Abstract: A self-propelled combine has a forwardly extending, vertically adjustable crop feeder housing and a transversely elongated, cutter bar type harvesting platform mounted on the forward end of the housing. The platform includes a floor and a transverse auger that extends the width of the platform and converges the crop along the floor to the center of the platform, for discharge rearwardly to the feeder housing. A cutter bar spans the width of the platform along the leading edge of the floor and is mounted for fore and aft extension or retraction into different fore and aft positions to vary the distance between the cutter bar and the auger. Members are also provided for adjusting the tilt of the cutter bar about a transverse horizontal axis, so that the cutter bar skids, which ride along the ground, can be adjusted to the desired angle relative to the ground.

Abstract: A self-propelled combine has a forward transversely elongated cutting platform with a cutting mechanism along its leading edge and a pickup type reel spanning the width of the platform above the cutting mechanism. The reel is carried between a pair of vertically adjustable arms having quadrant type support members at their forward ends and carrying transverse pivots on which adjustable support elements are swingable and lockable to the support member by a locking device associated with the quadrant. The adjustable elements in turn support the reel shaft, which is driven through a chain drive by hydraulic motor attached to the adjustable element. A plurality of transversely spaced spiders are attached to the shaft and carrying rockshafts at their outer ends, which are connected to eccentric spiders at the opposite ends of the reel via crank arms, the eccentric spiders also being journaled in the adjustable members.

Abstract: A drive line, such as is used in agricultural equipment to drive various components, includes a rotating driveshaft that is connected to a driven shaft through a slip clutch that is coaxial with the two shafts and has clutch components that extend radially outwardly of the drive and driven shafts. A tubular shaft shield is coaxially and rotatably mounted around the drive shaft adjacent the clutch and includes an element with an annular external groove adjacent the clutch. A second tubular shield is coaxially mounted on the shaft shield and includes a bell-shaped housing that normally encloses the clutch, the outer shield having an internal annular groove opposite the external groove and being rotatable on and axially shiftable relative to the shaft shield.

Abstract: A self-propelled combine has a forwardly extending, vertically adjustable crop-feeding housing and a transversely elongated, cutter bar type harvesting platform mounted on the forward end of the housing. The platform includes a transversely elongated frame with a transverse flexible cutter bar disposed along the leading edge of the platform floor. The cutter bar is mounted on the platform by a plurality of transversely spaced parallel type linkages that permit independent vertical adjustment of different areas of the cutter bar so that the cutter bar is free to follow the contour of the ground.

Abstract: A self-propelled combine has a forward transversely elongated platform with opposite side walls and a transverse harvesting reel extending between the side walls above the cutter bar along the leading edge of the platform. The reel is mounted on a pair of vertically adjustable arms, and a pair of crop dividers are respectively mounted on and extend forwardly of the opposite side walls on transverse pivots that permit vertical floating movement of the crop dividers. The crop dividers have a forwardly converging sheet metal exterior that tapers to a forward shoe that normally rides along the ground, and the inside wall of the sheet metal exterior is disposed inwardly and forwardly of the opposite ends of the reel to deflect crop material away from the opposite ends of the reel and prevent wrapping thereon.

Abstract: A self-propelled combine has a forward, vertically adjustable feeder house carrying a transversely elongated harvesting platform at its forward end. A flexible cutter bar is mounted on the leading lower edge of the platform by a plurality of transversely spaced independently vertically adjustable arms that permit different areas of the cutter bar to adjust independently of the other areas so that the cutter bar is free to follow the contour of the ground. A transverse rockshaft is journaled on the platform rearwardly of the cutter bar and has a plurality of radial feeler arms that engage the respective cutter bar mounting arms, so that as the mounting arms swing upwardly, the rockshaft rotates to a position that corresponds to the uppermost arm. One end of the rockshaft is connected by a suitable linkage to the movable element of an indicator at the side of the platform to give the operator a visual indication of the position of the uppermost area of the cutter bar.