Abstract: An improved windrow pickup attachment for a forage harvester having crop processing apparatus including an input opening for receiving crop material. The attachment includes a main frame positioned on the front of the forage harvester adjacent the input opening. A transverse reel assembly and an auger conveyor are mounted on the main frame for picking up crop material from the ground, consolidating it and conveying it to the forage harvester base unit via the input opening.

Abstract: A windrow pickup attachment for a forage harvester having an input opening for receiving crop material. The attachment includes a main frame positioned on the front of the forage harvester adjacent the input opening with a transverse reel assembly and an auger conveyor mounted on the main frame for picking up crop material from the ground, consolidating it and conveying it to the forage harvester base unit via the input opening. A drive shaft for the reel assembly includes a pair of outwardly disposed rigid elements affixed to an intermediate rigid element. Opposing bearing assemblies support the drive shaft on the main frame in the vicinity of the outer ends of the outwardly disposed rigid elements. The shaft is also supported by an intermediate support bracket that extends from the main frame between the elements of the reel.

Abstract: A windrow pickup attachment for a forage harvester having a crop processing device including an input opening for receiving crop material. The attachment includes a main frame positioned on the front of the forage harvester adjacent the input opening with a transverse reel and an auger conveyor mounted on the main frame for picking up crop material from the ground, consolidating it and conveying it to the forage harvester base unit via the input opening. An intermediate frame assembly is mounted on the forage harvester. The main frame of the attachment is pivotally mounted on the intermediate frame for rotation of the reel and conveyor about an axis extending in a generally for and aft direction to permit the position of the reel assembly to change from a home position under conditions where the ground is substantially level to left or right tilt positions in response to the contour of the ground.

Abstract: A shearbar attachment and adjustment apparatus is adapted to apply clamping forces to a shearbar in a forage harvester at first locations on opposite ends of the shearbar. The clamping forces prevent the shearbar from backing away from a rotary cutterhead in the forage harvester during chopping of crop material by passing cutting edges of knives on the periphery of the cutterhead close to the cutting edge of the shearbar. Also, the apparatus is adjustable to apply pulling forces on the shearbar at second locations on its opposite ends which are offset inwardly from the first locations. Application of pulling forces at these inward locations relative to the outward locations of the clamping forces tends to compensate for the effect of the convex shape of the shearbar cutting edge by causing bowing of the shearbar at the second locations to provide a more uniform clearance between the cutting edge of the shearbar and the cutting edges of the cutterhead knives.

Abstract: A mobile transport carrier for large articles of agricultural products, such as bales, including an elongated frame having an elongated draft member pivotally connected at one end to a side rail of the frame, latch mechanism carried by the draft member to secure the draft member in transport position adjacent the side rail, a fluid operated cylinder unit arranged to move the draft member toward and away from the side rail, latch releasing mechanism operable upon the initiation of movement of the fluid operated cylinder unit to effect unlatching of the latch mechanism, and latching of the latch mechanism occurring automatically when the draft member is moved to the transport position adjacent the side rail.

Abstract: A hydraulically driven drive reversing mechanism, attachable to a combine to reverse the drive to the header and feeder house components, is disclosed wherein the reversing mechanism is contained within a gearbox detachably connected with the header drive shaft. The reversing mechanism is substantially self-contained within the gearbox and connectable to a source of hydraulic power to provide an optional drive reversing capability for substantially any combine. The reversing mechanism includes a first gear splined onto the header drive shaft for rotation therewith, a second free wheeling gear mounted within the gearbox in an intermeshing relationship with the first gear for rotation therewith and a clutch selectively engageable with the second gear to transfer rotational power from a hydraulic motor to affect a rotation of the header drive shaft in a reverse direction.

Abstract: A movable unloading auger is automatically latched and unlatched with respect to a support member by connecting a lifting winch and cable to a movable latch arm attached to the auger, thus advantageously permitting hands-off latching and unlatching operations. A latch pin is extended from the latch arm and is guided to obstruct movement of the auger relative to the support member.

Abstract: In a crop roll forming machine having a reversibly rotatable bale forming means and a drive means there is provided a control means affixed to the frame movable between at least a first position and a second position for cooperative interaction with the drive means and the bale forming means to selectively cause the bale forming means to cease being driven in a first direction and cause it to be driven in an opposing second direction when the control means is moved from the first position to the second position so that a completed crop roll is ejected rearwardly from the machine onto the ground.

Abstract: In a crop roll forming machine having a reversibly rotatable bale forming means and a drive means there is provided a control means affixed to the frame movable between at least a first position and a second position for cooperative interaction with the drive means and the bale forming means to selectively cause the bale forming means to cease being driven in a first direction and cause it to be driven in an opposing second direction when the control means is moved from the first position to the second position so that a completed crop roll is ejected rearwardly from the machine onto the ground.

Abstract: A crop harvesting header has a transversely extending crop consolidating component that detachably mounts either one of a plurality of interchangeable crop gathering components, such as a crop windrow-pickup or a row-crop. The lower front portion of the consolidating component is provided with a plurality of spaced apart truncated cone-shaped recessed structures which are respectively adapted to receive a corresponding number of truncated cone-shaped projecting structures mounted on the lower rear portion of the gathering component. The projecting structures are coupled within the recessed structures to detachably mount the crop gathering component forwardly of the crop consolidating component.

Abstract: A hydraulically driven drive reversing mechanism, attachable to a combine to reverse the drive to the header and feeder house components, is disclosed wherein the reversing mechanism is contained within a gearbox detachably connected with the header drive shaft. The reversing mechanism is substantially self-contained within the gearbox and connectable to a source of hydraulic power to provide an optional drive reversing capability for substantially any combine. The reversing mechanism includes a first gear splined onto the header drive shaft for rotation therewith, a second free wheeling gear mounted within the gearbox in an intermeshing relationship with the first gear for rotation therewith and a clutch selectively engageable with the second gear to transfer rotational power from a hydraulic motor to affect a rotation of the header drive shaft in a reverse direction.