Abstract: Windrow mergers employ one or more design features as described herein in connection with a suspension assembly that allows the pickup head to rise or fall relative to a frame of the merger. One feature maintains a substantially constant force or pressure between a pickup head of the merger and the terrain regardless of a height of the head. Another feature maintains a substantially constant hydraulic pressure in a hydraulic actuator that connects the pickup head to a frame assembly of the merger. Still another feature employs a hydraulic pump driven by a power takeoff (PTO) of the tractor to charge and discharge a hydraulic actuator arranged to raise and lower the pickup head of the merger between an upper limit and a lower limit.

Abstract: Windrow mergers employ one or more design features as described herein in connection with a suspension assembly that allows the pickup head to rise or fall relative to a frame of the merger. One feature maintains a substantially constant force or pressure between a pickup head of the merger and the terrain regardless of a height of the head. Another feature maintains a substantially constant hydraulic pressure in a hydraulic actuator that connects the pickup head to a frame assembly of the merger. Still another feature employs a hydraulic pump driven by a power takeoff (PTO) of the tractor to charge and discharge a hydraulic actuator arranged to raise and lower the pickup head of the merger between an upper limit and a lower limit.

Abstract: The present invention is a rake, comprising a tongue assembly and a wheel assembly operably coupled to the tongue assembly and being rotationally shiftable relative to the tongue assembly and the wheel assembly mounting a pair of rake assemblies. Each of the pair of rake assemblies is disposable in a generally horizontal disposition when the rake is in a transport disposition, the generally horizontal disposition being effected in part by the rotational shifting of the wheel assembly when transitioning between a working disposition and the transport disposition. The present invention is further a method of disposing the aforementioned rake in the transport disposition.

Abstract: A windrow merger having at least one pickup head member, the at least one pickup head member being selectively shiftable between a working disposition and a transport disposition and having at least a first pivot for shifting the at least one pickup head member from the substantially vertical transport disposition to a substantially horizontal intermediate disposition and at least a second pivot for shifting the at least one pickup head member from the substantially horizontal intermediate disposition through an arc to the working disposition.

Abstract: A windrow merger includes at least one pickup head member and an internal drive assembly disposed within a longitudinal aperture defined internal to the at least one pickup head member, the drive assembly being for imparting a rotational motion to a plurality of tines by means of a drive shaft operably coupled thereto, the drive shaft extending in opposed directions from the drive assembly. A method of forming the windrow merger is further included.

Abstract: A windrow merger having a plurality of rotationally driven tines that rotate around a non-circular cam to vary the rotational speed of the times. The tines extend from the cam on elongated cam followers such that the tines are moved through a flicking motion as the tines are rotated around the cam. The window merger also has an internal drive assembly positioned in an internal aperture around which the rotatable tines are rotated.

Abstract: A manure spreader includes a box for containing manure. The manure spreader box includes a bottom wall, a front wall, two side walls, and a manure discharge opening. The manure spreader also includes a wheeled frame supporting the box, and a vertical beater assembly for engaging and expelling manure. The vertical beater assembly includes a first vertical beater rotatable about a first axis and includes a shaft having a first flighting forming a left-handed helix, and a second flighting forming a right-handed helix. The manure spreader also includes a manure transfer mechanism for moving manure contained in the box to the manure discharge opening for engagement with the vertical beater assembly.

Abstract: A wheel rake including an adjustment mechanism for adjusting wheel beam angle for more aggressive or less aggressive raking action.

Abstract: A damping spring assembly particularly but not exclusively useful for damping the motion of rake wheels in agricultural wheel rakes. The damping spring includes a pair of extended U-bolts and a coil compression spring. The extended U-bolts are connected to spring holder bushings which bear on the ends of the coil compression spring. As the coil compression spring is compressed, a constrained resilient damping rod located within the extended shafts of the extended U-bolts is likewise compressed in length and expands in diameter to bear against the extended shafts of the extended U-bolts, thus providing a damping action to prevent snapping back of the damping spring.

Abstract: An anti-wrap guard system for shielding an exposed bearing assembly of an agricultural apparatus from any material borne by a rotatable shaft that in the course of operating the apparatus may naturally come in contact with the exposed bearing including a guard being disposable between a working section of the rotatable shaft and the bearing assembly supporting the shaft, the guard substantially blocking the material from the bearing. A windrow merger and a method of guarding are further included.

Abstract: A towable windrow merger including a pickup head for raising the crop material form the ground surface and a transverse conveyor assembly for laterally displacing the crop material. The transverse conveyor assembly includes an accelerator roller system, supported by the frame and at the outboard discharge end of the transverse conveyor assembly. The accelerator roller has a movable element for receiving and propelling the windrow material beyond the discharge end of said transverse conveyor and imparting a vertical as well as a horizontal velocity to the windrow material to fluff it.

Abstract: A windrow merger machine, having a pickup conveyor system, which elevates a windrow of crop material from ground level to a transverse conveyor assembly which displaces the windrow of crop material laterally to a discharge end includes a non-adjustable inverter shield system, attachable to the discharge end of the transverse conveyor assembly, the inverter shield system directing the crop material in a forward direction and causing the discharged crop material to invert prior to striking the ground, the inverter shield system having a frame fixedly attachable to the merger machine, a shield removably coupled to the frame, and a single point attachment being attachable to the window merger. A method of inverting crop material and an inverter shield system are further included.

Abstract: The present invention is a control apparatus for an implement transmission. The transmission is operably coupled to a plurality of driven mechanisms for providing a driving power from a prime mover to the plurality of driven mechanisms. A shift assembly has a first and a second actuator apparatus. The first actuator apparatus is operably coupled to the transmission for selectively controlling the transmission of a driving power to at least a first driven mechanism, and the second actuator apparatus is operably coupled to the transmission for selectively controlling the transmission of a driving power to at least a second driven mechanism. The second actuator apparatus has a biasing apparatus for exerting a variable, selective bias on the transmission. A clutch for selectively engaging and disengaging a prime mover and the transmission has a rotatable stop member and an idler-stop assembly.

Abstract: An economical wheeled towable folding wheel rake of robust, largely welded construction utilizing a single hydraulic cylinder to fold two opposed wheel rake assemblies via a four bar linkage. The folding mechanism folds the opposed rake assemblies to a compact, symmetrical, easily locked, vertical orientation for shipping transit and storage. The folding mechanism is simple and utilizes few wearing pivots yet enables flotation of the opposed rake assemblies independent of one another and of the main frame of the wheel rake. The opposed wheel rake assemblies are independently adjustable in raking angle, raking width and raking down pressure.

Abstract: An apron system for use with a forage box container includes split aprons having a first apron and a second apron, the first apron having a pair of spaced apart, continuous, advancing chains, a plurality of spaced apart, transverse bars extending substantially between the pair of spaced apart chains, each of the plurality of bars being operably coupled to each of the pair of advancing chains, the first apron being disposed in a forage box container bed first portion. The second apron has a pair of spaced apart, continuous, advancing chains, a plurality of spaced apart, transverse bars extending substantially between the pair of spaced apart chains, each of the plurality of bars being operably coupled to each of the pair of advancing chains, the second apron being disposed in a forage box container bed second portion. A drive mechanism is operably coupled to the split apron system for imparting advancing motion to the advancing chains thereof.

Abstract: A bale wrapper includes a frame with a leading end having steerable wheels and a transport pole connected to the steerable wheels, a trailing end with braked wheels, and a central portion. A bale-loading deck adjacent the leading end including spaced-apart guide rails, tubular supports between the spaced-apart guide rails which define a standard path and an elevated path, and a hydraulically powered pushbar for translating a bale. A single centrally located hoop assembly, has two opposed rolls of plastic film and is carried and supported by and between a first idler assembly mounted on one side of the frame and a second idler assembly mounted on the opposite side of the frame, the hoop assembly having an inner edge and a powered rubber wheel bearing against the inner edge. The bale wrapper includes a power source.

Abstract: The present invention is a control apparatus for an implement transmission. The transmission is operably coupled to a plurality of driven mechanisms for providing a driving power from a prime mover to the plurality of driven mechanisms. A shift assembly has a first and a second actuator apparatus. The first actuator apparatus is operably coupled to the transmission for selectively controlling the transmission of a driving power to at least a first driven mechanism, and the second actuator apparatus is operably coupled to the transmission for selectively controlling the transmission of a driving power to at least a second driven mechanism. The second actuator apparatus has a biasing apparatus for exerting a variable, selective bias on the transmission. A clutch for selectively engaging and disengaging a prime mover and the transmission has a rotatable stop member and an idler-stop assembly.

Abstract: The present invention is a control apparatus for an implement transmission. The transmission is operably coupled to a plurality of driven mechanisms for providing a driving power from a prime mover to the plurality of driven mechanisms. A shift assembly has a first and a second actuator apparatus. The first actuator apparatus is operably coupled to the transmission for selectively controlling the transmission of a driving power to at least a first driven mechanism, and the second actuator apparatus is operably coupled to the transmission for selectively controlling the transmission of a driving power to at least a second driven mechanism. The second actuator apparatus has a biasing apparatus for exerting a variable, selective bias on the transmission. A clutch for selectively engaging and disengaging a prime mover and the transmission has a rotatable stop member and an idler-stop assembly.

Abstract: A windrow merger for merging product material disposed in a windrow on a ground surface, the windrow merger having a transverse conveyor assembly carried on a merger fame, at least a portion of the frame underlying the transverse conveyor assembly, a tongue operably pivotally coupled to the merger frame, the tongue being couplable to a vehicle for towing the windrow merger, the windrow merger includes a pickup head having a pickup conveyor system including a rotatable pickup conveyor belt for picking up product material disposed in a windrow on a field surface. The pickup head is pivotally coupled to the merger frame and has a leading pickup edge. The pickup head has a suspension for suspending the leading pickup edge such that the leading pickup edge exhibits two degrees of motional freedom.

Abstract: An apron system for use with a forage box container includes split aprons having a first apron and a second apron, the first apron having a pair of spaced apart, continuous, advancing chains, a plurality of spaced apart, transverse bars extending substantially between the pair of spaced apart chains, each of the plurality of bars being operably coupled to each of the pair of advancing chains, the first apron being disposed in a forage box container bed first portion. The second apron has a pair of spaced apart, continuous, advancing chains, a plurality of spaced apart, transverse bars extending substantially between the pair of spaced apart chains, each of the plurality of bars being operably coupled to each of the pair of advancing chains, the second apron being disposed in a forage box container bed second portion. A drive mechanism is operably coupled to the split apron system for imparting advancing motion to the advancing chains thereof.