Abstract: A system for monitoring a condition of a sickle of a header of an agricultural machine. The system includes a knife guard mounted to the header, a knife section of the sickle that is configured to move either along or with respect to a surface of the knife guard, and a sensor either mounted to the knife guard or another surface of the header for sensing the condition of the knife section.

Abstract: Provided is an electric drive device in which heat-dissipating sections (15A) (15B) that transfer at least heat generated by a power supply circuit unit (17) and power conversion circuit units (16) to a motor housing (11) are formed on an end surface section (15) of the motor housing (11) on the opposite side from an output section of a rotating shaft (23) of an electric motor. In addition, a watertight lid member (35) that covers a through hole (41) through which the rotating shaft passes and the end of the rotating shaft (23) from the exterior is attached to the end surface section (15) around the through hole (41), and a waterproof breathable membrane (44) that prevents the passage of moisture while allowing the passage of air and water vapor is provided to part of the watertight lid member.

Abstract: A method for state detection of a cutting device for agricultural crop is described. The cutting device is formed with a cutting tool set into rotation with respect to a shear bar operates such that a clearance position of the shear bar is changeable with respect to the cutting too. The method includes assigning at least two interspaced sensors for detecting vibrations to the shear bar caused by the cutting tool upon contact with the shear bar, transmitting signals generated by the sensors to a common signal analysis device and, the common signal analysis device comparing the signals and determining a state of the cutting device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a water resistant electric motor and method of assembly. The motor includes a housing with a main body having a rear endbell, a stator compartment with stator windings, and a first ball bearing. The motor includes a lid having a second ball bearing, and a rotor with a shaft having a first end positioned in the first ball bearing and a second end positioned in the second ball bearing. An epoxy coating is used to overmold the stator compartment, the stator windings, and the rotor. The motor includes a printed circuit board assembly treated with an adhesion promotor and positioned adjacent to the rotor and stator windings. A silicone sealant is used to encapsulate the printed circuit board assembly, the rotor, and the stator windings and reacts with the adhesion promotor. The motor includes a gasket between the lid and the main body.

Abstract: A cutting device for crop has a cutting tool which can be set into rotation, and a shear bar which can be displaced relative thereto, each of the two diametrically opposed ends of which is coupled to a control unit, thereby enabling the clearance position of the shear bar relative to the cutting tool to be changed, and a control device which activates the control units in order to change the clearance position of the shear bar, and to move the shear bar toward the cutting tool, the control device can be operated to activate the control units to each perform a working step in alternation, so that within this working step the particular activated control unit initially moves the end of the shear bar assigned thereto toward the cutting tool by a first adjusting distance, and then away from the cutting tool by a second adjusting distance, wherein the second adjusting distance is smaller than the first adjusting distance.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a water resistant electric motor and method of assembly. The motor includes a housing with a main body having a rear endbell, a stator compartment with stator windings, and a first ball bearing. The motor includes a lid having a second ball bearing, and a rotor with a shaft having a first end positioned in the first ball bearing and a second end positioned in the second ball bearing. An epoxy coating is used to overmold the stator compartment, the stator windings, and the rotor. The motor includes a printed circuit board assembly treated with an adhesion promotor and positioned adjacent to the rotor and stator windings. A silicone sealant is used to encapsulate the printed circuit board assembly, the rotor, and the stator windings and reacts with the adhesion promotor. The motor includes a gasket between the lid and the main body.

Abstract: A reel weed cutterhead to cut aquatic vegetation has a shroud supporting cutting reels and bed knives. The reels have helical blades that cut vegetation parallel to the axis of rotation of the reel. The reels and bed knives work together to cleanly shear aquatic weeds. The shroud contains the weeds for disposal by a centrifugal pump.

Abstract: An agricultural harvesting machine, in particular a self-propelled forage harvester, has a chopper drum that includes chopping blades, a sharpening device that is assigned to the chopper drum and is drivable via a drive for sharpening the chopping blades, wherein the sharpening procedure for sharpening the chopper drum is activated when the agricultural harvesting machine is in a non-working mode.

Abstract: A harvesting machine includes a pick-up unit for picking up the harvested crop, a cutting device that is equipped with at least one cutting edge that cooperates with a counter-cutter for cutting and/or chopping the harvested crop, and a monitoring device, which can be operated to generate a signal containing information about the sharpness of the edge and/or its distance to the counter-cutter, with the sharpness and distance each being compared to a target value. The monitoring device receives signals generated by an optical sensor, which visually monitors the cutting device and/or the cut harvested crop, wherein the signal of said sensor is used so that the monitoring device can deduce information about the sharpness of the edge and/or its distance to a counter-cutter, and send out a control signal for effecting automatic sharpening of the cutting edge and/or adjustment of the counter-cutter.

Abstract: A forage harvester includes a cutting drum equipped with a plurality of cutting knives. A grinding arrangement is provided for sharpening the knives. Different embodiments of a wear sensing device are provided which include sensing circuit elements that are either embedded in the sharpening stone or carried by the backing plate of the sharpening stone assembly. In either case, the sensing circuit elements are located so as to make or break a circuit when a predetermined amount of the sharpening stone has worn away.

Abstract: A forage harvester is provided with a rotatable cutterhead (9), a solid cylindrical grinding stone (15), a motor (33) for moving the stone (15) along a path adjacent the cutterhead (9) and an adjustment mechanism for moving the stone (15) towards the cutterhead (9). During the final stage of the sharpening cycle the stone (15) is automatically moved along the path at a substantially lower speed in order to improve the finishing of the cutterhead (9), such that the shearbar (11) can be adjusted closer to the rotating cutterhead (9).

Abstract: In a fodder harvesting machine, the device disclosed comprises a rotating chopping drum (1) and a fixed counter-knife (25) cooperating with the knives (2) of the drum (1), as well as a retractable wheel (21) adapted to be moved in rotation in order periodically to sharpen the knives (2). According to the invention, at least two positioners (5, 6, 7, 8) located near the free ends of the chopping drum (1) are mounted to pivot about the geometrical axis thereof and connected to an actuation device (a) bringing, by pivoting, the end contact piece (8) of each positioner (7) either opposite the wheel (21), or opposite a corresponding stop (32) of the counter-knife (25) which is fastened to a fixed support (3, 35) via a presser device (34) and a fixing device (33).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for maintaining the cylindrical profile of forage harvester cutterheads involves moving a grinding stone back and forth along a predetermined path between positions which are adjacent opposite ends of a cutterhead. Initially, the grinding stone is moved gradually toward the cutterhead along a first slope until it is fully engaged with the cutting edges of the cutterhead knives. Next, the grinding stone is moved generally lengthwise of the cutterhead along a line substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cutterhead while it is kept fully engaged with the cutting edges of the cutterhead knives. Finally, the grinding stone is moved gradually away from the cutterhead along a second slope until it is fully disengaged from the cutting edges of the cutterhead knives.

Abstract: The apparatus and method of this invention pertain to the sharpening of the blades of a reel mower having a framework about the reel. The apparatus comprises a belt having protuberances thereon, an assembly of pulleys and a drive motor for driving the belt and guiding the belt and protuberances to engage with the blades of the reel mower. The method of the invention is to use the apparatus of this invention and place it in a position so that, when the belt is revolved about the pulleys, the protuberances engage the blades of the reel mower thereby causing the reel to rotate in an opposite direction from the belt movement.

Abstract: An improved rotary, power lawn mower sharpener is disclosed which includes a base member having a lever pivotally mounted thereon for horizontal motion and having a handle for actuating the lever. The sharpener further includes a wedge having a horizontal, planar, bottom surface for sliding engagement with the upper surface of the base, and having an inclined, planar, upper surface, the wedge connected by means of a link element to the lever, the lever acting to displace the wedge in a horizontal direction. A tray member is pivotally mounted by means of a horizontal pivot, the tray having a planar, bottom surface adapted for sliding engagement with the inclined, upper surface of the wedge when the wedge is moved horizontally by the lever. A grinding stone is mounted in the tray, having an upper, planar grinding surface which is raised when the wedge moves inwardly beneath the tray and which is lowered when the wedge is moved outwardly from beneath the tray.

Abstract: An electrically operated automatic adjustment system for a reel blade lawn mower to provide the proper contact pressure and cutting clearance between the reel blade and the bedknife at all times. An electrical signal is generated across the bedknife and reel blade that functionally represents the contact pressure. One or more measurable parameters of the signal define an optimum contact pressure. A control circuit uses signal values to continuous monitor and drive (if necessary) a motor or other control device connected to either the bedknife or the reel blade to maintain the optimum spatial relationship between the bedknife and the reel blade for optimum cutting.

Abstract: A forage harvester for harvesting crops and reducing them to forage by means of a rotary chopping cylinder which has a plurality of blades around its periphery which cooperate with a shear bar carried on the frame of the harvester. A sharpening device is provided above the cylinder for sharpening the cylinder blades and brackets are also provided for mounting the shear bar when it is to be sharpened, above the cylinder so that the same sharpening device that is used to sharpen the blades of the cylinder can also be used to sharpen the shear bar. Bracket mounting structure is provided for the shear bar to ensure that it is sharpened at the proper angle.

Abstract: A mower of the cross-flow blower type has clutch means for engaging the motor with the rotor and disengaging the motor therefrom. One wall section of the blower conduit has an abrasive panel facing the rotor and is mounted for movement between a moving position in which the abrasive panel is spaced from the rotor and a brake/sharpening position in which the panel is contacted by the rotor blades. Means are provided for automatically moving the abrasive panel to the brake/sharpening position when the clutch means is disengaged and to the mowing position when the clutch means is engaged. Advantageously the abrasive panel is on a portion of the upper wall section which is close to the rotor and forms the front vortex breaker of the blower conduit. The wall section carrying the abrasive panel may be pivotally mounted or, advantageously, resiliently attached to the adjacent portion of the blower conduit. An eccentric rod may be employed for moving the wall section and abrasive panel.

Abstract: The cutting cylinder of a forage harvester has helically oriented knives which may be sharpened by shifting a spinning grinding stone back and forth across the housing for the cylinder in parallel relationship with the axis of rotation of the cylinder. Opposed sets of roller guides which move with the stone in its straight line reciprocation trap the blade being sharpened and force the cylinder to rotate to such an extent and in such a direction as to continuously maintain the bevel on the knife engaged with the stone, thereby compensating for the helical orientation of the knife. One set of roller guides rides along the normally leading edge of the knife being sharpened, while the other set of opposed roller guides rides along the outer surface of the knife being sharpened.

Abstract: The helically oriented knives of a cutting reel, such as found in forage harvesters, may be sharpened by reciprocating a sharpening stone along the beveled cutting edge of each knife. The reel is held against rotation when the knife to be sharpened has been disposed in its proper position relative to the stone, whereupon the stone is shifted back and forth along the beveled edge while at the same time rocked automatically to-and-fro in a direction transverse to the edge such that the curvature of the knife is automatically compensated for to maintain the stone in continuous engagement with the edge. Followers mounted on the stone ride along an arcuate guide rod conforming to the helical orientation of the knives to provide the required rocking of the stone as the latter is reciprocated.

Abstract: Apparatus for sharpening the operative cutting surface of a blade while the blade is mounted on a drum comprising a mounting unit for attachment to the drum and a linkage pivotably supported on the mounting unit and carrying a rotatable sharpening member in the form of a cup wheel. The linkage is composed of a plurality of link members connected for pivotal movement about axes which are parallel to the pivot axis of the linkage to the mounting unit and parallel to the surface of the blade to be sharpened. The cup wheel is driven in rotation via a flexible shaft and the arrangement of the linkage is such that the sharpening surface of the cup wheel is constrained to lie in planes parallel to the pivot axes while the cup wheel is displaceable along the cutting surface of the blade and constrained to move in a plane perpendicular thereto.