Abstract: A harvesting combine has a forward power processing unit (PPU) powered by an internal combustion engine, a rear grain cart for storage of harvested grain, a forward operator cab, a cleaning fan assembly located about the forward bottom of the PPU, and rotor and concaves assembly for threshing grain. The harvesting combine is improved by locating a charge fan assembly behind the forward operator cab and drawing air from about the top of the PPU and directing a portion of an air flow from the charge fan assembly downwardly into the cleaning fan assembly.

Abstract: A square baler (30) includes a chassis (32), a plunger (36), and a variable speed transmission (42). The plunger assembly (36) includes a reciprocating plunger head (76) slidably mounted relative to the chassis (32) and operable to reciprocate within a chamber (54) to apply a compressive force against the material. The transmission (42) includes drive (86) and driven components (90) and an endless drive element (98) that drivingly interconnects the components. The driven component is drivingly connected to the plunger head. The drive component is operable to be driven by a prime mover at a drive input speed. At least one of the components has an adjustable operating diameter so that the driven component has a variable output speed.

Abstract: An airflow system for a rotary harvester includes a cleaning charge fan assembly, a cleaning fan assembly, and bonus sieves with fan assemblies. Each of the fan assemblies is powered by a hydraulic motor. By linking the charge fan motor, the left/right tailings fan motors, and the cleaning fan motor in a series hydraulic circuit, each of the motors will increase/decrease in speed at the same time and by the same proportional amount.

Abstract: A square baler (30) includes a chassis (32), a plunger (36), and a variable speed transmission (42). The plunger assembly (36) includes a reciprocating plunger head (76) slidably mounted relative to the chassis (32) and operable to reciprocate within a chamber (54) to apply a compressive force against the material. The transmission (42) includes drive (86) and driven components (90) and an endless drive element (98) that drivingly interconnects the components. The driven component is drivingly connected to the plunger head. The drive component is operable to be driven by a prime mover at a drive input speed. At least one of the components has an adjustable operating diameter so that the driven component has a variable output speed.

Abstract: A grain harvesting articulated combine of a forward crop processing power unit (PPU), a rear grain cart, and an articulation joint that connects the PPU with the rear grain cart and includes an auger assembly that moves clean grain from the PPU to the rear grain cart. Two pump circuits deliver power to a pair of hydrostatic motors located in the rear grain cart, one pump circuit hydrostatic motor driving the grain unloader assembly, the other pump circuit hydrostatic motor driving the ascending fill lift auger assembly, the drag auger assemblies, and the articular joint auger assembly. Power (inertia) can be harvested from auger assemblies not moving grain for startup or clog clearing of the other auger assemblies.

Abstract: Disclosed is a lifting assembly for a crop severing assembly forwardly carried by a tractor having a frame and front a frame and an axle assembly carrying front wheel assemblies. The crop severing assembly has a forward end and a rear end, and includes a pair of bracket assemblies located at the forward end and atop the crop severing assembly. A pair of lift cylinder assemblies each have a lower end and a top end. The lift cylinder lower ends are located at either side of the rear end of the crop severing assembly to bottom brackets extending from the tractor frame forward of the tractor axle assembly and are attached between each cylinder lower end and each cylinder top end to trunnions carried by the crop severing bracket assemblies for pivotally raising and lowering of the forward end of the crop severing assembly.

Abstract: Disclosed is a lifting assembly for a crop severing assembly forwardly carried by a tractor having a frame and front a frame and an axle assembly carrying front wheel assemblies. The crop severing assembly has a forward end and a rear end, and includes a pair of bracket assemblies located at the forward end and atop the crop severing assembly. A pair of lift cylinder assemblies each have a lower end and a top end. The lift cylinder lower ends are located at either side of the rear end of the crop severing assembly to bottom brackets extending from the tractor frame forward of the tractor axle assembly and are attached between each cylinder lower end and each cylinder top end to trunnions carried by the crop severing bracket assemblies for pivotally raising and lowering of the forward end of the crop severing assembly.

Abstract: An improved feeder house assembly has a front end header adapter assembly formed from a front hook assembly for carrying a grainhead and a front header cradle assembly supporting the front hook assembly and including a pair of frame assemblies, each frame assembly having mated top domed surfaces. One of the frame assemblies is stationary and the other frame assembly has laterally tilting along the mated top domed surfaces along an arc of rotation by a pair of linear actuators located at either top side of the front end header adaptor and tangential to the arc of rotation.

Abstract: An engine cooling system for an engine carried by a grain harvesting combine having an internal combustion engine and hot exhaust components, and having a front operator cab includes a generally horizontal fan assembly located atop the harvesting combine for drawing in air, a radiator associated with the engine and over which air flows for engine cooling, and charge air coolers for combustion air cooling, and air conditioning and hydraulic coolers, a centrifugal scroll that takes the drawn in air and removes entrained particles to produce a clean exhaust air and dirty exhaust air; and a filter assembly through which the pre-cleaned exhaust air flows for producing filtered air for admittance into the engine for combustion.

Abstract: An airflow system for a rotary harvester includes a cleaning charge fan assembly, a cleaning fan assembly, and bonus sieves with fan assemblies. Each of the fan assemblies is powered by a hydraulic motor. By linking the charge fan motor, the left/right tailings fan motors, and the cleaning fan motor in a series hydraulic circuit, each of the motors will increase/decrease in speed at the same time and by the same proportional amount.

Abstract: An articulated harvesting combine includes of a forward power processing unit (PPU, 12) and a rear grain cart (14), wherein the PPU carries dual axially mounted engines (36 and 38) with oppositely opposed crankshafts (100 and 102) with one toward the rear grain cart and the other engine away from the rear grain cart, wherein the dual engines share a common radiator, single air conditioning condenser, single alternator, common batteries, common fuel tank and exhaust fluid tank; but have separate hot exhaust treatment system, separate hot exhaust manifolds, and separate side-mounted charge air coolers.

Abstract: Disclosed is a complete engine cooling system for an engine carried by a grain harvesting combine having an internal combustion engine and hot exhaust components, and having a front operator cab. The system includes a generally horizontal fan assembly located atop the harvesting combine for drawing in air, a radiator associated with the engine and over which air flows for engine cooling, and charge air coolers for combustion air cooling, and air conditioning and hydraulic coolers, a centrifugal scroll that takes the drawn in air and removes entrained particles to produce a clean exhaust air and dirty exhaust air; and a filter assembly through which the pre-cleaned exhaust air flows for producing filtered air for admittance into the engine for combustion.

Abstract: Disclosed is a complete engine cooling system for an engine carried by a grain harvesting combine having an internal combustion engine and hot exhaust components, and having a front operator cab. The system includes a generally horizontal fan assembly located atop the harvesting combine for drawing in air, a radiator associated with the engine and over which air flows for engine cooling, and charge air coolers for combustion air cooling, and air conditioning and hydraulic coolers, a centrifugal scroll that takes the drawn in air and removes entrained particles to produce a clean exhaust air and dirty exhaust air; and a filter assembly through which the pre-cleaned exhaust air flows for producing filtered air for admittance into the engine for combustion.

Abstract: Disclosed is an articulated harvesting combine of a forward power processing unit (PPU) and a rear grain cart, wherein the PPU carries dual axially mounted engines with oppositely opposed crankshafts with one toward the rear grain cart and the other engine away from the rear grain cart, there being no comingling of flywheel output power flow between the two engines.

Abstract: Disclosed is a lifting assembly for a crop severing assembly forwardly carried by a tractor having a frame and front a frame and an axle assembly carrying front wheel assemblies. The crop severing assembly has a forward end and a rear end, and includes a pair of bracket assemblies located at the forward end and atop the crop severing assembly. A pair of lift cylinder assemblies each have a lower end and a top end. The lift cylinder lower ends are located at either side of the rear end of the crop severing assembly to bottom brackets extending from the tractor frame forward of the tractor axle assembly and are attached between each cylinder lower end and each cylinder top end to trunnions carried by the crop severing bracket assemblies for pivotally raising and lowering of the forward end of the crop severing assembly.

Abstract: A grain harvesting articulated combine of a forward crop processing power unit (PPU), a rear grain cart, and an articulation joint that connects the PPU with the rear grain cart and includes an auger assembly that moves clean grain from the PPU to the rear grain cart. Two pump circuits deliver power to a pair of hydrostatic motors located in the rear grain cart, one pump circuit hydrostatic motor driving the grain unloader assembly, the other pump circuit hydrostatic motor driving the ascending fill lift auger assembly, the drag auger assemblies, and the articular joint auger assembly. Power (inertia) can be harvested from auger assemblies not moving grain for startup or clog clearing of the other auger assemblies.

Abstract: A planter unit for planting seeds as it traverses a field in a direction of travel includes a seed delivery tube and a furrow opener configured to open a furrow in the soil for receiving seeds dropped through the delivery tube. A gauge wheel assembly controls the depth of penetration of the furrow opener. The planter unit also has a furrow closing tool that closes the furrow, the furrow closing tool positioned after the delivery tube in the direction of travel. The planter unit also has a row cleaning and depth control tool positioned after the furrow closing tool. The row cleaning and depth control tool has first and second row whippers that push excess soil out away from above where seeds were dropped in the furrow, wherein vertical position of first and second row whippers is selectively adjustable relative the vertical position of the furrow opener.

Abstract: A particulate delivery system for use with a mobile machine includes a particulate placement mechanism for placing particulate material in the ground in a single row as the machine travels along the ground, a plurality of particulate sources and a plurality of particulate meters. Each of the particulate meters operates independently and is configured to deliver particulate material from one of the particulate sources to the particulate placement mechanism for placement in the row. A controller may be configured to control a plurality of drive mechanisms, each drive mechanism associated with one of the particulate meters. The controller may also be configured to receive position information from a position determining device and to control operation of the drive mechanisms according to the position information and according to a field prescription.

Abstract: A planter unit for planting seeds as it traverses a field in a direction of travel includes a seed delivery tube and a furrow opener configured to open a furrow in the soil for receiving seeds dropped through the delivery tube. A gauge wheel assembly controls the depth of penetration of the furrow opener. The planter unit also has a furrow closing tool that closes the furrow, the furrow closing tool positioned after the delivery tube in the direction of travel. The planter unit also has a row cleaning and depth control tool positioned after the furrow closing tool. The row cleaning and depth control tool has first and second row whippers that push excess soil out away from above where seeds were dropped in the furrow, wherein vertical position of first and second row whippers is selectively adjustable relative the vertical position of the furrow opener.

Abstract: A combine harvester has a suspension axle assembly supporting the rear end of the chassis of the harvester. Side frames of the chassis direct loading down to a transverse axle through a pair of suspension devices interposed between the side frames and the axle. The suspension devices are resilient and expandable to cushion the chassis and to provide changes in the fore-and-aft attitude of the combine. The suspension devices may be independently operated to tilt the axle relative to the chassis, and provision is made for shifting the axle longitudinally, side-to-side of the chassis to facilitate turning of the steerable rear ground wheels.