Abstract: A vibration sensor is mounted on the central shaft, such that it senses vibrations induced into the feed roll assembly in a direction transverse to the rotational axis of the feed roll.

Abstract: An apparatus for raising and lowering a mower deck guard/chute includes a platform attachment assembly configured for attachment to a movable platform, a housing mount configured to be attached to a riding machine surface, and a linkage assembly having a break-away safety mechanism and configured to connect the platform attachment assembly to the housing mount and to thereby hold the movable platform in a variably raised position. The break-away safety mechanism is configured to break the connection between the platform attachment assembly and the housing mount when a tensile force is applied to the linkage assembly due to snagging or entanglement of the deck guard and/or apparatus.

Abstract: An agricultural harvesting machine for harvesting and/or processing crop material has a transfer device for transferring crop material, an intake device that includes a foreign-object detection device for detecting foreign objects in a monitoring region of a crop material flow, in the case of which, when a foreign object in the crop material flow is detected by the foreign-object detection device, the agricultural harvesting machine is braked automatically, and/or at least one energy storage medium is withdrawn in order to reduce the ground speed, it being possible to adjust the value for the braking effect and/or the withdrawal of the energy storage medium.

Abstract: In a method and a device adjust the sensitivity of a detection device for foreign objects in an agricultural harvesting machine by way of which interfering signals are eliminated despite different and constantly changing harvesting conditions, thereby enabling prevention of unnecessary quick stops of the working assemblies and interruption of the harvesting operation.

Abstract: A hard object or stone detection method and apparatus for detecting and removing discrete hard foreign objects from mobile agricultural equipment, particularly an agricultural harvester including apparatus for providing a flow of cut crop material to an elevator for delivery to a threshing system. The apparatus includes a foreign object detecting mechanism, including a foreign object detecting circuit for detecting foreign objects and an object exclusion or rejection mechanism operationally connected to be activated by the detecting circuit. The detecting circuit includes at least one vibration sensor operable for outputting a signal, and a combination of high pass filters and frequency bandpass filters and variable threshold comparators for processing the signal along first and second signal paths, and at least one microprocessor or microcontroller including a pulse rejection network.

Abstract: A forage harvester comprises a feeder for feeding harvested crop material to the processing mechanism along a crop feed path It is equipped with a foreign object detector for signaling the presence of foreign objects in said harvested crop. The detector comprises a sensor having a detection field extending into at least a portion of said path. The sensor is substantially symmetric with respect to a direction transverse to the crop feed path and the detector further comprises a restriction system distinct from said sensor, making said detection field asymmetric with respect to said transverse direction. As a result, the detector becomes less sensitive to noise caused by the other components of the harvester.

Abstract: An agricultural working machine has intake conveyor mechanisms, a hydraulic circuit via which the intake conveyor mechanisms are hydraulically driven and including at least one hydraulic motor which drives the intake conveyor mechanisms, at least one switching valve system for interrupting or releasing a flow of hydraulic oil being assigned to the at least one hydraulic motor, the switching valve system being configured for interrupting or releasing the flow of hydraulic oil to the hydraulic motor as a function of a signal from a foreign-object position detection device, the switching valve system including at least one braking function for the at least one hydraulic motor, and a section of the hydraulic circuit which realizes the at least one braking function is essentially free of elasticities.

Abstract: An agricultural harvesting machine for harvesting and/or processing crop material has a transfer device for transferring crop material, an intake device that includes a foreign-object detection device for detecting foreign objects in a monitoring region of a crop material flow, in the case of which, when a foreign object in the crop material flow is detected by the foreign-object detection device, the agricultural harvesting machine is braked automatically, and/or at least one energy storage medium is withdrawn in order to reduce the ground speed, it being possible to adjust the value for the braking effect and/or the withdrawal of the energy storage medium.

Abstract: A foreign body detector for an agricultural harvester is provided having a sensing element which is fitted such that it is movable transversely to a direction of conveyance of the crop and which, during the harvesting operation, bears against the received crop. The foreign body detector has a position sensor set up to register the position of the sensing element, and an evaluation circuit, which can be operated to calculate, on the basis of the signals of the position sensor, information relating to the velocity and/or acceleration of the sensing element and, for the purpose of generating a signal value indicating the take-up of a foreign body, to make a comparison with a threshold value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use with a non-frangible object detection mechanism on an agricultural harvester, the detection mechanism including a sensing surface and a sensor for sensing force applied to the sensing surface that is associated with a foreign object adjacent the sensing surface, the harvester including a transport surface along which harvested materials are transported toward the sensing surface, the apparatus including at least first and second ramp members positioned between the transport surface and the sensing surface, the ramp members separated by a gap, each ramp member including a front ramp surface that extends between a front ramp end adjacent the transport surface and a ramp member apex, the ramp member apexes positioned at a location higher than the sensing surface and proximate the sensing surface, wherein, as harvested material and non-frangible objects are conveyed along the transport surface and toward the sensing surface, at least a portion of the harvested material passes betwee

Abstract: One or more elongate barriers are provided that are movably (in one configuration pivotably) mounted proximate the outside of a grass cutting deck. When one of the barriers encounters a foreign object in a certain manner, the barrier moves towards its “tripped” position, thus causing a corresponding change to the operating characteristic of the lawn mover, be it a termination of the cutting process, the mower drive process, or both. The barriers can be used with electric or mechanical control elements.

Abstract: A foreign object detector comprises an inertial sensor mounted for displacement with one of the displaceable rolls in the feed mechanism of a forage harvester. When a foreign object is forced through the rolls, the acceleration of the rolls' displacement exceeds a predetermined threshold and the detector stops the feed mechanism. Preferably, the detector's sensor is a microswitch having an inertially-actuable lever and which is mounted for displacement with the upper feed roll. The detector's circuitry ties into existing metal detector circuitry.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester having a header with a reel and an auger, wherein the reel and the auger provide crop material to an elevator and a foreign object detecting mechanism, wherein the foreign object detecting mechanism includes a foreign object detecting circuit for detecting foreign objects and an object extrusion mechanism operationally connected to be activated by the detecting circuit. The detecting circuit includes a first vibration sensor, a programmable amplifier, a frequency bandpass filter, a variable threshold comparator, and a microprocessor including a pulse rejection network. The microprocessor is electronically connected to control the threshold comparator and the programmable amplifier, and activates the object extrusion mechanism when the pulse rejection network generates an internal signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting nonmetallic debris in plant material collected with harvester equipment. As the plant material is collected, a signal generator transmits a signal capable of distinguishing the nonmetallic debris from the plant material, and a sensor receives the generator signal and produces an alarm signal when the nonmetallic debris is detected. A controller receives the alarm signal and modifies operation of the harvester in response to the alarm signal. Different signals can identify the nonmetallic debris. The signal generator and sensor can function based on energy from laser light waves, from sound waves, microwave, gamma, x-ray, or fluoroscope energy wavelengths.

Abstract: A crop harvesting machine includes a crop transport or feed mechanism including a feed roller to which a toothed wheel is fixed. A detent in the form of a pivotally mounted lever carries a cam or tooth, the detent being pivotable between a first position wherein the cam is engaged with the toothed wheel so as to block rotation of the feed roller, and a second position wherein the cam is disengaged from the toothed wheel so as to permit free rotation of the crop feed roller. A one-way hydraulic cylinder is coupled to the detent in parallel with a tension coil spring and is controlled by a solenoid control valve, coupled in a control circuit forming part of a metal detector circuit, so as to be pressurized for moving the detent to its first, blocking position when the metal detector sensor senses an undesirable metal object in the crop, and so as to be coupled to sump so that the spring moves the detent to its second position, permitting rotation of the crop feel roller, when no metal is detected.

Abstract: An agricultural harvesting machine has a feed conveyor assembly arranged in the front region and a crop receiving assembly attached thereto. The two drive shafts of these assemblies are fitted with drive pulleys over which a common belt is entrained to drive the assemblies. A slip clutch is located between the pulley and the drive shaft for the feed conveyor. A brake is associated with the drive shaft for the feed conveyor by which the drive shaft can be braked suddenly when foreign objects appear in the feed region. The crop receiving assembly is braked by at least one slip clutch which is activated by the brake.

Abstract: A harvesting machine includes a crop intake arrangement including either a reel or a crop hold down which operate to aid in the advancement of harvested crop into the machine for further processing. In the event of a jam or the presence of metal occurring, the crop intake arrangement may be operated in reverse so as to expel the jam and/or sensed metal. An actuator is provided for moving the reel or crop hold down between non-operating and operating positions and a first sensor for sensing a jam condition and/or the presence of metal is provided which sends a signal when such a condition exists, this signal being used to effect automatic operation of said actuator so as to move the reel or hold down to a non-operating position so as not to interfere with the expulsion of the jam and/or metal. Other controls are provided and other parameters are sensed for delaying and/or overriding the automatic positioning of the reel or crop hold down in their non-operating position.

Abstract: A crop stream passes longitudinally at a feed velocity varying relative to a predetermined feed velocity in a harvesting machine between conveyor elements which transversely compress the stream and at least one of which is transversely deflectable. A stone in the stream is detected by continuously producing an output corresponding to the transverse deflection of the one conveyor element per unit of time, continuously monitoring the feed velocity and producing an output corresponding to actual feed velocity, and establishing for the predetermined feed velocity a predetermined threshold value for the transverse-deflection output. In addition for actual feed velocities different from the predetermined feed velocity respective threshold values are established that are equal to the predetermined threshold value multiplied by the quotient of the actual feed velocity squared divided by the predetermined feed velocity squared.

Abstract: An intake subassembly for an agricultural harvesting machine, in particular a self-propelled forage harvester for corn, grass and the like, including a cutting cylinder, feed rollers, and compression rollers, has a cut-out clutch for bringing the feed rollers and the compression rollers to a sudden stop. The machine may have a monitor system for detecting and processing information relating to the status and motion of the components of the subassembly and generating a signal to interrupt and brake the detected motion, for example, in response to the presence of foreign objects or overloads in the subassembly.

Abstract: The apparatus is an improvement to a feederhouse on an agricultural combine. The apparatus has a first acoustic array having a first sounding board and acoustic sensor positioned beneath the front drum and feederhouse floor. There is a second acoustic array positioned behind the front drum and between the conveyor chain encircling the front and rear drums. The second acoustic array also has a second acoustic sensor and second sounding plate. The acoustic sensor detects the impact of a stone on the sounding plates. A signal is transmitted via a controller from the sensor to a solenoid controlling a stone trap door latch. When the door opens, a sled also rotates into contact with conveyor chain. This deflects any crop flow containing stones. To close the door, the feederhouse is raise and the door rotates into contact with the latch.

Abstract: A feederhouse on an agricultural combine. Having a first acoustic array having a first sounding board and acoustic sensor positioned beneath the front drum and feederhouse floor. A second acoustic array positioned behind the front drum and between the conveyor chain encircling the front and rear drums. The second acoustic array also has a second acoustic sensor and second sounding plate. The acoustic sensor detects the impact of a stone on the sounding plates. A signal is transmitted via a controller from the sensor to a solenoid controlling a stone trap door latch. When the door opens, a sled also rotates into contact with conveyor chain. This deflects any crop flow containing stones. To close the door, the feederhouse is raised and the door rotates into contact with the latch.