Abstract: A conditioner roll design is provided that employs unique spiraled stepped grooves that enhance feeding of the crop mat when the rolls are abutted or at precise gaps. The groove has a leading edge and increased depth that allow expansion of the crop mat into the trailing gripper edges to provide gripping without intermeshing. The gripping side of the groove is nearly perpendicular to the direction of crop travel for positive gripping and advancing the crop. The grooves on the two rolls may be selectively timed to either mate at the point of contact or align a groove on one roll with a smooth surface on the other.

Abstract: A combine harvester has at its rear end a crop residue chopper and a deflector plate for defining the path followed by the crop residue discharged from the rear end of the combine harvester. The deflector plate has a first position to direct the crop residue into the chopper and a second position to direct the crop residue forward of the chopper. In the invention, the deflector plate also has a third position in which the crop residue is directed to flow over the top and to the rear of the chopper.

Abstract: A combine harvester has at its rear end a crop residue chopper and a deflector plate for defining the path followed by the crop residue discharged from the rear end of the combine harvester. The deflector plate has a first position to direct the crop residue into the chopper and a second position to direct the crop residue forward of the chopper. In the invention, the deflector plate also has a third position in which the crop residue is directed to flow over the top and to the rear of the chopper.

Abstract: A combine harvester has at its rear end separate chaff and crop residue discharge openings. A chopper is provided for cutting the crop residue into small pieces, and a chaff discharge device serves to disperse the chaff exiting from the chaff discharge opening. The chaff discharge device is movable between a first position, in which chaff can fall to the ground without passing through the chaff discharge device to lie in a string behind the combine harvester, and a second position, in which the chaff passes through the chaff discharge device and is dispersed laterally away from the combine harvester. The chaff discharge device is further movable to a third position in which chaff leaving the chaff discharge device is directed to enter the chopper through an opening that is different from the opening through which the crop residue is admitted into the chopper.

Abstract: A round baler including a housing; a bale chamber; bale forming apparatus; and bale wrapping apparatus including: four twine supply rolls defining four twine strands; four twine dispensing tubes, each tube presenting one of the strands so that each strand dangles from the corresponding tube, each tube movable between home and twine insert positions, wherein each strand dangles adjacent to a bale rotating in the chamber when the tubes are in the insert position; and two twine tensioning members disposed so that each tensioning member receives two strands, wherein each tensioning member has a receiving portion through which two strands are threaded, wherein each tensioning member is positioned to provide slack tension on two respective strands when the tubes are in the insert position, and wherein each tensioning member is positioned to increase wrapping tension on the two strands after the two respective strands have started to wrap the bale.

Abstract: The invention consists of an offset kingpin in the rear steering axle of a self-propelled combine harvester. Attached to the rear axle is a knuckle. The kingpin is pivotally attached to the knuckle and the spindle is rotationally attached to the knuckle. The kingpin is positioned forward of the spindle allowing the rear tires equal clearance with the combine side shielding. This positioning of the kingpin relative to the spindle improves the turning radius of the combine. It also aids tire stability at road speeds.

Abstract: A front end loader driven by a diesel engine is prevented from starting in reverse after stalling under load conditions which might place a backload on the engine. A speed sensor senses engine speed and the output of the sensor is applied to a programmable controller that controls a fuel flow solenoid. The controller compares the engine speed with a first reference speed in approximately the range of the idle speed of the engine until the engine speed is greater than the first reference speed. The controller then compares the engine speed with a second reference speed value less than the engine idle speed. If the engine speed drops below the second reference speed value, indicating an impending engine stall, the microprocessor controls the fuel flow solenoid to stop flow of fuel to the engine so that the engine stops. Since the engine is without fuel it cannot restart even if backloaded. A method of operating the diesel engine is also disclosed.

Abstract: A skid steer loader having a main frame including a compartment in which an engine, hydraulic drive components and other elements are contained. A cab is mounted above the compartment on the main frame with load bearing side walls extending upwardly to define an operator control area therebetween. Pivotally mounted on such walls is a boom structure including a pair of arms and a mounting assembly. An engine is operatively associated with the boom structure for raising and lowering each of the pair of arms along a generally vertical path adjacent a corresponding load bearing side wall to which it is coupled by the mounting assembly. The cab is mounted on the frame for conjoint movement of the side walls and the boom structure from an operative position to a remote position to provide unobstructed access to the compartment while maintaining the drive and transmission componentry in an operational mode.

Abstract: A skid steer loader having a main frame including a compartment in which an engine, hydraulic drive components and other elements are contained. A cab is mounted above the compartment on the main frame with load bearing side walls extending upwardly to define an operator control area therebetween. Pivotally mounted on such walls is a boom structure including a pair of arms and a mounting assembly. An engine is operatively associated with the boom structure for raising and lowering each of the pair of arms along a generally vertical path adjacent a corresponding load bearing side wall to which it is coupled by the mounting assembly. The cab is mounted on the frame for conjoint movement of the side walls and the boom structure from an operative position to a remote position to provide unobstructed access to the compartment while maintaining the drive and transmission componentry in an operational mode.

Abstract: A forage harvester having an axially transverse generally cylindrical cutterhead mounted for rotation in a housing. The cutterhead includes knives that cooperate with a shearbar mounted at the front of the cutterhead housing to cut crop material being fed rearwardly into the housing over the shearbar under conditions where the cutterhead is being rotated. A removable arcuate screen is mountable rearwardly of the cutterhead and closely adjacent to the peripheral path of the knives. Crop material is forced by the cutterhead through the screen apertures to further cut the crop. Progressively larger apertures are provided in the screen. Desired length of cut determines the initial aperture size whereupon the cut crop material readily passes through the subsequent progressively larger apertures. Crop handling means then collect the crop material and deliver it to discharge apparatus, such as a blower.

Abstract: A pickup attachment for use on crop harvesting machines wherein the pickup attachment includes a reel with a plurality of fingers connected to and rotatable about a central shaft in a predetermined path to pick up crop material. The pickup attachment is supported at one side by a wheel and at the other side by a roller positioned underneath the pickup attachment. The wheel is arranged with its center located substantially in alignment vertically with the axis of the reel central shaft while the roller is arranged with its center located rearward of the axis of the reel central shaft. This arrangement of the wheel and the roller allows the path of the reel fingers to follow the contour of the ground in proximity thereto when the pickup attachment is operated over rough or uneven terrain.

Abstract: Cleaning mechanism for a screen such as a radiator screen mounted adjacent an air-cooled radiator and air-circulating fan for a water-cooled engine to prevent debris from clogging the air passages of the radiator and including a frame supporting the screen as aforesaid, a motor driven shaft extending substantially centrally through the screen, transverse arms rotated by the shaft and having dislodging members in wiping relation to the air-inlet face of the screen, and baffle plates carried by the shaft for rotation relative to the air discharge face of the screen and in alignment with the arms and dislodging members to neutralize the suction effect of the air-circulating fan for the radiator and thereby permit debris dislodged by the members to fall by gravity from the screen.

Abstract: A shearbar for forage harvesters includes a lever pivotally connected to a lower elongated shearbar support member. Opposed portions of the lever support opposite sides of the shearbar. An adjustment member is movable for pivoting the lever and moving the bar. A minimum number of parts avoid undesirable tolerance buildup.

Abstract: The crop conveyance path of row crop attachments includes gathering and gripping members moving relative to a floor. The path sometimes becomes clogged between the gathering and gripping members and the floor. A sweeping member is provided between the floor of the path and the gathering members. The sweeping member assists in maintaining a clear crop conveyance path and also assists the gathering and gripping members in stabilizing stalk crop material during conveyance along the path.

Abstract: A row crop attachment has row crop dividers which are independently adjustable for varying widths of row crops. Protruding crop guide members which are mounted for width adjustment with the dividers are also adjustable independently of the dividers and the guide members are relatively adjustable for both width and height adjustment.

Abstract: Agricultural vehicles, such as a forage harvester, have been equipped with metal detectors. The metal detecting device is connected to stop the feed roll mechanism in a fraction of a second. In connection with this, it is important to shift the associated feed roll drive from a forward mode to a neutral mode. Such shifting, if done manually, may involve a delay sufficient to permit the harvester head to jam with crop material. Jamming is avoided by apparatus for automatically declutching a gear selector thus almost instantaneously shifting to the desired neutral mode in response to actuation of the metal detecting device.

Abstract: A control device for the discharge deflection spout on a forage harvester is disclosed wherein the discharge end of the spout is rotated in a substantially horizontal plane even though the base of the spout is rotated about an axis defined by the blower which is tilted at an acute angle to the vertical.

Abstract: Quick or instantaneous stopping of rapidly rotating members places severe stress loads on components. These loads are substantially reduced by providing a quick-stopping apparatus including a damped member having an attached element which is movable into engagement with a rotating member. In response to such engagement, the energy of the rotating member is rapidly decelerated through the damped member thus reducing peak stress loads associated with almost instantaneous deceleration.

Abstract: In a forage harvester having a rotatable cutterhead and adjacently-positioned shearbar, an upper feed roll assembly comprising at least one upper feed roll mounted above and forwardly of the shearbar for movement by a pair of arms. A lower feed assembly cooperates with the upper feed roll assembly to convey crop material to the cutterhead across the shearbar. A tensioning assembly is coupled to the mounting arms for upper feed roll. First and second positions of the tensioning assembly provide a first condition in which the upper feed roll assembly is biased toward a lower operative position adjacent the cutterhead and shearbar and a second condition in which the bias on the upper feed roll assembly is relaxed, permitting movement to an upper inoperative position generally remote from the cutterhead and shearbar to thereby expose and render the shearbar readily accessible for servicing.

Abstract: Quick or instantaneous stopping of rapidly rotating members places severe stress loads on components. These loads are substantially reduced by providing a quick-stopping apparatus including a damped member having an attached element which is movable into engagement with a rotating member. In response to such engagement, the energy of the rotating member is rapidly decelerated through the damped member thus reducing peak stress loads associated with almost instantaneous deceleration.