Abstract: A working vehicle has a castor wheel assembly selectively providing steering assist. A pivoting caster spindle coupled with a caster wheel and an engagement plate connected to the caster spindle in a fixed manner such that the engagement plate pivots with the caster spindle. A pivoting steering arm is rotatably connected to the caster spindle and a steering cylinder is connected to an outward end of the steering arm with a tie rod configured to pivot the steering arm. A keyed connecting mechanism selectively couples the steering arm with the engagement plate. In an engaged position, the keyed connecting mechanism couples the steering arm with the engagement plate such that the steering cylinder pivots the caster spindle and caster wheel. In a disengaged position, the steering arm is uncoupled with the engagement plate such that the caster spindle and caster wheel are free to pivot independent of the steering cylinder.

Abstract: A tilting boom applicator broadly includes a laterally-extending applicator boom a lift, and a tilt frame. The lift includes upper and lower lift arms that support the applicator boom and are operable to vertically shift the applicator boom. The tilt frame interconnects the applicator boom and lift and includes a fixed section mounted to upper lift arms and a swinging section mounted to the applicator boom. The frame sections are attached to each other at a frame pivot joint that defines a longitudinal tilt axis, with the frame pivot joint permitting tilting movement of the applicator boom relative to the lift about the longitudinal tilt axis. Lower lift arms are directly attached to the swinging section to limit movement of the applicator boom relative to the lift about a lateral pitch axis while permitting the tilting movement.

Abstract: A baling apparatus for towing behind a combine, said baling apparatus comprising a tongue to enable said towing, said baling apparatus defining a target for receiving at least a portion of material discharged directly from the combine across a gap extending the distance from a rear of the combine to a front of said baling apparatus to impact on said target of said baling apparatus through an opening defined by forward frame members and a cross member connected to the tongue rather than impacting the ground.

Abstract: In an example embodiment, a continuous baler includes a round baler and an adjustable conveyor for providing crop to the round baler. The adjustable conveyor may include a conveyor belt and a controller for manipulating the conveyor belts. In one example embodiment, the speed of the conveyor is adjusted in accordance with the operation of the baler.

Abstract: A grain cart has a lower frame supported by an axle with a pair of wheels attached thereto and a grain storage hopper. The grain storage hopper includes a substantially vertical front wall, a substantially vertical rear wall, and left and right sidewalls. At least one trough extends along the bottom of the hopper and a sump is positioned below a central portion of the at least one trough, wherein the trough opens into the sump to permit the flow of grain from the trough into the sump. At least one horizontal auger, having a shaft and helical flighting, is rotatably secured in the at least one trough, wherein the flighting on one portion of the shaft is configured to move grain in a first direction toward the sump and the flighting on a second portion of the shaft is configured in a reverse orientation so as to move grain in an opposite direction toward the sump such that rotation of the shaft results in material at either end of the hopper moving toward the center of the hopper.

Abstract: A tractor cab has a floor (12) at least part of which is of a double layer construction having an upper layer (12a) and a lower layer (12b) spaced vertically below the upper layer to define a cavity (29,30) between the layers. The cavity being used for a) the passage of air associated with heating, ventilating, demisting or air conditioning the cab and/or b) the passage of electrical wiring or hydraulic pipes and hoses and/or c) the storage of fluids or other materials or equipment. Part of the floor supports an HVAC unit (11) whose output is directed between the upper and lower layers. The upper layer (12a) includes output apertures (27a, 28a) through which air from the HVAC unit can be discharged or recirculated.

Abstract: A threshing mechanism for a combine harvester has a cylindrical rotor for moving crop materials and a plurality of separator tines secured thereon for threshing crop material. A rotor chamber has a top casing forming an upper portion defining a volume of space between the rotor and the top casing. A plurality of crop transport vanes extend away from an inward surface of the top casing to direct the crop material generally helically along the chamber. The vanes have a rotor-facing edge at an outer end away from the inward surface of the top casing. The vanes are positionable between a base position and at least one extended position with respect to the rotor, wherein in the base position, the rotor-facing edge is positioned a greater distance from the rotor than when in the at least one extended position.

Abstract: A harvesting header includes a header frame, a flexible cutterbar assembly mounted to the header frame, a plurality of laterally spaced apart support arms, and a draper assembly. The support arms are attached to and cooperatively support the cutterbar assembly and are pivotally coupled to the frame for swinging movement about a laterally extending axis. The draper assembly includes a side draper carried on multiple ones of the support arms so as to flex with the cutterbar assembly. The draper assembly includes rollers and a roller frame that operably interconnects the interior support arm and a respective one of the rollers.

Abstract: A harvesting machine includes a harvesting header with a header frame, a flexible cutterbar assembly attached to the header frame along the length thereof and configured to cut a crop, and a conveyor assembly positioned behind the cutterbar assembly and operable to receive severed crop material from the cutterbar assembly. The conveyor assembly includes a fore-and-aft draper with a draper frame swingably supported on the header frame at a pivot where the draper frame projects forwardly from the pivot, such that the draper frame is operable to swing relative to the header frame. The fore-and-aft draper includes a draper belt supported on the draper frame to present a rearwardly moving run for conveying the crop rearwardly.

Abstract: A tractor implement support linkage has a pair of implement attachment links (11), each link being provided at its outer end with an implement attachment means (12) and being pivoted (13) at its inner end on a first arm (14). The first arm is pivoted (15) at its inner end on a support frame (16), the outer end (14a) of each first arm being moveable by a lift means (18) for raising and lowering the first arm about its inner pivot (15) on the support frame (16). Each link (11) is also connected (20) with a second arm (21) which is pivoted at its inner end (22) on the support frame (16) and is pivotally connected at its outer end (20) with the link (11). The second arm (21) rotates the link (11) about its connection (13) with the first arm (14) as the first arm is rotated about its pivot (15) on the support frame (16) by the lift means (18) thus increasing the pivotal movement of the implement attachment means (12) relative to the support frame (16) for a given movement of the lift means (18).

Abstract: A rocker for operating a rear linkage on an agricultural vehicle, wherein said rocker is adapted for storing at least one fluid.

Abstract: A vehicle power braking system has separate left and right brakes (11, 12) operable from a source of pressurised fluid (13) via relay valve means (16) controlled by separate left and right brake operating pedals (14, 15) to provide steering assistance during a turn.

Abstract: A pickup for a combine-towed baler. In one embodiment, crop material such as the residue or material other than grain (MOG) from the back of the combine is directly projected toward a target on a baler collection device. A tailboard with deflection panels may be used to alter the direction of the crop residue from the combine. The tongue of the baler is configured to not obstruct the crop material as the crop material is projected toward the baler. One or more knives of a chopper coupled to the combine may be configured to optimally project MOG toward the baler. Also, the stuffer chute of the baler may be configured to facilitate the flow of crop material such as MOG and therefore minimize obstructions. The crop material is transferred from the combine to the baler without the use of a conveyor.

Abstract: Knotter operation on a crop baler or the like is controlled electronically by a programmable electronic control unit. Rotary and/or linear electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic drive motors are utilized to drive the knotting components and are controlled by the electronic control unit.

Abstract: A harvesting header includes a header frame, a cutterbar assembly mounted to the header frame, and a conveyor assembly supported behind the cutterbar assembly to receive crop severed by the cutterbar assembly. The conveyor assembly includes a pair of side conveyors and a fore-and-aft draper located between the side conveyors. The header further includes a central crop-conveying member that overhangs the rear margin of the fore-and-aft draper and a floor pan that at least partly defines a transition area. The floor pan presents a forwardmost edge adjacent to and rearward of the rear margin. The forwardmost edge is located above a lower run of the draper to direct severed crop materials from the upper run of the draper and to facilitate crop material flow through the transition area.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to precisely meter and dispense two or more crop inputs with a common metering disc is presented to achieve proper placement in the soil relative to one another. In one embodiment, dry granular or granulized fertilizer is metered from one side of the disc and seed is metered from the opposite side of the same metering disc. The fertilizer is placed in a concentrated “pulse” approximately equal distances between seeds within a common seed furrow and/or between seed furrows to improved nutrient use efficiency by minimizing soil to fertilizer contact and subsequent chemical reactions that make applied supplemental nutrients less available to plants. Pressurized air may be utilized to assist discharge of both the seed and fertilizer from the disc meter to assure precise spacing in the soil. A cover may be placed on the meter and metering disc to recirculate air and thus minimize potential atmospheric contamination from seed coatings and fertilizer materials.

Abstract: A mounting bracket for supporting plumbing conduits on a boom arm of an agricultural sprayer has a variable diameter conduit retaining portion having a flexible tie strap and a saddle with a strap-receiving channel formed therein configured to allow for the passage of the tie strap through the saddle. The saddle has a vertex at or near its center and two legs extending from the vertex to form a generally V-shape. The saddle has an upper opening leading to the strap-receiving channel at an outer end of one leg that forms a first end of the channel and a lower opening at an opposite end of the channel at an outer end of the second leg. A front wall of the saddle has at least two cavities therein leading to the channel in between the upper and lower openings with a first of said at least two cavities on one side of the vertex and a second of said at least two cavities on the other side of the vertex. The upper and lower openings and the at least two cavities provide for a plurality of paths for the tie strap.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a combination machine comprising: a towed machine; and a towing machine physically coupled to the towed machine, wherein the towing machine tows the towed machine, wherein the towing machine comprises a machine control system configured to: scan a smart label, the smart label affixed to a container containing a composition to be dispensed by the towed machine; and automatically adjust controls of the towing machine and the towed machine based on the scanned information.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for avoiding the misapplication of contents in one or more containers, the method comprising: providing a first smart label, the first smart label comprising first information corresponding to a first recipe for a first composition to be applied by a machine to crops in a first portion of a field, the first recipe based on geofence information for the first portion of the field; and assigning by a processor the first smart label to a first container that stores the first composition.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method implemented on a sprayer machine, the method comprising receiving weather information and sprayer machine information while the sprayer machine is in a field applying product; estimating a drift plume based on the weather and sprayer machine information; and providing for display a graphical representation of the estimated drift plume.