Abstract: A ground plane detection system for a motor vehicle and a motor vehicle with enhanced maneuverability characteristics of a type including a frame structure, a pair of front road engaging wheels, a pair of rear road engaging wheels. The detection system includes, a body controller configured for determining a ground plane including receiving at least one of a GPS signal and an inertial navigation system signal. The body controller is further configured for providing a roll and a pitch signal with respect to the ground plane; and the body controller combining the signals with inputs from one or more sensors detecting displacement of the front and rear road engaging wheels. The body controller is also configured to determine a terrain plane reference to the ground plane, and providing control signals to cause the vehicle to undertake an earth level orientation mode or a terrain following orientation mode.

Abstract: A height adjustment system for adjusting a cutting deck height of a front mounted cutting deck (50) of a riding lawn care vehicle (10) may include a lever (155) operable by an operator seated on the riding lawn care vehicle, and a height adjustment assembly (150) that is alternately assembled and disassembled during attachment and removal of the cutting deck without any operator interaction other than positioning of the lever.

Abstract: A header for an agricultural harvester including an epicyclical drive gear train operatively connected to a first cutter bar, an epicyclical driven gear train operatively connected to a second cutter bar, and a shaft extending between and operatively connected to the epicyclical drive gear train and the epicyclical driven gear train. The epicyclical drive gear train rotates in a first direction and the shaft is configured to rotate the epicyclical driven gear train in a second direction opposite the first direction or in the same direction as the first direction. Each of the epicyclical drive gear train and epicyclical driven gear train includes a bevel gear for operatively engaging bevel gears on the shaft. Operation of the epicyclical drive gear train and epicyclical driven gear train results in substantially linear oscillating motion of the cutter bars.

Abstract: A header for an agricultural harvester comprising a frame and first and second anteriorly facing, oppositely driven epicyclical cutter bar knife drives connected to the frame. A roller shaft extends between and operatively connects the first and second epicyclical drives. The roller shaft or a drive roller drives rotation of a header infeed conveyor. The anteriorly facing epicyclical knife drives effectively rid themselves of harmful dirt and debris thereby prolonging the service life of the epicyclical knife drives.

Abstract: A mower provides a frame intended to be implemented on a tractor, or to form a structure of a trailer. The mower provides a plurality of cutting units (6), at least six, generally disposed side by side, each cutting unit (6) comprising at least one roller (44) intended to roll on the ground. The mower provides a lift assembly linking the cutting units (6) to the frame and configured for articulating the cutting units (6) between a mowing position and a non-mowing position. In the mowing position, the lift assembly is configured for pressing the cutting units (6) against the ground in order to distribute, at least partially, the mower's weight on the ground via the rollers (44) of the cutting units (6). The mower provides lateral articulated beams (10) linking the cutting units (6). The beams (10) are foldable inwardly and forwardly.

Abstract: A spreader system for an agricultural harvester, including a hood assembly comprising a rotatable first hood and second hood, and wherein the first and second hoods cover a portion of a respective first and second discs and are configured to rotate between a first position and a second position, in the first position the first and second hoods block upward and rearward flow of a first agricultural material, a second agricultural material, an airflow, or a combination thereof, in the second position the first and second hoods are configured to facilitate upward and rearward flow of the first agricultural material, the second agricultural material, the airflow, or the combination thereof.

Abstract: A control-mode switching device includes: a plurality of actuators (2, 6, 7) that conduct different movement; driving means (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) that drive the actuators; a plurality of control levers (22a-22c) that command operation of the driving means; a plurality of limit switches (72a-72e) that detect arrival of the control levers to the proximity of an end of a control range; a mode judging means (controller 23) that judges whether a priority operation mode is taken or not in accordance with a combination of on/off conditions of the limit switches; and a drive controlling means (controller 23) that, when it is judged by the mode judging means that the priority operation mode is taken, controls the driving means so that an output of selected one or more of the driving means becomes larger than that in a normal mode or the power ratio as compared with the other driving means becomes larger.

Abstract: A riding-type mower includes a plurality of wheels, a body supported by the plurality of wheels, at least one draft link couplable at one end to the body, a pair of support links coupled at one end to the body and arranged rearwardly from the at least one draft link, and a mower unit whose front is supported from the body via the at least one draft link and whose rear is supported from the body by the pair of support links.

Abstract: A tilting deck lawn mower including a tractor frame, with drive wheel hydrostatic steering supporting a carrier frame and cutting deck pivotally mounted to the tractor frame on a horizontal axis parallel to the path of movement of the mower. Supported by the carrier frame is a single cutting deck with multiple blades; a pair of castered wheels mounted on the carrier frame, one on each side for ground support; a horizontal leg supporting one of the wheels is pivotally journaled to the carrier frame; a parallelogram linkage connecting the rotation of the supporting leg to the tractor, whereby the supporting leg does not rotate relative to the ground when the carrier frame rotates and an adjustable supporting arms on the carrier frame supporting the cutting deck which arms lift the cutting deck up towards the carrier frame as the carrier frame and cutting deck begin the rotate.

Abstract: In an agricultural machine having a machine housing, a main drive axle with pivotal drive wheels, and a feed rake, an apparatus for allowing pivotal adjustment of a frontal attachment relative to the feed rake includes at least one pivot element or frame pivotally connected between the feed rake and the frontal attachment, thereby creating at least two separate pivot planes between the frontal attachment and feed rake. The pivot element pivots about a pivot axis that is generally coaxial with a crop path through the feed rake.

Abstract: An agricultural harvesting apparatus comprising a base frame, a pivotally mounted wing frame and a pivotally mounted outer wing frame. The outer wing frame is folded and unfolded into its operating and transport positions by an outer wing pivot drive. An outer wing pivot sensing hydraulic cylinder drives inner and outer pushing rods pivoting hydraulic cylinders and a pivot locking hydraulic cylinder so that the associated elements are placed in their respective transport or operating positions. After the outer wing frame is folded together with the associated elements into their transport positions a wing pivot hydraulic cylinder folds the wing frame.

Abstract: In an agricultural machine having a machine housing, a main drive axle with pivotal drive wheels, and a feed rake, an apparatus for allowing pivotal adjustment of a frontal attachment relative to the feed rake includes at least one pivot element or frame pivotally connected between the feed rake and the frontal attachment, thereby creating at least two separate pivot planes between the frontal attachment and feed rake. The pivot element pivots about a pivot axis that is generally coaxial with a crop path through the feed rake.

Abstract: An agricultural implement includes a main body which includes the primary components for harvesting and processing crop material and to which peripheral components are attached along respective interfaces which are within or at dimensions corresponding the maximum allowable legal dimension of the implement for transport over public roads. The peripheral components may be hinged or removed at the interfaces so as to narrow the implement either for transport with its length transverse to the direction of travel or for endwise transport.

Abstract: A mowing arrangement includes a tractor carrying a front-mounted mower unit and towing a mobile carrier frame having left and right mower units mounted to opposite sides of the carrier frame. In a first embodiment, the carrier frame is box-shaped in plan view. A pair of mower unit support arms are respectively mounted to forward outer locations of the carrier frame for pivoting vertically between horizontal first positions, wherein they dispose the mower units in respective operating positions, and vertical second positions, wherein they dispose the mower units in raised transport positions.