Abstract: A controlled droplet application (CDA) nozzle including a cone having plural ridges disposed longitudinally on an interior surface of the cone; and a fin assembly connected to the interior surface, the fin assembly comprising a plurality of fins extending between a central portion of the cone and the interior surface, wherein adjacent pairs of the plurality of fins and the interior surface at least partially define a respective compartment for the collection of a defined volume of fluid.

Abstract: A drawbar hitch mechanism has a fore-and-aft extending receiver, a gearbox assembly coupled to the receiver and a tongue assembly attached to the gearbox assembly. A first pivot mechanism couples the receiver with the gearbox assembly for side-to-side movement about a longitudinal axis of the receiver. A draft arm is configured to disperse draft loads between the tongue assembly and the receiver. A second pivot mechanism couples the gearbox assembly and the draft arm. The second pivot mechanism is oriented such that it pivots about an upright axis such that the gearbox assembly and second pivot mechanism enable pivoting movement of the tongue assembly relative the receiver.

Abstract: A combine harvester including threshing and separating apparatus which are arranged to process a cut crop stream and each having a grate arrangement through which material separated from the crop stream falls under gravity. Grain conveyance means arranged below the threshing and separating apparatus catch the falling grain and material other than grain (MOG). A stratification pan is located below a front region of the threshing and separating apparatus and a return conveyor is located below a rear region of the threshing and separating apparatus, both conveyors being driven in a oscillating manner. The return conveyor conveys said grain and MOG in a forward direction to a front edge thereof which is located above the stratification pan. The stratification pan conveys collected material rearwardly to a rear edge from where the collected material falls under gravity into a cleaning unit.

Abstract: A bale ejecting mechanism includes a shuttle shiftable toward and away from the open end in repetitive ejection and retraction strokes. The shuttle has a series of projections yieldably biased to an extended position projecting into the bale case for engaging and moving a bale during an ejection stroke of the shuttle. The projections are shiftable into a retracted position disposed outside of the bale case to avoid engaging and moving a bale during an ejection stroke. The mechanism includes a selector member movable with the shuttle during ejection and retraction strokes of the shuttle but shiftable relative to the shuttle to any one of a number of selectable retaining positions in which the selector member retains selected ones of the projections in the retracted position. An adjustable shifter member is disposable in a plurality of selectable operating positions corresponding to the selectable retaining positions of the selector member.

Abstract: A computer program and method for controlling a drive system of a harvester or other agricultural vehicle. The computer program calculates an inner motor displacement reduction of an inner motor of the drive system and a pump displacement reduction of a variable displacement pump of the drive system. By reducing the pump displacement in addition to the inner motor displacement, a speed of the harvester is maintained while turning.

Abstract: A brake arrangement for a vehicle having a cardan brake and separate left and right brakes. The left brake activated by movement of a first lever and the right brake is activated by movement of a second lever. The left brake, right brake and the cardan brake are activated together by movement of both levers together, characterized in that the cardan brake is connected to a fluid supply in a circuit which comprises a first and a second brake valve arranged in series and the first brake valve is operable by the first lever and the second brake valve is operable by the second lever.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for connecting a drive wheel axle and a track roller frame in a tracked vehicle. The apparatus includes an arm portion for attachment to the track roller frame; a yoke comprising a pivotal connection to the arm portion about a first pivot axis; a bearing housing comprising a pivotal connection to the yoke about a second pivot axis; a bearing assembly disposed adjacent the bearing housing; and a collet separated from the bearing housing by the bearing assembly, wherein the collet is configured for affixation to the drive wheel axle. A method is disclosed for accommodating forces in a vehicle on a drive wheel axle transmitted through a track roller frame, the method including providing an apparatus connecting the drive wheel axle and the track roller frame. The method further includes pivoting portions of the apparatus relative to each other about first and second pivot axes.

Abstract: A spray assembly includes a support element by which the spray assembly is attached to a vehicle, a first load carrying arm selectively extendable from the support element, and a first nozzle carrying arm attached to the first load carrying arm and having at least two sections connected at a first joint. At least one of the two sections is selectively extendable from the first load carrying arm. A crop sprayer including a vehicle and an attached spray assembly is also disclosed. A method of deploying a spray boom system is disclosed, wherein a support element of the spray boom system is attached to a vehicle. The method includes selectively extending a first load carrying arm from the support element and selectively extending at least one of two sections of a first nozzle carrying arm from the first load carrying arm.

Abstract: A system includes one or more location determining devices for determining the geographic locations of a plurality of mobile objects and one or more computing devices. The one or more computing devices are operable to identify the geographic locations of the objects using data generated by the one or more location determining devices, generate a single geofence corresponding to the geographic locations of the plurality of mobile objects, identify a change in the geographic location of at least one of the objects, change the geofence to reflect the change in the geographic location of the at least one object, detect an event associated with the geofence, and respond to the event.

Abstract: A suspension apparatus connected to a wheel of a vehicle and includes a first linkage, a second linkage, a third linkage, a bell crank, and a shock absorber. The first linkage connects to the wheel. The second linkage includes a first portion that is pivotally connected to a second portion of the first linkage. The third linkage includes a first portion that is pivotally connected to a second portion of the second linkage. The bell crank includes opposed first and second arms and a central pivot connection to the third linkage, wherein the first arm is pivotally connected to a first portion of the first linkage. The shock absorber has a variable length and includes a first portion that is pivotally connected to the first portion of the third linkage and wherein a second portion of the shock absorber is pivotally connected to the second arm of the bell crank.

Abstract: A powered square baler is operable to form a bale by compressing loose material. The powered square baler broadly includes a chassis and a reciprocating plunger assembly. The chassis includes a baler frame that presents a baling chamber to receive the loose material. The reciprocating plunger assembly includes a plunger head and an energy storage device. The plunger head is slidably mounted relative to the frame and is operable to be driven by a power source to reciprocate into and out of the chamber and apply a compressive force against the loose material. The energy storage device stores energy from the power source and transmits the energy to the plunger head in response to the applied compressive force, with the transmitted energy causing an impulse force to be applied against the loose material by the plunger head.

Abstract: A seed delivery mechanism for an agricultural planter that receives seeds from a seed meter of the planter and delivers the seeds to a seed trench as the planter moves in a planting direction has a first endless belt trained about a first drive pulley and a second endless belt trained about a second drive pulley. The first and second drive pulleys rotate the first and second endless belts to provide confronting belt segments that form a seed delivery path between a conveyor entry point and a release point. The first and second endless belts are configured with a downward reach oriented to move seeds predominantly downward and a rearward reach oriented to move the seed predominantly rearward. The rearward reach provides a rearward velocity component to seeds at the release point that offsets a forward velocity of the planter as the planter moves in the planting direction.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a combine harvester sensing system comprising a shoe; a thresher rotor; and a sensor disposed between the shoe and the thresher rotor, the sensor configured to sense crop material discharged from the thresher rotor and impacting the shoe.

Abstract: An agricultural tractor comprises an engine and a cooling package supported in front of a cab. The cooling package comprises a radiator and fan disposed between the engine and cab, the radiator having a major surface which is aligned longitudinally so that an airflow forced through the radiator by the fan is generally transverse with respect to the tractor's forward direction of travel. The orientation of the radiator provides for a narrower front end installation which improves the driver's field of view and relaxes limitations on steering angles and cooling package size.

Abstract: A combine harvester (10) comprising axial separating apparatus (24, 5) is provided. The axial separating apparatus comprises at least one rotor (28) mounted for rotation in a rotor cage (30) and is arranged to convey crop material in a spiral path from a front end to a rear end. The rotors (28) may also serve to thresh the crop material before separation. The rotor cage (30) includes a grate (34) for allowing separated grain to fall there through under gravity. Two return conveyors (42, 44) are positioned below the grate (34), one behind the other. A first return conveyor (42) disposed under a front portion of the separating apparatus is arranged to catch a portion of said separated grain and convey the caught grain forwardly to a first front edge (46) from where the grain falls under gravity onto a first region of an underlying grain pan (60).

Abstract: A synchronized shift device for locked connection of at least two shafts (30, 32), which shafts have different rotation speeds at the start of a shift procedure. An arrangement of first annular drive body (36), synchronization body (42) and first annular coupling element (44) bring about synchronization of the shaft speed prior to coupling by a synchronization sleeve (50). A further shaft (60), coaxially arranged, may be provided with a similar arrangement of annular drive body (62) and coupling element (66) for synchronized connection with one of the other shafts (32).

Abstract: A system for transmitting power from an engine shaft to a power take-off (PTO) shaft of a utility vehicle, comprising a transmission having an input shaft coupled to the engine shaft and an output driveably connectable to one or more driven axles of the vehicle. A synchronised shift device is operable to selectively connect an output shaft thereof to one of the transmission input shaft and output, said output shaft further being driveably connectable to the PTO shaft. The synchronised shift device comprises inner and outer coaxially aligned and respectively rotatable input bodies alternately connectable to the shift device output shaft, with the inner input body connected to the transmission input shaft and the outer input body driveably connected to the transmission output. The arrangement provides switching between engine speed and ground speed operation of the PTO.

Abstract: A combine harvester comprises an oscillating thresher pan (128;228;328) for conveying a chaff/grain stream rearwardly to a rear edge from where the grain/chaff stream falls under gravity into a cleaning unit (148;248;348). The cleaning unit, or shoe, includes at least one vibrating pan (150;250;350,151;251;351) onto which the grain/chaff stream falls. The cleaning unit comprising a fan (52) for generating a cleaning airstream which is directed through the failing grain/chaff stream. The cleaning pan, when in use, is provided with a damping surface to damp bounce of kernels falling thereupon. In one example, the damping surface is provided by a sheet of rubber (284,288).

Abstract: A metering wheel includes a shaft having a longitudinal axis, a plurality of first wheel sections, and a plurality of second wheel sections. Each first wheel section has a fluted exterior surface and is rotatably coupled to the shaft. Each second wheel section has a cylindrical exterior surface and is co-axial with the shaft and rotatable independently of the shaft. In another aspect, at least one of the plurality of first wheel sections has a plurality of protrusions on the exterior surface defining a plurality of valleys therebetween, wherein at least one protrusion does not extend an axial length of the first section. In yet another aspect, a metering assembly comprises a metering wheel and a chute divider. The chute divider comprises a wall positioned proximate a longitudinal mid-point of one of the plurality of first sections or one of the plurality of second sections.

Abstract: A corn header has a plurality of row units disposed adjacent each other. Each row unit has a frame and a gearbox coupled to the frame. The gearbox has a gearing assembly coupled to a rotatable shaft extending from an opening of the gearbox. Each row unit also has a stalk roll coupled to the rotatable shaft and a coupling interface comprising a self-aligning ball or roller bearing assembly. A support bracket is secured to the frame with the coupling interface operably coupling the stalk roll to the support bracket within a defined tolerable limit of misalignment.