Abstract: A vehicle having a base structure with bodywork and a fuel tank assembly mounted on the base structure is disclosed wherein the fuel tank assembly includes a fuel tank having a filler neck, access to the inlet of which is gained through an aperture in a panel forming part of the bodywork. A grommet, fitted to the filler neck, has a skirt portion at one end, adapted to encircle the filler neck, at least one flange at the other end, adapted to engage the edge portion of the aperture in the panel, and an overflow channel disposed between the flange and the skirt. The overflow channel is provided with an outlet adapted for connection to a drain pipe. The filler neck is also provided with an outer portion of a first cross-sectional area and an adjacent inner portion of a second cross-sectional area which is smaller than the first cross-sectional area.

Abstract: A radiator for the cooling system of a vehicle, and having a header tank and a bottom tank interconnected by a core through which air can flow, the header tank being provided with a filler tube fitted with a double seal filler cap through which coolant can flow in opposing directions, depending on the conditions pertaining at a given instant in the header tank, is disclosed wherein the header tank is formed integrally with a coolant recovery tank. The coolant recovery tank is connected to the header tank by a passageway extending from the coolant recovery tank to a point in the filler tube of the header tank which is normally on the unpressurized side of the filler cap, but which is connected to the pressurized side of the filler cap when the predetermined coolant pressure set by the pressure relief valve in the filler cap is exceeded.

Abstract: A vehicle having an engine compartment with an engine and an air cleaner mounted therein is disclosed wherein the cover for the engine compartment comprises two hinge panels with an air inlet formed in each one thereof. An air duct extends from within the vicinity of the air inlets in the hinge panels to an inlet of the air cleaner and includes an air plenum chamber defined in the engine compartment cover. The plenum chamber has an air inlet adjacent the air inlets in the engine compartment cover and an air outlet connectable to the air inlet of the air cleaner.

Abstract: An adjustable shearbar apparatus for a forage harvester is disclosed wherein a pair of levers pivotally supported to effect positional adjustments of the shearbar are mounted such that the pivot axis is located in an offset relationship relative to the axis of the shearbar. An upper clamping member detachably connected to a lower support mechanism by a threaded member positioned in line with the shearbar axis to clamp the shearbar therebetween connecting apparatus detachably affixing the shearbar to each of the levers includes a threaded fastener received through an opening extending through each lever and threadably engaged with the shearbar. The connecting apparatus also includes cupped washer assemblies to create a ball joint effect to facilitate the relative movement between the levers and the corresponding fasteners, permitting the shearbar to be moved linearly by a pair of pivotally movable levers.

Abstract: In order to avoid undesirable delays in response time for controlling feed roll directional rotation and stopping, an electric clutch-brake planetary gear device provides stop, forward and reverse control of the feed rolls. The device functions as an electric clutch for a forward mode and as an electric brake for a reverse mode. Almost instantaneous shut down is available which is desirable for use in combination with a metal detector.

Abstract: In a forage harvester having a cutterhead and an auger to move crop material away from the cutterhead, baffle means are provided to prevent material from being thrown from the auger toward the cutterhead. The baffle means is located above the auger and behind the cutterhead in order to deflect material downwardly toward the auger.

Abstract: A forage harvester having an axially transverse generally cylindrical cutterhead mounted for rotation in a housing. The cutterhead includes knives that cooperate with a shearbar mounted at the front of the cutterhead housing to cut crop material being fed rearwardly into the housing over the shearbar under conditions where the cutterhead is being rotated. A removable arcuate screen is mountable rearwardly of the cutterhead and closely adjacent to the peripheral path of the knives. Crop material is forced by the cutterhead through the screen apertures to further cut the crop. Progressively larger apertures are provided in the screen. Desired length of cut determines the initial aperture size whereupon the cut crop material readily passes through the subsequent progressively larger apertures. Crop handling means then collect the crop material and deliver it to discharge apparatus, such as a blower.

Abstract: In a forage harvester, the cutterhead, feedrolls and attachment drive is usually accomplished by combinations of belts, chains and gears which are exposed to contamination from debris associated with harvesting operations. This is avoided by providing such drives housed in a single housing having an external chain drive including interchangeable sprockets for varying feedroll speed. This provides a quick change for varying the length of cut of crop material being fed to the cutterhead.

Abstract: The blower of a forage harvester is controlled by two-speed belt drives for operating the blower between a first and a second speed for improved power requirements and operating efficiency. The disadvantages of such belt drives is avoided by a selector apparatus which controls a single speed rotating input and provides a two-speed rotating output.

Abstract: Agricultural vehicles, such as a forage harvester, have been equipped with metal detectors. The metal detecting device is connected to stop the feed roll mechanism in a fraction of a second. In connection with this, it is important to shift the associated feed roll drive from a forward mode to a neutral mode. Such shifting, if done manually, may involve a delay sufficient to permit the harvester head to jam with crop material. Jamming is avoided by apparatus for automatically declutching a gear selector thus almost instantaneously shifting to the desired neutral mode in response to actuation of the metal detecting device.

Abstract: Most presently known crop harvesting attachment flotation apparatus use a spring to preload the attachment into a floating mode. A problem with this is that, as the attachment is either forced upwardly or intentionally raised, the effectiveness of the spring decreases. This is avoided by a combination of a spring and a fluid operated cylinder acting through pivotal linkage relationships for retaining the attachment in a substantially constant flotation mode during lifting operations and during flotation operations.

Abstract: Quick or instantaneous stopping of rapidly rotating members places severe stress loads on components. These loads are substantially reduced by providing a quick-stopping apparatus including a damped member having an attached element which is movable into engagement with a rotating member. In response to such engagement, the energy of the rotating member is rapidly decelerated through the damped member thus reducing peak stress loads associated with almost instantaneous deceleration.

Abstract: A feed roll on a forage harvester has a center support ring secured to the outer surface of the feed roll. This improves space availability inside the roll for a metal detector and improves the operating effectiveness of the metal detector.

Abstract: Quick or instantaneous stopping of rapidly rotating members places severe stress loads on components. These loads are substantially reduced by providing a quick-stopping apparatus including a damped member having an attached element which is movable into engagement with a rotating member. In response to such engagement, the energy of the rotating member is rapidly decelerated through the damped member thus reducing peak stress loads associated with almost instantaneous deceleration.