Abstract: A movable tractor-trailer combination includes a self-powered tractor having a plurality of ground-engaging members and a steering mechanism for steering at least one the ground-engaging member; and a trailer that is towed behind the tractor and that is connected to the tractor by a drawbar that is pivotably connected at a tractor connection to the tractor. One or more sensors sense a line of a swath of crop material corresponding to a maximal quantity of crop material per unit length of the swath. The tractor-trailer combination includes a control apparatus that operates in dependence on at least one output of the one or more sensors to operate the steering mechanism of the tractor in dependence on the at least one output such that the tractor moves along the swath without any of the ground-engaging members running over the swath.

Abstract: A mowing device (10) has a central frame mounted on wheels (16a, 16b) carrying at least two mowing units (20a, 20b) which are each connected to the central frame (12) via a connection unit (24a, 24b), wherein a connection unit (24a, 24b) includes a main pivot arm (28a, 28b) and an outer pivot arm (26a, 26b), the outer pivot arm (26a, 26b) connected to the main pivot arm (28a, 28b) in such a manner that it is pivotable about an outer arm joint (34a, 34b) relative to the main pivot arm (28a, 28b), the connection unit (24a, 24b) further including a mowing unit joint (32a, 32b) for connecting the mowing unit (20a, 20b) to the outer pivot arm (26a, 26b), the mowing unit joint (32a, 32b) arranged at the end of the outer pivot arm (26a, 26b) that is remote from the outer arm joint (34a, 34b).

Abstract: A mowing sickle drive system comprises a knife bar supported by a frame and drive apparatus operable to drive the knife bar in a reciprocating linear motion at a variable drive frequency. A spring is coupled to the knife bar for applying a restoring force to the knife bar toward a neutral position when in motion. The spring has a variable modulus of elasticity that is controlled dependent upon the drive frequency.

Abstract: A female part, a retaining device and a pin system having the device. The female part and a male part, to assure the retention between the female part and a male part used in excavators and the like. The female part has a cavity and can be a wearing element, a tooth or an intermediate part (part between a point and a weld on or cast nose in a three part system) and the male part has a nose to be introduced into the cavity of the female part and this will usually be a tooth-holder, intermediate, cast nose, weld-on nose or an adapter.

Abstract: A helical-bladed cutting reel includes a central shaft having a central axis of rotation, and a plurality of helical blades. Each of the blades extends along a respective helical path on an outer surface of the central shaft. A direction of each respective helical path has both an axial component and a circumferential component relative to the central axis of the central shaft as it extends across the outer surface of the central shaft. Each of the helical blades is welded directly to the central shaft. In preferred embodiments all of the blades are continuously autogenously welded directly to the central shaft.

Abstract: A combine (10) having a feeder housing (20) for receiving harvesting crop, a separating system (24) for threshing the harvested crop to produce grain and residue, at least one of a yield monitor or a loss monitor, a crop cleaning system (26) for separating the grain from the residue, a residue chopper (114) for chopping the separated residue, an automated chopper pan (116) positioned h below the residue chopper (114), the automated chopper pan (114) having adjustable perforations, and a controller coupled to the at least one of the yield monitor or the loss monitor. The controller is configured to determine at least one of throughput from the yield monitor or loss from the loss monitor, compare the at least one of throughput or loss to respective throughput thresholds or loss thresholds, and control the automated chopper pan (116) to adjust the perforations based on the threshold comparison.

Abstract: A shovel includes a lower traveling body that runs, an upper rotating body that is rotatably mounted on the lower traveling body, a plurality of hydraulic actuators that are operated by hydraulic oil discharged by a hydraulic pump driven by an engine, a determining unit that determines a type of work, and a control unit that controls the hydraulic actuators based on the type of work determined by the determining unit.

Abstract: Various types of lawnmowers are disclosed that include a cutter housing having a chamber wall and a discharge opening therein. A mulch gate can be provided with an interior scroll-shaped face and can be pivotably attached to the cutter housing so as to be movable between an opened gate position and a closed position. In the opened position, the mulch gate is positioned such that the discharge opening is opened to an exterior of the lawnmower to allow clippings to pass therethrough and out of the lawnmower. In the closed position the mulch gate closes the discharge opening to provide a mulch mode in which clippings remain in the cutter housing for added cutting by the lawnmower blade. When the mulch gate is in the closed gate position, the interior scroll-shaped face of the mulch gate can be substantially continuous with a wall interior surface of the chamber wall.

Abstract: A ground engagement tool, such as a universal coulter, with an integrated offset to facilitate multiple mounting configurations. In some embodiments, the ground engagement tool includes a polygonal shank, defining, for example, an octagonal or hexagonal cross-section. The polygonal shank enables rotational offset to be secured in discrete rotational orientations. A lower bracket is mounted to a spindle, providing an angular displacement range for angular deflection of the ground engagement tool. The spindle includes a key structure that complements the angular orientations of the polygonal shank so that the lower bracket can be compensated for the rotational offset. A rotational indexing plate enables selection of one of a plurality of angular displacement ranges. Retention rods may be implemented for setting a depth of the tool. A dirt deflector may also be provided, dimensioned to prevent spewing dirt from landing on adjacent plant rows and to prevent fouling in muddy conditions.

Abstract: A blade assembly comprises a moldboard defining an upper moldboard free end and a lower moldboard free end, the lower moldboard free end defining a lower curved mounting surface, and an adapter board defining an upper adapter board attachment portion, and a lower tool bit attachment portion. The upper adapter board attachment portion may include a first peak surface and a second peak surface, the first peak surface and the second peak surface forming a first valley therebetween and being configured to contact the lower curved mounting surface.

Abstract: A draper belt (8) having a carry layer (14), a pulley cover layer (13), and a reinforcing layer (12) which is situated between the carry layer (14) and the pulley cover layer (13). The draper belt (8) has a first edge (30) and a second edge (31). The carry layer (14) includes a plurality of cleats (7) which run from the first edge (30) to the second edge (31) of the draper belt. The cleats (7) are reinforced with reinforcing rods which are comprised of a cured rubbery polymer which includes at least 3 phr of reinforcing fibers.

Abstract: An attachment system for attaching an implement mounting assembly to a vehicle. The attachment system includes a vehicle attachment component that is fastenable to a front portion of the frame of the vehicle, and a frame attachment component that is removably attachable to the vehicle attachment component on one end via a securing axis, and pivotably attachable to the implement assembly on another end about a pivoting axis. When fastened to the vehicle, the vehicle attachment component is located upward from the underside of the frame. When the frame attachment component is attached to the vehicle attachment component, the securing axis is located upward from the underside portion of the frame, and the pivoting axis is located downward therefrom.

Abstract: A mower system for mowing a field with a grass containing crop comprises a frame, a mowing device that is connected to the frame and has an adjustable mowing height, a sensor device arranged to sense a species composition related parameter, such as a ration grass-to-clover, of a part of the field, and to generate data based on the sensed parameter, and a control device that is operatively connected to the sensor device to receive the generated data, and is operatively connected to the mowing device and arranged to adjust the mowing height on the basis of the received data. This enables to adjust the mowing height dynamically, i.e. position dependently, based on the detected parameter. The mowing height influences the regrowth of e.g. grass and clover differently, so that the ratio can be influenced locally.

Abstract: This invention is a configurable ground utility robot GURU having at least the following parts: an all-terrain mobile apparatus; a payload accepting apparatus; an onboard processor; at least one sensor that communicates with said onboard processor; at least one energy beam payload device connectable to the payload accepting apparatus, capable of creating an energy beam having enough power to elevate an internal temperature of a subject when the energy beam is focused on the subject and where the energy beam payload device communicates with the onboard processor and where the ground utility robot also has a computer program that at least performs the following functions: receives and interprets data from the at least one sensor; controls the mobile apparatus; focuses the at least one energy beam on the subject; and controls the beam strength and time duration.

Abstract: A grading control system may have a lift actuator to raise or lower a work implement, and a tilt actuator to tilt the work implement. The grading control system may also have a first sensor that communicates a signal indicative of a position of the work implement, and a second sensor that communicates a signal indicative of a position of the machine frame. The grading control system may have a controller to determine a track plane of the machine and a desired grade relative to the track plane. Further, the controller may determine an orientation of the work implement relative to the track plane to maintain the desired grade based on the sensor signals. The controller may also be configured to actuate one or both of the lift and the tilt actuators to orient the work implement according to the determined orientation.

Abstract: A trimmer head having an upper case having a fastening portion formed with an upper fastening hole for coupling the rotating shaft to a center of the upper case; a lower case formed with a lower fastening hole at its center and the lower case being coupled to the upper case; a body portion positioned in a cavity between the upper case and the lower case; and a plurality of cutting means coupled to the body portion so as to be rotatable at one end thereof, wherein the upper case and the lower case are further connected to each other by a plurality of elastic media and are spaced apart by the tension of the elastic medium when the upper case and the lower case are separated from each other.

Abstract: A bearing block assembly for a plant-trimming machine having a rotatable perforated tumbler, a rotatable reel and a bed bar assembly. The bearing block assembly comprises an outer bearing plate having a bearing-receiving bore for holding a reel bearing to rotatably support an end of the reel, and an inner bearing plate affixed to the outer bearing plate. The inner bearing plate has a pocket for receiving the bearing-receiving bore of the outer bearing plate, the pocket having a tolerance permitting the bearing-receiving bore to be set at a selected position within the pocket. The bearing block assembly has connectors for affixing the outer bearing plate to the inner bearing plate. The bearing block assembly sets the positions of the reel, bed knife and tumbler correctly during assembly of the plant-trimming machine, reducing the time and skill required for maintenance.

Abstract: A charge fan assembly is located behind the forward operator cab and draws air from about the top of the PPU and a portion of an airflow from the charge fan assembly is directed downwardly into the crossflow cleaning fan assembly. A pair of closely spaced-apart sheets create a venturi and speed up the charge fan airflow into the crossflow cleaning fan and impact the crossflow cleaning fan at an angle where the blades of the crossflow cleaning fan are widely open. The exhaust air from the crossflow cleaning fan is nearly the same across the entire lengthwise extent of the crossflow cleaning fan.

Abstract: A tool bit is disclosed. The tool bit includes a working portion at a distal end of the tool bit, a threaded portion at a proximal end of the tool bit, a shank extending along a longitudinal axis of the tool bit between the working portion and the threaded portion, and an anti-rotation receiving hole located on the threaded portion. The anti-rotation receiving hole extends through the threaded portion transverse to the longitudinal axis. The threaded portion of the tool bit is configured to engage with threads of a nut, and the anti-rotation receiving hole is configured to receive a pin inserted through the nut.

Abstract: A concentrated high-speed rigid hub allows for heavier planters, high-speed planting and seeding devices in multiple and multiple challenging applications such as no-till, high cation exchange capacity (CEC) soils, compact soils, moist soils, high concentrations of stubble and or Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) crops, and cover or green crops with massive structured root systems. The hub is made of one of high strength forging steel and medium carbon cast steel, whereby the hub lessons hub flexing, hub bending, cracking and premature failure. The hub comprises rigid, heavy duty deep bosses or gussets which increase structural strength and maximize the strength of attachment points adapted for either bolts or rivets attachment to a blade or object.