Abstract: An agricultural apparatus may comprise a transversely extending main frame. The main frame may be configured to move upwards on a side when subjected to a lifting force on that side. A stabilizer apparatus may be inter-connected to the main frame and be transversely spaced outwards. and may be operable to provide support against downward acting forces. A pneumatic system may comprise at least one frame gas suspension bag and at least one stabilizer gas bag may be located proximate the stabilizer apparatus and may be in pneumatic communication with the at least one frame gas suspension bag. When the at least one gas suspension bag is filled with a pressurized gas, and the stabilizer apparatus is subjected to an upwardly directed force, the at least one stabilizer gas bag may be compressed increasing a pressure of the pressurized gas within the at least one stabilizer gas bag.

Abstract: An agricultural implement has (i) an elongated open channel member; and (ii) a connecting assembly comprising a first vertical connector plate positioned against a first vertical side of the open member and a second vertical connector plate positioned against a second vertical side of the open member. When the open member twists about a longitudinal axis, its upper and lower flanges will move within upper and lower channels about upper and lower raised surface areas. A clamping assembly includes: a first clamping member extending horizontally between the first vertical plate and the second vertical plate positioned over and proximate an upper surface of the upper flange; a second clamping member extending over and proximate a lower surface of the lower flange; and a third clamping member extending (i) over and proximate a lower surface of the lower flange or (ii) over and proximate an upper surface of the upper flange.

Abstract: An apparatus, which may be a tillage apparatus, is disclosed that may have a flexible frame. The frame may be made from open members. The frame may support ground engagers and may be supported on wheel assemblies. The ground engagers may be connected to a spring trip mechanism. The ground engagers may be mounted to open members of the frame with a clamping style mechanism. The clamp mechanism may include wedge devices. The frame may be lowered and raised relative to wheels of the wheel assemblies with a lift mechanism. One row of ground engagers may be raised or lowered relative to the frame independent of another row of ground engagers. An anti-skid or skew control system may be employed in association with the independent height adjustment of one row of ground engagers. A system may be provided to maintain and control the height of a tow hitch forming part of the apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus, which may be a tillage apparatus, may have a flexible frame. The frame may be made from open members. The frame may support ground engagers and may be supported on wheel assemblies. The ground engagers may be connected to a spring trip mechanism. The ground engagers may be mounted to open members of the frame with a clamping style mechanism. The clamp mechanism may include wedge devices. The frame may be lowered and raised relative to wheels of the wheel assemblies with a lift mechanism. One row of ground engagers may be raised or lowered relative to the frame independent of another row of ground engagers. An anti-skid or skew control system may be employed in association with the independent height adjustment of one row of ground engagers. A system may be provided to maintain and control the height of a tow hitch forming part of the apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus, which may be a tillage apparatus, has a flexible frame. The frame may be made from open members. The frame may support ground engagers and may be supported on wheel assemblies. The ground engagers may be connected to a spring trip mechanism. The ground engagers may be mounted to open members of the frame with a clamping style mechanism. The clamp mechanism may include wedge devices. The frame may be lowered and raised relative to wheels of the wheel assemblies with a lift mechanism. One row of ground engagers may be raised or lowered relative to the frame independent of another row of ground engagers. An anti-skid or skew control system may be employed in association with the independent height adjustment of one row of ground engagers. A system may be provided to maintain and control the height of a tow hitch forming part of the apparatus.

Abstract: An agricultural implement assembly, which may comprise a support frame and a tine support structure for supporting a plurality of tine members. The assembly may comprise a clamping mechanism operable for securing the tine members to the tine support structure. The clamping mechanism comprises an upper clamping arm, a lower clamping arm and a medial connecting member which are operable to securely hold or otherwise constrain the tine members against or in close proximity to the tine support structure. The clamping mechanism may comprise a tine angled portion engaging component operable to engage an upper surface of the angled end portion of the tine member. The upper and lower clamping arms may comprise at least one upper ridge and at least one lower ridge for engaging in contact with a first portion and a second portion respectively of outward facing surface regions of the tine support structure.

Abstract: An apparatus, which may be a tillage apparatus may have a flexible frame. The frame may be made from transverse and longitudinal open members. The frame may support ground engagers and may be supported on wheel assemblies. The ground engagers may be connected to a spring trip mechanism. The ground engagers may be mounted to open members of the frame with a clamping style mechanism. The clamp mechanism may include wedge devices. The frame may be lowered and raised relative to wheels of the wheel assemblies with a lift mechanism. One row of ground engagers may be raised or lowered relative to the frame independent of another row of ground engagers. An anti-skid or skew control system may be employed in association with the independent height adjustment of one row of ground engagers. A system may be provided to maintain and control the height of a tow hitch forming part of the apparatus.

Abstract: A harvesting header is disclosed that comprises a support frame and a crop moving apparatus supported on the support frame and operable for moving cut crop material to a transfer region. The header also has a cavity located proximate and lower than an output end of the crop moving apparatus. The header has a crop flow assistance device having a plurality of transversely spaced elements that extend generally longitudinally at least partially above the cavity, and which are operable to assist cut crop material in being transferred from the output end of the moving apparatus to flow over the cavity. The cavity may be operable to receive rocks and/or debris carried by the conveyor to the transfer region. The header may include a rock trap located in the transfer region the cavity being part of the rock trap and may be operable to receive rocks and/or debris carried by the conveyor to the transfer region.

Abstract: An apparatus, which may be a tillage apparatus, is disclosed that may have a flexible frame. The frame may be made from open members. The frame may support ground engagers and may be supported on wheel assemblies. The ground engagers may be connected to a spring trip mechanism. The ground engagers may be mounted to open members of the frame with a clamping style mechanism. The clamp mechanism may include wedge devices. The frame may be lowered and raised relative to wheels of the wheel assemblies with a lift mechanism. One row of ground engagers may be raised or lowered relative to the frame independent of another row of ground engagers. An anti-skid or skew control system may be employed in association with the independent height adjustment of one row of ground engagers. A system may be provided to maintain and control the height of a tow hitch forming part of the apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus, which may be a tillage apparatus, is disclosed that may have a flexible frame. The frame may be made from open members. The frame may support ground engagers and may be supported on wheel assemblies. The ground engagers may be connected to a spring trip mechanism. The ground engagers may be mounted to open members of the frame with a clamping style mechanism. The clamp mechanism may include wedge devices. The frame may be lowered and raised relative to wheels of the wheel assemblies with a lift mechanism. One row of ground engagers may be raised or lowered relative to the frame independent of another row of ground engagers. An anti-skid or skew control system may be employed in association with the independent height adjustment of one row of ground engagers. A system may be provided to maintain and control the height of a tow hitch forming part of the apparatus.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for controlling positioning of an agricultural implement is disclosed. The agricultural implement is mounted on a propulsion unit having a positioning system. A position signal is received from a position sensor representing a position of the agricultural implement relative to the ground, and while a difference between the position and a desired position is greater than a threshold difference, a controller produces and transmits an output signal having a control state that alternates successively between an active time during which the output signal causes the positioning system to move the agricultural implement towards the desired position, and an inactive time during which the output signal causes the positioning system to discontinue movement. The respective times are based on a positioning response time and are operable to permit the agricultural implement to settle in a non-transient position during the inactive time while receiving the position signal.

Abstract: A crop harvesting header including a pickup reel mounted for rotation about a reel axis includes a plurality of reel bats peripherally disposed and having outwardly extending fingers rotatable about a bat axis. A cam track surrounding the reel axis includes a cam surface and a guide surface. A linkage associated with each reel bat has first and second cam followers that engage the cam surface at first and second contact points displacing the linkage while traversing the cam track, the linkage being coupled to cause rotation of the reel bat about the bat axis for changing an angle of attack of the fingers. A guide follower engages the guide surface at a third contact point between the first and second contact points and is offset to cause the first and second cam followers and the guide follower to maintain contact with the guide surface while traversing the cam track.

Abstract: A crop harvesting header including a pickup reel mounted for rotation about a reel axis is disclosed and includes a plurality of reel bats peripherally disposed on the reel each having a plurality of outwardly extending fingers and being rotatable about a bat axis. A cam track adjacent to and surrounding the reel axis is immobilized w.r.t. the header and includes a cam surface and a guide surface. A linkage associated with each reel bat has first and second spaced apart cam followers that engage the cam surface at respective points of contact. The cam surface causes displacement of the linkage while traversing the cam track during rotation of the reel, the linkage being coupled to cause rotation of the reel bat about the bat axis for changing an angle of attack of the fingers.

Abstract: An apparatus, which may be a tillage apparatus, is disclosed that may have a flexible frame. The frame may be made from open members. The frame may support ground engagers and may be supported on wheel assemblies. The ground engagers may be connected to a spring trip mechanism. The ground engagers may be mounted to open members of the frame with a clamping style mechanism. The clamp mechanism may include wedge devices. The frame may be lowered and raised relative to wheels of the wheel assemblies with a lift mechanism. One row of ground engagers may be raised or lowered relative to the frame independent of another row of ground engagers. An anti-skid or skew control system may be employed in association with the independent height adjustment of one row of ground engagers. A system may be provided to maintain and control the height of a tow hitch forming part of the apparatus.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for controlling positioning of an agricultural implement is disclosed. The agricultural implement is mounted on a propulsion unit having a positioning system. A position signal is received from a position sensor representing a position of the agricultural implement relative to the ground, and while a difference between the position and a desired position is greater than a threshold difference, a controller produces and transmits an output signal having a control state that alternates successively between an active time during which the output signal causes the positioning system to move the agricultural implement towards the desired position, and an inactive time during which the output signal causes the positioning system to discontinue movement. The respective times are based on a positioning response time and are operable to permit the agricultural implement to settle in a non-transient position during the inactive time while receiving the position signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling positioning of an agricultural implement relative to the ground is disclosed. The method involves receiving first and second position signals representing respective first and second positions of the agricultural implement relative to the ground and providing input to a controller for controlling the positioning of the agricultural implement. The method involves receiving an intermediate position signal representing an intermediate position of the agricultural implement and being associated with an intermediate location between locations respective first and second positions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling positioning of an agricultural implement relative to the ground is disclosed. The method involves receiving first and second position signals representing respective first and second positions of the agricultural implement relative to the ground and providing input to a controller for controlling the positioning of the agricultural implement. The method involves receiving an intermediate position signal representing an intermediate position of the agricultural implement and being associated with an intermediate location between locations respective first and second positions.

Abstract: A method for conditioning at least one control signal transmitted by a controller is disclosed. The method involves intercepting the control signal and producing at least one output signal for receipt by the positioning system instead of the control signal in response to the control signal. The output signal represents a plurality of active times during which the positioning system is instructed to move the agricultural implement towards the at least one desired position and a plurality of inactive times during which the positioning system is instructed not to move, each active time being followed by a respective one of the plurality of inactive times. Each of the plurality of inactive times is sufficiently long to permit the agricultural implement to settle into a fixed position due to a positioning response time of the positioning system. Other methods, apparatuses, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for conditioning at least one control signal transmitted by a controller is disclosed. The method involves intercepting the control signal and producing at least one output signal for receipt by the positioning system instead of the control signal in response to the control signal. The output signal represents a plurality of active times during which the positioning system is instructed to move the agricultural implement towards the at least one desired position and a plurality of inactive times during which the positioning system is instructed not to move, each active time being followed by a respective one of the plurality of inactive times. Each of the plurality of inactive times is sufficiently long to permit the agricultural implement to settle into a fixed position due to a positioning response time of the positioning system. Other methods, apparatuses, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.