Abstract: A removable conveyor flight formed of a flight body 12 having downwardly extending arcuate clamp arms. A pair of opposing arcuately shaped rigid clamps (14) and (16) are embedded within the flight body. Formed integrally with clamps (14) and (16) are compression tabs (20) which extend upward into the flight body to a fulcrum point (22). Bolts (28) are provided to draw the clamps together, thereby clamping the resilient clamp arms of flight body (12) against the cross bar or rod (34) of draper chain (32).

Abstract: A removable, polymeric conveyor link and conveyor utilizing such a link are disclosed. The link is essentially an elongated body of tough, hard slightly flexible elastomer with at least a pair of spaced, parallel, cylindrical cavities in which are disposed rod locking devices. The conveyor is constructed of metal rods, generally round in cross-section, wherein at least a pair of spaced metal rods are held in position by flexible elastomer spacers (fixed links) near each end whereby the end rods protrude through such spacers and then are joined by the removable elastomer links having rod locking sleeves.

Abstract: A tuber planter employing a conveyor with feed cups to discharge seed tubers into a furrow and having an electromagnetic monitor thereon to signal the continuous operation of the conveyor is disclosed. The monitor comprises a permanent magnet protectively encased in a cover attached to a sprocket of the continuous conveyor which it monitors. A reed switch activated by a permanent magnet is protectively located adjacent to said sprocket. A housing preferably encloses at least a portion of the sprocket. The permanent magnet triggers the reed switch once each revolution of the sprocket so that an electrical signal sent from the reed switch to a remote location is interrupted or an electric signal can be intermittently generated by closing of the switch so that the operation of the continuous conveyor may be monitored, e.g., by a flashing light from a remote location.

Abstract: A crop conveyor assembly having regularly spaced flights and discharge means to minimize bruising is disclosed. A crop conveyor having a feed section and a discharge end is equipped with regularly spaced flights wherein said flights have upright, regularly spaced, flexible fingers. Discharge means to minimize crop bruising is located adjacent the discharge end of the conveyor. The discharge means comprises slender, spaced members through which the fingers of the flight pass as the conveyor changes direction at the discharge of said conveyor. Disk members attached to a common axle perform well as the discharge means.

Abstract: A potato or other root crop harvester having a shock absorbing primary bed is disclosed. The primary bed is held in normal digging position by high pressure fluid cylinders. A shock to the shovels attached to the forward edge of the primary bed causes the fluid pressure to rise within the cylinders, thereby exceeding a relief valve setting and allowing the fluid to discharge from the cylinders to permit the primary bed to move rearwardly, absorbing the shock and preventing damage to the harvester. A further unique feature of the potato harvester is the presence of three shovels attached to the primary bed to harvest three rows simultaneously. The primary bed discharges tubers onto a secondary bed which transports them to lateral transport means to discharge them into trucks or other carriers. A devining chain encompasses the secondary bed, allowing potatoes to fall through onto the secondary bed while carrying vines to the rear of the harvester to discharge them.

Abstract: A potato planter having a plurality of feed tubes attached to at least one central hopper and a plurality of trailing wheels which support the planter during turning is disclosed. The novel planter is further characterized by having a pair of outboard hoppers one each attached to the outer most hopper of the central hoppers (which may be one large hopper with separated bottom bins) and outboard of the main support wheels. The potato planter preferaby has three trailing wheels wherein a pair of adjacent wheels is interconnected hydraulically through hydraulic cylinders to cause said wheels to interact mutually in regard to the terrain. The planter preferably contains an agitator for the main hopper and a secondary feed hopper which has a vibrator attached thereto for feeding potatoes to the main conveyor which transports the potatoes upwardly from the feed hopper and then downwardly to the planting position.