Abstract: A sprayer attachment is designed for mounting upon a swather tractor and includes a central frame with a tank which can be carried upon the front arms of the swather tractor. Two masts each carry a respective one of a pair of booms, each for extending outwardly to a respective side of the tractor for movement with the tractor in a spraying action. Each boom includes an inner section, an outer section and a tip portion. In the folding action the outer section and tip portion are folded about a horizontal axis so as to move to a position overlying the inner section. The folded boom is then pivoted about a vertical axis at the mast to lie along side the side of the tractor. The tip portion includes a parallel cable in advance of the tip portion for impacting an obstacle with the cable actuating release of the latch and accelerating the tip portion away from the obstacle to prevent impact with the obstacle.

Abstract: A hydraulic drive apparatus for example for driving the header of a combine harvester includes a pump, at least one motor driven by the pump, a reservoir in which the hydraulic fluid is cooled and degasified and a hydraulic circuit connecting the elements. The pump is driven by a shaft of the combine which can be reversed for short periods of time for discharging blockages. The hydraulic circuit is arranged with check valves so that when operating in the normal forward condition it operates in open circuit arrangement including the reservoir. When operating in the reverse condition, the reservoir is bypassed and the fluid is directed in closed circuit condition from the pump through the motor and back to the pump. This allows the drive apparatus to accommodate the necessary reverse condition for short periods of time using a simple hydraulic circuitry rather than the conventional mechanical drive arrangements.

Abstract: A reel of a header comprises a tube which is mounted on arms at ends of the tube for rotation about a longitudinal axis of the tube. At axially spaced positions along the length of the tube is provided a plurality of support members each lying in a radial plane of the tube and forming a disc surrounding the tube. The disc carries a plurality of brackets extending radially outwardly from the edge of the disc and each bracket carries a respective one of a plurality of bats extending longitudinally of the tube and at angularly spaced positions around the tube. As the tube rotates the bats pass over a sickle knife of the header and sweep the crop onto a table of the header. The brackets are adjustable radially relative to the discs so that the brackets at the center of the tube are moved radially inwardly and the brackets at the ends of the tube are moved radially outwardly.

Abstract: A header is mounted on a separate tractor and takes drive from a PTO shaft of the tractor and communicates the drive to a main drive shaft of the header longitudinal of the main beam of the header. The angle drive necessary to communicate this power is formed by three CV joints. A first CV joint is connected to the PTO shaft and a third CV joint is connected to the main drive shaft of the header. Between the first and third CV joints is provided a first shaft extending to the second CV joint and a second shaft from the second CV joint to the third CV joint. The first shaft is carried on a hanger bearing which can pivot about a horizontal axis with the first shaft mounted in a spherical bearing on the hanger bearing plate. The second shaft is telescopic. The three CV joints pivot to divide the total angle approximately equally so that each can run within a reasonable angle. The pivoting hanger bearing and the telescopic shaft accommodate relative movement between the tractor and the header.

Abstract: A header includes a cutter bar with a generally C-shaped beam supporting the sickle knife assembly across a front edge of the assembly. A draper assembly is carried on the cutter bar beam and includes a pair of rollers at right angles to the beam carrying a continuous draper canvas band around the rollers with the front edge of the canvas adjacent the cutter bar beam. The rollers and a support plate between the rollers for the upper run of the canvas are both recessed relative to the front edge of the canvas to leave a cantilever portion at the front edge of the canvas. This cantilever portion has an upper surface engaging an undersurface of a top plate of the beam to provide a seal inhibiting penetration of materials between the canvas and the cutter bar. A lower plate of the C-shaped beam is shorter in length than the upper plate and is inclined downwardly to allow the discharge of any materials from the area between the draper canvas and the cutter bar to prevent buildup.

Abstract: A chain drive system is provided for communicating rotation from the bottom roller of a hay conditioner to the top roller of the hay conditioner. The top and bottom rollers include longitudinally extending flutes which intermesh as the rollers rotate. The top roller is mounted for movement at each end upwardly away from the bottom roller to accommodate increased quantities of crop or obstacles. The chain drive maintains angular synchronism between the rollers despite movement of the top roller away from the bottom roller. This is achieved using a single chain wrapped around a drive sprocket on the bottom roller and around two idlers arranged at the apexes of a triangle. The driven sprocket on the top roller is located within the triangle so that the chain wraps around the drive roller into the triangle, around the driven roller and back to the idler at the apex.

Abstract: A control lever system for actuating the hydraulic pump of a hydrostatic transmission system of an agricultural vehicle includes a lever having a hand grip portion for actuation by the operator. The lever passes through an elongate slot in a console surface to control its movement. A lower end of the lever is connected to the pump. A friction resistance system is applied to the lever to generate a frictional force resisting the natural restoring force of the pump tending to move to the neutral postion. The friction resistance is applied only over the length of the slot relating to the forward movement of the pump so that there is no action at the neutral position or in reverse. The friction resistance includes a friction multiplier generated by a sub-lever portion pivotally mounted on the lever and biased by spring action when in contact with an abutment member to pinch a friction band so that the friction force generated by the band is greater than the spring action.

Abstract: The header support linkage of a swather header on a support frame of a swather comprises a substantially vertical beam, an upper cross arm formed from a channel and a lower support cradle arm projecting outwardly from the bottom of the beam. A lower link projects from the frame forwardly to engage the lower part of the beam and is formed by an expandable cylinder to lift the header. An upper link extends from an upper part of the frame along the inside of the channel forming the upper arm. A cylinder extends from a lower part of the frame to a lever pivotally connected to the upper link providing a lost motion connection. An adjustable stop is provided between the upper link and the inside of the upper arm. A float spring is connected between an outer end of the upper arm and a vertically adjustable slide provided on the frame.

Abstract: A check-relief valve for use in a hydraulic circuit comprises a channel through a valve body which is divided by a central annular restriction into two portions. On each side of the restrictor is provided a valve seat which cooperates with a spherical ball to close off flow in a direction toward the restriction. At the outer end of each portion of the channel is provided a perforated plate which prevents the ball from restricting flow when the ball is forced against the plate. Either the ball or the restrictor is formed of a resilient deformable material which can be deformed when the pressure in the fluid exceeds a predetermined maximum in which case the ball is forced through the restriction to the opposite portion of the channel. The check valve is used in a system of a swather for moving one of the draper assemblies longitudinally of the frame of the swather and simultaneously reversing the direction of rotation of the drive to the draper.

Abstract: A flexible header for a combine or swather includes a pair of wing sections which can flex relative to a central section. Each wing section carries a draper canvas for transporting a cut crop inwardly toward the central section. Beneath the inner ends of the drapers is mounted a further draper for transporting the crop rearwardly through an opening in the central frame into the feeder housing of the combine. Above the central draper is mounted a roller member having a central paddle portion and auger portions outside of the central portion for confining and directing the crop in cooperation with the central draper into the feeder housing. The pivot axis of each wing portion is inclined inwardly and forwardly so that the axes intersect at the sickle knife. This arrangement allows the manufacture of a large width flexible combine header.

Abstract: A header frame for a combine includes a mounting frame which is attached to the front end of the feeder housing of the combine and a header frame. The header frame is mounted on the mounting frame by suitable linkage so that it can lift in a vertical direction and also can twist about an axis parallel to the forward direction of the combine to allow the header frame to follow ground contours. A flexible pan is connected between the header frame and the mounting frame to define a lower surface of the header immediately in front of the mouth of the feeder housing with the pan having a forward edge attached to the header frame and a rearward edge attached to the mounting frame with the movement therebetween being accommodated by flexing or sliding of one mounting of the pan. In one arrangement of the header, the conventional auger is replaced by two side drapers and a feed draper with the feed draper being mounted in a manner which allows limited vertical movement away from the pan.

Abstract: The adjustment between the stub guards of a sickle knife arrangement of a crop cutting apparatus is improved by the provision of an adjustment plate which is positioned between the upper stub guard and the support bar. The upper and lower stub guards are clamped onto the support bar by carriage bolts with the lower stub guard engaging against the under surface of the support bar and the upper stub guard engaging against the upper surface of the adjustment plate. The spacing and orientation of the adjustment plate relative to the support bar is adjusted by the three set screws which are threaded into the adjustment plate and engaged against the upper surface of the support bar. The adjustment technique is simple, requires few parts and avoids the necessity for shims.

Abstract: A reel for a harvesting machine comprises a plurality of bats arranged for rotation around an axis defined by a shaft. The bats are pivotal about a bat axis parallel to the shaft and are driven in pivoting movement by an eccentric ring member interconnected to each of the bats by a rigid link controlled by the eccentric ring member. The ring member is free to rotate relative to the shaft but is driven by each in turn of the links when the respective bat reaches an extreme position as defined by a sliding link coupled between the rigid link and the ring member. The bats comprise folded sheet metal in tubular form defining a plurality of pockets each for receiving a plastics finger for projecting from a leading edge of the bat. Each bat is formed from separate bat portions coupled together by tubes extending into an end of the bat and bolted to the tubes so as to depress material from the bat into a punched hole formed in a groove in the tube.

Abstract: A reel for a harvesting machine comprises a plurality of bats arranged for rotation around an axis defined by a shaft. The bats are pivotal about a bat axis parallel to the shaft and are driven in pivoting movement by an eccentric ring member interconnected to each of the bats by a rigid link controlled by the eccentric ring member. The ring member is free to rotate relative to the shaft but is driven by each in turn of the links when the respective bat reaches an extreme position as defined by a sliding link coupled between the rigid link and the ring member. The bats comprise folded sheet metal in tubular form defining a plurality of pockets each for receiving a plastics finger for projecting from a leading edge of the bat. Each bat is formed from separate bat portions coupled together by tubes extending into an end of the bat and bolted to the tubes so as to depress material from the bat into a punched hole formed in a groove in the tube.

Abstract: A pull type swather or windrower which can be used either singly or in a duplex or tandem arrangement can be adjusted from a working position to a transport position by pivoting the hitch through 90.degree. and by unlocking the wheels so they turn through 90.degree. to move the swather at right angles to its working direction. The swather is mounted on two wheels inwardly of the ends of the swather and rearwardly of the drapers with the wheel remote from the hitch movable to a position forwardly of its working position so as to lie under the drapers and to balance the center of gravity so that the swather can be supported solely by the two wheels in the transport position. A rear or duplex swather can be attached to the front swather by a duplex hitch which provides steering movements of the rear swather in a direction opposite to the steering movements of the front swather so that the former properly tracks the latter in echelon relationship.

Abstract: A mowing device with two sickle bars provides an effective cutting action of the sickle bars at the center where they cooperate in their reciprocation. The knife guards of one sickle bar are mounted at a higher level than those of the other so that one overlaps the other by a height difference slightly greater than the thickness thereof. The central knife guard is of a modified construction so that the end most knife element of the upper sickle bar cooperates with the upper surface of the knife retaining plate member provided for the end knife element of the lower sickle bar. An additional trash bar is provided between the upper plate members for cooperation with the trash bars of the upper sickle bar.

Abstract: A pull-type swather or windrower which can be used either singly or in a duplex or tandem arrangement can be adjusted from a working position to a transport position by pivoting the hitch through 90.degree. and by unlocking the wheels so they turn through 90.degree. to move the swather at right angles to its working direction. The swather is mounted on two wheels inwardly of the ends of the swather and rearwardly of the drapers with the wheel remote from the hitch movable to a position forwardly of its working position so as to lie under the drapers and to balance the center of gravity so that the swather can be supported solely by the two wheels in the transport position. A rear or duplex swather can be attached to the front swather by a duplex hitch which provides steering movements of the rear swather in a direction opposite to the steering movements of the front swather so that the former properly tracks the latter in echelon relationship.

Abstract: A flexible header for a combine or swather includes a pair of wing sections .[.which can flex relative to.]. .Iadd.and .Iaddend.a central section .Iadd.mounted on a rigid header frame.Iaddend.. Each wing section carries a draper canvas for transporting cut crop inwardly toward the central section. Beneath the inner ends of the .Iadd.side .Iaddend.drapers is mounted a .[.further.]. .Iadd.feed .Iaddend.draper for transporting the crop rearwardly through an opening in the central frame into the feeder housing of the combine. .Iadd.The header frame is mounted on a fixed mounting frame for floating vertically and pivotally. .Iaddend.Above the central draper is mounted a roller member having a central paddle portion and auger portions outside of the central portion for confining and directing the crop in cooperation with the central draper into the feeder housing. .[.The pivot axis of each wing portion is inclined inwardly and forwardly so that the axes intersect at the sickle knife..]. .Iadd.