Abstract: An adjustment apparatus for a forage harvester having a shear bar adjustably mounted on a housing. A chopper drum is supported from the housing and mounted for rotation about an axis and further provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced knife supports to which at least one chopper knife can be adjustably secured. In use the chopper knives cooperate with the shear bar to chop incoming crop. The adjustment apparatus includes a lateral element, at least one location element and at least one radially inwardly directed guide surface. The adjustment apparatus also includes at least one shear bar alignment surface on one or more of the location elements.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes an electromagnetic detecting and ranging module for detecting a location of an object relative to the agricultural harvester and a camera for capturing images of an area within a field of view of the electromagnetic detecting and ranging module. One or more computing devices receive first data from the electromagnetic detecting and ranging module, the first data indicating the location of the object relative to the agricultural harvester, receive image data from the camera and use the image data to determine whether the object is a receiving vehicle. If the object is a receiving vehicle, the one or more computing devices use the first data and the second data to generate graphic data defining a graphical representation illustrating the relative positions of the unload conveyor and the receiving vehicle. An electronic device including a graphical user interface presents the graphical representation on the graphical user interface.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling operation of a trailer brake system associated with an agricultural vehicle-trailer combination. A coupling force between the vehicle and the trailer is determined and used to control operation of the trailer brake system in dependence thereon. A primary control strategy is used in dependence on the determined coupling force being within a coupling force range; and one or more secondary control strategies are used in dependence on the determined coupling force being outside of the coupling force range.

Abstract: A system comprises a first portable electronic device associated with an agricultural harvester and a second portable electronic device associated with a crop transport vehicle. At least one of the first portable electronic device and the second portable electronic device is configured to receive a geographic position of the other portable electronic device and, using only the first geographic position and the second geographic position, identify a harvesting operation performed by the agricultural harvester; determine a harvesting distance, a harvesting duration of time, or both of the harvesting operation; and estimate a current fill level of the crop transport vehicle based on the harvesting distance, the harvesting duration of time, or both.

Abstract: A mower combination including an agricultural vehicle and a front mowing unit as well as two lateral mowing units located behind and to the sides of the front mowing unit. Each of the lateral mowing units has a conveyor unit to deposit cut crop as a swath. A control unit receiving a plurality of signals from the combination including signals representing a steering angle of the agricultural vehicle, a speed of operation of each conveyor unit and a lateral displacement of each conveyor unit and comparing them against a predetermined set of values. As required the control unit adjusts the speed of operation of at least one conveyor unit based on this comparison. Swaths produced by towed rear mowing units are controlled, in particular to enable aligned curved swaths to be produced when the mower combination is turned, or to enable a narrow swath to be produced when the mower combination is turned.

Abstract: A mower combination having an agricultural vehicle and a number of mowing units suitable for cutting a standing crop connected to the agricultural vehicle, including a front mowing unit and two lateral mowing units located behind and to the sides of the front mowing unit, each of the lateral mowing units being provided with conveyor units to deposit cut crop as a swath. A control unit receives a plurality of signals, representing the location of the mower combination, a displacement of each of the conveyor units and/or a direction of operation of each of the conveyor units. The control unit receives the plurality of signals and compares them against a predetermined set of values and as required adjusts the displacement or direction of operation of at least one conveyor unit based on this comparison.

Abstract: An adjustment apparatus for a forage harvester having a shear bar adjustably mounted on a housing. A chopper drum is supported from the housing and mounted for rotation about an axis and further provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced knife supports to which at least one chopper knife can be adjustably secured. In use the chopper knives cooperate with the shear bar to chop incoming crop. The adjustment apparatus includes a lateral element, at least one location element and at least one radially inwardly directed guide surface, each radially inwardly directed guide surface describing a desired outer path of an unworn chopper knife. Each guide surface is adjustably located with respect to the lateral element.

Abstract: A system includes an agricultural harvester with an electromagnetic detecting and ranging module and a camera for capturing images of an area within a field of view of the electromagnetic detecting and ranging module. One or more computing devices detect the presence of an object using data from the electromagnetic detecting and ranging module, use image data from the camera to determine whether the object is a receiving vehicle and, if the object is a receiving vehicle, generate automated navigation data to automatically control operation of at least one of the agricultural harvester and the receiving vehicle to align an unload conveyor of the agricultural harvester with a grain bin of the receiving vehicle.

Abstract: A mower combination including an agricultural vehicle and a number of mowing units suitable for cutting standing crop, including a front mowing unit and two lateral mowing units located behind and to the sides of the front mowing unit. Each of the lateral mowing units includes a conveyor to deposit cut crop as a swath. Sensors determine the slope and lateral displacement of each conveyor. A control unit receives inputs from the sensors and compares the inputs to a predetermined set of values of slope and, as indicated by the comparison, adjusts the lateral displacement of at least one conveyor.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling operation of a trailer brake system associated with an agricultural vehicle-trailer combination, comprising: determining abase value for a temperature associated with the trailer brake system; determining a coupling force between the vehicle and the trailer; determining a corrected value for the temperature associated with the trailer brake system in dependence on the determined coupling force; and controlling one or more components of the vehicle trailer combination in dependence on the corrected value.

Abstract: An agricultural apparatus including an agricultural vehicle together with a front work unit and two lateral work units located behind and to the sides of the front work unit. The front work unit has a connection to the front of the agricultural vehicle and the lateral work units share a connection to the rear of the agricultural vehicle. Each of the work units deposits cut crop as a swath. One or more sensors determine a height of the rear connection above the ground surface. A control unit is provided for controlling the height of the connections above the ground surface, such that if the height of the rear connection is determined to deviate from a predetermined value, the control unit causes the height of the rear connection to be adjusted towards the predetermined value.

Abstract: A mowing sickle drive system comprises a knife bar supported by a frame and drive apparatus operable to drive the knife bar in a reciprocating linear motion at a variable drive frequency. A spring is coupled to the knife bar for applying a restoring force to the knife bar toward a neutral position when in motion. The spring has a variable modulus of elasticity that is controlled dependent upon the drive frequency.

Abstract: A control system for an implement hitch of an agricultural vehicle, wherein the hitch is mounted to the vehicle and includes one or more hydraulic cylinders or other actuators operable to raise and lower the hitch between minimum and maximum heights relative to the vehicle and hold the hitch static at one or more heights between the minimum and maximum heights. The control system includes a rocker control device having a first operating position and being movable in a first direction to a first limit position and in a second direction to a second limit position. An electronic control unit connected to the rocker control device is configured to control operation of the or each of the hydraulic cylinders or actuators and thereby control raising and lowering of the hitch in response to user operation of the rocker control device.

Abstract: A joystick control device including a base and a teeter board supported on the base by at least first and second pivoting mounts, with each pivoting mount guiding relative rotary motion between the base and the teeter board about a respective axis of rotation, and the respective axes of rotation of the first and second pivoting mounts are spaced apart and extend parallel to each other. A handle effects movement of the teeter board, which movement is detected by a sensor arranged to generate an output signal indicative of the position and orientation of the teeter board relative to the base. Third and fourth pivoting mounts having respective axes of rotation perpendicular to those of the first and second pivoting mounts are suitably also provided to enable the device to provide two-axis control.

Abstract: A hood assembly for an agricultural vehicle such as a farm tractor has a first hood panel and a second hood panel pivotably attached to the first hood panel and movable from a first closed position to a second open position relative to the first hood panel. The first hood panel is an elongate body mounted above an engine of the vehicle and having a front end and a rear end joined by two side portions. The second hood panel wraps around the front end of the first hood panel and extends along the two sides thereof to respective pivotal attachments. The attachments have a common pivot axis which traverses the first hood panel in spaced-apart relation to the first hood panel front end. Opening the second hood panel provides maintenance access to a cooling package of the vehicle without opening or disassembling the remainder of the hood assembly.

Abstract: An agricultural/utility vehicle has as its motive power source one or more electric motors supplied by one or more rechargeable batteries to drivingly rotate a shaft of the vehicle driveline. To recharge the batteries, an external power source is applied to cause the driveline shaft to rotate, resulting in at least one of the electric motors acting as a generator to recharge the batteries. The external power source may include a source of fluid pressure that drives a hydraulic pump of the driveline as a hydraulic motor. The external power source may be an external source of rotational energy coupled to a power take-off shaft of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method of operating a cleaning process on a filter in a vehicle air intake includes passing air through the filter from an upstream side to a downstream side, and providing an exhaust duct having an inlet end adjacent the upstream side of the filter and an outlet end adjacent a cooling fan or other air-extraction device of the vehicle arranged to draw air through the exhaust duct from the inlet end to the outlet end. In a periodic cleaning subroutine, the rotational speed of the fan is increased from a first speed to a second speed, while a pulse of pressurized fluid is applied to a downstream side of the filter. The exhaust duct carries away material dislodged from the upstream side of the filter by the applied pulse, and the rotational speed of the fan is reduced to its original level.

Abstract: A method of brake steering in a four-wheel drive utility vehicle having a driven front axle carrying at least two front wheels, a driven rear axle carrying at least two rear wheels, a powertrain delivering torque to the front and rear axles via a connecting shaft, independently operable service brakes on each of the front and rear wheels, and independently operable parking brakes on each of the rear wheels. The method includes, on the vehicle entering a turn, applying the service brakes of the front and rear wheels on the inside of the turn and applying also, and to a controllably varied level of braking force, the parking brake on the rear wheel on the inside of the turn.

Abstract: An agricultural vehicle has an operator environment with a roof portion, and an air treatment apparatus installed within the roof portion. The air treatment apparatus includes a vehicle HVAC system having an inlet plenum, other HVAC components and an outlet to the operator environment. The air treatment apparatus further includes an air filtration system having at least one external inlet and first and second filtration devices located between the external inlet and the HVAC inlet plenum. The roof portion is a hollow structure having upper and lower surfaces and front, rear, left and right sidewalls, and the first and second air filtration devices are disposed along one of the left and right sidewalls within the hollow structure of the roof portion. The HVAC system is preferably disposed along the rear sidewall within the hollow structure of the roof portion.

Abstract: A baling apparatus including a bale forming chamber in which an agricultural bale is formed, wrapped and subsequently released. The baling apparatus also includes a support extending adjacent the bale forming chamber, the support incorporating a plurality of sensors arranged upon the support, wherein the sensors are adapted to measure a surface property of at least one surface of the bale. Since the surface property of an unwrapped bale will differ from the surface property of a wrapped bale, the baling apparatus can detect whether the wrapping material is sufficiently wrapped around the formed bale to release of the bale without the bale falling apart.