Abstract: In a forage harvester having a motor driven sharpening stone driven back and forth along a path parallel to the axis of a rotating cutterhead to sharpen the knives of the cutterhead, and a door which normally prevents access to the knives, a control circuit is provided for controlling the opening of the door, the movement of the sharpening stone to sharpen the knives, and the closing of the door after the knives have been sharpened. The circuit is controlled by switches located at an operator's control panel and accessible to the operator while he is in the driver's seat of the harvester so that the operator does not have to leave his driving position to accomplish the knife sharpening operation. The circuit includes visual indicators located on the control panel for indicating the status of the circuit during the entire operation.

Abstract: A power shift transmission is operably controlled by a microprocessor that will effect a deceleration of the vehicle at relatively high speeds by effecting a downshifting of the transmission in response to a sensing of the rate of rotation of the output shaft such that the gears in the transmission are selected so that the transmission and/or the vehicle engine becomes a load for decelerating the vehicle. The microprocessor does not effect a downshifting of the transmission whenever the sensed rate of rotation of the output shaft would cause an overspeeding of the engine in the lower gear. The microprocessor runs a strategy determination check prior to entering a high speed deceleration routine to determine if a more efficient deceleration routine would be more effective, as based upon the pre-sensed rate of rotation of the output shaft.

Abstract: A microprocessor controlling a shuttle shift transmission may be programmed while the gearshift lever is in neutral to preselect a forward and reverse gear into which the transmission is shifted when the gearshift lever is moved to a forward or reverse position. The microprocessor may also be programmed so that, in shifting between forward and reverse, the forward and reverse gears selected differ by a pre-programmed amount. The microprocessor may be programmed to control vehicle deceleration by selecting gears in the transmission so that the transmission and/or the vehicle engine become a load for decelerating the vehicle. In the method of decelerating the tractor from relatively high vehicle speeds, the transmission is disconnected from the engine and then locked by simultaneously engaging two clutches for the simultaneous engagement of two gear ratios. A modulation of the final clutch set permits the inertial energy of the tractor to be dissipated.

Abstract: A microprocessor controlling a shuttle shift transmission may be programmed to effect a calibration of the final drive clutches in the transmission so that the microprocessor can efficiently effect engagement of each respective said clutch by applying the proper hydraulic pressure to cause proper engagement thereof. This method of calibrating the final drive clutches in the transmission includes braking the output shaft of the transmission so that any engagement of the selected final drive clutch being calibrated will cause a load to be applied to the engine. The hydraulic pressure is then incrementally increased until the engine RPM's decrease because of the load being placed on the engine. The value of this engagement hydraulic pressure is stored in the microprocessor for use when effecting engagement of the selected clutch during operation of the transmission. Service indicators are programmed into the microprocessor should the selected clutch not be capable of being calibrated.

Abstract: A round baler utilizes a combination of rollers and belts arranged to define a generally D-shaped bale starting chamber. An inner course of the belts forms the rear wall of the bale starting chamber while the rollers form the front wall of the bale starting chamber. The belt inner course extends upwardly and forwardly when the chamber is empty and is expandable in length during bale formation.

Abstract: A control mechanism for operably controlling three functions of the loader mechanism on a tractor-loader is disclosed wherein a longitudinal, fore and aft movement of the control lever effects operation of one function, while a transverse movement of the control lever effects operation of a second function, and a rotational movement of the control lever about the axis thereof controls the third function of the loader mechanism. The control lever includes an elongated inner member affixed to a plate being supported from the frame by a universal joint permitting pivotal movement of the plate in the transverse and longitudinal directions in response to a corresponding manipulation of the control lever. The control lever also includes an elongated tubular member rotatably mounted on the inner member and connected to an additional linkage to translate rotational movement of the elongated tubular member into linear motion for controlling operation of an auxiliary device on the loader mechanism.

Abstract: A control linkage for use on a tractor to control hydraulic implements associated therewith is disclosed wherein a control lever controlling the raising and lowering of the header forming a part of an implement mounted on a tractor is provided with a control device detachably connected thereto and engageable with a second control lever operably controlling the speed of a hydraulic motor powering the components of the implement attached to the tractor. The control device automatically moves the control lever for the speed of the hydraulic motor to a slow position whenever the header lift control lever is moved to effect a raising of the header relative to the ground. The speed control lever is spring-loaded toward the fast position so that a return of the header lift control lever to lower the header into an operating position will result in an automatic return of the speed control lever to a fast position.

Abstract: An axial flow harvesting machine having at least one generally cylindrical rotor rotatably mounted within a casing and operable, in conjunction with the casing, to thresh and separate grain from straw material, and a plurality of mounting members permanently provided at predetermined positions over the periphery of the rotor is disclosed wherein the height of each mounting member is less than the height of crop operating members mountable thereon for operation on the straw material in use of the machine to thresh and separate grain therefrom.

Abstract: The agricultural baler operable to produce square bales and comprising a bale case having an inlet opening formed therein, a feeder communicating at one end with the inlet opening in the bale case and feeder tines operable to feed crop material into the feeder duct to form a wad of crop material for subsequent transfer to the bale case. A wall of the feeder duct is provided with rollers or a conveyor operable to assist in the movement of crop material within the feeder duct and contactable by the crop material as it passes through the feeder duct, whereby the frictional forces produced by the passage of the crop material over that wall of the feeder duct are reduced.

Abstract: An agricultural bale accumlator includes a load bed adapted for accumulating thereon a plurality of bales with bales being received one after another in a first direction on the load bed. Bale-transfer arms are operable to displace the bales, after receipt on the load bed, across the load bed in a second direction transverse to the first direction and to position these bales in side-by-side relationship on the load bed thus forming a compact parcel thereof. A bale-discharge conveyor is operable to discharge a parcel of bales accumulated on the load bed to the ground. This bale accumulator also comprises a bale-turning mechanism for turning each bale through 90.degree. around its longitudinal axis upon receipt on the load bed.

Abstract: A mechanism for forcing apart the upper and lower rolls in a crop conditioning apparatus is disclosed wherein the torsion bar operably associated with the upper conditioning roll to assert a biasing force thereon to urge the upper roll toward engagement with the lower roll is anchored against one of the lift arms pivotally supporting the crop gathering header for generally vertical movement relative to the ground. The anchor is in the form of a connecting link pivotally interconnecting one of the lift arms and an anchoring arm forming a portion of a hub assembly engaged with the torsion bar to effect rotation thereof to create the biasing forces exerted on the upper roll. The movement of the lift arms to raise the crop gathering header relative to the ground causes a reverse rotation of the hub assembly and the engaged torsion bar to lessen the biasing force exerted thereby.

Abstract: An agricultural baler operable to produce square bales compries a bale case having an inlet opening formed therein, a feeder duct communicating at one end with the inlet opening in the bale case, and feeder tines operable to feed crop material into the feeder duct to form a wad of crop material for subsequent transfer to the bale case. The feeder duct is provided with an opening in a wall thereof, and releasable doors are provided for the opening in the wall of the feeder duct. Thus, in the event of the feeder duct becoming plugged, all that is necessary to remove the plug of crop material is for the doors for the opening in the wall of the feeder duct to be released and for the feeder tines to be driven so that the plug of crop material is dislodged and discharged through the opening in the feeder duct wall.

Abstract: An agricultural baler for making cylindrical bales of crop material having a sledge assembly movable between bale starting and full bale positions. The sledge assembly includes a plurality of rollers which cooperate with an apron to define a bale forming chamber. A dispensing mechanism is carried on the sledge assembly for dispensing sheet material, such as net or plastic film, into the bale forming chamber so that it is wrapped circumferentially around a cylindrical bale of crop material disposed in the bale forming chamber. The dispensing mechanism is movable into a dispensing position wherein a tail of the sheet material is inserted through a gap between the apron and one of the rollers of the sledge assembly.

Abstract: A device for determining the depth below the ground surface of a working member of an earth moving equipment, comprises a sensor for transmitting electromagnetic signal from underneath and toward the ground surface and for receiving a portion of the signal reflected from the ground surface. The sensor is positioned underneath the ground surface in fixed spatial relationship to the working member such that the sensor means is under the ground surface when at least a portion of the working member is under the ground surface. A circuit is provided for processing the received reflected signal to thereby indicate the depth under the ground surface of the working member, whereby the depth is proportional to the time of travel of the signal to the ground surface and the reflected signal to the sensor means.

Abstract: A bale accumulator includes a base module having a table for receiving a plurality of bales thereon, a bale transfer module for accumulating the bales received on the table into a parcel thereof, and a bale turning module for individually turning each bale received on the table through substantially 90.degree. about its longitudinal axis. The bale transfer and the bale turning modules are independently attachable to and detachable from the base module. The accumulator may also comprise a bale dumping module for dumping the parcel of bales accumulated on the table and an extension module for extending the width dimension of the table. The bale dumping module and the extension module are attachable to and detachable from the base module independently of the bale transfer and bale turning modules.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for measuring grain loss in a harvesting machine in substantially absolute terms. This apparatus comprises one or more first detectors operable to detect one or more operating condition parameters and to produce a first electrical output signal representative thereof, a plurality of second detectors operable to detect grain separation at a plurality of locations within the machine and to produce second electrical output signals representative thereof, processor means to which the first and second output signals are applied and operable to derive therefrom a substantially absolute indication of grain loss at a given instant, and display means for displaying the grain loss indication.

Abstract: A biasing mechanism for a roll-type conditioning apparatus having a pair of generally vertically spaced, counterrotating conditioning rolls in which the upper roll is biased toward engagement with the lower roll is disclosed wherein a torsion bar interconnects the opposing ends of the upper roll such that any movement of either end of the upper roll away from the lower roll effects a twisting of the torsion bar to increase the biasing force exerted thereby on both ends of the upper conditioning roll. The torsion bar is connected to a mounting mechanism which includes a hub assembly pivotally connected to the frame of the conditioning apparatus on a pivot arm movably mounting one end of the upper conditioning roll. The pivotal connection of the hub assembly effects a rotational movement thereof whenever the pivot arm is moved to effect a corresponding twisting of the torsion bar connected thereto.

Abstract: An axial flow harvesting machine having at least one generally cylindrical rotor rotatably mounted within a casing and operable in conjunction with the casing to thresh and separate grain from straw material, and a plurality of mounting members provided on the periphery of the rotor to mount crop operating members for engagement with the straw material is disclosed wherein each of the mounting members have mounting surfaces oriented in a predetermined manner to orient the crop operating members in a predetermined orientation.