Abstract: A compression roll housing for an agricultural machine having opposing front and rear ends for connection to parts of the machine, an upper and a lower panel and two opposing side panels. Each of said side panels is provided with at least one substantially vertical elongated aperture for receiving a shaft of a compression roll. Each of the side panels is also provided with a horizontal aperture which extends across the at least one elongated aperture to the front or rear end of the housing.

Abstract: A method for defining a contoured path for an automatic guidance system comprises defining a plurality of reference path segments; for each segment, determining one or more intersection points respectively with other segments; and subsequently defining a contoured path as a sequence of intersecting segments. An automatic guidance system based on the method is also provided.

Abstract: A trailer for transporting a harvester header comprises a chassis, a rear axle assembly and a front axle assembly. A steering force transfer mechanism is arranged to transfer a steering force hydraulically from a first one steerable wheel supported on the front axle assembly to a second one steerable wheel supported on the rear axle assembly. A steering movement of the first one steerable wheel to one side effects a steering movement of the second one steerable wheel to the opposite side.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a chassis, a plurality of ground engaging elements supporting the chassis above a ground surface, a motor for driving at least one of the ground engaging elements to thereby propel the machine along the ground surface, and a chassis height adjustment system for selectively raising and lowering the chassis relative to the ground surface. A track width adjustment system is configured to shift the position of at least one of the ground engaging elements laterally relative to the chassis and a controller is configured to automatically actuate the track width adjustment system when the chassis height adjustment system is actuated to preserve a constant track width as the chassis moves up and down relative to the ground surface.

Abstract: A hydraulic apparatus control system includes a plurality of directional control valves. Each valve serves to selectively convey pressurized fluid to a hydraulic consumer which is detachably connected to a respective hydraulic output. A plurality of user interface devices control the valves. A terminal includes a display and user input means. The display displays a graphic associated with each hydraulic output. Each graphic includes a displayed user-definable label.

Abstract: A multi-plate disc brake has interleaved rotatable and non-rotatable brake discs (11) within a brake housing (13) and a ball and ramp type brake actuator (12) comprising first and second relatively rotatable annular actuator discs (20, 21) with actuator balls (22) therebetween located in circumferentially ramped pockets (20a, 21a) on opposing faces of the actuator discs. A wedge-shaped actuator member (23) has an actuating means (24A, 24B) to displace the actuator member between confronting abutments (20b, 21b) on the respective actuator discs to relatively rotate the discs to cause the balls to rise up the ramped pockets and hence expand the actuator axially to move the brake discs (11) into engagement. Cooling oil is supplied into the brake housing through the wedge-shaped actuator member (23) when the brake is engaged.

Abstract: A method comprising rotating a rotor to expel, radially, a mixture of grain and material other than grain (MOG) from the rotor and past a rotor cage encircling the rotor; causing an air flow in a substantially arcuate channel defined by the rotor cage, a first cover assembly covering a substantial portion of the rotor cage, and a passive sieve, to entrain a first portion of the MOG; capturing a first portion of the grain with the first cover assembly and plural vanes located along the length and on the interior surface of the first cover assembly, the captured grain sliding by gravity along the vanes to the passive sieve, the captured grain comprising threshed and unthreshed portions; enabling the passage of the captured grain through the passive sieve and into a second channel within which a grain conveying assembly is disposed; conveying with the grain conveying assembly the passed, unthreshed portion rearwardly; and conveying with the grain conveying assembly the passed, threshed portion forwardly.

Abstract: A dual-cam linkage system controls the orientation of tines on a reel of a crop harvesting header. The dual-cam linkage system includes a stationary, substantially circular first cam track that has a rotational center that is offset from the rotational axis of the reel. A second cam track is located in a support plate on which a tine-supporting member is mounted. The dual-cam linkage system also includes a pivoting linkage having a crank, an arm. The crank has a first end fixedly attached to the tine-supporting member. The arm has an outer end attached to a second end of the crank. The first cam follower is attached at an inner end of the arm and engages the first cam track. The second cam follower is attached to the arm at a position between the first cam follower and the crank and engages the second cam track.

Abstract: An engine hood and a method of making a hood for a tractor or similar vehicle, the hood being of generally inverted U-shaped configuration with an upper top portion and downwardly extending side portions. The hood is hinged adjacent one end for upward pivoting between a closed position in which an associated engine is covered and an open position which provides access to the engine. The hood has an outer skin and inner reinforcing members secured to the inside of the outer skin to form two beam-like structures which extend away from the hinge towards the other end of the hood to stiffen the hood against twisting.

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 drawbar pin-retention assembly for use with a drawbar mechanism has a swinging drawbar, a support housing, and a device configured to prevent the swinging of the drawbar, the device having at least one drawbar pin. The pin-retention assembly includes a hanger bracket having a body portion and a pair of overhanging arms and a retaining bracket mounted on the hanger bracket with hinge tabs and pivotable about a pivot axis to move between a pin-retaining position and a pin-removal position. When the retaining bracket is pivoted to its pin-retaining position, a strap is positioned over the drawbar pin. Outward movement of the pin causes it to contact a forward portion of the strap forward of the pivot axis causing the retaining bracket to contact the hanger bracket thereby preventing pivoting of the retaining bracket in a first direction. The retaining bracket pivots by gravity to the pin-retention position.

Abstract: The airflow through a harvesting machine is adjusted by calculating a G-factor at a first point on an upper chaffer to determine if it is greater than 1+n, where n represents a desired factor. A blower is adjusted to reduce an airstream if the G-factor is greater than 1+n. A MOG factor is calculated if the G-factor is less than 1+n. The blower is adjusted to increase the airstream if the MOG-factor is less than 1+x, where x represents a desired factor. A MOG-factor is calculated at a second point if the MOG-factor at the point is greater than 1+x and the blower is adjusted to reduce the airstream if the MOG-factor at the second point is greater than 1+y, where y represents a desired factor or adjusted to increase the airstream if the MOG-factor at the second point is less than 1+y.

Abstract: A stuffer chute assembly including: a curvilinear duct defining a passageway, the duct having a lower inlet opening and an upper outlet opening, the duct including a lower surface with plural slots located proximal to the upper outlet; plural rotating devices arranged transversely across the duct, the plural rotating devices extending at least partially both through the plural slots and into the passageway, each of the plural rotating devices including plural fingers along the circumference of the rotating device to engage crop material in the duct; and a sensor coupled to at least one of the plural rotating devices, the sensor configured to sense a parameter corresponding to density of the crop material in the duct.

Abstract: A method for detecting zonal operator presence includes receiving a sensor output from a sensor. The sensor may be located on an agricultural machine and the sensor output indicates an operating state of the agricultural machine. Once the sensor output has been received, the operating state of the agricultural machine is determined based on the sensor output. The operating state includes an operator being located within a work area of the agricultural machine. The work area is divided into a plurality of zones. An operating parameter is adjusted based on the operating state.

Abstract: A continuously variable transmission for an agricultural vehicle, the transmission comprising a transmission casing and transmission components, the components including: an input shaft drivable by a prime mover, first and second output drive shafts for connection to driven wheels of the vehicle, a mechanical transmission branch which transfers torque mechanically from the input shaft to the first and second output shafts, and a further transmission branch having at least one continuously variable motor, wherein the first and second output drive shafts are additionally driven by the at least one motor so as to provide the first and second output drive shafts with continuously variable drive.

Abstract: A boom arm extending from a chassis of an agricultural sprayer includes a plurality of chords extending outward from the sprayer and a plurality of cross-sectional frame members connecting the chords to provide structural integrity. The cross-sectional frame members include brace-receiving portions having slots formed. The boom arm has a plurality of tee-shaped brace members, each having a top flange with a stem extending therefrom. The stem is received in a slot in the brace-receiving portion of adjacent cross-section frame members. Sides of the stem and the underside of the top flange are adhesively bonded to facing surfaces of the brace-receiving portions. Each cross-sectional frame member is configured to receive an extension member that extends between the cross-sectional member and a connector mounted on the first chord. The length of the extension member is determined by the position of the cross-sectional frame member on the tapered boom arm.

Abstract: A system is provided for determining the current weight of a vehicle and any implement or trailer being towed or carried thereby. The system has an electronic control unit and means to determine the current value of vehicle operating parameters indicative of the current wheel output torque and acceleration of the vehicle. These current parameter values are forwarded to the electronic control unit so that the unit can calculate the current vehicle weight from a predetermined relationship involving wheel output torque, vehicle acceleration and other known current operating parameters of the vehicle. The other known current operating parameters of the vehicle are wheel rolling radius, angle of inclination of the vehicle, gravitational acceleration and rolling resistance of the wheels.

Abstract: A metering device (24) for an agricultural planter (10) has a metering chamber (80) with a seed discharge (98) area and a metering disc (66) rotatable within the metering chamber (80). The metering disc (66) has plurality of seed pockets (68) for carrying seeds on the metering disc (66), the seed pockets (68) being disposed at mutually spaced locations about the metering disc (66). The metering disc also has a magnetic drive ring (136) in the outer periphery of the metering disc (66). The metering device also has a stator positioned adjacent the metering disc. The stator (132) interacts with the magnetic drive ring (136) to rotate the metering disc (66) within the metering chamber (80) such that the seed pockets (68) move successively in proximity to the discharge area (98) during rotation of the metering disc (66).

Abstract: An exemplary agricultural implement includes a plurality of units configured to inject particulate material into a ground surface and a plurality of metering modules. Each metering module is configured to receive a supply of particulate material and to meter the particulate material to a set of the plurality of units. A distribution assembly is configured to receive particulate material from a source and to distribute the particulate material to the plurality of metering modules.