Abstract: A system for electrically detecting different positions of a movable piston within a piston housing of a hydraulic system is provided. The system includes at least two electrically conductive pads mounted on the piston housing at different locations along the path of movement of the piston, an electrically conductive segment mounted on the piston housing along the path of movement of the piston adjacent the conductive pads, and an electrical coupler, such as a spring-loaded conductor, attached for movement with the piston to provide an electrical connection between each conductive pad and the conductive segment as the piston moves along within the piston housing. The system also includes an electronic control unit, which may be a microprocessor, coupled to each conductive pad and the conductive segment to detect electrical connection between each conductive pad and the conductive segment. Each electrical connection corresponds to a specific position of the piston.

Abstract: A hydraulic system for accommodating fluid pressure variations is provided. The system includes a housing for an actuating piston with the housing having a first end with a hydraulic fluid port and a second end. The actuating piston includes a body portion, having a face, and a rod portion. A first resilient member is confined between the actuating piston and the second end of the housing. A second resilient member is confined between the body portion and the face of the actuating piston. The face of the actuating piston is preferably a pressure accommodating piston which moves relative to the body portion of the actuating piston. Preferably, the second resilient member has a tension force greater than the tension force of the first resilient member. As the actuating piston moves against the bias of the first resilient member toward the second end of the housing in response to hydraulic fluid entering the housing through the fluid port, the movement of the actuating piston is limited by a stop.

Abstract: A long-stroke fail-safe spring brake assembly for heavy duty vehicles comprises aligned first and second cups secured adjacent one another to form a housing for a compressed power spring which biases a spring piston, a hollow tubular push rod having one end open and sealingly secured, preferably by press fitting, to the spring piston and the other end closed and extending sealingly through the second cup for reciprocal control of a brake actuator by the power spring, an annular-shaped flexible diaphragm having an outer periphery radially-sealingly secured adjacent between the cups and an inner periphery sealingly secured adjacent the outer periphery of the spring piston, the intermediate portion of the diaphragm being disposed radially-outwardly of the spring piston. The spring piston is disposed to compress the compressed spring still further toward the first cup under the influence of a compressed fluid medium, the push rod, and the spring piston being sealingly secured to each other.

Abstract: A rock door has its front end pivotally mounted on a combine near the crop inlet to the threshing cage and when closed has a pivoted lip structure at its rear end resting on the front end of the threshing concave. The lip structure is releasably held in its normal operating position by a latching mechanism employing a pair of oppositely acting spring biased roller detents engaging opposite sides of a detent finger carried by the lip structure. When a rock of substantial size is conveyed to the gap between the threshing rotor and the door, the force of the rock against the door causes the latch mechanism to release the door allowing the rock to be discharged.

Abstract: The tailings of a combine harvester may be optionally returned to either the cleaning section or the threshing section through operation of a flapper valve in a bifurcated gravity flow chute receiving the tailings from a tailings elevator. Side wall openings are provided at the front and rear of a foraminous threshing cage through which tailings are optionally returned to either the threshing section or to the cleaning section.

Abstract: The capacity of a harvester grain bin (12 or 120) is increased by foldable extensions (37, 38, 39, 41 or 101, 102, 103, 107) pivoted to the upper lips (27, 28, 29, 31 or 113, 114, 128, 129) by hinges (46, 47, 51, 52 or 111, 112, 130, 135) which permit the extensions to be raised from lowered positions to raised positions in which they are secured by corner pins (81, 82, 83, 84 or 104, 106, 108, 109).

Abstract: The idler drum shaft (59) of a feeder conveyor (28, 29) has a pair of detachable extensions (68, 69, 168) which when removed permit a floating idler roller (47) and the central portion (63) of the shaft (59) to be removed in a direction parallel to the conveyor side walls (41, 42, 116). The idler roller support arms (66, 67) of inside mounted tensioning mechanisms (56, 57) are connected with the shaft extensions (68, 69, 168) and also serve as abutments cooperating with upper and lower stops (81, 82) limiting vertical swinging movement of the floating idler roller (47). Washers (114) may be used to lengthen the idler drum shaft and to maintain a predetermined minimum lateral spacing between the idler drum support arms (66, 67).

Abstract: A pair of tensioning mechanisms (56, 57) for an idler drum (47) of a conveyor (28) transferring crop material from the header (21) to the processor (31) of a harvester are located entirely within the conveyor housing (22). Each tensioning mechanism (56, 57) includes an arm (66 or 67) secured by a combined pivot and lost motion connection (88, 91, 93, 96 or 89, 92, 94, 97) to the conveyor housing side walls (41, 42) and biased by a tension spring (104 or 106) disposed at its inboard side.

Abstract: Grain and other small particles are separated from the stalks in a transverse cage and cylinder of an axial flow combine and pass through the concave and small radial openings in the cage. Distribution augers below the cage convey the threshed material to a pair of accelerator rolls, by way of a feeder slot, which accelerate the threshed material downwardly across a layer of rearwardly directed air. The grain is separated from the chaff in the cleaning section where clean grain auger delivers the clean grain to an appropriate elevator which in turn delivers the grain to a grain bin. The heavy material or tailings which does not pass through the sieves, such as grain or seed not completely removed from the hulls or pods, moves to a tailings auger which connects to a tailings elevator. The tailings elevator moves the tailings upwardly to one end of one of the distribution augers.

Abstract: A grain bin adapted to be mounted on the upper part of an agricultural combine is provided with at least one "floating" bin side wall extension which is automatically movable into substantially vertical grain-retaining position as the bin approaches and reaches a full condition. Clean grain which has been separated from the straw, chaff or the like is conveyed by an elevating conveyor which discharges the grain via a chute into the intake end of an elongated "floating" bin loading conveyor which is pivotally mounted for angular movement in a vertical plane. In the illustrated embodiment, the bin loading conveyor is an auger conveyor and the rotatable shaft of the floating auger conveyor is driven by a suitable drive means through a universal joint.

Abstract: A loading apparatus for the grain tank or bin of an agricultural combine. The grain tank or bin is located in the upper part of the combine, and, in the illustrated embodiment, the grain bin comprises a main grain bin and a grain bin extension mounted above the main grain bin. Clean grain which has been separated from the straw, chaff, or the like is conveyed by an elevating conveyor which discharges the grain via a chute into the intake end of an elongated pivotally mounted "floating" auger conveyor. When the level of the grain in the bin is below a predetermined level, the floating auger conveyor will assume a horizontal position contiguous the upper portion of the bin.