Abstract: An adjustable width quick hitch assembly for an agricultural vehicle. The quick hitch assembly is provided with spacer elements which can be incorporated into the assembly as required, where the selection and positioning of the spacer elements results in an assembled quick hitch having various hitch widths.

Abstract: A compression roll housing for an agricultural machine, having a side panel provided with at least one elongated aperture for receiving a shaft of a compression roll and allowing movement of the shaft within the aperture. The housing is provided with a cover plate which rotates about an axis parallel to the shaft and is provided with an indentation to partially surround the shaft. Movement of the shaft, such as along a longitudinal axis of the aperture, causes the plate to rotate to provide a cover across the aperture to prevent the escape of any material from the housing.

Abstract: A cooling system for a utility vehicle comprises a first fluid circuit including a first fluid such as hydraulic oil and a second fluid circuit including a second fluid such as a coolant or lubricant. A heat exchanger couples the first and second fluid circuits enabling transfer of heat from one of the first and second fluids to the other. A fluid cooler in the first fluid circuit has a fan arranged to direct an airflow towards it, which fan is a hydraulically driven device connected in the first fluid circuit and driven by flow of the first fluid.

Abstract: An agricultural machine, preferably a combine harvester, which has a pivoting vehicle cab. The cab is pivotable relative to the main frame of the machine, about an axis of rotation transverse to the direction of travel of the machine. The cab is pivoted to allow an operator to view a front coupling of the machine, to observe the attaching or detaching of a work implement to the front coupling.

Abstract: A method of operating a variable displacement pump in a pressurized fluid supply system for an agricultural vehicle, including maintaining a constant displacement of the pump as rotational speed of the input drive to the pump increases to a first value of 1500 rpm and thereafter adjusting the displacement of the pump to maintain a constant output fluid flow 230 L/min or reduced flow as rotational speed of the input drive to the pump increases beyond the first value to a maximum value of 2100 rpm.

Abstract: A combine harvester including a grain pan arranged to catch a crop stream. The grain pan is driven in an oscillating manner to convey the crop stream rearwardly to a rear edge from where the crop stream falls into a grain cleaning unit. A fan generates a cleaning airstream which is directed under the rear edge. The grain pan includes a conveyance floor with a rippled floor profile. A plurality of tines are provided and secured at one end to the conveyance floor. Each tine has a saw-toothed profile to lift lighter material within the crop stream away from the heavier material and enhance stratification thereof.

Abstract: A separating rotor with a rotor tube for use on a combine harvester has a plurality of crop engaging finger elements. Each finger element is mounted to a respective finger support which is secured to the rotor tube. Each finger element has a planar body with a flared base portion which presents a leading edge to the crop material with a relatively shallow angle with respect to the tube.

Abstract: A combine harvester is provided with a conveyance system for transporting crop material discharged by overhead grain separating apparatus to a grain cleaning shoe. The conveyance system includes a series of oscillating pans which move the grain in a generally longitudinal direction. A return pan conveys the collected material forwardly to a front discharge edge from where the material falls onto a stratification pan below. The stratification pan conveys the collected material rearwardly to a rear discharge edge from where the material falls into the grain cleaning shoe. At least one of the return pan and the stratification pan is non-rectangular and has a non-transverse discharge edge.

Abstract: A grain cleaning system in a combine harvester including a pair of side walls, a rear wall that extends between the side walls, a sieve that oscillates in a fore-and-aft path between the side walls, a fan unit for generating a cleaning airstream, and an outlet for discharging residue from a grain-cleaning process. The outlet is framed in part by a lower edge of the rear wall. An aperture is provided in the rear wall to provide air relief to enhance the fore-to-aft flow of the cleaning airstream. Optionally, an auxiliary fan may drive air through the aperture.

Abstract: An agricultural trailed implement includes a chassis with tongue for hitching to a tractor. A housing is integrated into a loadbearing section of the tongue. A pump or generator is mounted inside the housing and is driven by a PTO shaft connected to an attached tractor. The pump housing may define a sump which provides a fluid reservoir to supply the pump in a hydraulic circuit.

Abstract: A vehicle axle assembly includes an axle shaft having a first planar portion extending from the shaft perpendicular to the axis of rotation, and an axle housing partially surrounding and rotatably supporting the axle shaft with a second planar portion extending from the axle housing adjacent and substantially parallel to the first planar portion. Two or more sensor arrangements are provided, each having a first sensor part on the first planar portion and a second sensor part on the second planar portion, with each sensor arrangement being configured to generate a signal indicative of a measured gap between the first and second planar portions. A data processor coupled with the sensor arrangements generates an indication of axle shaft bending from differences in the measured gap between sensor arrangements, which indication may then be used to derive a measurement for vehicle axle loading.

Abstract: A brake module for a hydraulically braked tractor coupled to a pneumatically braked trailer has a trailer control valve connected via hydraulic control inlet to a hydraulic pressure line leaving a master brake cylinder, and via pneumatic inlet to a compressed air reservoir. Hydraulic control pressure determines pneumatic output pressure level at a trailer control valve pneumatic outlet. The brake module has a break-off prevention module which, if the control line leaks or separates from the trailer control valve relative to the trailer brake system, closes a supply pressure coupling head supply line and causes trailer brake system venting. The break-off prevention module has a pneumatic supply pressure inlet and a pneumatic tear-off control pressure inlet connected to the air reservoir independently of trailer control valve pressure inlets.

Abstract: A combine harvester includes a grain pan arranged to catch a crop stream, the grain pan being driven in an oscillating manner to convey the crop stream rearwardly to a rear edge. A cleaning unit includes a fan for generating a cleaning airstream which is directed under the rear edge. The grain pan includes a floor profile which defines a transverse profile having ridges and troughs. The troughs provide a plurality of longitudinal channels, wherein the ridge-to-trough height increases in the direction of conveyance. Crop material conveyed by the grain pan experiences channels that deepen towards the rear edge of the pan.

Abstract: A wheel provided with a tire in tire installation in which an outer ground engaging tire is mounted on a rim of the wheel and an inner inflatable member is mounted on the rim inside the outer tire. The inner surface of the outer tire and the outer surface of the inner inflatable member are provided with respective electrically conductive members suitably in the form of induction loops. A controller determines when the respective electrically conductive members come into close proximity or contact, enabling manual or automated adjustment of air pressure to minimize abrasion between the outer tire and inner inflatable member.

Abstract: A pre-filter assembly for a vehicle arranged with an aspiration duct extending between the pre-filter and a fan of the vehicle. A variable valve element is provided as part of the aspiration duct adjacent the fan, such that the aspiration rate through the duct can be controlled by appropriate variation of the valve element, to control the rate of airflow drawn through the aspiration duct by the fan. This allows for the aspiration rate of the pre-filter to be at least partly independent of the flow rate of the fan, without the need for an additional motor-driven blower unit.

Abstract: An agricultural sprayer including an applicator boom which itself includes a centre boom frame and a pair of multi-section boom side assemblies. Each side assembly is mounted by a respective hinge to the centre boom frame. Neighbouring boom sections are mutually connected by a hinged joint which permits folding around an upright axis from a deployed operating configuration to a transport configuration. A spring and damper mechanism is associated with the hinged joint for controlling pivoting movement around the upright axis between said two boom sections.

Abstract: A system for performing an agricultural operation on a field, the system including a host vehicle, two or more autonomous agricultural machines configured for performing the said agricultural operation; and a control subsystem for path planning and controlling the movement of each autonomous agricultural machine relative to the host vehicle in the performance of the agricultural operation. The control subsystem is configured to dynamically re-plan the movement of one or more of the autonomous agricultural machines in response to a detected failure of an autonomous agricultural machine as indicated by its position relative to its planned path.

Abstract: A vehicle control system for controlling the height of a linkage on a vehicle having a continuously variable transmission (CVT) in which the linkage is automatically raised and lowered depending on a draft force detected by the vehicle including an input draft force detected by sensors in the CVT or driveline is inputted into the control system and the system further processes the input draft force to provide an output draft force upon which movement of the linkage is based and the control system processes the input draft force by compensating the input draft force detected during acceleration or deceleration and/or compensating the input draft detected whilst travelling along a slope, and/or equalizing the input draft force by applying a ramp function, and/or reducing the input draft force when the linkage is at a predetermined height.

Abstract: An air supply system on a vehicle having a tire. The system includes a compressor having a supply mode for supplying air to a consumer connected to the compressor. The consumer is provided with a reservoir and the compressor switches to an idle mode when the pressure of the reservoir attains a first predetermined reservoir pressure. During a supply period when the consumer is supplied with air from the compressor, the pressure of at least one tire is measured and prior to a subsequent tire pressure measurement, air is discharged from the reservoir so that the compressor remains in the supply mode and the consumer and/or reservoir continues to be supplied with air.

Abstract: A vehicle tank having an upper surface for mounting a fan and radiator to which is sloped between the fan and radiator mounting parts so that there is a difference in the relative height of the parts. The tank also has a horizontal lower surface that abuts the chassis or frame of a vehicle and the space between the upper and lower surfaces holds a fluid.