Abstract: A knot stretcher for use in tightening splice knots that connect twine balls on an agricultural baler. The knot stretcher includes a pair of pulling bars connected at pulling bar pivot at one end of each of the pulling bars, and a pair of levers, where one of the pair of levers is attached in a middle section of its respective pulling bar. Each lever has a handle portion at one end and an arm portion extending from an elbow formed in the lever. Each lever attaches to its respective pulling bar with a fixed pivot located near the elbow and distal ends of the arm portions of the two levers are attached at a moving pivot. The knot stretcher has clamping jaws positioned on the pulling bars to securely clamp a respective one of the twine tails of the splice knot that is to be tightened.

Abstract: A break-away apparatus for a boom arm is positioned at a joint between a main boom and a boom tip to allow the boom tip to assume a neutral position and forward, rearward, and upward positions. A hinge assembly is positioned between the boom tip and main boom. The hinge assembly includes an upper ball joint, a first hinge, and a second hinge. The boom tip is movable relative to the main boom about an axis of the first hinge, about an axis of the second hinge axis, and/or about a pivot defined by the upper ball joint. A first spring assists a return of the boom tip to the neutral position.

Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring a throughput of a crop cut from a field. The system may include, and the method may be performed at least in part using, a combine harvester including a feeder box, a main body, a threshing mechanism, and an organic material throughput sensor provided within the feeder box. The system may also include a data management system. The organic material throughput sensor senses organic material throughput data including at least one of a volume of the organic material, and a weight of the organic material, and the data management system outputs an organic material throughput map or other information based on the organic material throughput data. Using the organic material throughput data or the organic material throughput map, a producer or other operator can make a more informed planting or treatment decision for a field.

Abstract: A bale binding mechanism is configured to wrap twine around a bale of severed crop material. The bale binding mechanism broadly includes a baling needle, a twine tensioner, and a sensor. A baler chassis presents a baling chamber in which the bale is formed. The baling needle is shiftable up and down relative to the baling chamber, with the needle being shiftable to advance twine upwardly along an end of the bale. The twine tensioner is configured to maintain tension on a tensioned twine section extending between the twine tensioner and the needle, with the tensioned twine section defining a twine feed axis. The twine tensioner includes a tension device that restricts upward advancement of the tensioned twine section. The twine tensioner also includes a shiftable guide element.

Abstract: A rotary thresher for a combine harvester including at least a first concave and a second concave, which may be rotated around a rotor to move to or from a threshing position or one or more of one or more resting positions. The concaves are mounted in a frame that is configured to rotate around the rotor such that the second concave moves during rotation from a first resting position to the threshing position while the first concave is moved from the threshing position to a second resting position.

Abstract: A tillage implement has a frame with a center section and first and second outer wing sections hingedly attached the center section such that the wing sections can be operably raised and lowered between a field-working position and a transport position. The sections each carry tillage tools for working the soil. Controlling a precharge in a secondary side of a hydraulic circuit enables the operator of the implement to adjust the downward pressure precharge provided by a plurality of hydraulic cylinders based on a desired stiffness of the implement. A pressure-reducing valve is configured such that flow from the hydraulic supply applies downward pressure precharge on the plurality of tillage tools. Once this desired precharge has been achieved, flow from the hydraulic supply is shut off and a check valve holds the pressure such that the plurality of hydraulic cylinders holds the tillage tools in position.

Abstract: An agricultural machine includes a frame having a tongue hitch for attachment to a towing vehicle, the tongue hitch being oriented along a longitudinal axis inline with the direction of travel. The agricultural machine has an axle mounted to the frame and an arm mounted to the axle. A front spindle is mounted at the front end of the arm with a front tire mounted to the front spindle and a rear spindle is mounted at the rear end of the arm with a rear tire mounted to the rear spindle. The tires are positioned on a same side of the swing arm. The front tire has a different diameter than a diameter of the rear tire.

Abstract: A filtering apparatus is configured to receive pressurized fluid from a pump. The filtering apparatus has a main inlet, a main outlet, and a filtering branch comprising a first filter. An agitator of a tank from which the pump draws is configured to receive fluid flow from the filtering branch via a proportional valve and an inlet connection. A method of operating a filtering system includes influencing fluid flow from a tank to one or more nozzles via a filtering apparatus; and diverting a portion of the fluid flow through plural filters of a different mesh size back to an agitating mechanism through a lower portion of the tank.

Abstract: A flexible harvesting header having multiple sections supported by support arms, with the height of each arm being adjustable in response to a changing load. Load sensors at first ends of the arms sense loads and generate electronic load signals. Hydraulic cylinders at second ends of the arms are actuatable to raise and lower the first ends. A controller receives the load signals, determines whether actuating one or more of the hydraulic cylinders is warranted due to a changing load, and if so, changes a hydraulic pressure to raise or lower the first ends to offset the changing load. Actuation may be warranted if the changing load exceeds a predetermined value. Further, the entire flexible cutter bar may be raised in response to an electronic raise signal, and the controller may actuate all of the hydraulic cylinders to raise the front ends of all of the support arms.

Abstract: A tensioning bar assembly for a drive system of an agricultural machine includes a longitudinal bar having a top end, a bottom end, and a threaded portion. An attachment device is coupled to the top end to attach to a tensioning arm. A compression spring is located around a portion of the longitudinal bar. A first spring retainer engages with and retains a first end of the spring. A first locking nut fits to the threaded portion of the bar and retains the first spring retainer longitudinally in place relative to the bar. The longitudinal bar is rotationally freely coupled to the attachment device to permit free axial rotation of the bar about its longitudinal axis relative to the attachment device, and an engagement head is attached to and located at or proximate the bottom end of the longitudinal bar for engagement with a tool.

Abstract: A system includes a hand-held electronic device and an adapter mechanically connectable to a mobile machine. The adapter is configured to communicate with an electronic system of the mobile machine via a wired connection and to communicate with the hand-held electronic device via a wireless connection. The hand-held electronic device is configured to present to the user via a user interface a plurality of implement identifiers, receive from the user via the user interface a selection indicating one of the plurality of implement identifiers, and emulate operation of the implement corresponding to the selected implement identifier.

Abstract: A wheel-mounting assembly for a utility vehicle includes a chassis and a wheel support assembly mounted to respective outboard ends of first and second telescopic axle assemblies. The first and second telescopic axle assemblies are laterally spaced from one another and are each secured to the chassis. The first and second telescopic axle assemblies each include a respective actuator arranged to control extension and retraction thereof for steering and track-width control.

Abstract: A track roller assembly for a work machine including a track roller frame with drive and idler wheels and an endless track disposed about the wheels, mid-rollers located between the drive and idler wheels, each mid-roller having a shaft mounted on a bogie frame and a pair of mid-roller hubs having roller wheels mounted on the shaft, one mid-roller hub and wheel on either side of the bogie frame, each mid-roller hub having a guide facing guide blocks, an alignment sensing mechanism to detect misalignment of the track, where the alignment sensing mechanism includes at least one sensor paddle mounted on the bogie frame such that a lobe of the sensor paddle resides adjacent the guide blocks such that sideways movement of the endless track belt causes the guide blocks to contact the sensor paddle before contacting the mid-rollers.

Abstract: A spray pattern monitoring system includes a spray sensor disposed proximate an outlet of a spray nozzle. The spray sensor has one or more optical sensors configured to emit directional light, such as laser pulses, towards the expected position of a liquid spray emitted from the nozzle. The spray sensor can detect the absence or presence of the liquid spray based on returns of the directional light to the optical sensor.

Abstract: A reel for a harvesting header has a tine paddle mounted to a tine so as to engage the crop materials as the tine rakes through the crop materials. The tine paddle has a collar portion for at least partially wrapping around a tine tube to which the tine is mounted and an elongate plate member with a distal end spaced inwardly from the outer finger tip of the tine to which the at least one paddle is mounted. One side of the plate member has first and second detents arranged to partially wrap around and engage the finger to hold the tine paddle on the tine. Each detent has an inwardly extending catch that is received in a notch in a side portion of the finger.

Abstract: A twine tensioner arrangement for a baler including a pair of rollers, each of the rollers being rotatable about a shaft and having circumferential lobes, at least one of the shafts being mounted on a displaceable armature, displacement measurement apparatus to measure the displacement of the displaceable armature and a signalling apparatus to generate a signal if the displacement of the displaceable armature exceeds a predetermined value. This enables monitoring of the tension in a strand of twine entering the twine tensioner arrangement and when the tension exceeds a predetermined value, allows action to be taken to avoid a mistie or damage to the baler components.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a frame member; a toolbar coupled to the frame member, the toolbar parallel to, and rearward of, the frame member; a row unit coupled to the toolbar; and an actuator coupled between the frame member and the toolbar, the actuator configured to rotate the toolbar based on a sensed position of the toolbar.

Abstract: A bale binding mechanism is configured to secure a strand of binding material around a bale of severed crop material. The bale binding mechanism includes a chassis, a knotter head assembly, and a captive lock. The knotter head assembly is operable to form at least one knot in the strand of binding material. The knotter head assembly includes a knotter head frame swingably mounted relative to the chassis and rotatable into and out of an operating position where the knotter head assembly can form the at least one knot. The captive lock is shiftably supported by one of the chassis and the knotter head frame. The captive lock is removably engaged with the other one of the chassis and the knotter head frame to secure the knotter head assembly in the operating position, with the captive lock being releasable to permit rotation of the knotter head assembly out of the operating position.

Abstract: A ladder system includes a fixed support, a ladder bracket supported by the fixed support, a ladder coupled to the ladder bracket and configured to rotate with respect to the ladder bracket between a lowered position and a storage position, and an air spring coupling the ladder to the ladder bracket and configured to apply a force to the ladder when the ladder is in the lowered position to keep the ladder in the lowered position. An agricultural vehicle includes a chassis supported by a plurality of wheels, and a ladder system carried by the chassis. Related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system comprising a reel, a tether configured to be wound about the reel, and at least one unmanned aerial vehicle attached to the tether. When unmanned aerial vehicle is at rest, the unmanned aerial vehicle resides on the reel. Related methods of operating such a system can be used to extract crop from a field.