Abstract: A cotton compacting assembly arranged in combination with a basket or receptacle that receives and holds cotton materials harvested by a cotton harvester. The cotton compacting assembly compacts the relatively light and fluffy cotton materials in the basket to increase the maximum capacity of the basket without increasing the size of the receptacle or basket. The cotton compacting assembly includes a frame mounted for movement in the basket. A powered rotatable member is mounted on and movable with the frame for imparting movements to the cotton materials in the basket. A control circuit automatically moves the frame to compact cotton materials in the basket in response to a predetermined increase in the power requirements of the rotatable member. The control circuit further includes an apparatus for indicating the level of harvested cotton materials in the basket.

Abstract: A cotton harvester including a lower basket portion and an upper basket portion telescopically received by and elevationally movable with respect to the lower basket portion between a raised field working position and a lowered storage or transport position. The upper basket portion of the receptacle defines a material inlet opening which, when the upper basket portion is in an elevated position, is in general registry with an outlet opening defined toward an upper end of duct or cotton material delivery system. The receptacle further includes a hood assembly that is mounted on the upper basket portion in the region of the material inlet opening for guiding cotton materials discharged from the duct structure into the receptacle.

Abstract: A cotton compacting structure arranged in combination with a cotton receiving basket on a cotton harvester for compacting the relatively light and fluffy cotton materials directed and blown into the basket to increase the maximum capacity of the basket without increasing basket size. The compacting structure of the present invention includes a rigid frame assembly mounted for movement within the basket. One or more rotatable members are mounted on and for movement with the frame assembly for forcibly imparting direction to the cotton received in the basket. A method of filling a cotton basket assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: A multi-piece tool bar assembly including a main support structure suited for connection to a frame of an agricultural implement and a second support structure selectively attachable in end-to-end abutting relation with the main support structure for extending the effective length of the tool bar assembly. A fastener assembly initially aligns support surfaces on the support structures relative to each other and thereafter maintains such alignment to facilitate movement of one or more row units onto the second support structure. The fastener assembly is arranged wholly within the exterior of the support structures and comprises a guide pin which extends beyond an abutting end of one of the support structures and is accommodated in a close sliding fit relationship within an opening defined at the abutting end of the other support structure. The guide pin and opening are precisely located on the respective support structures to ensure alignment of the support surfaces of the support structures.

Abstract: A system for mounting row units on an agricultural implement suited for movement across a field. The mounting system comprises a row unit support frame connected to the agricultural implement. The row unit support frame includes a generally horizontal elongated bar on which the row units are individually mounted in laterally adjacent relation relative to each other and such that the row units are prevented from moving fore-and-aft relative to the frame. At least one of the row units is mounted for lateral movement along the bar and relative to the adjacent row unit. An actuator is provided for effecting powered lateral movement of the row unit along the length of the bar. Each actuator is operated under the influence of a sensor which monitors the lateral position of the respective row unit relative to a desirable path on the field and controls operation of the respective actuator to generally align the movable row unit relative to the desirable path.

Abstract: A system for mounting and supporting harvesting units on a forward end of a cotton harvester frame to allow them to be slidably moved relative to each other and laterally along an elongated tool bar structure. The tool bar structure is pivotally connected to the cotton harvester frame by a lift assembly. The harvesting units hang in a cantilevered fashion from and are independently connected at their rearward edges to the tool bar structure by a slide support structure which facilitates visibility of the harvesting units from a cab region of the harvester. The slide support structure maintains a non-rotatable and non-point contact relationship with laterally elongated generally flat support surfaces defined between opposite ends of the tool bar structure whereby substantial surface area contact is provided between each side support structure and the support surfaces on the tool bar structure.

Abstract: A cotton conveying structure which directs doffed cotton toward a cotton receptacle and readily allows both vertical and lateral movement of a harvesting unit to which it is connected. The conveying structure includes at least one discharge duct assembly defining an elongated cotton flow passage opening at one end to a harvesting mechanism of a harvesting unit and opening at an opposite end to exahust cotton into a cotton receptacle. The duct assembly is provided with an intermediate section defined by a pair of elongated tubes which telescopically move relative to each other to maintain integrity of the duct assembly upon movement of the harvesting unit.

Abstract: A system for mounting and supporting harvesting units on a forward end of a cotton harvester frame to allow them to be slidably moved relative to each other and laterally along an elongated tool bar structure. The tool bar structure is pivotally connected to the cotton harvester frame by a lift assembly. The harvesting units are independently connected at their rearward edges to the tool bar structure by a slide support structure. The slide support structure maintains a non-rotatable and nonpoint contact relationship with laterally elongated generally flat support surfaces defined between opposite ends of the tool bar structure whereby subsantial surface area contact is provided between each side support structure and the support surfaces on the tool bar structure.

Abstract: A latching mechanism for a laterally movable harvesting unit of a cotton harvester. The latching mechanism includes a latching pin which is associated with the harvesting unit for movement therewith and which is resiliently biased in two opposite directions. The latching pin is endwise movable along a generally straight line path between a locked position whereat the pin inhibits lateral movement of the harvesting unit and a released position whereat the pin allows lateral movement of the harvesting unit. A handle, which is selectively movable between locked and released positions, is connected to and moves the latching pin between corresponding positions. The resiliency of the latching pin allows movement of the handle between positions while facilitating consequent movement of the latching pin between corresponding positions.

Abstract: An apparatus for mounting a row unit for lateral movement relative to a chassis of an agricultural implement. The row unit mounting apparatus includes a laterally extending tool bar assembly supported on a chassis and having a support surface extending between opposite ends thereof. The row unit is supported on the main frame in a manner allowing sliding movement of the row unit along the support surface of the tool bar assembly. The tool bar assembly includes a main frame and an extension frame selectively attachable to a first end of the main frame for easily and conveniently extending the support apparatus to provide additional row unit capacity or to accommodate lateral movement of the row units in a manner facilitating inspection and servicing thereof.

Abstract: A cotton conveying structure for a laterally movable cotton harvesting unit of a cotton harvester. The cotton conveying structure comprises a cotton receiving assembly and a duct structure. The cotton receiving assembly vertically moves with and is inhibited against lateral movement to a tool bar assembly on which the harvesting unit is supported for lateral movement. The cotton receiving assembly includes first and second conveying sections which remain integrally connected to each other while allowing relative lateral movement of the harvesting unit from a harvesting position to permit servicing thereof. By inhibiting its lateral movement, the cotton receiving assembly is aligned in a cotton conveying relationship with and when the harvesting unit is returned to its harvesting position.

Abstract: A system for mounting and supporting harvesting units on a forward end of a cotton harvester frame to allow them to be slidably moved relative to each other and laterally along an elongated tool bar structure. The tool bar structure is pivotally connected to the cotton harvester frame by a lift assembly. The harvesting units hang in a cantilevered fashion from and are independently connected at their rearward edges to the tool bar structure by a slide support structure which facilitates visibility of the harvesting units from a cab region of the harvester. The slide support structure maintains a non-rotatable and non-point contact relationship with laterally elongated generally flat support surfaces defined between opposite ends of the tool bar structure whereby substantial surface area contact is provided between each side support structure and the support surfaces on the tool bar structure.

Abstract: A system for mounting and supporting cotton harvesting units for vertical displacement on a forward end of a cotton harvester frame. The mounting and supporting system includes a parallelogram-type linkage assembly for connecting the harvesting units to the frame such that the harvesting units maintain a generally level attitude in either lowered or raised positions. The linkage assembly includes vertically spaced and generally parallel lift arms and tension arms. Each lift arm and tension arm is pivotally attached at its rear end to the frame and at its forward end to the harvesting units. A tilting mechanism connects the rear end of the tension arms to the frame and is operable to move the harvesting units about their pivot attachment to the lift arm to a tilted position and thereby facilitate an increase in ground clearance for the cotton harvester.

Abstract: A multiple row cotton harvester machine having a plurality of harvesting units and a system for individually mounting the harvesting units at a front end of the cotton harvester. The mounting system includes a lift arm assembly which is adapted for vertical movement with respect to the frame of a harvesting machine. The harvesting units are individually connected to the lift arm assembly in a manner allowing the harvesting units to be pivotally moved relative to each other between first and second positions about a substantially vertical axis and in a generally horizontal direction to provide access for servicing or to effect wider row cotton harvesting operations.

Abstract: A multi-row cotton harvester machine having a plurality of harvesting units and a system for individually mounting the harvesting units at a front end of the cotton harvester. The mounting system includes a tool bar which is adapted for vertical movement with respect to the frame of the harvesting machine. The harvesting units are individually connected to the tool bar in a manner allowing the harvesting units to be readily moved relative to each other between a first position wherein the units are arranged to effect narrow row cotton harvesting and a second position wherein the harvesting units are further spaced apart to provide access for servicing or to effect wider row cotton harvesting operations.

Abstract: The present invention is for a mounting system for supporting harvesting units from the frame of a cotton harvester. The present invention allows greater access to the rear of the harvesting unit while also allowing independent mounting of each harvesting unit.

Abstract: A basket lift apparatus for a cotton harvester including a pair of linear hydraulic motors having floating axially unrestrained housings is provided with a variable length guide tube assembly pivotally connected between the respective cylinder housings to prevent rotation thereof.