Abstract: A hydraulic system for use with an agricultural harvester header is provided. The hydraulic system includes a reversible hydraulic pump that drives a reversible hydraulic motor in a forward or harvesting direction and a reverse or header cleaning direction. The system can further include a second reversible pump similarly driving a second reversible hydraulic motor in forward and reverse directions. The pumps and motors can be used to operate various header implements, e.g., the first pump and motor may be used to operate at least a crop cutting knife and the second pump and motor can be used to operate at least one conveyor. The pumps and motors operate within hydraulic circuits which share their hydraulic fluid with the harvester's hydraulic fluid reservoir, thereby reducing system weight, complexity and maintenance requirements.

Abstract: Density control system for an agricultural baler having a baling chamber including a plurality of walls with at least one movable wall section, an intake duct leading into the baling chamber, and a plunger for compressing charges of crop material to a package in the chamber, an actuator for adjusting the position of the at least one movable wall section in response to an output of the density control system to vary the density of said package, wherein the density control system has a sensor for measuring the position of the at least one movable wall section, a comparator for comparing said position with a threshold position and a decision module configured to stop the movement of the actuator means when the position exceeds the threshold position.

Abstract: An agricultural implement is provided that has a variable placement hinge joint that allows adjacent implement sections to flex relative to each other and can be moved by an actuator to control spacing between adjacent work zones defined by the implement sections. This can be done by detecting relative angle changes between adjacent implement sections and moving the hinge joint to maintain a constant distance between the work zones so that row spacing is substantially constant across the entire implement, even between adjacent ground-engaging tools or other working units of different implement sections.

Abstract: An agricultural harvesting system including a chassis, an agricultural product moving device coupled to the chassis, an airflow system, a cleaning system and an airflow characterizing system. The cleaning system is configured to receive the agricultural product from the moving device. The cleaning system is configured to receive an airflow from the airflow system. The airflow characterizing system is at least partially positioned in the airflow, and is configured to measure an airflow profile across the cleaning system. The airflow characterizing system includes a plurality of sensors that determine airflow by measuring a thermal transfer from the sensors to the airflow. The airflow characterizing system being configured to maintain a substantially constant electrical resistance of the sensors as the airflow varies. The airflow characteristics are measured in the cleaning system and are used to improve the cleaning capacity of the harvesting system.

Abstract: A hydraulic system for use with an agricultural harvester header is provided. The hydraulic system includes a reversible hydraulic pump that drives a reversible hydraulic motor in a forward or harvesting direction and a reverse or header cleaning direction. The system can further include a second reversible pump similarly driving a second reversible hydraulic motor in forward and reverse directions. The pumps and motors can be used to operate various header implements, e.g., the first pump and motor may be used to operate at least a crop cutting knife and the second pump and motor can be used to operate at least one conveyor. The pumps and motors operate within hydraulic circuits which share their hydraulic fluid with the harvester's hydraulic fluid reservoir, thereby reducing system weight, complexity and maintenance requirements.

Abstract: An adjustable row unit for a header of a combine harvester is disclosed. The row unit includes opposed and cooperating curved deck plates that reduce the distance from the upper surfaces of the deck plates to the stripping roll pinch points. The deck plates move in unison and the opening of the stalk receiving gap is variable and subject to coarse and fine adjustment. Coarse adjustment is achieved by moving the deck plates into a selected stalk receiving position and fine adjustment is performed by a yieldable biasing member when the deck plates are in the selected stalk receiving position.

Abstract: An improved automatic height adjustment system for use with a header of an agricultural harvester is provided. The system includes apparatus and methods utilizing detection of a light beam at or near the skid plate of a header to adjust the height of the header relative to the ground surface. The apparatus includes an emitter for emitting a beam of light to a receiver. An apertured sensor guide is positioned between the emitter and the receiver. The sensor guide is in communication with a controller. If the body of the sensor guide is detected as blocking passage of light to the receiver then the controller operates an extensible actuator to raise or lower the header relative to the ground surface. The system provides rapid header height adjustment in response to detected changes in elevation of the skid plate as the harvester traverses a crop field.

Abstract: A power beyond valve assembly for an agricultural implement includes a pressure compensation spool that receives hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic supply and selectively provides the hydraulic fluid to a hydraulic system of the agricultural implement. The position of the pressure compensation spool is adjustable between an open position that facilitates flow of the hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic system and a closed position that blocks flow of the hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic system. Additionally, two fluid connections provide the hydraulic fluid to either end of the pressure compensation spool to urge the pressure compensation spool to an open or a closed position. Further, a pressure relief valve is fluidly coupled to one of the fluid connections, and the pressure relief value is adjustable to vary hydraulic pressure within the hydraulic system.

Abstract: An improved cutter assembly for use with a header of an agricultural harvester is provided. The assembly includes a pair of oppositely directed knife blades or cutter bars and a center knife drive. A crank shaft drives both knife blades in linear reciprocating paths with no fore and aft movement. As a consequence, harmful fore and aft vibration is eliminated. The assembly is simple and durable in design, less susceptible to vibration-induced wear and tear, and comparatively simple to manufacture and repair.

Abstract: An agricultural vehicle including an exhaust system. The exhaust system also includes a dosing module having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. Additionally, the exhaust system includes a first conduit coupled directly between the fluid inlet and an engine cooling system of the agricultural vehicle. The first conduit is configured to hold a cooling fluid. The exhaust system also includes a second conduit coupled directly between the fluid outlet and the engine cooling system and is configured to hold the cooling fluid.

Abstract: A cooler bypass valve assembly for an agricultural implement includes a cooler bypass valve configured to receive hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic supply. The cooler bypass valve position is adjustable between a first position that facilitates flow of the hydraulic fluid to a cooler bypass and restricts flow of the hydraulic fluid to a hydraulic fluid cooler, and a second position that blocks flow of the hydraulic fluid to the cooler bypass and facilitates flow of the hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic fluid cooler. The hydraulic fluid cooler is capable of reducing a temperature of the hydraulic fluid, and the cooler bypass directs the hydraulic fluid around the hydraulic fluid cooler. Additionally, the cooler bypass valve assembly includes a control assembly that controls the cooler bypass valve position based on the temperature of the hydraulic fluid.

Abstract: A diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) delivery system includes a tank for DEF, usually a urea aqueous solution, and a pump receiving the DEF from the tank for pressurization and delivery through a nozzle to the exhaust system of a work machine. A breather assembly is provided for the DEF tank and includes a housing having an inlet for ambient air and a particle filter adjacent the inlet for filtering particles. A hydrophobic membrane is interposed between the particle filter and an outlet leading to the tank for preventing outflow of DEF vapor and condensate.

Abstract: A combine unload control system having a grain tank for storing grain and at least one auger for unloading grain from the grain tank. The control system also includes a first auger cover proximate to the at least one auger, having one or more first auger cutouts disposed on a portion of the first auger cover and a second auger cover proximate to the at least one auger and having one or more second auger cutouts disposed on a portion of the second auger cover. The control system further includes a controller configured to control amounts of grain to pass through the one or more first auger cutouts and the one or more second auger cutouts and flow to the at least one auger by causing the first auger cover and the second auger cover to move relative to each other.

Abstract: A self-propelled agricultural product application implement such as high clearance sprayer and/or spreader is provided that includes a product container that is sectioned. Emptying of the container sections is controlled to approximate a target front-to-back weight distribution of the implement for a substantially long period of time during a product application session. An outlet system having multiple variable outlet arrangements is arranged between the product container and an application arrangement such as a spray boom or a rotary broadcaster. The variable outlet arrangements are configured to allow the container sections to sequentially empty to maintain ballast provided by the store product at relatively later portions of the implement for a relatively longer period of time during the product application session.

Abstract: An improved knife assembly for use with a header of an agricultural harvester. The assembly includes a knife head, a knife back and a plurality of sickle sections fastened to the knife head and knife back. The sickle sections include first and second portions where a second portion of one knife section overlaps a first portion of an another sickle section when the knife sections are arranged in adjacent relationship. The overlapping areas of the adjacent knife sections include aligned though holes which shared fasteners. The resultant construction reduces the overall knife assembly mass thereby leading to increased cutting speeds and corresponding harvester ground speeds. Additionally, the time and labor associated with manufacture and maintenance is reduced while the assembly strength and force distribution capability is enhanced.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydraulic circuit mechanically linked to a panel and agricultural harvesters comprising the same. The hydraulic circuit of the present invention can be used to facilitate the transition of hydraulic states from a quick speed to a slow speed, when opening and closing the panel. The hydraulic circuit comprises a restrictive orifice and a fluid stop valve that, when opened, diverts the path of pressurized fluid away from a hydraulic actuator during the actuator's extension. The diversion of pressurized fluid away from the hydraulic cylinder or through the restrictive orifice substantially reduces the speed at which the panel opens or closes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydraulic circuit mechanically linked to a panel and agricultural harvesters comprising the same. The hydraulic circuit of the present invention can be used to facilitate the transition of hydraulic states from a quick speed to a slow speed, when opening and closing the panel. The hydraulic circuit comprises a fluid stop valve comprising a restrictive orifice which, when narrowed, reduces the rate of pressurized fluid flow into a hydraulic actuator during the actuator's extension. The reduced flow of pressurized fluid into the hydraulic cylinder substantially reduces the speed at which the panel opens or closes.

Abstract: In another embodiment, a method of harvesting an agricultural product includes guiding the agricultural product through a plurality of inlets in a first direction with a plurality of airflows, separating the agricultural product from the first plurality of airflows, directing the agricultural product to a cross-conveyor, conveying the agricultural product through the cross-conveyor from the plurality of inlets to an outlet in a second direction, and guiding the agricultural product through the outlet in a third direction with a second airflow. The first direction is substantially parallel to a travel direction, the second direction is crosswise to the first direction, and the third direction is substantially parallel to the travel direction. The agricultural product is conveyed through the cross-conveyor substantially without the first plurality of airflows, and the second airflow includes the first plurality of airflows.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a fluid storage tank assembly for an off-road vehicle includes disposing a support ring within a cavity of a rotational mold, in which the cavity is shaped to form a fill spout of the fluid storage tank assembly. The method further includes flowing a liquid polymeric material within the rotational mold such that the liquid polymeric material enters the cavity, directly contacts the support ring, and bonds to the support ring as the liquid polymeric material hardens.

Abstract: A planter system includes a planter having an unloading valve and a controller. The unloading valve is fluidly coupled between an inlet and an outlet of a pump. The unloading valve is configured to receive a fluid at a supply pressure, to supply a first portion of the fluid from the inlet to a hydraulic planter system at an unloading pressure less than the supply pressure, and to recirculate a remainder of the fluid to the pump via the outlet. The controller is communicatively coupled to the unloading valve and to the pump. The controller is configured to control the pressure of the fluid supplied to the inlet and to control the unloading pressure of the first portion supplied to the hydraulic planter system.