Abstract: A leveling system for a combine having a transaxle. The leveling system comprises a three point linkage coupling the transaxle to the supporting structure of the combine. The first and second links of the three point linkage are coupled to the underside of the transaxle. The third link is coupled to the top of the transaxle. A transverse sway bar is positioned between the supporting structure and the transaxle. Two hydraulic cylinders are mounted between the first and second links and the supporting structure for manipulating the angle of inclination of the transaxle relative to the supporting structure.

Abstract: A modular drive axle having left and right drive wheels and axles that are coupled to a differential. The left and right axles are in line and define a transverse axis. A bevel gear assembly having first and second bevel gears mounted on a drive shaft directs rotary motion from a transmission to the differential for driving the drive wheels. The bevel gear assembly drive shaft is perpendicular to the transverse axis and the transmission which is operatively coupled to the bevel gear assembly and arranged parallel to the transverse axis. The transmission is a collar shift transmission having an input collar with two output surfaces. The first output surface of the input collar drives a fixed countershaft gear having first and second output surfaces. The first and second output surfaces drive first and second intermediate gears.

Abstract: A combined motor and transmission assembly in which a singular, tubular housing contains the motor and a planetary transmission. This tubular housing has the ring gear for the planetary transmission gear set formed integrally within its internal walls and also directly supports on its external wall a member driven by the planetary transmission.

Abstract: A self cleaning rotary screen of an agricultural combine is provided with a planar circular screen that is secured to an outwardly extending circular flange having an external groove and an internal groove. The screen is rotatably coupled to a pivotable door by a plurality of freely rotatable wheels which engage the internal groove of the flange. Also secured to the door are two freely rotatable idler sheaves located adjacent to the pivot axis of the door so that the centerpoint of the endless belt when coupled to the outer periphery of the sheaves forms a tangent axis that is substantially aligned with the pivot axis of the door. A driving sheave is operatively coupled to the propulsion system of the combine and is provided with a central rotational axis that intersects the tangent axis of the idler sheaves.

Abstract: A feeder house for an agricultural combine is provided with a driving element that can be reciprocated along the main drive shaft of the feeder house to selectively engage a main driven sheave or a second driven sheave in response to its positioning by the operator. The driving element is provided with internal splines for operatively coupling the output of the main driven sheave to the feeder house drive shaft and is also provided with an outwardly extending gear that is used to engage a cooperating tooth assembly on the second driven sheave for reversing the feeder house drive shaft. The main driven sheave is free to rotate on the feeder house main drive shaft when not being engaged by the driving element. Similarly, the second driven sheave is free to rotate on an axle when not being engaged by the gear extending from the driving element.

Abstract: A main drive for crop cutting, conveying and/or processing components of a self-propelled harvester includes an input shaft which extends crosswise to and is coupled for being driven by a longitudinally extending engine output shaft. The input shaft carries a spring-released, hydraulically-engageable disc clutch, which, when engaged, transfers power from the clutch to a multi-grooved belt drive sheave which is coupled to respective driven sheaves of the crop cutting, conveying and/or processing components by a drive belt. The clutch is mounted on the shaft outboard of the drive sheave and the shaft is provided with a fluid passage that extends inwardly from its outboard end and is coupled in fluid communication with the clutch piston. A slip fitting is releasably coupled to the outboard end of the shaft and is adapted for being coupled to a conduit for conveying fluid to or returning fluid from the clutch piston.

Abstract: In the torque-responsive, variable effective diameter driven sheave assembly of a variable speed V-belt drive, the sheave halves are relatively axially movable but keyed or splined together so as to prevent relative rotation between them. Torque response is provided downstream in the drive train by arranging for relative rotational motion between drive elements such as the driven shaft (which carries the driven sheave) and an output sheave to generate axial movement of one of the sheave halves. In an alternative embodiment, relative rotational movement generating axial adjustment of the sheave half takes place between the driven sheave halves, moving rotationally as a unit, and the driven shaft.

Abstract: In a drive system for the threshing cylinder of a combine harvester, a conventional infinitely variable V-belt drive, is combined with a two-speed final drive assembly. In the final drive assembly, an epicyclic gear train is housed within the body of a driven sheave carried on the cylinder shaft. A sun gear of the gear train is controllable externally of the sheave body and may be pinned for rotation with the sheave in a direct drive mode, or nonrotatably secured relative to the combine body for a cylinder speed reducing mode. The combine cylinder speed is therefore infinitely variable within, selectively, either an upper range or a lower range.

Abstract: The header of a combine harvester comprises a conventional forward gathering portion and a feeder house portion which contains elements for processing crop material as well as transferring it from the gatherer to the body of the combine. A threshing cylinder and concave combination receives crop material from the discharge opening of the gatherer and delivers that portion passing between the cylinder and concave to a first separating conveyor extending downstream from the concave, within the feeder house. A simple conveyor underlies the concave and first separating conveyor, to receive grain and chaff passing through the concave and also that passing downwards from the first separating conveyor and delivers it to the body of the combine, for transfer to a cleaning shoe. Material carried on the upper surface of the first separating conveyor is transferred to a second separating conveyor (straw walkers) in the body of the combine.

Abstract: An agricultural crop harvester's feeding and gathering units are driven by a power source on the harvester through a sheave assembly journaled on a countershaft mounted towards the rear of the feeding unit. Power is then transmitted by a variable ratio V-belt drive to a speed reducing and direction reversing planetary gear unit mounted forwardly on the feeding unit and finally to the gathering and feeding mechanisms by drives of conventional design. In the variable ratio V-belt drive, the effective diameter of a split sheave output portion of the countershaft sheave assembly is selectively adjusted hydraulically while, in inverse response, the effective diameter of a spring loaded variable driven split sheave, integral with the planetary gear unit, adjusts automatically. In addition, the driven sheave is provided with a coaxial cam arrangement responsive to changes in torque transmitted so that its effective diameter also adjusts automatically to provide appropriate belt tension.

Abstract: An agricultural crop harvester's feeding and gathering units are driven by a power source on the harvester through a sheave assembly journaled on a countershaft mounted towards the rear of the feeding unit. Power is thence transmitted by a variable ratio V-belt drive to a speed reducing and direction reversing planetary gear unit mounted forwardly on the feeding unit and finally to the gathering and feeding mechanisms by drives of conventional design. In the variable ratio V-belt drive, the effective diameter of a split sheave output portion of the countershaft sheave assembly is selectively adjusted hydraulically while, in inverse response, the effective diameter of a spring loaded variable driven split sheave, integral with the planetary gear unit, adjusts automatically. In addition, the driven sheave is provided with a coaxial cam arrangement responsive to changes in torque transmitted so that its effective diameter also adjusts automatically to provide appropriate belt tension.