Abstract: A feeder for an agricultural harvester includes a feeder housing, a front shaft, a rear shaft, at least one feeder loop, and a plurality of feeder slats. The feeder loop is drivable around the rear and front shafts. The feeder slats are mounted to the feeder loop and configured for moving harvested crop over a bottom of the feeder housing, from the front shaft towards the rear shaft. An actuator is coupled between the feeder housing and the front shaft and configured to adjust a tension in the feeder loop by adjusting a distance between the front shaft and the rear shaft. A sensor is operative to generate a sensor signal representative of a force acting on the actuator and configured to, in dependence of the sensor signal, control at least one operational parameter of the agricultural harvester other than the tension in the at least one feeder loop.

Abstract: A safety clutch for an agricultural vehicle includes a driven rotational element having a recess and a roller configured to be received in the recess. The roller is configured to move between positions depending on the relative torque between the roller and the driven rotational element such that the roller either drives rotation of the driven rotational element or does not. An actuator moves the position of the roller.

Abstract: A fan assembly includes two or more axial flow fans rotatably mounted on a support structure. The fans are of the adjustable pitch type, i.e., each fan includes a pitch adjustment mechanism that is actuatable by axially shifting a positioning rod extending outward from the hub of the fan. The assembly further includes a control member and a plurality of adjustment mechanisms coupled respectively to the positioning rods and to the control member in such a way that the position of the control member determines the axial position of the positioning rods and thereby the pitch of the blades of all the fans of the assembly. A single actuator is configured to actuate a movement of the control member.

Abstract: A crop intake device for an agricultural harvester includes a frame and a crop pickup unit, pivotably mounted to the frame. The crop pickup unit includes a rotatable reel, at least one support member, and first and second suspension springs. The reel has tines configured for picking up crop from a field. The support member is arranged for supporting the crop pickup unit on the field during use, and is pivotable relative to the reel for setting a minimum height of the tines by moving the reel between a lowered configuration and a raised configuration. A perpendicular distance between the first suspension spring and a pivot point of the crop pickup unit on the frame increases when moving the reel towards the raised configuration. A lifting torque provided by the second suspension spring on the crop pickup unit increases when moving the reel towards the raised configuration.

Abstract: An agricultural crop baler having a frame, wheels, tailgate, baling chamber, ramp, and an arm attached to the frame and movable between a first position in which the arm extends along a first lateral side of the bale ejection path and does not intersect the bale ejection path, and a second position in which the arm extends along the first lateral side of the bale ejection path and intersects the bale ejection path. The baler also includes an actuator operatively connected between the frame and the arm and configured to move the arm between the first and second positions, and a control system configured to operate the actuator. A method is also provided, in which a baler arm contacts a side of the bale to generate a force on the bale in a direction transverse to the forward direction.

Abstract: An actuator assembly for moving an unload tube of an agricultural vehicle between stowed and deployed positions. The actuator assembly includes a mount that is configured to be fixed to a fixed mounting point on the agricultural vehicle. An actuator of the actuator assembly has a first end that is mounted to the mount and a second end that is mounted to the unload tube for moving the unload tube between the stowed and deployed positions. A tension rod of the actuator assembly has a first end that is pivotably mounted to the mount and a second end that is mounted to a fixed tension rod mounting point located either on or adjacent the unload tube.

Abstract: A tensioner assembly for tensioning a belt including a moveable arm, a first tensioner pulley mounted to the moveable arm, and a second tensioner pulley mounted to the moveable arm. In a first position of the moveable arm corresponding to a forward drive configuration, the first tensioner pulley is positioned in contact with the belt while the second tensioner pulley is spaced apart from the belt. In a second position of the moveable arm corresponding to a reverse drive configuration, the second tensioner pulley is positioned in contact with the belt while the first tensioner pulley is spaced apart from the belt.

Abstract: A method of determining a crop yield of a field harvested by a windrower includes receiving, from a header sensor, header data indicative of a load experienced by a header of the windrower, the header including a cutter configured to cut plant material and a conditioning system configured to condition the plant material. The method further includes receiving, from a location sensor, location data indicative of a location of the windrower, and determining the crop yield at the location of the windrower based on the header data and the location data.

Abstract: A chain guide for a wall of a grain elevator of an agricultural vehicle. The chain guide includes an elongated body. A rib extends from a surface of the elongated body, the rib being configured to engage with a chain of the grain elevator. A mating surface is either formed on or in the body, and the mating surface is configured to be connected to the wall of the grain elevator.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes a swath detection system for determining a distribution of a swath in a field and a method of its use. The swath detection system includes: a swath sensor attached to the harvester and disposed to capture scan data of the distribution of the swath in the field; a sensor accelerometer disposed to capture sensor acceleration data at the same time as the swath sensor captures the scan data; and a controller operatively coupled to the swath sensor and the sensor accelerometer. The controller is configured to temporally correlate the scan data with the sensor acceleration data and merge the scan data whilst spatially aligning the scan data in dependence of the temporally correlated sensor acceleration data.

Abstract: A method for operating an agricultural vehicle, the method including: generating an overdrive torque at a drive wheel motor of at least one ground drive system; transmitting the overdrive torque to the engine via a hydraulic ground drive circuit and a ground drive pump, to thereby bias the engine to operate at an increased rotation speed; measuring an engine rotation speed; comparing the engine rotation speed to a threshold value; and upon determining that the engine rotation speed satisfies the threshold value, operating the auxiliary hydraulic component of an auxiliary hydraulic system to generate a braking torque at a respective auxiliary pump, and transmitting each the braking torque to the engine to bias the engine to operate at a decreased rotation speed. An agricultural vehicle having a control system to perform the method is also provided.

Abstract: A crop residue spreader for an agricultural harvester having a spreader frame with counter-rotating impellers for discharging crop residue and a distribution hood mounted in close proximity to the impellers for deflecting crop residue discharged by the impellers. A common structural member independently supports both the spreader frame and the distribution hood. The distribution hood is movably connected to the common structural member, such that the distribution hood may be moved away from the spreader discharge to provide additional clearance for discharged crop residue to exit the spreader.

Abstract: A feederhouse assembly for an agricultural vehicle includes a feederhouse frame including at least four interconnected walls, an open front end, an open rear end, and a hollow space circumscribed by the four interconnected walls. A header adapter is moveable relative to the feederhouse frame. The header adapter has an adapter sidewall disposed adjacent a feederhouse sidewall of the four interconnected walls. A torque stop is positioned within a gap formed between the feederhouse sidewall and the adapter sidewall. The torque stop has a low-friction bearing surface that is configured for bearing directly on one of the adapter sidewall and the feederhouse sidewall upon deformation of the frame to reduce friction between the adapter sidewall and the feederhouse sidewall.

Abstract: A header assembly for an agricultural vehicle includes a header having a lower surface and at least one gauge wheel assembly. The gauge wheel assembly includes a gauge wheel and a coupling mechanism coupling the gauge wheel to the header. The coupling mechanism includes a hydraulic cylinder configured to selectively extend from a retracted configuration towards an extended configuration to urge a lower edge of the gauge wheel below and away from the lower surface of the header, and a biasing element arranged to bias the hydraulic cylinder to the retracted configuration.

Abstract: A crop processing assembly includes a tube-shaped cage structure and a threshing and separation rotor mounted in the cage structure. The cage structure includes one or more curved gratings at the bottom and a cover at the top, so that the rotation of the rotor actuates the movement of crops along a helicoidal path through the gap between the rotor and the cover and gratings. Inclined guide vanes are arranged on the inner surface of the cover to provide guidance to the crops. The cover includes a step between an upstream portion of the cover and a downstream portion of the cover, so that the gap between the rotor and the cover is larger in the downstream portion than in the upstream portion. The step is oriented at an oblique inclination angle, when the cover is regarded in a parallel projection view from a position above the step.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes a header with a pickup mechanism for picking up crop from a field and a feeder for feeding the crop into the agricultural harvester for further processing. The feeder is pivotably connected to a chassis of the agricultural harvester via at least one lift cylinder. The header is connected to the feeder for pivoting therewith and includes a pickup mechanism supported by a frame. The header further includes at least one wheel for supporting the frame on the ground. A sensor is configured to detect a ground surface composition in an area behind the pickup mechanism, while a control system is operably coupled to the at least one lift cylinder and the sensor, and configured to operate the at least one lift cylinder to adjust a pressure that the header exerts on the ground in dependence of the detected ground surface composition.

Abstract: A mounting mechanism for a signal-receiving module for an agricultural harvester includes a folding four-bar linkage having a ground link fixed to the folding cover of a grain tank. The mechanism holds the signal receiving module in a horizontal position at the highest position above the agricultural harvester when the grain tank cover is in the both the open and closed positions. Also, a kit for mounting a signal-receiving module to a folding grain tank cover on an agricultural harvester, a grain tank for an agricultural harvester including the mounting mechanism, and an agricultural harvester including the mounting mechanism.

Abstract: A cleaning system includes cleaning sieves for separating grain kernels from grain chaff, clean grain collectors arranged below respective ones of the at least two cleaning sieves for receiving the separated grain kernels therefrom, and a clean grain transporter coupled to the grain collectors and arranged to receive the separated grain kernels from the grain collectors and transport the grain kernels towards a grain storage. The clean grain transporter is configured to simultaneously facilitate a first crop stream including primarily grain kernels coming from a first one of the clean grain collectors and a second crop stream including primarily grain kernels coming from another one of the clean grain collectors. A camera system captures an image of a sample of the grain kernels in the first crop stream and an image of a sample of the grain kernels in the second crop stream.

Abstract: A harvesting machine includes a main frame having a main actuator; a cutting frame having a crop guiding surface including a plurality of slots extending in a direction of travel of crop over the crop guiding surface and a plurality of knives pivotally mounted below the crop guiding surface; an outer frame being pivotable around a common pivot axis and being connected to the actuator; an inner frame having a plurality of operating units, and a selector mechanism configured to selectively engage one or more of the plurality of operating units. The outer frame includes an axis for pivotally holding a plurality of levers, each lever being pivotally connected to an operating unit of each knife. Guides are provided for lateral movement of the crop guiding surface with the plurality of knives from an operating position into a servicing position and vice versa.

Abstract: A method of controlling the weight of bales made by an agricultural baler. The method includes: receiving a bale weight setpoint; receiving crop parameter data; and, while a bale is being made: receiving baler operating data relating to baling parameters; inputting the crop parameter data and baler operating data into a weight prediction model to generate a predicted final weight of the bale; and changing a baling parameter setpoint of one of the baling parameters based on the predicted final weight of the bale and the bale weight setpoint.