Abstract: A draper belt for a head of a harvester that is to extend about a roller having an outer groove encircling the roller and may include a web and an elastomeric belt guide. The web may have a first surface to carry crop material and a second surface to face the roller. The elastomeric belt guide may extend from the second surface and may include downwardly projecting teeth.

Abstract: A flexible harvesting header (40) having multiple sections supported by support arms (74), with the height of each arm being adjustable in response to a changing load. Load sensors (504) at first ends of the arms sense loads and generate electronic load signals. Hydraulic cylinders (80) at second ends of the arms are actuatable to raise and lower the first ends. A controller receives the load signals, determines whether actuating one or more of the hydraulic cylinders (80) is warranted due to a changing load, and if so, changes a hydraulic pressure to raise or lower the first ends to offset the changing load. Actuation may be warranted if the changing load exceeds a predetermined value. Further, the entire flexible cutter bar (68) may be raiseable in response to an electronic raise signal, and the controller may actuate all of the hydraulic cylinders (80) to raise the front ends of all of the support arms (74).

Abstract: A sieve for a cleaning system of an agricultural harvester includes: a sieve frame defining a top side; adjustable louvers carried by the sieve frame and defining apertures; an adjustment bar coupled to the adjustable louvers such that displacement of the adjustment bar changes a size of at least some of the apertures; and an adjustment assembly. The adjustment assembly includes: an adjustment arm coupled to the adjustment bar and pivotable relative to the sieve frame such that pivoting of the adjustment arm about a pivot axis displaces the adjustment bar. The adjustment arm carries a locking pin. A shaft is disposed on the top side and coupled to the adjustment arm. Displacement of the shaft from a first position to a second position causes a corresponding displacement of the locking pin from a locking position to an adjustment position.

Abstract: A fixed head walk reel mower has a frame supported for rolling over the ground. A reel cutting unit comprising a rotatable reel and a cooperating bedknife has a fixed orientation on the frame. The frame pivotally carries a ground engaging pivotal rear traction drum that can be selectively disposed in two different mowing positions when cutting grass at lower or higher height of cut ranges, respectively. This allows a single mower to cut grass at lower heights of cut on golf course greens as well as at higher heights of cut on tee boxes while minimizing degradation in cutting or power performance.

Abstract: An outdoor power equipment unit includes a front wheel independent suspension system. The front wheel independent suspension system includes a frame, a first front wheel assembly, a second front wheel assembly, a first laterally-extending suspension arm pair, and a second laterally-extending suspension arm pair. The first laterally-extending suspension arm pair includes a first suspension arm and a second suspension arm, both coupled to the frame and the first front wheel assembly. The second laterally-extending suspension arm pair includes a third suspension arm and a fourth suspension arm, both coupled to the frame and the second front wheel assembly. Both the first suspension arm pair and the second suspension arm pair are configured to independently pivot about the frame such that each of the first front wheel assembly and the second front wheel assembly are vertically displaceable relative to the frame.

Abstract: An elevator assembly for a harvester may include an elevator housing and an elevator extending within the elevator housing between a proximal end and a distal end. As such, the elevator may be configured to carry harvested crops between its proximal and distal ends. Furthermore, the elevator assembly may include a storage hopper extending from the elevator housing at a location adjacent to the distal end of the elevator. The storage hopper may include a conveyor extending within the storage hopper between a first end and a second end, with the conveyor configured to carry the harvested crops between its first and second ends towards a discharge opening of the storage hopper.

Abstract: An adjustable vane system for use with a rotor cage of a threshing system of an agricultural harvester includes a vane. The vane includes: a generally helically curved inner profile; a surface being an outer profile that is opposite the inner profile and is generally helically curved over a portion of the vane, the outer profile being configured to be positioned closer to the rotor cage than the inner profile; and a flat portion located midway along the outer profile.

Abstract: Tines (120) of tine assemblies (100a, 100b, 104) are secured by a single bolt (126) extending diametrically through each tine (120) located in a cavity (112) of a tine plate (110). An outer tine assembly (104) is connected to a sleeve (116) rotatably mounted adjacent the outer ends on each of two independently rotatable shafts (102) to which inner tine assemblies (100a, 100b) are rotatably connected adjacent the inner ends of the two independently rotatable shafts (102). Thus, the outer tine assemblies (104) are located intermediate the inner tine assemblies (100a, 100b) and the outer ends of the two independently rotatable shafts (102).

Abstract: A regressive suspension spring system for a farm implement including a spring arm, a rocker arm, a wheel arm rotatably coupled to the farm implement at a first end and rotatably coupled to the rocker arm at a second end at a first pivot, one or more dogbone links rotatably coupled to the spring arm at a first end of the one or more dogbone links at a second pivot and rotatably coupled to the rocker arm at a second end of the one or more dogbone links at a third pivot; and a spring disposed between the rocker arm and the spring arm. An attachable farm implement including a regressive suspension spring system, such as a rotary cutter. A powered machine including a regressive suspension spring system.

Abstract: In a crop harvesting header with a center section and two wings where each wing is pivotal relative to the center section about a pivot axis extending in a generally forward direction which includes a balance system to maintain a balanced ground force distribution across the width of the header there is provided an automatic adjustment system for maintaining proper balance. The system includes a sensor which repeatedly, over a time period during which the header is operating, detects data relating to the positions, distance from the ground or weight applied to the ground of each wing frame portion, a processor arranged in response to the sensed data to calculate a value representative of the positions and an adjustment mechanism for effecting an adjustment of the balance system in response to the value.

Abstract: A concave for an agricultural combine includes threshing bars carried by a base frame and forming openings therebetween for grain to pass through. Each threshing bar includes an inner extremity, a deflecting extremity including a deflecting surface, a separating grate between the inner extremity and the deflecting extremity, the separating grate extends across an adjacent one of the openings between the inner extremity and the deflecting extremity for separating grain from threshed crop material, the deflecting surface projects angularly upward relative to the separating grate, and the deflecting surface and the separating grate are arranged at an obtuse angle therebetween forming a grain-collecting trough between the deflecting surface and the separating grate.

Abstract: A cotton picker unit lift structure having a first frame, a second frame pivotally coupled to the first frame about a pivot axis, and at least one sliding joint coupling the first frame to the second frame. Wherein, the sliding joint is not positioned at the pivot axis.

Abstract: An adjustable stalk stomper and/or chopper curtain assembly for a header of an agricultural harvester. The adjustable assembly comprises a control arm, at least one member connected to the control arm, wherein the at least one member is configured to knock down plant stalks and/or to shield the agricultural harvester from flying debris, and wherein the control arm is configured to provide for adjustment of the orientation of the at least one member relative to the ground and the header. An agricultural harvester header may include the above adjustable assembly and a frame having a toolbar. An agricultural harvester may include such header.

Abstract: A feeding device for a flexible canvas or draper harvester characterized by upper beam (8) linked to a lower front beam (10) and joined by side covers (11) forming a frame, integral with a lateral stud supports (12) and a central stud supports (13) associated with a central lower beam (9) cut into three sections; the central stud supports (13) are integral with the anchors of the coupling device (15) and with the flexible body supports (14); the central stud supports (13) and lateral stud supports (12) are linked to the conveyor belts with flexible canvases (3, 4, 5 and 6), forming a central body and two laterals with space to accommodate a double row.

Abstract: A harvester feeder may include a housing forming a crop passage having a width and a conveyor supported by the housing to extend above crops being conveyed along the crop passage. The conveyor may include a frame, at least one forward tensioner, at least one drive sprocket and at least one belt about the forward tensioner and the drive sprocket. In one implementation, the at least one belt forms a substantially uninterrupted crop engaging belt surface extending across a majority of the width. In one implementation, each belt has an upper portion and a lower portion with the lower portion being adjacent the crop passage, wherein a crop massager extends between the upper portion and the lower portion and resume only presses the lower portion of the continuous belt towards the crop passage.

Abstract: A combine including a grain tank that retains grain conveyed from a threshing device; a discharge auger; a temporary retention unit within the grain tank that temporarily retains part of the grain and has a discharge port; a quality measurement unit that detects quality of the grain retained in the temporary retention unit; a shutter transitionable between a position where the discharge port is open and a position where the discharge port is closed; a control unit that opens the shutter when the measurement by the quality measurement unit is completed and closes the shutter when all of the grain in the temporary retention unit is discharged; a volume measurement unit that detects the retention volume of the grain retained in the grain tank; and a determination unit that determines whether the retention volume exceeds a predetermined value, and if so, the control unit stops the opening/closing control.

Abstract: A harvesting head for a combine and method of operating. An attachment frame at an aft end of the head attaches with a combine feederhouse. A main frame of the head is movably connected to the attachment frame, and the main frame has a range of travel with respect to the attachment frame. A resilient float element is provided between the attachment and main frames. A flexible cutterbar on the main frame operates to cut crops. The cutterbar is supported on the main frame by a plurality of pivoting arms distributed across a width of the head. With the main frame in a nominal intermediate position within the range of travel, the plurality of pivoting arms have 10 percent or less of total available travel as upward travel and at least 90 percent of total available travel as downward travel when the head is set in the nominal position.

Abstract: A skid plate for use with a combine harvester head unit moving in a direction of travel. The skid plate includes a body, and a contact surface at least partially defined by the body, the contact surface including a leading edge facing the direction of travel and a trailing edge opposite the leading edge, where the contact surface at least partially defines a groove, where the groove defines a groove width, and where the groove width varies as the groove extends away from the leading edge.

Abstract: A combine harvester is provided with a conveyance system for transporting crop material discharged by overhead grain separating apparatus to a grain cleaning shoe. The conveyance system comprises a series of oscillating pans which move the grain in a generally longitudinal direction. A return pan conveys the collected material forwardly to a front discharge edge from where the material falls onto a stratification pan below. The stratification pan conveys the collected material rearwardly to a rear discharge edge from where the material falls into the grain cleaning shoe. At least one of the return pan and the stratification pan is non-rectangular and has a non-transverse discharge edge.

Abstract: A combine harvester including a frame and two axial-flow crop processing rotors mounted to the frame. An inner support structure is located between the two rotors and mounted to the frame by a first linkage. Two outer support structures are located outboard of the two rotors and mounted to the frame by respective second and third linkages. The inner support structure and two outer support structures carry first and second pluralities of concave grate segments at a radial distance from the respective rotors. A concave adjustment system includes a first actuator coupled to the first linkage which is configured to raise and lower the inner support structure. A second actuator is coupled to the second and third linkages and is configured to raise and lower the two outer support structures. The first linkage includes a first rockshaft mounted to the frame and aligned perpendicular to the rotation axis.