Abstract: A combine return grain monitor for monitoring grain flow in a return grain path and for directing an electrical signal to a meter located in the cab of the combine to provide the operator with continuous visual indication of the grain being transported in the return grain path. A wedge-shaped horn is positioned on a wall of the combine just below the opening through which the return material is dropped to the return grain cross auger. Much of the tailings material falls against the outer surface of the wedge-horn before falling on through the opening onto the return grain cross auger. The wedge-horn mechanically amplifies sound as material strikes its outer surface. A microphone, located inside the wedge-horn, picks up the amplified sound of material striking the outer surface of the wedge-horn. The microphone provides an electrical signal which is directed to a meter located in the cab of the combine.

Abstract: A method and device for harvesting hay are disclosed. The method includes positioning steam injectors into a windrow of hay and injecting steam into the windrow so as to permeate the windrow with steam and increase the moisture content of the hay. Preferably, the method also includes providing a plurality of injectors and moving the injectors up and down as they passed through the hay so as to evenly distribute steam throughout the windrow. The device includes a dew simulator having a water supply tank and a steam generation mechanism which is connected to a plurality of steam injection spikes. As the dew simulator moves along a windrow, the injector spikes emit steam throughout the windrow so as to achieve a consistent, desired moisture content in the hay.

Abstract: A conveying device for material to be chopped with conveying rollers comprises a foreign body detection device and a chopper mechanism whose signals are fed to a control device which controls rapid stopping of the conveying rollers when a foreign body detection signal exceeds a predetermined threshold. Upon reversing operation of the conveying rollers, the detection device is used to end the reversing operation when the foreign body is positioned in front of the conveying rollers.

Abstract: A harvesting machine with an automatic steering mechanism consists of a self-propelled machine with a cutterbar mounted in the driving direction. The harvesting machine also has generally-known locating devices to scan the crop edge, in particular, the border between the mowed and unmowed crops. The location devices produce signals that are processed by a controller and, via devices well-known in the art, are utilized by the automatic steering mechanism. The crop edge is scanned in at least two variable distances in front of the cutterbar. The controller processes at least two locating signals received in variable scanning distances in front of the cutterbar. The locating signals are used by devices well-known in the art for the automatic steering mechanism.

Abstract: In an agricultural harvester, a characteristic of crop material is sensed as the crop material is moved through a feed tube by an auger having flighting which terminates upstream of a sensing region. The auger flighting conveys crop material into the sensing region where it accumulates and then is pushed from the sensing region by further crop material conveyed into the region. This results in a more uniform packing density of the crop material in the sensing region where the measurement is made, provided the feed tube is oriented vertically or at a small angle relative to vertical. To obtain a uniform packing density when the feed tube is horizontal or inclined only slightly, a butterfly valve is provided downstream of the sensing region. The valve has flaps that are spring biased to a closed position to block the flow of crop material from the sensing region.

Abstract: A ground-crop harvester for potatoes and the like has two unique control features that enhance the productivity of the device and the quality of the harvested ground-crop (e.g., less bruising). The harvester preferably includes an excavator arranged to scrape up a layer of soil and ground-crop and a primary conveyor configured to receive the soil and ground-crop scraped up by the excavator and to separate soil from the ground-crop. A downstream conveyor is arranged downstream of the primary conveyor (e.g., directly downstream therefrom or after a secondary conveyor and/or other conveyors) to receive the separated ground-crop. A primary conveyor adjustable speed drive mechanism is provided for the primary conveyor. A downstream conveyor adjustable speed drive mechanism is provided for the downstream conveyor. A speed measurer or sensor is provided for sensing the forward speed of the harvester and for emitting signals representative of the speed. An amount sensor (e.g.

Abstract: The threshing cylinder or rotor of a combine harvester is driven by a rotor hydraulic motor. A rotor pump, driven by an internal combustion engine supplies hydraulic fluid to the rotor hydraulic motor to drive the rotor. A variable speed traction drive propels the harvester over the surface of a field to harvest crops. A control system varies the ground speed of the harvester based upon the pressure of hydraulic fluid supplied to the rotor hydraulic motor to maintain a substantially constant crop material feed rate through the threshing cylinder or rotor. The control system can be an electronic system that measures the pressure of hydraulic fluid on the inlet side of the rotor hydraulic motor and varies the ground speed to keep the measured hydraulic fluid pressure substantially constant. A control system can also include a pressure control valve that varies the ground speed to maintain a constant rotor motor inlet hydraulic pressure.

Abstract: A round baler for fibrous agricultural material including compression and delivery elements, a main drive for driving the same, a wrapping apparatus, and at least one load sensor provided in the drive line for the compression elements for generating a control signal for actuation of the wrapping apparatus and/or turning off of the delivery elements.

Abstract: A self contained trailmower includes a respective angled bumper housing positioned on each front corner of the mower deck in a position such that the angled housing on the outside of the mower deck is the first part of the deck to hit an obstacle in the path of the mower. Each of the bumper housings holds a plurality of bumper rollers with the rollers being placed in a line along the outer edge of each bumper housing and protruding outward past the bumper housing such that the rollers are the first portion of the mower to encounter the obstacle. The rollers thus urge the mower deck outward away from the obstacle and serve to cushion the impact between mower deck and obstacle. The mower also incorporates a convenient height adjustment feature.

Abstract: The hydraulic flotation circuit for the header of a windrower or other harvester utilizes a pair of precharged gas accumulators that are always in open communication with the flotation cylinders of the circuit. One of the accumulators is set at a relatively high precharge pressure, while the other is set at a much lower precharge pressure. If the header chosen for attachment to the harvester is relatively heavy, the accumulator with the higher precharge pressure provides the flotation bias, while if the header is relatively light, the accumulator having the lower precharge pressure comes into play.

Abstract: A cordless electric mower having an energy management system that allows a user to operate the cutting blade motor of the mower at a wide range of user selected speeds. The mower is provided with a user adjustable throttle control which, when in the wide-open position allows the cutting blade motor to be rotated at a maximum, predetermined speed. When the throttle is set to some lesser speed, the system automatically implements a speed foldback routine whenever the mower encounters heavy loading which would result in an undesirably high current draw on the battery. When the speed foldback routine is implemented, the system limits the maximum amount of current that can be drawn by the motor until the excessive loading condition has been removed. Once the excessive loading condition has been removed, the speed foldback routine automatically increases the speed of the blade motor back up to almost the originally selected speed.

Abstract: A microwave grain monitor determines grain density and moisture content without measuring the phase shift of the measurement signal in passing through the grain. A set of grain coefficients is determined and stored in a non-volatile memory. A microwave measurement signal is transmitted through the grain and the ambient temperature is sensed. The grain density and moisture content are determined from the attenuation of the measurement signal in passing through the grain, the sensed temperature and the set of grain coefficients.

Abstract: Computer implemented methods for determining blocked and partially blocked conditions in the flow of particulate matter in an agricultural air seeding system are disclosed which automatically adapt for changes in seed type, seed density, fan rate or seed rate. In a first embodiment, the number of samples that are taken before making a determination of the blockage condition is varied depending on the number of seed events that have been detected in a given time interval. In a second embodiment, one or more criteria such as the maximum number of samples to wait for an event, the value a sensor filter must reach before the method determines a blockage sensor to be BLOCKED, or the value a sensor filter must reach when in the blocked state before the method determines the sensor is no longer blocked is varied depending on a smoothed value of the number of seed events that are detected per sampling period.

Abstract: The windrower or other harvester has a hydraulic lift circuit for its header that includes a pair of double-acting cylinders which operate in concert to raise the header and provide a solid, lower limit for downward swinging of the header. The two cylinders are connected to one another in a master-slave relationship, and the slave cylinder has its return line normally blocked by a one-way check valve so that a body of fluid is trapped against the piston of the slave cylinder during field operations. This stabilizes the two cylinders to reduce header bounce.

Abstract: A metal detector for detecting metal in a harvested product flow has a plurality of permanent magnets for producing a magnet field which passes through a harvested product flow region, a plurality of coils associated with the permanent magnets so that when a foreign body passes through the magnet field useful signals are produced, a signal processing unit operative for processing of the produced useful signals, a plurality of amplifiers and filters each connected to a respective one of the coils, a plurality of threshold value switches each connected with respect to one of the amplifiers and the filters and having output, an OR-circuit connected with the outputs of the threshold values, and stopping mechanisms connected with the OR-circuit.

Abstract: A microwave grain monitor determines grain density and moisture content without measuring the phase shift of the measurement signal in passing through the grain. A set of grain coefficients is determined and stored in a non-volatile memory. A microwave measurement signal is transmitted through the grain and the ambient temperature is sensed. The grain density and moisture content are determined from the attenuation of the measurement signal in passing through the grain, the sensed temperature and the set of grain coefficients.

Abstract: An agricultural vehicle, tractor, or combine includes a slip monitoring system for determining whether a slip condition exists. The agricultural vehicle includes a combustion engine which indirectly drives a piece of equipment such as a rotor. The rotor is mechanically coupled to the engine via a rotor-drive belt system including two belts and four pulleys. The slip monitoring system analyzes the speed of the rotor and the speed of the engine to determine if there is slippage between the belts and the pulleys. The system determines when a slip condition exists by comparing the ratio of the rotor speed to the engine speed to the ratio of the rotor speed to the engine speed under no-load conditions. When the system determines that the ratio is below the threshold, a display provides visual and audio warnings of the slip condition. The monitoring system is implemented as a software subroutine.

Abstract: A mowing machine comprising a mowing unit, a crushing member and an adjusting mechanism, by means of which one or more crushing parameters can be adjusted. At least one sensor is provided, by means of which the extent to which the crushing member is loaded during operation is recorded. This sensor also supplies one or more control signals to the above-mentioned adjusting mechanism to obtain automatic adjustment of the machine's crushing parameters. The adjusting mechanism can adjust the relative positions of the crushing member and the mowing unit, the rpm of the crushing member and the size of the crop channel, among other things.

Abstract: A reel mower having side reel mower units and a center reel mower unit connected to a vehicle body to be vertically movable between a lower position for a grass cutting operation and an upper position for a non-operational run. The side reel mower units and center reel mower unit have reels driven by reel drives under control of a control mechanism. A forcible stopping device is provided for forcibly stopping the reel drives of the reel mower units with priority over control of the reel drives by the control mechanism when the side reel mower units and center reel mower unit are all in the upper positions.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for sensing material build-up, such as the undesirable build-up of cotton in a mechanized cotton harvester. A tube is mounted for eccentric rotation adjacent an area where build-up occurs, such as near a doffer. The tube is biased by a spring into one position and is eccentrically rotated against the spring by forces applied to the tube by accumulating material, such as cotton. A switch is mounted within the tube, and, as the tube rotates, the state of the switch changes in accordance with the rotation. A signal generated by the switch is used to alert an operator.

Abstract: A forage harvester includes a feed roll assembly for feeding a mat of crop across a fixed shear bar located adjacent a rotating cutterhead for cooperating with the cutterhead knives to cut the mat of crop into lengths. The feed roll assembly includes front and rear lower feed rolls mounted in opposition to and for being contra-rotated relative to front and rear upper feed rolls. The upper feed rolls are carried by a downwardly biased link assembly that is pivotally mounted for permitting the upper feed rolls to move up and down relative to the lower feed rolls in response to varying amounts of crop passing between the lower and upper pairs of feed rolls. A metal detector is mounted within the lower front feed roll and normally operates to a generate a balanced field which extends into the crop feed zone above the lower front feed roll.

Abstract: The device for regulating ground clearance of a working unit of an agricultural machine includes a position sensor (11) which detects a position of the working unit (2) relative to the machine and generates a working unit position signal; a pressure sensor (10) which generates a control element pressure signal; a ground clearance sensor (9) which issues a corresponding ground clearance sensor output signal in a contactless manner; and a control device (7) for operating the control element to set the ground clearance according to the ground clearance sensor output signal alone in a first range closest to the ground, according to the working unit position signal alone in a second range furthest from the ground and according to a combined signal in a third transitional range between the first and second ranges, which is equal to a mixture of the ground clearance sensor output signal and the working unit position signal and which varies continuously from the first range to the second range.

Abstract: An electric appliance control system is provided for use with an electric power unit such as an electric lawn mower. The electric appliance control system includes a battery, a selectively operable switch, a relay having first and second contacts, a control means, a charger circuit and an operator presence switch. The relay is operable by the switch to connect the electric power unit to the battery. The first and second contacts of the relay pass amperage therethrough between the battery and the electric power unit. The first contact is normally open and the second contact is normally closed. The control means includes a negative temperature coefficient thermistor in series with the first contact and multiple thermistors arranged in parallel and utilized in series with the second contact. The negative temperature coefficient thermistor variably increases the amperage passing through the first contact of the relay upon the selective operation of the switch to connect the electric power unit to the battery.

Abstract: On an automatically-steered cotton harvester, a sensor follows a crop row of cotton plants and sends a signal to a computer controller when the crop row changes its position relative to a row unit on the harvester. The computer controller calculates the amount of deviation between the crop row and the center of the row unit, and sends a control signal to a solenoid valve to actuate a hydraulic cylinder, or to a relay to actuate an electric motor, to laterally move the row unit along a tool bar on which it is mounted to more closely align the row unit with the crop row.

Abstract: A combine yield monitor replacing a portion of a conventional cross-auger moving grain through a combine. The monitor having a housing which has an opening through a bottom wall of the housing. The yield monitor further including an auger, rotatably mounted within the housing, having a screw blade and connected to the cross-auger to replace a portion of the cross-auger. The auger having a portion of the screw blade removed intermediate the ends to form an accumulation volume for momentarily stopping grain flow through the auger. The auger further having a portion of the screw blade positioned over the opening to move grain away from over the opening. A load cell located below the opening for measuring the weight of the accumulation volume of grain in the auger.

Abstract: The invention includes a stop (33) which prevents movement of the part (23) of the protection device (18) into the non-operating position when the cutting mechanism (2) is located in the work position (A), and which allows movement when the cutting mechanism (2) is located in a different position (B), the activation of the stop (33) being accomplished automatically by means of an activation element (35) when the cutting mechanism (2) is brought from the other position (B) into the work position (A). The invention also includes a limiting element (52) for limiting the amount of pivoting between a support arm (5) and the cutting mechanism (2) in work position (A) and preventing pivoting when the cutting mechanism (2) is in the other position (B).

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an apparatus for controlling the position of a header relative to the ground surface, the apparatus including one or more pivotable shoes arranged to contact the ground and to move in dependence on changes in the ground contour. A further member secured to such a pivotable shoe includes a reflecting surface remote from the point of contact of the shoe with the ground surface. An emitter/receiver is spaced from the reflecting surface and connected to a control circuit whereby the position of the header relative to the ground may be measured by virtue of the position of the reflecting surface. The position of the header relative to the ground surface is then adjustable in dependence on the detected measurements, by means of various actuators associated with the apparatus.

Abstract: A method for moving a shearbar (102) towards a fixed stop (109), wherein the method comprises the steps of; energizing a bidirectional motor (110/112) for driving a guide screw (106/108) to move the shearbar towards the fixed stop (109), monitoring a variable indicative of the torque or force output of the motor (110/112), limiting the torque or force output to a first maximum value, moving the shearbar (102) against the fixed stop (109) and stalling the motor (110/112) thereby, deenergizing the motor (110/112), when the resulting torque or force output reaches or exceeds the first maximum value; and energizing the motor (110/112) for moving the shearbar (102) in the opposite direction, away from the stop (109), while not limiting the torque or force output or while limiting the same to a second maximum value, which is substantially larger than the first maximum value.

Abstract: A method and control system for an agricultural harvester having a frame and a cut crop receiving header coupled to a hydraulic cylinder. The header has a cutter pivotably mounted on its bottom. The header has a height relative to the frame that is adjusted by applying fluid under pressure to the cylinder. A first control valve is fluidly coupled to the cylinder and responsive to a first input signal for increasing fluid pressure in the cylinder to raise the header. A second control valve is fluidly coupled to the cylinder and responsive to a second input signal for reducing fluid pressure in the cylinder to lower the header. An electrical flex angle signal is produced, representing a flex angle between the bottom of the header and the cutter. A plurality of local maximum and minimum values of the flex angle signal are measured as the cutter passes over respective maxima and minima of a height of the ground relative to the frame. The local maximum and minimum values are identified and stored.

Abstract: A sensing device for automatic side guidance of self-propelling agricultural machine provided with a unit for mowing vegetation formed in a row culture with stubble rows on a field, the sensing device has at least one sensor which senses a row of the vegetation by a lateral abutment, a unit for converting a movement of the sensor into electrical control signals, and a control unit receiving the electrical control signals and controlling wheels of the agricultural machine. The sensor is formed as a stubble sensing element.

Abstract: A method for operating a combine which, for optimizing the harvesting output, is continuously externally controlled by an operator via a control processor (ST) containing set-point and/or limit operating data and is internally controlled by means of continuous measuring and evaluation of actual operating data (VI, SBI, SHI), in particular traveling data, wherein the absolute and/or relative location coordinates (X, Y) of the combine are continuously detected and, assigned to them, the respective area-specific yield measuring data (EM) are stored, in particular in the form of a yield data register (EK) to be used as a historical data register (HK), wherein the control processor (ST) of the combine has access to a historical data register (HK) and addresses them, in each case prior to the actual coordinates, with the respective location coordinates (X, Y) of the combine, linked with its respective travel data (VI, SBI, SHI) and historical data (DH) stored there, reads them and from them determines fresh set-poi

Abstract: A remotely guided brush cutting, chipping and clearing apparatus, dependent upon remote positioning data and radio communication signals, having an apparatus locator system for determining the location of the apparatus and a guidance system for achieving and maintaining the desired direction of travel for the apparatus, relative to the surface of the earth and method for guiding the apparatus.

Abstract: An electronic control system for controlling and displaying the status of the location of a combine harvesting head is disclosed herein. The system includes transducers for monitoring the position of the harvesting head relative to the combine, the location of the head relative to the surface upon which the combine is operating, and the force at which the surface is supporting the head. The system also includes a control unit coupled to the transducers and an electronic display located with the operator cab of combine. Depending upon the configuration of the control unit, the control unit samples the transducer signals to apply display signals to the display. In response to the display signals, the display can produce human-readable characters representative of the status of the head as monitored by the transducers.

Abstract: An outdoor working automating system includes a rice reaper having a position detecting unit for detecting a position by receiving radio waves from a GPS satellite and a control unit for controlling the position of the rice reaper sa that the position traces predetermined route data, and a rice transplanter having a position detecting unit for detecting a position by receiving radio waves from the GPS satellite and a memory for storing the detected position. The outdoor working automating system causes the memory to store a route that the rice transplanter takes during rice transplanting, and causes the rice reaper to perform rice reaping automatically by using the position data stored in the memory as the route data of the rice reaper.

Abstract: In a two-channel magnetic metal detector for a forage harvester, positive and negative adaptive detection thresholds are varied according to long term changes in the noise component induced in detection coils by moving ferrous parts of the crop feed mechanism. The adaptive detection thresholds are set at levels determined by the positive and negative peak averages of the noise components in the channels while the crop feed mechanism is running at normal speed. Start-up transient noise induced in the detection coil as the crop feed mechanism accelerates may exceed the adaptive thresholds as thus set, thereby triggering false indications that a tramp metal object has been detected in the crop feed path. At start-up of the crop feed mechanism, the detection thresholds are raised to prevent false indications. An increase in a channel noise signal is taken as an indication that the crop feed mechanism is accelerating.

Abstract: A combine including a harvesting head position control system is disclosed herein. The control system includes a position sensor assembly for producing signals representative of the location of the head relative to the combine, operator control switches, and a controller coupled to the position sensor assembly and the operator control switches. The position sensor assembly preferably includes between 3 or more position transducers located along the harvesting head and a comparison circuit. The comparison circuit selects the signal produced by the sensor associated with the smallest distance between the head and ground, and applies this signal to the controller. Based upon the signal, the controller controls the position of the head.

Abstract: There is disclosed a lawn or grass mower having a cutting mechanism (14) driven by an electric motor (10), the electric motor (10) being powered by a rechargeable lead acid battery (11), the battery (11) being protected against damage caused as a result of over discharge by control means (13), said control means (13) being able to sequentially sample battery voltage discharge levels and to determine when the sampled battery voltage discharge level has dropped below a predetermined minimum level at which point disabling means (14) is activated to prevent the mower from being used again until the battery means (11) has been recharged through a complete recharging regime.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a control system for controlling the position of the harvesting implement of an agricultural vehicle. The system includes transducers for monitoring the position of the implement relative to the vehicle, the location of the implement relative to the surface supporting the vehicle, and the force required to support the implement. The system also includes an implement positioning mechanism, a user interface for selecting position, location and force setpoints, and a controller coupled to the transducers, positioning mechanism and user-interface. Based upon the signals produced by the transducers and the setpoints set at the user-interface, the controller controls the positioning mechanism to position the implement.

Abstract: An electronic control system for controlling the position of a combine harvesting head operable over a surface is disclosed herein. The position is normally controlled based upon the monitored position of the head. However, the position is controlled based upon the force or pressure at which the surface is supporting the implement if this force exceeds a predetermined limit. Thus, the system provides for float control override of position control. In particular, a hydraulic positioning assembly positions the head relative to the combine based upon control signals produced by a digital control circuit. The digital control circuit monitors digital signals representative of the head position and the force at which the surface is supporting the head, and compares these signals with digital setpoint data.

Abstract: An electronic control system for controlling the position of a combine harvesting head operable over a surface is disclosed herein. The position is controlled based upon the force or pressure at which the surface is supporting the implement. In particular, a hydraulic positioning assembly positions the head relative to the combine based upon control signals produced by a digital control circuit. The digital control circuit monitors digital signals representative of the force at which the surface is supporting the head, and compares these signals with digital setpoint data associated with a desired support force. Based upon the comparison, the control circuit produces control signals for causing the positioning assembly to raise or lower the harvesting head relative to the surface.

Abstract: An electronic control system for controlling and displaying the status of the location of a combine harvesting head is disclosed herein. The system includes transducers for monitoring the position of the harvesting head relative to the combine, the location of the head relative to the surface upon which the combine is operating, and the force at which the surface is supporting the head. The system also includes a control unit coupled to the transducers and an electronic display located with the operator cab of combine. Depending upon the configuration of the control unit, the control unit samples the transducer signals to apply display signals to the display. In response to the display signals, the display can produce human-readable characters representative of the status of the head as monitored by the transducers.

Abstract: A motion sensing safety interlock which disables one or more equipment elements of a ground-traveling machine upon stopping or slowing of the machine below a preselected ground speed. A speedometer cable interconnects a wheel of the machine and a monitor box in which is mounted for rotation by the cable a ferrous star wheel. Lobes of the star wheel pass between poles of a magnetic reed switch which changes state at a frequency corresponding to the rotational speed of the wheel. Electrical circuitry monitors the reed switch and disengages an electric clutch to stop the equipment elements upon the stopping of ground travel of the machine.

Abstract: A system for mounting row units on an agricultural implement suited for movement across a field. The mounting system comprises a row unit support frame connected to the agricultural implement. The row unit support frame includes a generally horizontal elongated bar on which the row units are individually mounted in laterally adjacent relation relative to each other and such that the row units are prevented from moving fore-and-aft relative to the frame. At least one of the row units is mounted for lateral movement along the bar and relative to the adjacent row unit. An actuator is provided for effecting powered lateral movement of the row unit along the length of the bar. Each actuator is operated under the influence of a sensor which monitors the lateral position of the respective row unit relative to a desirable path on the field and controls operation of the respective actuator to generally align the movable row unit relative to the desirable path.

Abstract: A tandem running gear on a self-propelled agricultural machine, in particular a combine, where in the front a drive axle (1) and on both sides thereof swing arms (3, 3A) are disposed under the chassis (2). The swing arms (3, 3A) can be charged by hydraulic work cylinders (8, 8A) in such a way that a respectively preset wheel load distribution between the drive wheels (5, 5A; 6, 6A) and the steered wheels (7, 7A) is attained using a measuring and control device for the hydraulic device.

Abstract: The crop testing and evaluation system includes a plurality of measuring and testing devices that measure the weight, moisture content, and test weight of a crop. Other measuring devices that test the crop for characteristics such as protein content, sugar content, oil content and color may also be included. Mounting accessories are included in the system for attaching the measuring devices to the crop gathering compartment of a harvesting vehicle. As the crop is harvested and fed to the compartment, periodic readings of the measuring devices are taken by a microprocessor and supplied to a computer for analysis and evaluation. Preferably, the microprocessor and computer are positioned in the cab of the harvesting vehicle within reach of the harvest operator. The present invention also provides an efficient method of evaluating research products, such as plant hybrids and varieties.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the traveling of a mower comprising means for detecting the conveying state of cut grass in a shooter, and means for decelerating the traveling speed of the working machine while continuing the mowing work by the cutter and the feeding of an air flow to the shooter if the conveying state is more degraded than a jam prevention judgment criterion on the basis of the detection signal of the conveying state detector means. The conveying state of grass in the shooter is detected based on the density or amount of cut grass passing through the shooter per unit time, and the mower is decelerated while maintaining the rotation of the cutter blade for mowing and/or the feeding of the air flow into the shooter if the density exceeds a predetermined threshold value. A threshold value can be adjusted according to the condition of the grass to be cut; for example, high, degree of overgrowth, degree of dry or wet of the grass.

Abstract: A transmission type light sensor is disposed in the vicinity of the exit of a shooter, which has the exit thereof positioned above a grass-bag opening, and the fullness of the grass-bag is detected when the light blocking state of the sensor continues longer than a predetermined time. A light emitting portion and a light receiving portion of the light sensor are positioned opposite to each other so that their optical axes are in coincidence, and they are firmly attached to both ends of a light sensor mounting member. The light sensor consists of a light sensor main body which is placed at one side of a cover, and a retroreflective board placed at the side of the cover opposite to the light sensor main body for reflecting incident light from the light emitting portion in the direction of incidence.

Abstract: A combine has a forward vertically adjustable header or attachment for removing crop material from the field. The header is pivotally mounted on the combine frame and is vertically adjusted by varying the length of a hydraulic cylinder that has one end attached to the header and its other end attached to the combine frame by a pivot pin that includes a force sensor that generates an electric signal proportional to the weight of the header supported by the cylinder. The electric signal provides an input to a control system that controls the flow of hydraulic fluid to and from the hydraulic cylinder.

Abstract: A tractor-supported lawn mower which has raising and lowering controls for automatically raising the mowers to a predetermined elevation and for automatically lowering the mowers to the ground, both raising and lowering functions being effective in response to minimal operator manual control.

Abstract: A steering probe for controlling the steering of an agricultural vehicle along a path corresponding to a crop row includes a yoke pivotally mounted to the vehicle and having arms extending downwardly on opposite sides of the crop row. The yoke is pivotally mounted adjacent its upper end for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis. A sensor is connected to the probe adjacent its pivotal mounting to the vehicle, and senses the rotational position of the yoke. The lower ends of the yoke engage the opposite sides of the crop row, and the yoke pivots from its neutral position about the pivotal axis whenever the vehicle becomes misaligned with the crop row. The sensor senses the rotation of the yoke and causes the vehicle to be steered to compensate for the misalignment with the crop row.