With Hitch Permitting Movement Of Harvester Relative To Vehicle Patents (Class 56/14.9)
  • Patent number: 6415590
    Abstract: A hay harvester has a double windrow cross-conveyor supported rearwardly of the harvesting header to receive a stream of conditioned crop materials from the header and transport the same laterally to an outboard position. A deflector adjacent the discharge end of the conveyor is maintained in a lowered position to direct materials to the ground to form a first windrow during a first pass and is then placed in a raised position during a return pass so as to allow the stream discharging from the cross-conveyor to be deposited close to the first windrow, thus forming a double windrow. The cross-conveyor is hingedly affixed to the vehicle in such a manner that the normally tilted down, lower front edge of the cross-conveyor can be raised up into a transport position for higher ground clearance or to switch to single swathing. The header and cross-conveyor are preferably plumbed in a parallel fluid flow relationship so that they are raised or lowered simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Agco Corporation
    Inventor: Randy Lohrentz
  • Patent number: 6412258
    Abstract: A lawnmower with a tractor and a gang of mowers pivotally supported by the tractor for up and down motion when moving on the ground. A mower support arm is pivoted on the tractor and has a pivot axis for each of the mowers, and a camming action is created by the up and down mower movement and that causes the pivot axis to move horizontally relative to the tractor to thereby avoid having the mowers move horizontally, and it maintains a constant spacing between the mowers and avoids having the mowers collide when moving up and down. Shorter length mowers can thus be used in the gang and they follow the ground contour more closely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventor: David A. Doerflinger
  • Publication number: 20020056261
    Abstract: This invention relates to a combined mowing machine, preferably but not necessarily the folding type, in particular for gardening, which comprises a main chassis designed to be coupled to a tractor, and a plurality of cutting plates connected in such a way that they can oscillate on the said chassis; each set of cutting plates presents a plate support beam mounted between a pair of end plates fixed to the chassis, and a pin integral with the said beam slides in two slots cut into the said end plates to allow the said movements of the cutting plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Publication date: May 16, 2002
    Applicant: ROTOMEC S.p.A
    Inventor: Paolo Tironi
  • Patent number: 6381935
    Abstract: A cutting machine comprising a chassis connected to a motor vehicle, a cutting device comprising cutting members, a connecting device connecting the cutting device to the chassis in such a way as to allow the cutting device to be brought into a work position and into a transport position and comprising at least two connecting rods each one connected to the cutting device and to the chassis by means of a respective connection, one of the connections being a connection of the ball-joint type. The cutting machine is characterized in that at least one of the connections connecting a connecting rod to the cutting device or to the chassis comprises an elastic element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Kuhn S.A.
    Inventors: Bernard Wattron, Martin Walch
  • Publication number: 20020035825
    Abstract: A foot pedal lift system is provided for the mower deck of a lawn or garden tractor. The foot pedal is pivotally mounted to the frame of the tractor and is linked to the linkage arms which suspend the mower deck from the frame. The pedal is movable between a depressed forward position to raise the mower deck to a transport position and a retracted rearward position to move the mower deck to a lower removal position. The pedal can be locked in the depressed or retracted positions by a latch pivotally mounted on the exterior of the tractor console. Engagement and disengagement of the latch with the foot pedal is controlled by a handle mounted on the console connected to the latch by an elongated connecting rod. Pulling upwardly on the handle locks the latch into engagement with the foot pedal in both the depressed and retracted positions. Pushing downwardly on the handle disengages the latch from the foot pedal so that the mower deck is free to move upwardly or downwardly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2001
    Publication date: March 28, 2002
    Inventor: James A. Swartzendruber
  • Patent number: 6349529
    Abstract: An operating device for an agricultural machine which includes a hitching structure connected to a motor vehicle by use of an upper hitching point and at least one lower hitching point. A second lower hitching point is connected to the device and the hitching structure is movable with respect to the second lower hitching point by use of the device. The device thus makes it possible to bring the agricultural machine from a work position into another position or vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Kuhn, S.A.
    Inventors: Horst Neuerburg, Fernand Kieffer
  • Publication number: 20010054278
    Abstract: The invention concerns an agricultural harvesting machine with at least one adapting device for receiving a front attachment, wherein a mechanically and/or hydraulically switchable reversing device is associated with at least one of the working components of the agricultural harvesting machine which are at the front in the direction of travel and the front attachment, which is received by the adapting device, can be moved by at least one displacement means into at least one non-working position which is at a distance from the working components of the agricultural harvesting machine, and which forms a gap for passage of crop between the front attachment and these working components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Publication date: December 27, 2001
    Applicant: CLAAS Saulgau GmbH
    Inventor: Hans Rauch
  • Publication number: 20010052225
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cutting machine comprising a frame which can be hitched to a tractor and carries a cutting mechanism comprising a large cross section rotor equipped with knives which are mounted on axes arranged in pockets provided in said rotor. Each knife is mounted on an individual axis located in a pocket set back toward the inside with respect to the outer periphery of the rotor and wherein this rotor, on at least one side of each pocket, has a concave recess for fitting or removing the corresponding axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Applicant: KUHN - AUDUREAU S.A.
    Inventors: Guy Rostoucher, Mickael Peterschmitt, Didier Vallat
  • Publication number: 20010045087
    Abstract: A pull-type mower-conditioner has a windrow grouper mounted to its main frame by a mounting frame that is swingable between lowered working and raised non-working positions. The grouper includes a conveying arrangement defined in part by a belt conveyor mounted to the mounting frame for free pivotal movement, between angularly spaced stops, about a transverse horizontal axis. When the mounting frame is in its working position, the crop-receiving surface of the conveyor is inclined at a slight angle downward toward the rear of the mower-conditioner with gravity holding the conveyor in position against one of the stops. When the mounting frame is in its non-working position, gravity holds the conveyor in a position rotated against the other of the stops, the crop-receiving surface then being almost vertical so that the grouper is almost within the length of the mower-conditioner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2001
    Publication date: November 29, 2001
    Applicant: Deere & Company, a Delaware Corporation
    Inventors: Roger Franet, Damien Faivre, David Demesmay
  • Patent number: 6273449
    Abstract: The device consists of a two stage hydraulic tongue swing mechanism and a tongue latch mechanism for controlling and affixing the tongue of a pull type implement while the implement is being laterally transported. The two stage hydraulic tongue swing mechanism comprises a tongue plate attached to the tongue. A free plate is pivotally attached at the tongue pivot and is controlled by a hydraulic cylinder. The tongue plate and free plate are selectively attached to each other by a lateral transport latch. The tongue latch mechanism is partly affixed to the tongue and partly to the trailframe. Attached to the tongue is a tongue handle that controls the position of a tongue pin. The tongue pin is biased into an angled strike plate with a slot on the edge of the trailframe. The tongue pin may be held in a retracted position by a notched lock bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: New Holland North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Melanie W. Harkcom, Steven J. Campbell, Thomas L. Stiefvater, Terry A. Young
  • Patent number: 6269619
    Abstract: Mower including a suspension device connecting a harvesting mechanism to a chassis and allowing the harvesting mechanism a heightwise movement with respect to the chassis. The mower further including a lightening device associated with the harvesting mechanism and including two elastically deformable members extending transversely to a direction of forward travel during work, each elastically deformable member acting, via a first of its ends, on a corresponding end of the harvesting mechanism. The mower including a centralized device for adjusting the lightening force exerted on the harvesting mechanism, where the device is coupled to the second ends of the elastically deformable members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Kuhn S.A.
    Inventors: Martin Walch, Bernard Wattron
  • Patent number: 6250055
    Abstract: A mower-conditioner includes a header suspended from a mobile, main transverse frame by a pair of lower links, a single upper link and a pair of counterbalance springs. The upper link incorporates a threaded spindle to which a crank is coupled for changing the effective length of the upper link which extends between respective bearings carried by the main frame and the header and in this way pivots the header about the horizontal transverse axis defined by the bearings at the forward ends of the lower links so as to change the cutting angle of the cutter bar incorporated in the header. The upper link is mounted for sliding through the bearing carried by the header so as to permit the header to pivot upwardly about the axis in response to the cutter bar coming into contact with an obstacle during cutting operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Roger Franet
  • Patent number: 6209297
    Abstract: An implement for a combine, having an integral transport system with a pair of ground engaging wheels that are moved between transport positions used in transporting the implement and stowed positions on the implement during use of the implement. The wheels may be used as gauge wheels during use to support the ends of the implement. A trailer tongue is retractable and stowed onboard the implement during use, as is a tongue jack. Lights are provided at the end of the implement for visibility during transport. The lights are stowed beneath a cover on the end of the implement to protect the lights from damage during use. All components of the transport system are carried on the implement during use to ensure that they are with the implement when needed to transport the implement. All components are mounted with pins, enabling the implement to be converted between transport and use configurations without the use of hand tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Sidney Wayne Yeomans, Bradley James Watts, Gordon Lee Salley, Kevin D. Brase
  • Patent number: 6199355
    Abstract: A crop harvester having a wheeled frame with a tongue pivotally connected to the frame in the vicinity of a longitudinal centerline. The tongue, rotatable about a first generally vertical pivot axis, is swingable between extreme left and right positions on opposing sides of the longitudinal centerline with its distal end adapted for connection to a prime mover. A drive line transmits rotational power from the prime mover. A crop harvesting header, suspended from the frame in a forward disposition, includes operable components for engaging and processing crop material as the harvester is pulled over a field of standing crop. A gearbox receives rotational power from the drive line and transmits it to the operable components. The gearbox, mounted on the crop harvesting header in the vicinity of said longitudinal centerline forwardly of the first generally vertical pivot axis, is journaled for rotation about a second generally vertical pivot axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: New Holland North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas L. Stiefvater, J. T. Clevenger, Jr., Charles H. Hoffman, Larry W. Miller
  • Patent number: 6195969
    Abstract: A multifunctional riding lawn mower for cutting grass, collecting or discharging cut grass clippings, and mulching cut grass clippings into the cut grass. The mower includes a body and a power source connected to the body. Wheels are connected to the body and powered by the power source. The mower has a multidirectional shell connected to the body. The shell has a circulation section and a distribution section on opposite side of the center of the shell. The shell is capable of being turned. When the circulation section matches the front section of the body, the mower cuts grass and mulches the grass clippings. When the distribution section matches the front section of the body, the mower cuts grass and collects the grass clippings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Inventor: Gürsel George Yilmaz
  • Patent number: 6182427
    Abstract: A pull-type harvesting machine is adapted for laterally offset attachment to a tractor. The machine has a frame and a harvesting head supported by the frame including a cutting apparatus for cutting crops as the machine is towed across a field, and a gear box operably connected with the cutting apparatus. A pull tongue is pivotally coupled to the frame about a first vertical axis for varying the position of the machine relative to the tractor. A mechanical drive line extends along and is rotatably supported by the pull tongue for supplying driving power to the cutting apparatus through the gear box. The gear box is pivotally mounted on the header about a second vertical axis spaced from the first vertical axis. The drive line includes a fixed position portion and a telescoping portion supported at fore and aft ends by the tongue and the gear box, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Gehl Company
    Inventor: Thomas J. Loehr