Abstract: A header for an agricultural harvester including a continuous loop knife and a sensor for sensing conditions of a plurality of knives of the continuous loop knife in increments comprising non-adjacent groups of one or more knives, whereby substantially all of the plurality of knives is sensed after a plurality of cycles of the continuous knife past the sensor. With the header so equipped, a timely determination of wear or damage to the knives in a loop knife cutting system can be made, so that damaged knives may be replaced before significant deterioration of the cutting performance occurs.

Abstract: A header that includes at least one support and transport wheel assembly having an axle and two wheels. The wheel assembly is coupled to the main body of the header by an actuating system that includes an actuator mechanism configured to actuate a swivel movement of the axle and the wheels, the swivel movement being configured to bring the wheel assembly to or from a position wherein the axle is transversal to the longitudinal direction of the header. The wheel assembly is equipped with a drawbar that is deployable from a storage position to a deployed position, wherein the movement of the drawbar between the positions is synchronized with the swivel movement of the wheel assembly.

Abstract: A header including a front and rear wheel assembly, each assembly having an axle and two wheels. Each wheel assembly is coupled to the main body of the header by an actuating system having an actuator mechanism for actuating a swivel movement of the axle and the wheels to bring the wheel assembly to or from a road transport position. The front and rear wheel assemblies are equipped with tie rod arrangements for steering the header when it is transported on the road. The wheels of the wheel assemblies are operated as caster wheels. The tie rod arrangement of the front wheel assembly is coupled to a pivotable base connected to, or connectable to, a drawbar. The wheel assemblies have respective actuators which are synchronized so as to synchronize the position of the front and rear wheels.

Abstract: A feed roll includes paddles mounted upright on a cylindrical surface of the roll and oriented parallel to its rotation axis, and V-shaped vanes in a central area of the feed roll. One or more paddles or paddle portions are located in the central area. The paddles or paddle portions may be located between the blades that define the V-shaped vanes, i.e. blades which extend between a top point at or near the tip of the V-shape and a base point at the base of the V-shape. Paddles may be present between the base points of one or more of the V-shaped vanes, and additional intermediate paddles may be located between the top points and the base points of the blades. The paddles or paddle portions in the central area enhance the capability of deflecting objects away from the threshing rotors downstream of the feed roll in a combine harvester.

Abstract: A rotor for an agricultural implement such as a self-propelled harvester. The rotor includes a surface and one or more rasp bars which comprise a crop engaging portion that is immobile relative to the surface and a crop engaging portion that is movable relative to the surface, in that a distance between at least part of the movable portion and the surface of the rotor is variable. One of the crop engaging portions is a primary portion configured to engage with crop regardless of whether it is movable or not, while the other is a secondary portion that comprises a crop engaging feature such as a tooth for increasing traction on the crop. The crop engaging feature is activated, by either extending radially outwardly from the primary portion, or deactivated by lying at a same radial position or radially inwardly of the primary portion.

Abstract: A residue collector is operable to receive residue from a combine harvester during a training harvesting operation. The residue collector includes a residue separator for separating the processed residue into a first portion and a second portion based on a property of the processed residue; one or more weight sensors for directly or indirectly determining the weight of the first portion and the second portion; and a controller configured to determine a quality factor for the processed residue based on the determined weight of the first portion in relation to the weight of the second portion.

Abstract: A reel power system for a header of an agricultural system includes an electrical generator having a stator and a rotor rotatably engaged with the stator. The stator is configured to be non-rotatably coupled to a support structure of a reel of the header. The rotor is configured to non-rotatably engage a base of the header. Furthermore, the reel is configured to rotate relative to the base. The electrical generator is configured to generate electrical power in response to rotation of the rotor.

Abstract: The cutting system includes knives attached to a continuously moving belt-type carrier. The carrier motion moves the knives past stationary counterknife fingers. Each knife is pivotably connected to the platform portion of a support bracket having also a wall portion that is fixed to the belt-type carrier. The knife is furthermore coupled to the bracket by a reversible force coupling that maintains the knife in a forwardly oriented operational position when the knife is subjected to lateral forces which exert a torque on the knife that remains below a predefined limit, encountered when the knife is cutting stalks or meeting small obstructions. When the knife is subjected to lateral forces resulting in a torque above the predefined limit, the force coupling is configured to be disengaged in a reversible manner, enabling the knife to pivot about a rotation axis towards a non-operational position.

Abstract: A cutting system includes knives attached to a continuously moving belt-type carrier. The carrier motion moves the knives past stationary counterknife fingers which are attached to or uniform with a cutterbar, as the cutting system is driven through a field of crop stalks, which are cut by the interaction between the knives and counterknives. One or more sensing devices produce signals or images related to the condition of the knives when the knives are moving past the sensing devices. A processing unit processes the signals or images and derives therefrom one or more parameters representative of the condition of the knives, and compares the parameters to a reference, to thereby monitor the condition. An agricultural implement such as a combine harvester, can be equipped with the cutting system.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus for a header of an agricultural harvester includes a first wheel and a second wheel. A drive source is configured to selectively drive the first wheel in a clockwise direction or an anticlockwise direction. A knife carrier, including a loop having a running side and a knife-carrying side, is tensioned around the first and second wheels for transmitting torque from the drive source to rotate the wheels and the knife carrier. A plurality of knives cut crop mounted to the knife-carrying surface of the knife carrier. A sensor monitors operation of the knives.

Abstract: A combine includes a feeder housing that include a movable cradle frame at the front, configured to receive a header, so that a controlled movement of the cradle frame may be imparted to the header during a harvesting run. The combine further includes a driveline for driving moving components of the combine header. The driveline includes a belt drive mounted laterally with respect to the feeder housing. The belt drive is configured to transfer a rotation of a first drive axle that is part of the driveline, to a rotation of a second axle to which a drive axle of the header can be coupled. The belt drive includes two pulleys which are maintained in a common plane regardless of movement of the header relative to the feeder housing. The pulleys are rotatably mounted in a longitudinally extendable bridge structure, and are coupled to the first and second axles.

Abstract: A combine includes a feeder housing that include a movable cradle frame at the front, configured to receive a header, so that a controlled movement of the cradle frame may be imparted to the header during a harvesting run. The combine further includes a driveline for driving moving components of the combine header. The driveline includes a belt drive mounted laterally with respect to the feeder housing. The belt drive is configured to transfer a rotation of a first drive axle that is part of the driveline, to a rotation of a second axle to which a drive axle of the header can be coupled. The belt drive includes two pulleys which are maintained in a common plane regardless of movement of the header relative to the feeder housing. The pulleys are rotatably mounted in a longitudinally extendable bridge structure, and are coupled to the first and second axles.

Abstract: An agricultural vehicle header having a frame having a main truss extending in a lateral direction, at least one support arm extending from the frame in the forward direction, a cutter assembly attached to a respective distal end of each at least one support arm, and a linkage connecting a respective proximal end of each at least one support arm to the frame. The linkage includes a virtual pivot located below the main truss, and at or behind the main truss with respect to the forward direction. An agricultural vehicle having the header is also provided.

Abstract: A threshing and separating system for an agricultural harvester includes a concave having a plurality of perforations; a rotor having an outer surface and at least partially enclosed by the concave; and a plurality of rasp bars connected to the outer surface of the rotor, each rasp bar having a working surface defining a working angle relative to a tangent of the outer surface. At least one of the rasp bars is an adjustable rasp bar with an adjustable working surface pivotably coupled to the rotor. The system further includes an actuator coupled to the adjustable rasp bar and configured to selectively pivot the adjustable working surface to adjust the working angle of the adjustable rasp bar.

Abstract: In a combine harvester, the header (1) is lifted up by the feeder (8) and secured thereto by a mechanism including a pair of securing pins (23) on the feeder's carrier structure (20,21). The securing pins are provided with stops (35) protruding towards the header and which include a sloped surface, configured to interact with positioning aids (39) on the header. The lateral outward or inward movement of the securing pins (23) is driven by a centrally placed actuator (24). As the actuator is extended, the positioning aids (39) roll or glide down the sloped surfaces, enabling a gradual approach of the header towards the feeder, up to a point where the securing pins (23) become aligned with slots (50) on the header. Continued actuation of the pin motion then establishes the securing of the header to the feeder.

Abstract: A threshing and separating system for an agricultural harvester includes a concave having a plurality of perforations; a rotor having an outer surface and at least partially enclosed by the concave; and a plurality of rasp bars connected to the outer surface of the rotor, each rasp bar having a working surface defining a working angle relative to a tangent of the outer surface. At least one of the rasp bars is an adjustable rasp bar with an adjustable working surface pivotably coupled to the rotor. The system further includes an actuator coupled to the adjustable rasp bar and configured to selectively pivot the adjustable working surface to adjust the working angle of the adjustable rasp bar.

Abstract: A header including a front and rear wheel assembly, each assembly having an axle and two wheels. Each wheel assembly is coupled to the main body of the header by an actuating system having an actuator mechanism for actuating a swivel movement of the axle and the wheels to bring the wheel assembly to or from a road transport position. The front and rear wheel assemblies are equipped with tie rod arrangements for steering the header when it is transported on the road. The wheels of the wheel assemblies are operated as caster wheels. The tie rod arrangement of the front wheel assembly is coupled to a pivotable base connected to, or connectable to, a drawbar. The wheel assemblies have respective actuators which are synchronized so as to synchronize the position of the front and rear wheels.

Abstract: A header that includes at least one support and transport wheel assembly having an axle and two wheels. The wheel assembly is coupled to the main body of the header by an actuating system that includes an actuator mechanism configured to actuate a swivel movement of the axle and the wheels, the swivel movement being configured to bring the wheel assembly to or from a position wherein the axle is transversal to the longitudinal direction of the header. The wheel assembly is equipped with a drawbar that is deployable from a storage position to a deployed position, wherein the movement of the drawbar between the positions is synchronized with the swivel movement of the wheel assembly.

Abstract: A header including at least one support and transport wheel assembly having an axle and two wheels. The wheel assembly is coupled to the main body of the header by an actuating system that has two actuator mechanisms. When changing from the field mode to the transport mode, the first actuator mechanism brings the wheel assembly forward from a position behind the header, after the header has been lifted up from the ground. After completion of this first movement, a second actuator mechanism swivels the wheel assembly to a position that is transversal to the header, after which the header is lowered to the ground. The two-step approach enables the changeover between field mode and transport mode without pivoting or otherwise moving the header relative to the feeder. The wheel axle may be pivotably suspended from a frame element that executes the swiveling movement.

Abstract: An agricultural vehicle header having a frame having a main truss extending in a lateral direction, at least one support arm extending from the frame in the forward direction, a cutter assembly attached to a respective distal end of each at least one support arm, and a linkage connecting a respective proximal end of each at least one support arm to the frame. The linkage includes a virtual pivot located below the main truss, and at or behind the main truss with respect to the forward direction. An agricultural vehicle having the header is also provided.