Abstract: A pneumatic agricultural particulate material delivery system for delivering agricultural particulate material to a growing medium is disclosed. The delivery system includes a particulate material supply chamber, a furrow opening device configured to create a furrow in the growing medium, a plurality of tubes providing an interior passage extending from the particulate material supply chamber to an outlet proximate the furrow opening device and a pneumatic pressure source pneumatically coupled to the interior passage to supply pressurized air to the interior passage to move material within the interior passage. The plurality of tubes includes an end-most material delivery tube providing the outlet. The end-most material delivery tube includes a plurality of openings extending therethrough in communication with the interior passage. In one exemplary embodiment, the plurality of openings are louvered so as to extend at a downward angle towards the outlet.

Abstract: An apparatus for linking first and second power ports on a variable length tongue assembly where the distance between the ports varies as a function of the degree to which the tongue assembly is extended, the apparatus including a receiver member that defines a receiver space for receiving the cable when the tongue assembly is in a retracted position, a flexible power cable that links the first and second ports together and that forms at least one curve proximate the first cable end and that is convex toward the receiving space, and a guide member that restricts bending of the cable between the curve and the second end such that, upon retracting the tongue assembly, the cable is forced into the receiving space and into a stowed position, at least one embodiment includes a sheath member that further restricts cable bending.

Abstract: An agricultural tillage implement employing a series of apparatus to perform one-pass primary tillage is disclosed. A cutting disk is the first apparatus that works the field. These disks cut the residue laterally (across the machine) and mix the majority of the residue throughout the disk tillage profile. Additional conditioning occurs by knocking residue/stalks over into a prone position with large cast spools between each disk for quicker decay. Next, chisel plow units work the soil to fracture and loosen the soil, providing proper soil aggregate size and air pore space relationship throughout the shank tillage profile. The last apparatus to work the field is a set of leveling disks, or a combination of leveling disks and a rotary reel/drag harrow. The function of these will provide is to reduce clod size and leave the soil level and smooth enough to allow one-pass secondary tillage in the spring.

Abstract: An agricultural particulate material delivery system for delivering metered agricultural particulate material to a growing medium includes first and second compartments adapted to contain different agricultural particulate materials, a material meter having an interior and a flow switching mechanism between the first and second compartments and the meter. The flow switching mechanism is actuatable between a first position in which the flow switching mechanism supplies material from the first compartment to the interior of the meter, a second position in which the flow switching mechanism supplies material from the second compartment to the interior of the meter and a third position in which the flow switching mechanism stops the supply of material from both the first and second compartments to the interior of the meter.

Abstract: A method for controlling the drive mechanism of a utility vehicle having a power take-off shaft, where the drive mechanism including an engine, a transmission, a power take-off shaft clutch and a controller, operates the drive mechanism in a careful and economical manner. The method of controlling the engine includes the step of issuing an instruction for engaging the power take-off shaft clutch at a low rotational speed of the engine so that the power take-off shaft clutch is engaged in a controlled manner. If the rotational speed of the engine is above a threshold, the rotational speed is automatically reduced before the engaging the power take-off shaft clutch. After fully engaging the power take-off shaft clutch, the rotational speed of the engine is automatically increased until reaching of the rotational speed of the engine required for the nominal rotational speed of the power take-off shaft.

Abstract: A support structure for a divider of an agricultural corn head that includes a first tension member that is pivotally attached to a second tension member. A stop is provided which prevents the lines of tension of the first and second tension members from aligning. The tension assembly can therefore buckle upwards when an object underneath the support structure is struck. A lateral support for the divider is also provided with a clearance opening for the tension assembly. The divider can be rotated rearward into a transport or a service position and securely locked in place. A shipping position is provided in which the support structure can be rotated rearward by disconnecting the tension assembly.

Abstract: A mass flow sensor apparatus (30) for a billet harvester(10) for sugar cane of the type having an elevator (20) with a plurality of flights (24) that transfer batches of billets (5) through an elevator housing and having a floor section (23) proximate an upper end (22) of the elevator housing, the mass flow sensor apparatus including: a weigh pad (31) for receiving batches of billets (5); a first transducer means (34) operatively associated with the weigh pad for producing mass signals (39) indicative of a mass received by the weigh pad and error correction mechanism (37, 38) for correction of measurement errors in the mass signals; whereby, in use, the weigh pad (31) is substantially co-planar with the floor section (23) in the elevator housing such that batches of billets (5) traverse the weigh pad and the error correction mechanism (37) is operatively associated with the crop harvester (10). A yield mapping system employing DGPS positioning techniques with the mass flow rate sensor is also disclosed.