Abstract: A cane harvester cleaning system for removing dirt and trash from cane billets, including a cleaning chamber. Cane billets mixed with trash are conveyed into an upper portion of the cleaning chamber. A fan and air duct are provided to blow air into the cleaning chamber and up through cane billets. A trash discharge is provided on the upper portion of the cleaning chamber to direct air from the fan and entrained trash out of the cleaning chamber. Cleaned cane billets pass out the lower portion of the cleaning chamber and into a discharge conveyor.

Abstract: The objective of the invention is to provide a novel doffer in combination with a chain and slat conveyor which will remove excess billets from the slats with minimal damage to the eyes on the cane billets.The cane billet planter 10 includes a billet hopper 16, and a billet metering mechanism 18. The planter 10 may also have a furrow opening assembly 20 and a fertilizer distributor 22, if desired. The billet metering mechanism 18 includes a billet delivery assembly 84 and an endless chain and slat conveyor 86. The upper shaft 88 of the conveyor 86 has a plurality of sprockets 92. Projections 134, 136 and 138 extend outwardly from the upper shaft 88 between adjacent sprockets 92. The surface of the arcuate member 140 of each projection 134, 136 and 138 engages excess billets on each conveyor slat 102 and gently knocks excess billets off the slat. The excess billets fall from the conveyor slat 102 and onto the return sheet 226.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically planting billets of sugar cane as produced by a chopper-type sugar cane harvester, comprises a hopper for billets, an elevator to convey billets upwards and out of the hopper, and a billet delivery chute to receive the billets from the elevator and deliver them to a furrow in the ground. The elevator has at least two series of staggered slats which meter the billets. The delivery chute has a funnel-shaped upper portion and a trough-shaped downwardly and rearwardly-sloping lower portion, which guide and channel the billets in an endwise flow towards the furrow. The lower end of the chute is positioned close to or in contact with the ground so that billets can engage the ground before they leave the chute whereby billets can build up at the lower end of the chute and be discharged into the furrow at a rate corresponding to the forward speed of the planter.

Abstract: A harvester for sugar cane sticks or similar crops having a feed roller with feed elements extending lengthwise of the roller to successively engage the sticks on rotation of the roller, to feed the sticks in a direction at right angles to the axis of rotation of the roller. At least one of the feed elements being in the form of a resiliently deformable hollow structure of elastomeric material.

Abstract: Trash removal apparatus in a sugar cane harvester comprises an axial flow extractor fan having multiple blades to draw trash out of harvested cane and to discharge it through a duct on the pressure side of the fan. The duct is in the form of a helical trash guide member which collects the trash out of the air flow and discharges the trash laterally. The diameter of the fan blades is chosen so as to leave a relatively large annular gap between their ends and the wall of the duct through which most of the trash passes thereby reducing power consumption by the fan.

Abstract: Sugar cane harvester has stick alignment device mounted at forward end of harvester crop feed passage to promote longitudinal alignment of canes with said passage. The device comprises an arm mounted centrally in the passage and carrying driven sprockets and a chain. Cane stick engaging bars project from the chain to comb cane sticks into alignment with the passage.

Abstract: A sugar cane harvester has power-rotated rollers to convey severed cane sticks between stick-serving base cutters and stick dividing choppers. The rollers extend across the path of the cane sticks and at least one of the rollers below the cane path has stick-engaging paddles of differing radial lengths whereby the cane sticks are shaken up and down to dislodge earth mixed with the mat of cane sticks.

Abstract: Trash removal apparatus in a sugar cane harvester comprises an axial flow extractor fan to draw trash out of harvested cane and to discharge it through a duct on the pressure side of the fan. The duct is in the form of a helical trash guide member which collects the trash out of the air flow and discharges the trash laterally. The trash guide member is mounted for pivotal movement about the duct axis and a mechanism is provided for turning it to discharge trash in a desired direction.

Abstract: Air intake for trash removal apparatus of a cane harvester. The air intake forms the lower portion of the housing of the trash removal apparatus and also serves to guide cane billets into the hopper of a pivotally-mounted billet discharge conveyor. The air intake is formed as a deflectible air permeable curtain of perforated rubber sheeting which avoids both damage to the air intake and jamming of the conveyor during use.

Abstract: Sugar cane harvester has base twin contra-rotating cutters driven by flat profile gearboxes positioned above the base cutters within the throat of the harvester. The base cutters are positioned between the harvester's front wheels (as viewed in a horizontal direction at right angles to forward travel of the harvester) so that the cutting height is unaffected by pitching of the harvester when traversing uneven terrain.

Abstract: Torque limiting clutch for drive to cane chopping mechanism in sugar cane harvester. Torque is transmitted through a ball and ramp self servo device. Axial thrust generated by the self servo device is transmitted through hydraulic fluid in a piston and cylinder assembly generating hydraulic pressure proportional to the torque. A pilot operated pressure limiting valve vents the cylinder and thereby stops torque transmission when a predetermined torque is reached. Selective disengagement of the clutch is provided by a manual control valve which vents the cylinder.

Abstract: A sugar cane harvester has cane cutting apparatus for chopping cane sticks into billets. The apparatus comprises a pair of rotatable cutting elements carrying projecting axially extending blades which co-operate as the cutting elements rotate in timed relationship. The blades each have a bevelled cutting edge and are mounted so as to come into back-to-back relationship i.e. with the bevelled surfaces facing outwards, when the blades overlap. This minimizes servicing requirements and improves the quality of the cut.

Abstract: A sugar cane harvester has a pair of contrarotatable base cutters with projecting blades to sever cane sticks from their roots. The base cutters are constructed to minimize the quantity of earth fed into the harvester with the crop. A large free area is provided between successive blades for earth and rocks to drop out, but each blade has a long exposed cutting edge to prevent cane sticks entering said area without being cut. The blades are mounted on a support member having a flat profile to minimize the paddling action of the base cutters on earth and rocks.