Abstract: An agricultural system including an agricultural baler and a control unit. The agricultural baler includes a baler driveline; a rotatable flywheel; and a rotary input shaft connected by way of the baler driveline to the rotatable flywheel. The driveline includes one or more clutches for controllably transferring rotary drive between the input shaft and the flywheel. The control unit is configured to receive input-power-data indicative of a drive power available at the rotary input shaft; and determine a clutch-control-signal for controlling an amount of torque transferred from the input shaft to the flywheel bye the one or more clutches, based on the input-power-data.

Abstract: An agricultural system including an agricultural baler including a rotary input shaft connectable by way of a baler driveline to a rotatable flywheel; a hydraulic pump for supplying the agricultural baler with hydraulic fluid, the rotatable flywheel being connectable to the hydraulic pump via the driveline. The baler is transferrable between a first state for driving the hydraulic pump by external drive power provided by a corresponding work vehicle, and a second state for driving the hydraulic pump by the rotatable flywheel. The agricultural system further includes a control unit that is configured to: receive input-power-data indicative of a drive power available for driving the hydraulic pump in the first state of the baler; and determine a control-signal for transferring the baler into the second state, if the input-power-data indicates that the available drive power is insufficient for driving the hydraulic pump.

Abstract: A baling machine includes a rotary drive-transferring driveline including a rotary input shaft that is connected to provide rotary drive as an input to a transmission; a flywheel shaft supporting a flywheel that is rotatably driven as an output of the transmission, the flywheel shaft connecting directly or indirectly to a plunger of the baling machine; and the transmission that is drive-transferringly interposed between the input shaft and the flywheel shaft. The transmission includes one or more clutches for selectively drivingly connecting the input shaft and the flywheel shaft one to the other inside the transmission and the flywheel shaft is free of clutches.

Abstract: A plunger for an agricultural baler includes: a plurality of plunger sections held together to form the plunger, the plurality of plunger sections including a pair of plunger end sections, each of the plunger sections including at least one tube holding portion having a tube opening formed therein; at least one of at least one roller or at least one sliding block attached to and extending laterally from each of the plunger end sections; and a tube placed within the tube opening of each tube holding portion such that an interference fit is formed between the tube and the at least one tube holding portion of each plunger section to hold the plunger sections together.

Abstract: An agricultural round baler includes a frame, and a tail gate arrangement carried by the frame and arranged in an arcuate arrangement around a bale chamber. The baler is characterized in that the tail gate arrangement include an upper tail gate arrangement and a lower tail gate arrangement. The upper tail gate arrangement has a first pivot axis located at an upper, forward portion thereof. The lower tail gate arrangement has a second pivot axis located at an approximate center of the bale chamber when viewed in cross section.

Abstract: A plunger for an agricultural baler includes: a plurality of plunger sections held together to form the plunger, the plurality of plunger sections including a pair of plunger end sections, each of the plunger sections including at least one tube holding portion having a tube opening formed therein; at least one of at least one roller or at least one sliding block attached to and extending laterally from each of the plunger end sections; and a tube placed within the tube opening of each tube holding portion such that an interference fit is formed between the tube and the at least one tube holding portion of each plunger section to hold the plunger sections together.

Abstract: A baling machine includes a rotary drive-transferring driveline including a rotary input shaft that is connected to provide rotary drive as an input to a transmission; a flywheel shaft supporting a flywheel that is rotatably driven as an output of the transmission, the flywheel shaft connecting directly or indirectly to a plunger of the baling machine; and the transmission that is drive-transferringly interposed between the input shaft and the flywheel shaft. The transmission includes one or more clutches for selectively drivingly connecting the input shaft and the flywheel shaft one to the other inside the transmission and the flywheel shaft is free of clutches.

Abstract: An agricultural baling machine includes a rotary input shaft connected by way of an input driveline to a rotatable flywheel mounted on a flywheel shaft; and a drive converter that converts rotation of the flywheel to reciprocal rectilinear motion of a plunger in a bale-forming chamber forming part of the baling machine, in a manner compressing plant matter in the bale-forming chamber. The input driveline transfers rotary drive between the input shaft and the flywheel shaft. The rotary input shaft is disposed at a lower height in the baling machine than the flywheel shaft, and the input driveline includes a transmission having driveline components that engage one another in a drive-transferring manner connecting the rotary input shaft and the flywheel shaft.

Abstract: A mobile baling machine including a rotary input shaft connected by way of a driveline to a rotatable flywheel; and a drive converter that converts rotation of the flywheel to reciprocal rectilinear motion of a plunger, in a bale-forming chamber forming part of the baling machine, in manner forming plant matter in the bale-forming chamber into a compressed form; the driveline including one or more clutches for controlledly transferring rotary drive between the input shaft and the flywheel, wherein the driveline includes a transmission including driveline components defining at least first and second selectable transmission ratios between the input shaft and the flywheel; and wherein the baling machine includes or is operatively connected to one or more controllers that selectively engage a relatively lower, first said transmission ratio or a relatively higher, second said transmission ratio in dependence on conditions prevailing in the baling machine.

Abstract: An agricultural baling machine including: a frame; a connection point for attaching to a towing vehicle; a plunger in a bale-forming chamber; a driveline for taking power from the towing vehicle and causing reciprocal rectilinear motion of the plunger in the bale-forming chamber, wherein the driveline includes a transmission; and a drawbar assembly that provides a mechanical link between the connection point and the frame. The drawbar assembly includes a transmission mounting member that provides a mechanical connection between the transmission and the frame.

Abstract: An agricultural baling machine including: frame; a connection point for attaching to a towing vehicle; a plunger in a bale-forming chamber; a driveline for taking power from the towing vehicle and causing reciprocal rectilinear motion of the plunger in the bale-forming chamber; and a drawbar assembly that provides a mechanical link between the connection point and the frame. The drawbar assembly includes: a lower drawbar member and an upper drawbar member, wherein both members extend in a longitudinal direction of the baling machine from the frame towards the connection point; and wherein the lower drawbar member is spaced apart from the upper drawbar member in a vertical dimension such that one or more components of the driveline are accessible from the side of the baling machine through the drawbar assembly.

Abstract: An agricultural baler includes a main bale chamber extending in a bale forming direction from an inlet end to an outlet end. The main bale chamber includes a plurality of stationary walls and a plurality of movable density doors positioned downstream from the stationary walls, relative to the bale forming direction. The stationary walls include a ceiling, a first side wall and a second side wall. A plunger compresses and moves the crop material from the inlet end towards the outlet end of the bale chamber. The baler is characterized in that the first side wall, the second side wall and/or the ceiling comprises a constriction surface, which constricts the main bale chamber in a direction transverse to the bale forming direction.

Abstract: A mounting for a baling machine gearbox includes a first, cylindrical support member secured to and extending from at least a first part of a rigid frame inside the baling machine and a second support member secured to and extending from at least a further part of the rigid frame that in use is spaced vertically from the first part of the rigid frame. The gearbox includes at least one selectively tightenable and loosenable clamp that encircles the first support member and the mounting includes at least one releasable connection securing the gearbox to the second support member, whereby on disconnecting of an input rotary shaft and a crank from the gearbox, and disconnecting of the releasable connection and loosening of the clamp the gearbox is rotatable from the operational position to an access position permitting access to the plunger while supported on the first support member.

Abstract: An agricultural baling machine including: a frame; a connection point for attaching to a towing vehicle; a plunger in a bale-forming chamber; a driveline for taking power from the towing vehicle and causing reciprocal rectilinear motion of the plunger in the bale-forming chamber; and a drawbar member that provides a mechanical link between the connection point and the frame. The drawbar member is rotatably coupled to the frame such that the height of the connection point relative to the frame of the baling machine is adjustable.

Abstract: An agricultural system including an agricultural baler including a rotary input shaft connectable by way of a baler driveline to a rotatable flywheel; a hydraulic pump for supplying the agricultural baler with hydraulic fluid, the rotatable flywheel being connectable to the hydraulic pump via the driveline. The baler is transferrable between a first state for driving the hydraulic pump by external drive power provided by a corresponding work vehicle, and a second state for driving the hydraulic pump by the rotatable flywheel. The agricultural system further includes a control unit that is configured to: receive input-power-data indicative of a drive power available for driving the hydraulic pump in the first state of the baler; and determine a control-signal for transferring the baler into the second state, if the input-power-data indicates that the available drive power is insufficient for driving the hydraulic pump.

Abstract: An agricultural system including an agricultural baler and a control unit. The agricultural baler includes a baler driveline; a rotatable flywheel; and a rotary input shaft connected by way of the baler driveline to the rotatable flywheel. The driveline includes one or more clutches for controllably transferring rotary drive between the input shaft and the flywheel. The control unit is configured to receive input-power-data indicative of a drive power available at the rotary input shaft; and determine a clutch-control-signal for controlling an amount of torque transferred from the input shaft to the flywheel bye the one or more clutches, based on the input-power-data.

Abstract: An axle arrangement for a baler includes: a first axle with a first end and a second end, the first end being coupled with the chassis by a first leaf spring and a first hydraulic cylinder, the second end being coupled with the chassis by a second leaf spring and a second hydraulic cylinder; a second axle with a first end and a second end, the first end being coupled with the chassis by a first leaf spring and a first hydraulic cylinder, the second end being coupled with the chassis by a second leaf spring and a second hydraulic cylinder; a first hydraulic line fluidly interconnecting the first hydraulic cylinder on the first axle with the first hydraulic cylinder on the second axle; and a second hydraulic line fluidly interconnecting the second hydraulic cylinder on the first axle with the second hydraulic cylinder on the second axle.

Abstract: An agricultural baler including a flywheel and a drivetrain for coupling the flywheel to a connector that is arranged to be connected to a power take-off (PTO) of a tractor. The drivetrain includes a decoupling mechanism for decoupling the flywheel from the connector in case of an overload. The decoupling mechanism includes a controllable member that is movable between an engaged state in which the flywheel is coupled to the connector and a disengaged state in which the flywheel is decoupled from the connector. The decoupling mechanism further includes a detector configured for detecting the overload. The detector is configured for providing an overload signal to the controllable member triggering the controllable member into the disengaged state.

Abstract: An agricultural baler including a flywheel and a drivetrain for coupling the flywheel to a connector that is arranged to be connected to a power take-off (PTO) of a tractor. The drivetrain includes a decoupling mechanism for decoupling the flywheel from the connector in case of an overload. The decoupling mechanism includes a controllable member that is movable between an engaged state in which the flywheel is coupled to the connector and a disengaged state in which the flywheel is decoupled from the connector. The decoupling mechanism further includes a detector configured for detecting the overload. The detector is configured for providing an overload signal to the controllable member triggering the controllable member into the disengaged state.

Abstract: An agricultural baler includes a main bale chamber, a bale ejection system and a partial bale ejection system. The partial bale ejection system, incorporated in the floor of the main bale chamber, is arranged to move and eject a rearward bale proximate to the outlet of the main bale chamber. The partial bale ejection system having an actuator for moving the rearward bale and at least one tine that is pushed into the rearward bale prior to the actuator pushing the rearward bale alone toward and out the outlet.