Abstract: An implement, such as a cutterbar on an agricultural harvesting machine, is automatically position-controlled to maintain a reference position relative to the ground surface. The implement is mounted so that it may be raised, lowered or tilted and the control is such that tilting movements are preceded by, or are carried out concurrently with, a raising or lowering movement when one end of the implement is at the reference position and the other end is between the reference position and the ground surface. Manually operated UP and DOWN switches not only control up and down movements of the implement but also inhibit and restore automatic control of implement positioning. A set/reset switch enables manual selection of a predetermined reference position or the selection of the present implement position as the reference position.

Abstract: An agricultural harvesting machine having a cutting element movably supported thereon is provided with a height sensor including a transmitter and a receiver mounted for movement with the cutting element. The transmitter directs bursts of sound waves in the range of about 5 KHz toward the ground and echoes of the bursts are picked up by the receiver, the elapsed time between transmission and reception being an indication of the height of the cutting element above the ground. To distinguish between echoes of the bursts and environmental noise picked up by the receiver, the bursts are encoded by transmitting them in pairs, the bursts of a pair being of fixed duration and separated by a fixed interval of time. The duration of each signal and the time spacing between signals is checked and if they are not of the correct duration or are not separated by the fixed interval of time they are rejected as noise.

Abstract: A telescopic rollover protective structure for use with an orchard tractor is disclosed wherein the protective member is operatively engaged with a counterbalancing spring to offset the weight thereof and to facilitate the movement of the protective structure between raised and lowered positions. A locking mechanism is connected to the mounting frame and engageable with the movable protective member to restrict movement thereof when the locking mechanism is engaged therewith. The counterbalancing system includes a compression spring concentrically mounted on a telescopic rod housed within the hollow protective member legs.

Abstract: In a leaf loading method, leaves are picked up from the ground by operating a rotary beater and a rotary broom. The leaves are then delivered between the beater and the broom by rotating the beater and the broom in opposite directions. Next, the leaves are guided from between the beater and the broom toward an auger disposed rearwardly of the broom. Finally, the leaves are transferred from the auger into a thrower by rotating the auger and then the leaves are discharged by operating the thrower.

Abstract: Apparatus for dispensing a preservative or other substance, in solid or liquid form, onto a crop material being baled, the substance being dispensed onto the crop material before it is baled at a rate which is dependent on the moisture content of the crop material and the bulk rate of flow of crop material through the baler. The apparatus, which may be mounted on a square baler or a round baler, includes a first sensor for sensing the moisture content of the crop material and producing a first signal, a second sensor for producing an output signal indicative of the bulk rate of corp flow through the baler, and a control circuit responsive to the first signal and the second signal for producing a pulse width modulated signal for controlling the speed of a motor. The motor controls the rate at which the substance is dispensed from a container onto the crop material.

Abstract: A method of dispensing a substance, in solid or liquid form, onto a crop material being baled, the substance being dispensed onto the crop material before it is baled at a rate which is dependent on the moisture content of the crop material and the bulk rate of flow of crop material through the baler. The method is applicable to round balers or square balers.

Abstract: A leaf loading machine designed for use in combination with a towing vehicle includes a mobile frame with a tongue extending forwardly thereof for connection to the towing vehicle. The machine has a rotary beater and a rotary broom extending transversely of the mobile frame. The broom is disposed rearwardly of an in tandem relation to the beater. The beater and the broom have lower sides thereof disposed adjacent the ground and they are operable to counterrotate relative to one another so as to deliver material from the ground upwardly therebetween. The machine also includes an auger extending transversely of the frame rearwardly of the broom for receiving material from the broom, and a thrower mounted on the frame for receiving material from the auger and for discharging the material into the towing vehicle.

Abstract: A leaf loading machine has a rotary beater and a rotary broom extending transversely of a mobile frame. The broom is disposed rearwardly of and in tandem relation to the beater. The beater and the broom have lower sides thereof disposed adjacent the ground and they are operable to counterrotate relative to one another so as to deliver material from the ground upwardly therebetween. A shroud mounted on the frame fully covers an upper side of the beater and partially covers an upper side of the broom. The shroud is open at its front and rear ends, and includes a top wall and a pair of side walls. A housing is also mounted on the frame overlying and enclosing the broom and an auger disposed rearwardly of the broom. The housing is closed at its rear end but is open at its front end where it communicates with the rear end of the shroud to guide material delivered between the beater and the broom to the auger. The housing includes a top wall, a pair of side walls, and a rear wall.

Abstract: A leaf loading machine has a rotary beater and a rotary broom on a mobile frame, both of which extend transversely of the frame. The broom is disposed rearwardly of and in tandem relation to the beater. Both the beater and the broom are disposed adjacent to the ground and are operable to counterrotate relative to one another so as to deliver leaves from the ground upwardly therebetween. The broom rotates substantially faster than the beater.

Abstract: A bale forming method for use with round balers is disclosed. Typically round balers are operated in a manner whereby crop material is fed into only one side of the bale forming chamber at a time. The disclosed method includes positioning a round baler so that crop material is fed into the right side of the bale forming chamber, generating a signal in a first indicator light in response to a predetermined expansion of the bale forming chamber, repositioning the round baler so that crop material is fed into the left side of the bale forming chamber, and generating a signal in a second indicator light in response to a further predetermined expansion of the bale forming chamber.

Abstract: A bale shape controlling system for round balers is disclosed. The system includes first and second indicator lights, and bale shape monitor apparatus for alternately generating signals in the indicator lights in response to predetermined expansion of the bale forming chamber of round balers. Typically round balers are operated in a manner whereby crop material is fed into only one side of the bale forming chamber at a time. The system also includes apparatus for automatically positioning round balers so that crop material is alternately fed into the right or left side of the bale forming chamber when signals are alternately generated in the indicator lights.

Abstract: A bale shape monitoring system for round balers includes first and second indicator lights, and bale shape monitor apparatus for alternately generating signals in the indicator lights in response to predetermined expansion of the baling chamber of round balers. Typically round balers are operated in a manner whereby crop material is fed into only one side of the baling chamber at a time. The signals generated in the indicator lights are used by the operator of a round baler as an indication of when to weave the baler to feed crop material into the other side of the baling chamber. Proper use of the disclosed system prevents the formation of poorly shaped bales while reducing operator fatigue.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for a combine harvester is disclosed wherein the grain pan and chaffer sieve are mounted for pivotal leveling movement about both a transversely extending axis and a longitudinally extending axis. The grain pan and chaffer sieve are mounted in a subframe pivotally supported by a shaker shoe such that the subframe is pivotable about a longitudinally extending axis relative to the shaker shoe, which in turn is pivotally supported on the combine main frame for pivotal movement about a transversely extending axis. A pair of inclinometers disposed to sense the inclination of the combine are utilized to control the flow of hydraulic fluid to hydraulic actuators arranged to pivotally move the shaker shoe and the subframe in response to a sensing of a non-horizontal inclination by the inclinometers.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for a combine harvester is disclosed wherein the grain pan and sieves are mounted in a shaker shoe pivotally supported on the main frame of the combine for movement about a transversely extending axis. Hydraulic actuators interconnecting the main frame and the shaker shoe affect a pivotal movement of the shaker shoe to level the cleaning apparatus under conditions where the combine has an inclined fore-and-aft orientation. An inclinometer is utilized to control the flow of hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic actuators to permit the shaker shoe to be leveled in response to a sensing of a non-horizontal fore-and-aft inclination by the inclinometer.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for a combine harvester is disclosed wherein the grain pan and chaffer sieve are mounted in a subframe pivotally supported by a shaker shoe for a laterally tilting movement about a fore-and-aft extending axis. The shaker shoe is connected to an eccentric drive to effect a generally fore-and-aft shaking action to convey threshed grain thereon in a rearward direction. The pivotal movement of the subframe relative to the shaker shoe is accomplished through the use of a hydraulic cylinder interconnecting the shaker shoe and the subframe to permit a lateral leveling of the grain pan and chaffer sieve when the combine is operated under sidehill conditions. An inclinometer is utilized to control the flow of hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic cylinder to permit the subframe to be leveled in response to a sensing of a non-horizontal transverse inclination by the inclinometer.

Abstract: The adjustment of operating parameters such as the sieve opening, concave opening, chaffer opening, rotor speed and/or fan speed is/are accomplished under the control of a microprocessor operating in response to the striking of keys on a keyboard. The combine harvester operator may select a particular parameter for adjustment by striking a key corresponding to that parameter. The desired setting of the selected parameter is then keyed into the keyboard and an ADJUST key struck to activate the adjustment process. Alternatively, the operator may strike a key corresponding to the crop to be harvested, a further key corresponding to the ambient moisture level of the crop, and then the ADJUST key. In this case the microprocessor reads from a stored table the values for adjusting all parameters so as to obtain a satisfactory sample and a maximum yield for the crop being harvested.

Abstract: In a combine harvester, a microprocessor controls the adjustment of the cleaning sieve or sieves and/or chaffer sieve or sieves in response to information keyed into a keyboard by the combine operator. If the actual setting of a device (sieve or chaffer) is greater than the desired setting the device is first fully opened and maintained in that position for a predetermined period of time to allow foreign objects and crop material to clear itself from the device by normal combine operation. This avoids damage to the control linkage, sieve slats, and so forth. After the device is fully opened and maintained open for the predetermined interval of time it then closes beyond the desired setting by some predetermined amount after which the device is opened to the desired setting. This arrangement insures that the approach to the final adjustment is always made as the device is being opened, thereby allowing for compensation of play or backlash in the mechanical linkages which adjust the device.