Abstract: Grid members for supporting a bale of hay within the tub of a tilt-tub bale processor are fixed to the floor of the tiltable tub and extend across an opening in the floor in order to control the feed rate of crop materials toward the chopping and disintegrating rotor. The tub is shiftable to any one of a number of slightly tilted orientations so that bottom reaches of the bale within the tub engage only a selected portion of rotor hammers. If the rotor tends to plug, the tub can be tilted away from the rotor and the grid members supporting the bale simultaneously shift lower reaches of the bale away from the rotor hammers so that the latter are able to clear. In preferred embodiments, a knife extends across the floor opening in transverse relation to the supporting grid members to provide a pinch point for crop materials entering the rotor chamber.

Abstract: A spring cushion assembly for a chisel plow shank is provided that eliminates the transmission of force from the shank and assembly spring to the tension rod of the assembly in directions transverse to the axis of the tension rod, thereby prolonging the life of the entire assembly. The spring cushion shank assembly includes a support frame pivotally supporting a shank, a spring interposed between a portion of the frame and the shank, and a tension rod received within the spring in non-contacting relationship. A seat supports the lower end of the spring and minimizes the tendency of the spring to buckle by coupling the spring to the shank about a pivot axis and by continuously aligning the longitudinal axis of the spring in intersecting relationship with the pivot axis as the spring is compressed.

Abstract: The double-acting hydraulic cylinders of the lift system are connected in a master-slave series relationship. When the cylinders have been retracted to a predetermined extent, a control valve between the last slave and a primary selector valve of the system is mechanically closed responsive to the arrival of the cylinders at such retracted condition and, simultaneously, the master is prevented from further retraction by either mechanical means or another hydraulic control valve between the master and the primary selector valve. Thus, the cylinders and their interconnecting lines are cut off from inadvertent overcharging, as well as fluid escape, so that all cylinders remain uniformly extended with drift from their established positions. Several circuit arrangements are disclosed, including provision for bleeding off higher than necessary operating pressures tending to become trapped within the cylinders and their associated flow lines after the cylinders have reached the intended point of retraction.