrom is supplied in the form of a steering adjustment value to an electrically controlled steering device in an agricultural machine, and wherein the device comprises a first sub position-finding device including a transmitter and a receiver whose zone of reflection extends mainly over the field that has not yet been worked, especially the not yet harvested field, and a second sub position-finding device including a further transmitter and a further receiver whose differing reflection zone is aligned such as to overlap both sides of the working edge, wherein the two reflection zones partially overlap and the two transmitters are simultaneously triggered by a pulse whereby the two receivers accordingly receive overlapping partial reception signals originating from the two transmitters and reflected by the unworked field.

Abstract: An articulated self-propelled agricultural machine, in particular, a forage harvester, whose group of rear axles comprise two frame parts having regions thereof arranged one above the other and the frame parts being coupled to one another by a bearing which limits the angle of rotation. One of these two frame parts is coupled to the front axle of the forage harvester by an articulated joint, while one frame part is coupled to the optionally driveable rear axle of the forage harvester via an elastic joint.

Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus for harvesting stalk crops, with at least one conveying device revolving around deflecting elements for conveying the crop along at least one snapping roller constructed in one or more parts and associated with a snapping gap which is variably adjustable with snapping gap plates arranged in guides, wherein the conveying element of the conveying device provides traction with a tensioner running in a guide portion, preferably a chain, which is at least partly surrounded by guide elements, at least one of the displaceable snapping gap plates, or at least one tensioner and are made of elastic vibration-damping material. As a result the number of parts to be assembled or to be exchanged in case of damage is considerably reduced, and by the use of an elastic vibration-damping material, besides a reduction of wear-increasing vibrations, a reduction in the whole weight of the front attachment is achieved.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for removing or filtering particulate from an internal combustion engine exhaust and/or for regenerating through flow particulate traps with the incoming flow of exhaust gas. The particulate trap modules have through flow passageways with porous walls for filtering particulate in the exhaust gas. The passageways are regenerated by periodically passing the exhaust gas there through at a velocity sufficient to erode or dislodge the soot and/or ash. Apparatus is provided to separate, burn and store the dislodged soot and/or ash. Having devices and catalysts may also be used to aid in the removal of soot and/or ash.

Abstract: A compaction mechanism for mounting to a storage body for refuse or recyclables includes a tailgate apparatus mountable to a rearward opening of the storage body. The tailgate apparatus includes a receiving hopper and a movable panel which in a compaction position provides a rear closure for the storage body. The moveable panel is pivotally mounted to a pair of side panels which are pivotable upon the rear end of the sides of the tailgate. The movable panel may be swept rearwardly while the side panels are pivotable to a high position and then after the side panels are lowered, the moveable panel is pivoted forwardly to sweep through the hopper and compact the swept articles into the opening of the storage body. The entire tailgate may be opened by operation of a cylinder and link mechanism mounted between the top of the storage body and the rear face of the tailgate.

Abstract: In a round baler for agricultural crops including a supply station for feeding-out a strip-like covering material for the fully wound round bale and a cutting device for severing the covering material, simple provision is desirable for pulling the new leading-edge of the strip of covering material away from the knife-edge after the cutting process. Drive shafts of the advancing roller and a detainable ratchet wheel are mutually coupled in rotatable manner by a resilient hub-shaft connection. The hub-shaft connection is constructed such that, when the ratchet wheel is detained, the advancing roller can still rotate through a small angle and thereby deform resilient drive elements in order to produce an extremely high tension in the strip. The restoring forces so created turn the advancing roller in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the strip as soon as the strip is severed. The leading-edge of the strip is thereby pulled away from the knife-edge.

Abstract: A self-propelled combine harvester has an axial-flow separating device including a chopping device with supporting rings which carry impact teeth. The main body of each separating rotor is equipped with several positioning profiles, which are rigidly connected to the main body and extend spirally around it. The supporting rings are provided with corresponding grooves. As a result, a form-locking connection is made between the supporting rings and the main body. The positioning profiles are toothed at the longitudinal edge leading in the direction of rotation of the separating rotor, so that the regions of the supporting rings adjoining the recesses engage in the tooth gaps are prevented from sliding axially. A locking ring is releasably mounted on the rear end of the main body. The number of parts is minimized and the construction of the supporting rings carrying the impact teeth and the main body of the separating rotor minimize the assembly time.

Abstract: A system is described for setting a self-propelled harvesting machine having several machine components with respectively adjustable parameters wherein setting of these parameters takes into account external harvesting conditions. Means are provided for manually inputting and/or automatically detecting the external harvesting conditions for the particular harvesting application. Furthermore at least one storage means is provided for storing the machine parameters for the respective harvesting application and for different external harvesting conditions. Also, if the occasion arises, the storage means may take into account at least one target standard. The stored machine parameters for setting the harvesting machine can be called up from the storage means after the system knows the respective external harvesting conditions and, if necessary, the respective target standard.

Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus and a method for mechanically joining metal sheets, profiles and/or multi-sheet joints lying on top of each other, wherein joining tools are moved by power means towards the parts to be joined and a joint is made between the parts to be joined by the force effect of the joining tools. To make the joining tools easier to handle and widen the range of application for joints, it is proposed to reduce the reaction forces of the joining process by the fact that one joining tool applies the joining force to the joint at an exciting frequency which is above the characteristic frequency of the opposite joining tool, and the mounting of at least one joining tool is isolated from vibrations. The vibration isolation can also be arranged exclusively or in addition in the excited joining tool or the parts to be joined.

Abstract: A hay making machine including at least two working elements in the form of rotary rakes which are carried by intermediate frames. The intermediate frames are arranged on a support frame and supported on the ground by at least one land wheel. The intermediate frames are pivotally connected for following the contours of the ground as picked-up by the land wheels, and for pivoting about axes which extend in the direction of travel between a working position and a transportation position and vice versa. The intermediate frames also support the transmission members of the drive train, especially shafts and the power train, which are needed for conveying the drive energy to the rotary rakes rotating about vertical axes. Furthermore, the intermediate frames are connected together in the vicinity of the articulated connection between adjacent intermediate frames by coupling consisting of two coupling units that co-operate via meshing elements.

Abstract: A self-propelled harvesting machine includes a drive engine, a cooler and a cooling fan preceded by a cooling-air cleaning device incorporating a filter for retaining dirt particles in the drawn-in cooling-air and also including a suction device for removing said dirt particles, and the cooling-air cleaning device being driven by means of an engageable drive means. One aspect is that the drive means is engaged in dependence on a value measured by sensors. The suction housing and/or the baffle plate is rotatable under gravity or by being motor driven, when the suction device is switched off, into a position covering a region associated with the lower part of the filter device.

Abstract: A battery charging system may include a permanent magnet alternator. The system uses controlled rectifiers to supply charging output from an alternator to the battery, to control the charging current and to provide a taper charge. The system may also use a voltage regulator coupled with the controlled rectifiers. The voltage regulator progressively deactivates the controlled rectifiers, in response to the state of charge of the battery, to provide a taper charge. The alternator may be used in vehicles, including automobiles, and for other electrical generating purposes.

Abstract: An agricultural machine is equipped with a operator's cab and incorporates a gearbox which can be shifted through the various gear stages by means of a shift lever. The shift lever is coupled to the steering column when necessary by a coupling device such that the pivotal movement of the steering column can be utilized to shift gears in the gear box. To this end, an auxiliary pedal for releasing the steering column is provided in the cab in addition to the normal foot pedal. The auxiliary pedal initially releases the gas strut that is retaining the steering column and then inserts a locking pin into a blind hole in the shift lever when the steering column is in the relevant position. In this manner the operator has more free space because the number of elements in the controls are reduced.