Abstract: A bubble-up auger for a combine harvester includes a rotatable shaft, a lower auger section either mounted to or forming part of the rotatable shaft, and an upper auger section that is removably connected to the lower auger section, and includes an opening through which the shaft is at least partially positioned. The upper auger section is moveable between a first position where the upper auger section is detached from the lower auger section and a second position where the upper auger section is connected to the lower auger section.

Abstract: A slip coupling for a work machine includes a main clutch in the form of a friction-based and spring-operated slip clutch. The slip coupling further includes an auxiliary clutch configured to maintain a pre-set spring-induced clamping force on friction plates of the slip clutch, when the slip coupling rotates in a forward direction, and further configured to be able to increase the spring-induced clamping force, when the slip coupling rotates in a reverse rotational direction. The increase of the clamping force is enabled by the fact that one of two auxiliary clutch parts is axially movable when the slip coupling rotates in the reverse rotational direction, the axial movement actuating an increase in pre-tension of mechanical spring or springs of the slip clutch. A work machine such as a combine harvester equipped with the slip coupling is also described.

Abstract: In a combine harvester (10), the forward-directed driveline from the combine is coupled to the transversely oriented header drive axle through a transverse gearbox (26) that is mounted on a moveable cradle frame (20) onto which the header is mounted. in addition, the housing (28) of the gearbox or at least the portion of the housing including the input axle of the gearbox is rotatably arranged relative to the cradle frame (20), about a rotation axis oriented transversely to the combine's forward direction. A mechanical link (45) is furthermore provided between the rotatable gearbox housing (portion) (28) and the feeder housing (11), configured to control the orientation of the input axle (29) of the transverse gearbox, so as to maintain the alignment of the input axle (29) relative to the driveline of the combine.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a track unit for a vehicle, such as an agricultural harvesting combine. The track unit according to a first embodiment of the invention comprises one or more bogies arranged between front and rear guide wheels. The bogies are provided with wheel pairs that are rotatably arranged about a longitudinal axis of the bogie itself, and are thereby capable of adapting individually to transversal oscillations caused by the terrain. Preferably, the bogies are furthermore equipped to adapt to longitudinal oscillations as well, by the longitudinal portion of the bogie being rotatable about a transversal axis.

Abstract: An agricultural vehicle has a chassis with a drivetrain and at least one rubber track assembly with a rubber track belt. The rubber track assembly has at least one idler, each of which has two idler wheels spaced apart on an axle. The idler wheels each have a tapered outer surface that together define a tapered profile that causes the rubber track belt to self-center upon the rubber track assembly. The tapered profile may define a pair of straight lines at a shallow angle, a portion of a circle, a portion of an ellipse, a parabola, or a hyperbola.

Abstract: A slip coupling for a work machine includes a main clutch in the form of a friction-based and spring-operated slip clutch. The slip coupling further includes an auxiliary clutch configured to maintain a pre-set spring-induced clamping force on friction plates of the slip clutch, when the slip coupling rotates in a forward direction, and further configured to be able to increase the spring-induced clamping force, when the slip coupling rotates in a reverse rotational direction. The increase of the clamping force is enabled by the fact that one of two auxiliary clutch parts is axially movable when the slip coupling rotates in the reverse rotational direction, the axial movement actuating an increase in pre-tension of mechanical spring or springs of the slip clutch. A work machine such as a combine harvester equipped with the slip coupling is also described.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a track unit for a vehicle, such as an agricultural harvesting combine. The track unit according to a first embodiment of the invention comprises one or more bogies arranged between front and rear guide wheels. The bogies are provided with wheel pairs that are rotatably arranged about a longitudinal axis of the bogie itself, and are thereby capable of adapting individually to transversal oscillations caused by the terrain. Preferably, the bogies are furthermore equipped to adapt to longitudinal oscillations as well, by the longitudinal portion of the bogie being rotatable about a transversal axis.

Abstract: An apparatus for actuating a rocking motion of a movable component including an adjustable length actuator, a lever whose angular position is controlled by the actuator, and a force transfer element attached to the movable component. The lever comprises a pair of oppositely placed pawls shaped so as to interact with the force transfer element for respectively actuating movement of the component in one of two opposite directions, when the lever exits a neutral positional range in which range any interaction between both pawls and the force transfer element is prohibited. The neutral range may be defined by a support plate positioned, shaped, and dimensioned so as to prohibit interaction between the pawls and the force transfer element. The displacement of the component in one direction may be larger than in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A track unit may include one or more bogies arranged between front and rear guide wheels. The bogies are provided with wheel pairs that are rotatably arranged about a longitudinal axis of the bogie itself, and capable of adapting individually to transversal oscillations caused by the terrain. The bogies can furthermore be equipped to adapt to longitudinal oscillations as well, by the longitudinal portion of the bogie being rotatable about a transversal axis. The track unit may also be equipped with a cutter, non-rotatably mounted on one or both outer faces of the rear guide wheel, in a position where said wheel is in direct contact with the track, the cutter configured to cut crop material transported upwards between the rear guide wheel and the track when the track unit moves forward.

Abstract: An agricultural vehicle has a chassis with a drivetrain and at least one rubber track assembly with a rubber track belt. The rubber track assembly has at least one idler, each of which has two idler wheels spaced apart on an axle. The idler wheels each have a tapered outer surface that together define a tapered profile that causes the rubber track belt to self-center upon the rubber track assembly. The tapered profile may define a pair of straight lines at a shallow angle, a portion of a circle, a portion of an ellipse, a parabola, or a hyperbola.

Abstract: A controller for a vehicle having a continuous track for vehicle propulsion. The controller is programmed to: process (i) a speed value indicative of a speed at which the vehicle is being driven; and (ii) a time value indicative of a period of time for which the vehicle has been driven at that speed; determine an overheating parameter value based on the speed value and the time value; compare the overheating parameter value with a threshold value, wherein the threshold value is representative of undesirable operation for the continuous track; and generate an output signal for the vehicle in accordance with a result of the comparison of the overheating parameter value with the threshold value.

Abstract: An apparatus for actuating a rocking motion of a movable component including an adjustable length actuator, a lever whose angular position is controlled by the actuator, and a force transfer element attached to the movable component. The lever comprises a pair of oppositely placed pawls shaped so as to interact with the force transfer element for respectively actuating movement of the component in one of two opposite directions, when the lever exits a neutral positional range in which range any interaction between both pawls and the force transfer element is prohibited. The neutral range may be defined by a support plate positioned, shaped, and dimensioned so as to prohibit interaction between the pawls and the force transfer element. The displacement of the component in one direction may be larger than in the opposite direction.

Abstract: An axle assembly for a vehicle includes an axle having opposite axle ends and a pair of axle hubs. The axle assembly has a pair of double kingpin hinge arrangements, each including a first pivot pin connected with a respective one of the axle ends, a second pivot pin operatively associated with a respective axle hub, and a knuckle interconnecting the first pivot pin and the second pivot pin. At least one steering cylinder is associated with each double kingpin hinge arrangement. Each steering cylinder is interconnected between the axle and the knuckle or the axle hub.

Abstract: An axle assembly for a vehicle includes an axle having opposite axle ends and a pair of axle hubs. The axle assembly has a pair of double kingpin hinge arrangements, each including a first pivot pin connected with a respective one of the axle ends, a second pivot pin operatively associated with a respective axle hub, and a knuckle interconnecting the first pivot pin and the second pivot pin. At least one steering cylinder is associated with each double kingpin hinge arrangement. Each steering cylinder is interconnected between the axle and the knuckle or the axle hub.

Abstract: A track unit may include one or more bogies arranged between front and rear guide wheels. The bogies are provided with wheel pairs that are rotatably arranged about a longitudinal axis of the bogie itself, and capable of adapting individually to transversal oscillations caused by the terrain. The bogies can furthermore be equipped to adapt to longitudinal oscillations as well, by the longitudinal portion of the bogie being rotatable about a transversal axis. The track unit may also be equipped with a cutter, non-rotatably mounted on one or both outer faces of the rear guide wheel, in a position where said wheel is in direct contact with the track, the cutter configured to cut crop material transported upwards between the rear guide wheel and the track when the track unit moves forward.

Abstract: A controller for a vehicle having a continuous track for vehicle propulsion. The controller is programmed to: process (i) a speed value indicative of a speed at which the vehicle is being driven; and (ii) a time value indicative of a period of time for which the vehicle has been driven at that speed; determine an overheating parameter value based on the speed value and the time value; compare the overheating parameter value with a threshold value, wherein the threshold value is representative of undesirable operation for the continuous track; and generate an output signal for the vehicle in accordance with a result of the comparison of the overheating parameter value with the threshold value.

Abstract: A system to control the position of one or more feed rolls in a forage harvester. The system includes at least one fixed feed roll arranged to rotate around a rotation axis which is fixed with respect to a chassis of the harvester, and in cooperation with the at least one fixed feed roll, a movable feed roll arranged to rotate around a rotation axis which is movable towards or away from the corresponding fixed roll. The system determines various parameters, including input data for the driving force exerted on the rolls, position of the movable feed roll, and rotational speed of the drive shaft, and inputs the data to a control unit, which provides commands to one or more valves and to one or more throttles to control the movable feed roll via the hydraulic piston/cylinder arrangements.

Abstract: A system or method for controlling the position of one or more feed rolls in a forage harvester includes at least one fixed feed roll arranged to rotate around a rotation axis which is fixed with respect to a chassis of the harvester, and in cooperation with the at least one fixed feed roll, a movable feed roll arranged to rotate around a rotation axis which is movable towards or away from the corresponding fixed roll. The system includes means for measuring parameters related to the feed rolls, such as the driving force exerted on the rolls, and means for actuating movement of the movable rolls by hydraulic piston/cylinder arrangements, installed in connection with the movable rolls.

Abstract: An agricultural vehicle is disclosed having ancillary equipment that may be raised and lowered relative to the ground with consequential changing of the position of the center of gravity of the vehicle and having a hydraulic braking system comprising a master cylinder and a slave cylinder. The braking system further includes a pressure relief valve for limiting the hydraulic pressure applied to the slave cylinder only when the vehicle is in road mode. This ensures that the braking force does not exceed a safe limit below which the vehicle does not risk toppling forwards when braking.

Abstract: An agricultural vehicle is disclosed having ancillary equipment that may be raised and lowered relative to the ground with consequential changing of the position of the centre of gravity of the vehicle and having a hydraulic braking system comprising a master cylinder and a slave cylinder. The braking system further includes a pressure relief valve for limiting the hydraulic pressure applied to the slave cylinder only when the vehicle is in road mode. This ensures that the braking force does not exceed a safe limit below which the vehicle does not risk toppling forwards when braking.