Abstract: A method of and apparatus for producing stacks of large square bales. Bales are received from the baler via a bale accumulator and formed into a stack, a plurality of bales high. The resulting bale stacks may be dropped in the field for pickup later.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for producing stacks of large square bales. Bales are received from the baler via a bale accumulator and formed into a stack, a plurality of bales high. The resulting bale stacks may be dropped in the field for pickup later.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for producing stacks of large square bales. Bales are received from the baler via a bale accumulator and formed into a stack, a plurality of bales high. The resulting bale stacks may be dropped in the field for pickup later.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for producing stacks of large square bales. Bales are received from the baler via a bale accumulator and formed into a stack, a plurality of bales high. The resulting bale stacks may be dropped in the field for pickup later.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading a container with stacks of bales comprising biomass. Conveyors are driven from a mid-point between the ends of the container, thus reducing the strain on the conveyor material. Squeeze flaps help guide the stacks of bales into the container, and provide the ability to reduce the width of the bale stack by hydraulically actuating the squeeze flaps. A remote control device is used in the process of loading and a sensor senses when the container is full.

Abstract: An apparatus for picking up stacks of bales and moving them into and/or out from a trailer. The trailer has a moving floor and is pivotally attached to the prime mover along a vertical axis and along a horizontal axis. Tandem wheels attached to the frame are moveable between a forward position and a rear position and can be locked in either the forward or rear position. Ground engaging tracks are attached to the trailer for moving the trailer forward or back. A starter conveyor section operatively attached to the rear of the trailer with a forward end being adjacent to the rear of the moving floor. The starter conveyor section tilts with the trailer to have a first elevated position when the frame is in transport position and a second position close to the ground when the trailer is in the tilted loading/unloading position.

Abstract: Biomass may become an important source of combustible fuel in the future. For biomass, such as switchgrass, to be economically viable as a fuel, the processes required to take the plant material from a green, growing plant in the field to an energy dense package must be efficient. A self-propelled bale picking truck simplifies and speeds bale collecting, stacking, and staging for loading onto a truck for transport over the road.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing dust and dirt before baling uses a baler having a baling chamber, a pickup for picking up material to be baled from the ground and an inlet section between the pickup and the baling chamber. The inlet section has a perforated member at the bottom thereof, the perforated member forming a part of an air chamber. A blower attached to the air chamber is used for pulling air from the inlet section, through the perforated member and from the air chamber whereby dirt will be extracted from the inlet section before such dirt enters the baling chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for picking up stacks of bales and moving them into and/or out from a trailer. The trailer has a moving floor and is pivotally attached to the prime mover along a vertical axis and along a horizontal axis. Tandem wheels attached to the frame are moveable between a forward position and a rear position and can be locked in either the forward or rear position. Ground engaging tracks are attached to the trailer for moving the trailer forward or back. A starter conveyor section operatively attached to the rear of the trailer with a forward end being adjacent to the rear of the moving floor. The starter conveyor section tilts with the trailer to have a first elevated position when the frame is in transport position and a second position close to the ground when the trailer is in the tilted loading/unloading position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing dust and dirt before baling uses a baler having a baling chamber, a pickup for picking up material to be baled from the ground and an inlet section between the pickup and the baling chamber. The inlet section has a perforated member at the bottom thereof, the perforated member forming a part of an air chamber. A blower attached to the air chamber is used for pulling air from the inlet section, through the perforated member and from the air chamber whereby dirt will be extracted from the inlet section before such dirt enters the baling chamber.

Abstract: Biomass may become an important source of combustible fuel in the future. For biomass, such as switchgrass, to be economically viable as a fuel, the processes required to take the plant material from a green, growing plant in the field to an energy dense package must be efficient. A self-propelled bale picking truck simplifies and speeds bale collecting, stacking, and staging for loading onto a truck for transport over the road.

Abstract: Biomass may become an important source of combustible fuel in the future. For biomass, such as switchgrass, to be economically viable as a fuel, the processes required to take the plant material from a green, growing plant in the field to an energy dense package must be efficient. A self-propelled bale picking truck simplifies and speeds bale collecting, stacking, and staging for loading onto a truck for transport over the road.

Abstract: Biomass may become an important source of combustible fuel in the future. For biomass, such as switchgrass, to be economically viable as a fuel, the processes required to take the plant material from a green, growing plant in the field to an energy dense package must be efficient. A bale destacker may be used to disassemble stacks of bales of biomass after the bales have been brought from the field and before the bales are used for fuel. The bale destacker disassembles a stack of bales with no manual labor. A conveyor is used to move bales, first in stacks, then in pairs to and from the bale destacker.

Abstract: Biomass may become an important source of combustible fuel in the future. For biomass, such as switchgrass, to be economically viable as a fuel, the processes required to take the plant material from a green, growing plant in the field to an energy dense package must be efficient. A self-propelled bale picking truck simplifies and speeds bale collecting, stacking, and staging for loading onto a truck for transport over the road.

Abstract: For transportability, wide machinery such as disk and cycle-bar mowers are often detached from the tractor on which they are used, and loaded onto a truck or trailer. A new method is to make these wide machines retractable such that their width is no wider than allowed for transport on public roads, yet extendable to increase the efficiency of the time and horsepower used to accomplish the intended task, such as mowing. To permit the extension and retraction of a machine such as a mower, a tool-bar is mounted parallel to the tractor's axles. It is stationary with respect to the tractor. A sliding tool-bar is mounted next to and parallel with the stationary tool-bar. A hydraulic cylinder, affixed to the stationary tool bar and the sliding tool-bar, causes the sliding tool-bar to slide in a direction parallel with the stationary tool-bar. The machine is affixed to the sliding tool-bar, so it can be extended and retracted with the sliding toolbar.

Abstract: For transportability, wide machinery such as disk and cycle-bar mowers are often detached from the tractor on which they are used, and loaded onto a truck or trailer. A new method is to make these wide machines retractable such that their width is no wider than allowed for transport on public roads, yet extendable to increase the efficiency of the time and horsepower used to accomplish the intended task, such as mowing. To permit the extension and retraction of a machine such as a mower, a tool-bar is mounted parallel to the tractor's axles. It is stationary with respect to the tractor. A sliding tool-bar is mounted next to and parallel with the stationary tool-bar. A hydraulic cylinder, affixed to the stationary tool bar and the sliding tool-bar, causes the sliding tool-bar to slide in a direction parallel with the stationary tool-bar. The machine is affixed to the sliding tool-bar, so it can be extended and retracted with the sliding toolbar.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension system assembly for attachment to a vehicle frame having a torsion axle and at least two ground engaging wheels operatively rotatably attached to each respective end of the torsion axle has an attachment member which is adapted to be attached to the frame. An arm is operably pivotally attached to the attachment member along an axis. A torsion axle is received in a torsion axle receiving portion of the assembly at a first distance spaced from the aforementioned axis for selectively receiving the torsion axle. An air bag is operatively disposed between the frame and the arm, the air bag being spaced at a second distance from the axis. A linkage element of variable length, which can be a shock absorber, is operably attached to the frame and to the arm whereby the arm will be held at a predetermined position with respect to the frame and yet allow the arm to pivot about the axis.

Abstract: A track apparatus having a frame is provided. The track apparatus is mountable on a rotatable axle of a vehicle and includes a continuous flexible track and a drive wheel mountable to the rotatable axle of the vehicle for rotational movement therewith. The drive wheel drives the flexible track in response to rotation of the axle of the vehicle. The leading and trailing pairs of idler wheels and the pairs of bogie wheels of the track apparatus are mounted on stub axles so as to allow the drive wheel to pass therebetween. This, in turn, allows for the drive wheel to have an increased diameter.

Abstract: A track apparatus is provided for mounting on a rotatable axle of a vehicle. The track apparatus includes a flexible track having an upper length and a ground-engaging lower length. A drive wheel is mountable to the rotatable axle so as to drive the flexible track in response to rotation of the axle. Leading and trailing idler assemblies are attached to the frame. Each idler assembly includes a non-pneumatic idler wheel having a plurality of voids therein. In addition, a bogie assembly is also supported by the frame. The bogie assembly includes a non-pneumatic bogie wheel having a plurality of voids therein. The idler wheels and the bogie wheels have increased dimensional reliability and provide shock absorption and self-cleaning features to the track apparatus.