Abstract: A baler implement a tag installer operable to attach an RFID identification tag to a bale. A reader is positioned to interrogate the identification tag for receiving data from the identification tag. The reader is operable to emit an interrogation signal for interrogating the identification tag in accordance with a pre-defined timing sequence. The reader emits the interrogation signal regardless of a position of the bale in the baling chamber or on the baler implement. As such, the interrogation signal is emitted based on the pre-defined timing sequence. The pre-defined timing sequence may include a repeated on/off interrogation sequence, or continuously scanning interrogation sequence.

Abstract: A blade for a rotating blade assembly for a mower implement is positioned between a disc and a spring plate. The blade includes a body defining a pin aperture. A retaining pin includes a shaft portion that defines a shaft diameter and extends through the pin aperture of the blade. The retaining pin is engaged with a mounting aperture of the disc and a pocket of the spring plate. The body of the blade includes a radially inner edge relative to a rotation axis of the disc. The body defines a tail length between the pin aperture and the radial inner edge. The tail length is equal to or greater than seventy five percent of the shaft diameter of the shaft portion of the retaining pin and/or the pin aperture of the blade. The pin aperture of the blade is less than 105% the shaft diameter of the retaining pin.

Abstract: A baler system is operable to determine an initial quantity of a preservative stored in a tank and define an application rate of the preservative to be applied per bale during a harvest operation. A number of bales to be formed during the harvest operation may be estimated, and a determination made on whether or not the initial quantity of the preservative at the defined application rate is sufficient to treat the estimated number of bales to be formed during the harvest operation. When a controller determines that the initial quantity of the preservative is not sufficient to treat the estimated number of bales to be formed during the harvest operation, the controller may send a notification to a system manager requesting additional preservative be delivered to the baler implement. The status of the preservative may be continuously monitored and updated throughout the harvest operation.

Abstract: A baler system is operable to determine an initial quantity of a preservative stored in a tank and define an application rate of the preservative to be applied per bale during a harvest operation. A number of bales to be formed during the harvest operation may be estimated, and a determination made on whether or not the initial quantity of the preservative at the defined application rate is sufficient to treat the estimated number of bales to be formed during the harvest operation. When a controller determines that the initial quantity of the preservative is not sufficient to treat the estimated number of bales to be formed during the harvest operation, the controller may send a notification to a system manager requesting additional preservative be delivered to the baler implement. The status of the preservative may be continuously monitored and updated throughout the harvest operation.

Abstract: A knotter drive apparatus for a baler includes a knotter gear drive shaft having a drive shaft axis and a shaft outside diameter. A plurality of knotter assemblies are mounted on the knotter gear drive shaft. Each assembly includes a first knotter gear sector including a first sector hub portion and a first sector radial portion. The first sector hub portion includes a central passage at least partly defined in the first sector hub portion for receiving the knotter gear drive shaft. The first sector radial portion extends radially outward from the first sector hub portion relative to the drive shaft axis, and has defined thereon a plurality of intermittent gear tooth segments. The first sector hub portion has a circumferential gap defined therein greater than the shaft outside diameter such that the first knotter gear sector is removable radially, relative to the drive shaft axis, from the knotter gear drive shaft.

Abstract: A baler implement a tag installer operable to attach an RFID identification tag to a bale. A reader is positioned to interrogate the identification tag for receiving data from the identification tag. The reader is operable to emit an interrogation signal for interrogating the identification tag in accordance with a pre-defined timing sequence. The reader emits the interrogation signal regardless of a position of the bale in the baling chamber or on the baler implement. As such, the interrogation signal is emitted based on the pre-defined timing sequence. The pre-defined timing sequence may include a repeated on/off interrogation sequence, or continuously scanning interrogation sequence.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present disclosure is a multi-material needle assembly for a baler that has a core formed from a first material and a first side formed of a second material and coupled to the core. The first side is positioned at least partially along a wear zone of the core.

Abstract: A knotter drive apparatus for a baler includes a knotter gear drive shaft having a drive shaft axis and a shaft outside diameter. A plurality of knotter assemblies are mounted on the knotter gear drive shaft. Each assembly includes a first knotter gear sector including a first sector hub portion and a first sector radial portion. The first sector hub portion includes a central passage at least partly defined in the first sector hub portion for receiving the knotter gear drive shaft. The first sector radial portion extends radially outward from the first sector hub portion relative to the drive shaft axis, and has defined thereon a plurality of intermittent gear tooth segments. The first sector hub portion has a circumferential gap defined therein greater than the shaft outside diameter such that the first knotter gear sector is removable radially, relative to the drive shaft axis, from the knotter gear drive shaft.

Abstract: A steering system is described for a vehicle having steerable wheels. A hydraulic charge pressure circuit may be configured to provide charge pressure to one or more hydraulic components of the vehicle and a hydraulic drive pressure circuit may be configured to provide working pressure to one or more other hydraulic components of the vehicle. Hydraulic machines may rotate front wheels in order to drive the vehicle, and a front valve assembly may control steering of the front wheels by controlling the hydraulic machines. The hydraulic machines may be driven to rotate the front wheels by the working pressure from the hydraulic drive pressure circuit, and the front valve assembly may control the front hydraulic machines to steer the agricultural vehicle by controlling flow of hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic charge pressure circuit through the front valve assembly.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present disclosure is a multi-material needle assembly for a baler that has a core formed from a first material and a first side formed of a second material and coupled to the core. The first side is positioned at least partially along a wear zone of the core.

Abstract: A windrower with a frame at a front end of the windrower and a cab coupled to the frame. The cab has a plurality of controls disposed in the cab for controlling the windrower. The windrower also has a lift arm with a first end and a second end, the first end being pivotally coupled to the frame, wherein the lift arm includes a transverse bend defined at a location between the first and second ends. A first coupler is coupled to the second end of the lift arm and a second coupler coupled to the lift arm between the first and second ends. The first coupler is configured to couple the frame to a rotary-style head and the second coupler is configure to couple the frame to a draper-style head.

Abstract: A steering system is described for a vehicle having steerable wheels. A hydraulic charge pressure circuit may be configured to provide charge pressure to one or more hydraulic components of the vehicle and a hydraulic drive pressure circuit may be configured to provide working pressure to one or more other hydraulic components of the vehicle. Hydraulic machines may rotate front wheels in order to drive the vehicle, and a front valve assembly may control steering of the front wheels by controlling the hydraulic machines. The hydraulic machines may be driven to rotate the front wheels by the working pressure from the hydraulic drive pressure circuit, and the front valve assembly may control the front hydraulic machines to steer the agricultural vehicle by controlling flow of hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic charge pressure circuit through the front valve assembly.

Abstract: A steering system is described for a vehicle having steerable wheels. A hydraulic charge pressure circuit may be configured to provide charge pressure to one or more hydraulic components of the vehicle and a hydraulic drive pressure circuit may be configured to provide working pressure to one or more other hydraulic components of the vehicle. Hydraulic machines may rotate front wheels in order to drive the vehicle, and a front valve assembly may control steering of the front wheels by controlling the hydraulic machines. The hydraulic machines may be driven to rotate the front wheels by the working pressure from the hydraulic drive pressure circuit, and the front valve assembly may control the front hydraulic machines to steer the agricultural vehicle by controlling flow of hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic charge pressure circuit through the front valve assembly.

Abstract: A pressure control system is described for a vehicle having a hydraulically actuated header. The system may include a hydraulic lifting circuit for raising and lowering the header, a hydraulic float circuit for floating the header, and a drain tank. A lifting circuit control valve may be configured to control drainage of hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic lifting circuit to the drain tank. A float circuit control valve may be configured to control drainage of hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic float circuit to the drain tank. A user interface may be configured to receive one or more inputs to control drainage of hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic circuits. Based upon the one or more inputs, at least one of the control valves may be opened, in order to depressurize, respectively, one of the hydraulic circuits.

Abstract: A windrower with a frame at a front end of the windrower and a cab coupled to the frame. The cab has a plurality of controls disposed in the cab for controlling the windrower. The windrower also has a lift arm with a first end and a second end, the first end being pivotally coupled to the frame, wherein the lift arm includes a transverse bend defined at a location between the first and second ends. A first coupler is coupled to the second end of the lift arm and a second coupler coupled to the lift arm between the first and second ends. The first coupler is configured to couple the frame to a rotary-style head and the second coupler is configure to couple the frame to a draper-style head.

Abstract: A steering system is described for a vehicle having steerable wheels. A hydraulic charge pressure circuit may be configured to provide charge pressure to one or more hydraulic components of the vehicle and a hydraulic drive pressure circuit may be configured to provide working pressure to one or more other hydraulic components of the vehicle. Hydraulic machines may rotate front wheels in order to drive the vehicle, and a front valve assembly may control steering of the front wheels by controlling the hydraulic machines. The hydraulic machines may be driven to rotate the front wheels by the working pressure from the hydraulic drive pressure circuit, and the front valve assembly may control the front hydraulic machines to steer the agricultural vehicle by controlling flow of hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic charge pressure circuit through the front valve assembly.

Abstract: A steering system is described for a vehicle having steerable wheels. A hydraulic charge pressure circuit may be configured to provide charge pressure to one or more hydraulic components of the vehicle, and a hydraulic drive pressure circuit may be configured to provide working pressure to one or more other hydraulic components of the vehicle. Hydraulic machines may rotate front wheels in order to drive the vehicle, and a front valve assembly may control steering of the front wheels by controlling the hydraulic machines. The hydraulic machines may be driven to rotate the front wheels by the working pressure from the hydraulic drive pressure circuit, and the front valve assembly may control the front hydraulic machines to steer the agricultural vehicle by controlling flow of hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic charge pressure circuit through the front valve assembly.

Abstract: A pressure control system is described for a vehicle having a hydraulically actuated header. The system may include a hydraulic lifting circuit for raising and lowering the header, a hydraulic float circuit for floating the header, and a drain tank. A lifting circuit control valve may be configured to control drainage of hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic lifting circuit to the drain tank. A float circuit control valve may be configured to control drainage of hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic float circuit to the drain tank. A user interface may be configured to receive one or more inputs to control drainage of hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic circuits. Based upon the one or more inputs, at least one of the control valves may be opened, in order to depressurize, respectively, one of the hydraulic circuits.

Abstract: A steering system is described for a vehicle having steerable wheels. A hydraulic charge pressure circuit may be configured to provide charge pressure to one or more hydraulic components of the vehicle, and a hydraulic drive pressure circuit may be configured to provide working pressure to one or more other hydraulic components of the vehicle. Hydraulic machines may rotate front wheels in order to drive the vehicle, and a front valve assembly may control steering of the front wheels by controlling the hydraulic machines. The hydraulic machines may be driven to rotate the front wheels by the working pressure from the hydraulic drive pressure circuit, and the front valve assembly may control the front hydraulic machines to steer the agricultural vehicle by controlling flow of hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic charge pressure circuit through the front valve assembly.

Abstract: A four-bar linkage is provided as a mechanical interface for transferring respective outputs from a speed/direction control device and a hydraulic steering cylinder to displacement control arms of a pair of pumps of a dual-path hydrostatic transmission including a pair of motors respectively coupled for driving a pair of front wheels of a vehicle. The hydraulic steering cylinder is fixed and has a piston rod slidably coupled to an input arm of the four-bar linkage in such a way that a rotation speed decrease occurs as the arm and a linked control plate are pivoted from a neutral position, the control plate transferring pivotal movement to effect differential movement of the displacement control arms. This results in the vehicle speed decreasing during a turn.