Abstract: A lift truck is provided comprising: a power unit assembly comprising a power unit base, a wheel coupled to the base, and a system for driving the wheel; and a main frame assembly detachably connected to the power unit assembly. The main frame assembly comprises a main frame base, a mast assembly coupled to the main frame base, a carriage assembly coupled to the mast assembly, and hydraulic drive apparatus coupled to the mast assembly. Preferably, substantially the entirety of the hydraulic drive apparatus is provided on the main frame assembly such that the main frame assembly is detachable from the power unit assembly without requiring disconnecting hydraulic connections to the power unit assembly.

Abstract: A vehicle seat arrangement is provided for a working vehicle comprising an operator's seat having an adjustable feature. A first control element is arranged such that a first work operative position is defined. A seat adjusting element is further provided for enabling the operator to set the adjustable feature of the operator's seat. The seat adjusting element is positioned relative to the first control element such that the operator may selectively control the adjustable feature of the seat without significantly interrupting the first work operative position or without significantly interrupting a transition from a first task to a second task and/or from a first work operative position to a second work operative position.

Abstract: Seat repositioning systems for vehicles comprise an operator's seat having a seat bottom and optionally, a seat back, where the operator's seat further comprises an adjustable characteristic, such as seat rotation, seat height adjustment, tilt, or X-Y position. A seat release control is operable to release the operator's seat from a locked position for repositioning of the adjustable characteristic of the operator's seat.

Abstract: An operator's compartment for an industrial vehicle comprises a platform floor, an operator's seat, at least one presence sensing device and a control module. The operator's seat has a base structure coupled to the platform floor and an operator support coupled to the base structure such that the operator support may be rotated with respect to the platform floor. Each provided presence sensing device is arranged to sense an operator's presence in a predetermined location in or about the operator's compartment and the control module is configured to control at least one operation of the vehicle based upon a rotational position of the operator's seat and a signal from at least one of the presence sensing device(s).

Abstract: An operator's seat for a vehicle includes a base structure that allows the operator's seat to be rotated with respect to a platform floor of an operator's compartment within the vehicle. The operator's seat may further include a swivel structure that allows an operator support to swivel independently of the rotation of the base structure. At least one presence sensing device may be provided to detect the presence of an operator. The presence sensing device(s), and rotational position of the operator support may provide input signals to a control module that controls the vehicle travel, load handling features, and/or other features of the vehicle that may be selectively enabled, limited or otherwise controlled.

Abstract: Seat repositioning systems for vehicles comprise a seat release element that is operable to cause an operator's seat to be temporarily released from a locked position such that the operator's seat may be adjusted to a new position. By optionally positioning the seat release element proximate to an operator's working position, a vehicle operator may reposition the seat while simultaneously performing another task. Moreover, a control module may be provided that is capable of deciding whether or not to allow the operator's seat to be released based upon vehicle parameters such as vehicle speed or load handling conditions. Still further, the control module may temporarily disable select features of the vehicle depending upon the position of the seat.

Abstract: A baler including a plurality of endless belts and opposing side walls defining therebetween a chamber for receiving forage material and forming a bale. Each of the belts is formed as a full width belt extending substantially a transverse distance from one of the side walls to the other of the side walls. In order to maintain proper tracking of the full width belts, a drive roller for each of the belts is formed with a sleeve centrally located on the drive roller and defining a crown for the roller, as well as improving traction between the roller and the belt. In addition, each of the full width belts is formed with a differential stiffness wherein the belt exhibits a greater stiffness against bending about an axis perpendicular to the rollers than the stiffness against bending about an axis parallel to the rollers.

Abstract: An automatic control device for controlling the placement of wrap material on a bale within a round baler. A pair of twine guide tubes are actuated for movement by an actuator which is energized by a controller for controlling a twine wrapping operation. Separate twine strands are fed to each of the twine guide tubes and the quantity of twine fed through the guide tubes is monitored by sensor pulleys which send a pulsed signal to the controller. The controller controls the location of the twine guide tubes in response to the sensed signal from the sensing pulleys whereby a predetermined quantity of twine is placed at predetermined locations along the bale.

Abstract: A tractor drawn and powered machine is disclosed for forming large round bales of fibrous agricultural crops in a chamber of fixed size. The baling chamber consists of a lower and an upper section. The lower section includes a wheel mounted main frame, along with a pickup reel and a bottom conveyor comprising side by side belts entrained on four transversely extending rollers. The upper section is supported on a subframe which is hinge mounted along its front edge to the main frame allowing thereby the rear portion of the upper section to open as a rearward facing tailgate for discharge of a completed bale. Situated within the subframe of the upper section are all of the conveying elements which make up the rear, top and front of the generally cylindrical periphery of the baling zone. Each conveyor element in the upper section comprises a plurality of side by side belts entrained on spaced apart transversely mounted upstream and downstream rollers.

Abstract: An ejection mechanism is described which automatically assists in the discharge of completed bales from the bale-forming chamber. As implemented the ejection mechanism forms a part of a baler which produces generally cylindrical bales in a chamber of fixed size having closed sidewalls adjacent the ends of the bale. The baling chamber is divided into two parts with one portion being hinge mounted along its front edge to allow its second or rear edge to swing open upwardly to provide a gate through which completed bales can be discharged. The second portion of the baling chamber contains a bottom conveyor for imparting rotational motion to the bale during the crop gathering and bale forming process. When the bale in the chamber is completed and ready for discharge, the gate swings open and the bottom conveyor continues moving in a front to rear direction.