Abstract: A mobile agricultural harvester has a crop header connected to the harvester main frame for vertical swinging movement by a pair of pivot collars held against a pair of upright posts by releasable fasteners.

Abstract: An axial flow combine (11) includes a processor (33) at an elevated position in a housing (63) providing adequate space between the processor (33) and the housing walls (64, 66, 62, 67, 68) to insure gravity movement of threshed material exiting the cage (34) to a single distribution auger (37) and to a slot (69) feeding a pair of vertically offset accelerator rolls (41, 42).

Abstract: An axial flow combine (11) includes a processor (13) at an elevated position in a housing (63) providing adequate space between the cage (34) and the front and rear housing walls (64, 66, 62, 67, 68) and to permit steep incline of wall portions 62, 67, 68 to insure gravity movement of threshed material exiting the case (34) to a single distribution auger (37) and to a slot (69) feeding a pair of vertically offset accelerator rolls (41, 42). The beforementioned features and a smooth exterior of the processor cage (34) permit elimination of a cage sweep mechanism previously employed in similar combines.

Abstract: A self-propelled combine (11) includes a drive train driven by the engine (16) which includes a transverse power shaft (47) by which a header (24), a threshing rotor (34), a bin unloading mechanism (88), the change speed transmission (76) and the cleaning mechanism are driven. The power transmitting components of the shaft assembly, including a double electric clutch (44), are carried by the end portions (46, 161) of the transverse shaft (47) at the laterally outer sides of the side walls (51, 52) on which the shaft (47) is supported. The double electric clutch (44) includes air circulating means (101, 102 and 93-98) and is removable from the shaft (47) upon removal of a cap screw (118).

Abstract: A harvester in the form of a self-propelled combine (11) has a crop header (24) and conveying means (31, 32) feeding crop material to a threshing rotor (34). The speed of rotation of the rotor (34) is adjustable by changing the speed of a variable speed belt drive (50) in the drive train from an engine (16) to the threshing rotor (34). The variable speed belt drive (50) is of a type whose speed ratio cannot be changed unless it is running. A special rotor clutch (71) is interposed between the variable speed belt drive (50) and the threshing rotor (34) to permit the variable speed drive to be disconnected from the threshing rotor. Thus, when the rotor (34) stops rotating because of excess crop material, the rotor clutch (71) may be operated to break the power train between the variable speed belt drive (50) and the threshing rotor (34) and the variable speed belt drive (50) may be run and adjusted to a lower output speed.

Abstract: The idler drum shaft (59) of a feeder conveyor (28, 29) has a pair of detachable extensions (68, 69, 168) which when removed permit a floating idler roller (47) and the central portion (63) of the shaft (59) to be removed in a direction parallel to the conveyor side walls (41, 42, 116). The idler roller support arms (66, 67) of inside mounted tensioning mechanisms (56, 57) are connected with the shaft extensions (68, 69, 168) and also serve as abutments cooperating with upper and lower stops (81, 82) limiting vertical swinging movement of the floating idler roller (47). Washers (114) may be used to lengthen the idler drum shaft and to maintain a predetermined minimum lateral spacing between the idler drum support arms (66, 67).

Abstract: A pair of tensioning mechanisms (56, 57) for an idler drum (47) of a conveyor (28) transferring crop material from the header (21) to the processor (31) of a harvester are located entirely within the conveyor housing (22). Each tensioning mechanism (56, 57) includes an arm (66 or 67) secured by a combined pivot and lost motion connection (88, 91, 93, 96 or 89, 92, 94, 97) to the conveyor housing side walls (41, 42) and biased by a tension spring (104 or 106) disposed at its inboard side.

Abstract: A belt idler pulley support arm (32) is mounted on a support wall by a pivot structure (48) whose position is determined by three individually adjustable mounting members (71, 72, 73). The mounting members (71, 72, 73) for the pivot structure (48) are accessible for adjustment from the side of the pivot structure remote from the support wall (46) and adjustments may be made while the belt (36) is running thereby allowing a very accurate alignment of the idler pulley (31) with the belt (36).

Abstract: Apparatus for transferring a load into and out of the bed or load receiving space of a pickup truck or other cargo hauling vehicle employs base structure mountable on the vehicle, horizontally reciprocable boom structure carried by the base structure, winch structure carried by the boom structure adjacent the distal extremity of the latter, and selectively actuatable mechanisms associated with the base structure and respectively coupled with the boom and winch structures for operating the latter independently to accomplish vertical lifting or lowering and horizontal movement in either direction of a load during emplacement or removal of same relative to the load receiving space along a path having limited clearance as compared with the size of the load.