Abstract: A combine harvester having a grain pan arranged to catch a crop stream, the grain pan being driven in an oscillating manner to convey the crop stream rearwardly to a rear edge. A cleaning unit including a fan for generating a cleaning airstream which is directed under the rear edge. The grain pan includes a floor profile which defines a transverse profile comprising ridges and troughs. The troughs provide a plurality of longitudinal channels, wherein the ridge-to-trough height increases in the direction of conveyance. Crop material conveyed by the grain pan experiences channels that deepen towards the rear edge of the pan.

Abstract: A stall plow removably attaches to a prior art skid steer using available quick connect couplers. The stall plow has a moldboard that is configured to completely remove waste bedding from a livestock free stall from the area adjacent to the curb and deliver it to the alley, where a prior art machine can then complete removal of the waste bedding from the alley. The moldboard includes a primary scraper section and side cutter that scrapes and lifts waste bedding up and over the curb. A curb section and curb flange then shift the bedding over to the alley and drop waste bedding into the alley, where a discharge spreader levels and distributes the waste. An extensible arm and hydraulic extension cylinder adjusts the moldboard transversely relative to direction of travel. An angle and pitch adjuster sets the moldboard for a particular free stall geometry and bedding material composition.

Abstract: A header for a combine harvester includes a center section having a first draper belt configured to move crop material in a first direction. The header also includes a wing pivotably coupled to the center section about a pivot axis and extending laterally away from the center section. The header also includes a second draper belt coupled to the wing and configured to move crop material in a second direction different than the first direction. The wing and the second draper belt are in a fixed positional relationship with each other, such that the wing is configured to remain at a constant distance from the second draper belt at all points along the wing during pivoting movement of the wing.

Abstract: A construction machine that includes a machine frame and an articulated boom. The articulated boom is pivotably mounted to the machine frame. The construction machine is configured to be operated in a loader mode in which a first tool is mounted to the articulated boom, and in an excavator mode in which a second tool is mounted to the articulated boom. The construction machine further includes a tool storage for storing the first tool and/or the second tool. The construction machine is configured to replace one of the first tool and second tool when mounted to the articulated boom with the other one of the first tool and second tool when stored in the tool storage.

Abstract: A suction excavator includes a suction hose with a suction opening for pneumatically receiving solid or liquid suction material using a fast-flowing air stream. The suction excavator has a separator for separating the suction material from the air stream, a filter unit for cleaning the air stream, a fan unit for generating the air stream, and a recirculation channel that is connected to the pressure side of the fan unit via a volume-controllable recirculation opening. A volume-controllable secondary air opening allows secondary air from the surroundings to be supplied to the suction side of the fan unit, downstream from the filter unit in the flow direction. The recirculation channel is fluidically coupleable to the suction hose to generate a positive pressure in the recirculation channel to blow out recirculation air through the suction hose.

Abstract: The identification method of the difficulty level of the operating condition of the loader, takes the excavating operation segments extracted by the operation segment as the main objects of study to identify the operating conditions, and finally get the difficulty level value of the operating condition. The identification of the difficulty level of the operating condition is beneficial to control the power output mode of diesel engine and realize the distribution according to demand; simultaneously, as the judgement basis of intelligent shift control strategy, it has great significance for intelligent shift, power mode control and improving operation performance of engineering vehicles. It is also beneficial to the improvement of the performance and the energy saving and emission reduction; at the same time, the identification of the difficulty level of the operating condition is used to realize the change of power regulation, improve the application scope of engineering machinery.

Abstract: In one aspect, power equipment includes a cutter blade operation lever, a left rotary shaft, an operated member operated by the left rotary shaft to control driving of a cutter blade, and a releasable engagement mechanism provided between the left rotary shaft and the cutter blade operation lever. The releasable engagement mechanism is configured to release a force transmitting engagement between the cutter blade operation lever and the left rotary shaft to allow the cutter blade operation lever to rotate relative to the left rotary shaft when an excessive force is applied to the cutter blade operation lever in a direction to rotate the left rotary shaft beyond a normal rotational angle range.

Abstract: A corn cob harvesting machine includes a tractor, cob harvester, and trailer that together lift, clean, and separate corn cobs from a corn harvester combine chaff windrow. The cob harvester has a floating cob lift immediately adjacent to and through various skirts engaging the earth that is supported by and floats with respect to a support frame. The floating cob lift has a rotary paddle that lifts and throws cobs into the first cross draft separator. The first cross draft separator has a blower that generates a vacuum within the floating cob lift. An adjustable flap intermediate between rotary paddle and blower deflects cobs and other heavier matter out of the air stream, while lighter matter is removed. A first cross draft separator removes chaff, a rock trap separates rocks, and a second cross draft separator removes additional chaff. A discharge conveyor transfers cleaned corn cobs to the trailer.

Abstract: A user interface for a snow groomer or other tracked vehicle, such as tracked carrier to carry and enable use of work equipment on various terrains, is provided. The user interface may have an input device, an output device and a controller. The controller is configured to receive from the input device an indication of a desired snow grooming distance, and the controller is further configured to measure a distance traveled by the snow groomer, and to cause the output device to convey a remaining distance to be traveled by the snow groomer, the remaining distance being the difference between the desired snow grooming distance and the distance traveled by the snow groomer.

Abstract: A method of operating a planter where plot characteristics are input into a controller that is associated with a planter. A distance measuring device associated with the controller senses ground speed and distance traveled and transmits the sensed information to the controller. The controller then automatically adjusts the rotational speed of a seed plate of a row planter mounted to the planter based upon the sensed information to achieve the input plot characteristics.

Abstract: An electric mower of the battery-operated type has at least one cutting blade, an electric motor for driving the cutting blade, and an electronic piloting unit for the electric motor. At least one optical sensor is deposited upstream of the cutting blade. The optical sensor is configured to deliver; as the mower advances, at least one predictive signal of a quantity of plants to be cut. The electronic piloting unit is configured to establish an optimum rotation speed of the drive motor of the cutting blade, of said predictive signal of the optical sensor, and of a speed of advance of the mower. The method and apparatus are applicable at least to walk-behind mowers.

Abstract: The plowing of streets and roadways in areas with snowy climates is typically done with a labor intensive manually operated snow removal apparatus mounted on a vehicle designed to push the snow off the roadway. A long standing problem is that there may be areas near the roadway, such as, driveways, mailboxes, crosswalks, cross streets, and fire hydrants that should not be blocked or covered with discharged snow. The present invention is an apparatus and a method by which the snow removal apparatus can be operated automatically without the need for manual intervention, to avoid throwing discharged snow on areas that would be undesirable to block or cover with snow.

Abstract: A plant pushing apparatus for mounting on a reel of a combine where the reel comprises a center shaft rotatably mounted at each end thereof to the combine header, a plurality of contact members mounted to the center shaft in a horizontal orientation radially spaced from the center shaft, and a drive operative to rotate the center shaft such that the contact members below the center shaft move in a rearward direction toward the combine header. For each contact member, a projecting shield member is adapted at an inner portion thereof for attachment to the contact member such that an outer edge of the projecting shield member is substantially horizontal and rearward of the contact member, and such that the outer edge of the projecting shield member contacts plant stalks, particularly sunflower plant stalks, and pushes the plant stalks toward the combine header ahead of the following attached contact member.

Abstract: A method for controlling an orientation of ground engaging elements of a harrow of an agricultural implement may include controlling an operation of an actuator such that the actuator applies an actuator force against a support arm when the harrow is disposed at an operating position. The method may also include receiving an input indicative of an instruction to move the harrow from the operating position to a raised position. Furthermore, after receiving the input, the method may include controlling the operation of the actuator such that the actuator force applied against the support arm is adjusted in a manner that reduces the biasing force being applied on the ground engaging elements. Additionally, the method may include initiating movement of the harrow from the operating position to the raised position to raise the ground engaging elements above the ground after reducing the biasing force.

Abstract: A work vehicle includes an inverter circuit (42) configured to provide electric current to a traveling motor unit (21, 22) based on an inverter drive signal, a target signal generation unit (51) configured to generate a control target signal for the inverter circuit (42) based on an operation detection signal, an inverter drive signal generation section (41) configured to generate an inverter drive signal based on the control target signal and output the inverter drive signal to the inverter circuit (42), a trouble detection section (53) configured to detect a vehicle trouble based on a state detection signal, and a signal superposition section (56) configured to superpose a pulsatory signal on the control target signal if the trouble detection section (53) detects a vehicle trouble and output a resultant superposed control target signal to the inverter drive signal generation section (41).

Abstract: A sickle drive incorporated into a generally flat package or enclosure or floor. The drive includes an epicyclic mechanism, including a rotatable input element in an upper region of a cavity of the enclosure, and an eccentric element below the input element rotatable eccentrically thereby. A drive arm is connected to the eccentric element for rotation about, and eccentric rotation with, the eccentric element, and extends to a pivot element which can be the only component extending upwardly from the enclosure or floor, such that the shaft will be pivoted by the eccentric movement of the drive arm. A knife arm connects to the pivot element and a sickle knife assembly which will be reciprocated by the pivoting action. A second epicyclic arrangement can be employed such that opposite forces generated by operation of the drive will be largely canceled.

Abstract: A drive (100) has two gearing arrangements (101, 102) both with a first gearing (103) and a second gearing (104). Each gearing (103, 104) has at least one transfer element (106) for transferring a reciprocating motion of a driving hinge point (107) into a reciprocating motion of an output hinge point (108). Output elements (117) are coupled to the output hinge points (108) of the two gearings (103, 104). A drive element (116) is coupled to the driving hinge points (107). A common drive element (116) is connected to the driving hinge points (107) of the gearings (103, 104) of the two gearing arrangements (101, 102). The gearing arrangements (101, 102) are mirror-symmetrically arranged so that the output elements (117) are driven on a common output axis in an opposed manner with respect to each other.

Abstract: Described herein is an apparatus and system for economically and efficiently harvesting and controlling the growth of aquatic vegetation.

Abstract: A robotic system for use in agriculture includes at least one tool-holding arm to hold an agricultural tool and capable of being controlled to enable the agricultural tool to be raised or lowered, a sensor for measuring the height of crops, and a computer to determine a set value for controlling the at least one tool-holding arm on the basis of measurements taken by the sensor for measuring the crop height. The tool-holding arm is connected to a connection member such that it can be mounted on a control arm provided on an agricultural vehicle. The computer can determine a set value for controlling the control arm to enable the tool-holding arm to be raised or lowered on the basis of measurements taken by the sensor for measuring the crop height.

Abstract: An agricultural vehicle including a chassis and a header connected to the chassis. The header includes a frame and a plurality of row units connected to the frame. Each row unit includes at least one gathering chain having a plurality of protuberances affixed thereto and a rotational path, and at least one hood connected to the frame. The header also includes a down crop gatherer mounted to the at least one hood and having a rotational path, and a drive unit mounted to the at least one hood, operably connected in between the at least one gathering chain and the down crop gatherer. The drive unit is configured for translating a respective movement of each protuberance as the plurality of protuberances rotate with the at least one gathering chain to drive the down crop gatherer.