Abstract: A work machine jog drive includes a jog motor configured to operate components of the work machine primary drive system in a slow controllable manner to operate performance system components of the work machine for adjustment, maintenance and other purposes.

Abstract: A work machine jog drive includes a jog motor configured to operate components of the work machine primary drive system in a slow controllable manner to operate performance system components of the work machine for adjustment, maintenance and other purposes.

Abstract: A baler for making large parallelepiped bales includes a plunger drive and plunger arrangement wherein one or more load pins are located offset vertically from a centerline of a connecting rod or a mid-plane of the baling chamber. Such an arrangement permits load pins having the same range of measuring capacity to be used with balers of different sizes, with the amount of offset being changed for balers of different sizes. In one arrangement, load pins are offset vertically from the mid-plane of the plunger a distance sufficient to make it possible to measure differences in top-to-bottom reaction forces imposed on the plunger.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining the throughput of a parallelepiped agricultural baler. The baler has a feed duct communicating between a crop pick-up assembly and a baling chamber and the feed duct serves as a pre-compression chamber to accumulate crop to a predetermined density before the crop is transferred to the baling chamber. The transfer of the crop from the feed duct (pre-compression chamber) to the baling chamber is accomplished by a stuffer mechanism actuated in response to a crop density sensor associated with the feed duct (pre-compression chamber). The baler further has a plunger mechanism that compresses the crop into a column to form a bale in the baling chamber. The invention senses when the crop in the feed duct (pre-compression chamber) has reached a predetermined density for transfer to the baling chamber and when the plunger has attained a home position that allows for transfer of crop from the feed duct (pre-compression chamber) into the baling chamber.

Abstract: A baler for making large parallelepiped bales includes a plunger drive and plunger arrangement wherein one or more load pins are located offset vertically from a centerline of a connecting rod or a mid-plane of the baling chamber. Such an arrangement permits load pins having the same range of measuring capacity to be used with balers of different sizes, with the amount of offset being changed for balers of different sizes. In one arrangement, load pins are offset vertically from the mid-plane of the plunger a distance sufficient to make it possible to measure differences in top-to-bottom reaction forces imposed on the plunger.

Abstract: A baler for making large parallelepiped bales includes a plunger drive and plunger arrangement wherein one or more load pins are located offset vertically from a centerline of a connecting rod or a mid-plane of the baling chamber. Such an arrangement permits load pins having the same range of measuring capacity to be used with balers of different sizes, with the amount of offset being changed for balers of different sizes. In one arrangement, load pins are offset vertically from the mid-plane of the plunger a distance sufficient to make it possible to measure differences in top-to-bottom reaction forces imposed on the plunger.

Abstract: A drive arrangement for controlling the tying function of a large rectangular baler includes a knotter drive shaft having a drive member mounted on it for free rotation. A one-way clutch is connected between the drive member and the drive shaft for rotating the drive shaft only when the drive member is rotated in a first direction. The drive member has an elongate flexible element associated therewith and is driven in the first direction by retraction of an extensible and retractable hydraulic motor having its rod end coupled to one end of the flexible element, the other end of the flexible element being coupled to a spring that stores energy only when the hydraulic motor is retracted. At the end of the tying function, the hydraulic motor is extended to its beginning position, the loaded spring then taking up the slack in the flexible element and the one-way clutch then free-wheeling.

Abstract: A first embodiment of a drive arrangement for a large rectangular baler includes hydraulic pump and motor sets, and second and third embodiments include only gear and shaft arrangements, for driving the plunger for compressing the crop being baled, and for driving all of the auxiliary functions. In all embodiments, power delivered by a main shaft is divided between an auxiliary function drive shaft and a plunger drive shaft. In the first and second embodiments, a flywheel is located for smoothing the power flow to the plunger drive arrangement, and in the third embodiment the flywheel is located for smoothing power flow to both the plunger drive arrangement and the auxiliary function drive arrangement. In all embodiments, the rotation of the shaft carrying the flywheel due to the inertia of the flywheel is ineffective for driving the plunger and auxiliary function drive arrangements when power to the main drive shaft is cut off.

Abstract: A large rectangular baler includes pick-up and packer rotors, a pivotable stuffer, a plunger head, a knotter shaft and a needle yoke, and tension panels that are all driven hydraulically and independently controlled through electrically controlled valves that actuate the various hydraulic power devices used to power the various functions. An electronic control unit is coupled to each of the control valves and receives feedback signals from the controlled functions which are compared with values representing desired function results so as to further control the valves to attain the desired results. In addition to the feedback signals from the powered functions, signals from a bale length sensor and a ground speed sensor are also coupled to the electronic control unit for use in controlling the powered functions.

Abstract: A first embodiment of a drive arrangement for a large rectangular baler includes hydraulic pump and motor sets, and second and third embodiments include only gear and shaft arrangements, for driving the plunger for compressing the crop being baled, and for driving all of the auxiliary functions. In all embodiments, power delivered by a main shaft is divided between an auxiliary function drive shaft and a plunger drive shaft. In the first and second embodiments, a flywheel is located for smoothing the power flow to the plunger drive arrangement, and in the third embodiment the flywheel is located for smoothing power flow to both the plunger drive arrangement and the auxiliary function drive arrangement. In all embodiments, the rotation of the shaft carrying the flywheel due to the inertia of the flywheel is ineffective for driving the plunger and auxiliary function drive arrangements when power to the main drive shaft is cut off.

Abstract: A large rectangular baler includes pick-up and packer rotors, a pivotable stuffer, a plunger head, a knotter shaft and a needle yoke, and tension panels that are all driven hydraulically and independently controlled through electrically controlled valves that actuate the various hydraulic power devices used to power the various functions. An electronic control unit is coupled to each of the control valves and receives feedback signals from the controlled functions which are compared with values representing desired function results so as to further control the valves to attain the desired results. In addition to the feedback signals from the powered functions, signals from a bale length sensor and a ground speed sensor are also coupled to the electronic control unit for use in controlling the powered functions.

Abstract: A drive arrangement for controlling the tying function of a large rectangular baler includes a knotter drive shaft having a drive member mounted on it for free rotation. A one-way clutch is connected between the drive member and the drive shaft for rotating the drive shaft only when the drive member is rotated in a first direction. The drive member has an elongate flexible element associated therewith and is driven in the first direction by retraction of an extensible and retractable hydraulic motor having its rod end coupled to one end of the flexible element, the other end of the flexible element being coupled to a spring that stores energy only when the hydraulic motor is retracted. At the end of the tying function, the hydraulic motor is extended to its beginning position, the loaded spring then taking up the slack in the flexible element and the one-way clutch then free-wheeling.

Abstract: The plunger of a baler for making parallelepiped bales is driven by an extensible and retractable hydraulic actuator that is connected for oscillating a link forming a crank coupled to the plunger by a connecting link. The dimensions and locations of the crank and connecting link relative to the hydraulic actuator results in the plunger being moved in the baling chamber through a distance which is about twice the stroke of the actuator when the plunger is moved from a fully retracted position, at one side of an inlet used for introducing crop into the chamber, to a fully extended position at an opposite side of the inlet from the fully retracted position.