AGCO CORPORATION Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20160021813 | Vehicle Guidance SYSTEM - In one embodiment, a method comprising receiving input corresponding to a first contour wayline to enable auto-steer traversal by a vehicle over a field; generating a plurality of contour waylines based on the first contour wayline; identifying a non-drivable section among the plurality of contour waylines, the identifying based on information corresponding to a time for the vehicle to reach a minimum turning radius and the minimum turning radius; and generating an alternative contour wayline section for the identified non-drivable section. | 01-28-2016 |
20150348419 | METHOD OF ASSIGNING PLANNED PATHS TO MULTIPLE MACHINES TO COOPERATIVELY COVER AREA - A method includes providing proximally in time over a wireless medium a first plurality of different just-in-time wayline segments for a given field to a plurality of agricultural machines, respectively, at least one of the different just-in-time wayline segments separated from another of the different just-in-time wayline segments by a length greater than one of the plurality of agricultural machines. Status updates are received from the plurality of agricultural machines and responsive to the status updates, a second plurality of different just-in-time wayline segments for the field to at least a portion of the plurality of agricultural machines are provided over the wireless medium. | 12-03-2015 |
20150334922 | AIR DUCT SHUTOFF - In one embodiment, a method comprising drawing outdoor air past one or more screens of a combine harvester by generating air flow; circulating the air flow through one or more ducts and into a cleaning system of the combine harvester; closing a baffle in each of the one or more ducts; and responsive to the closing, discharging the air flow past the one or more screens. | 11-26-2015 |
20150313081 | Dual Cam Controlled Reel Tines - A dual-cam linkage system controls the orientation of tines on a reel of a crop harvesting header. The dual-cam linkage system includes a stationary, substantially circular first cam track that has a rotational center that is offset from the rotational axis of the reel. A second cam track is located in a support plate on which a tine-supporting member is mounted. The dual-cam linkage system also includes a pivoting linkage having a crank, an arm. The crank has a first end fixedly attached to the tine-supporting member. The arm has an outer end attached to a second end of the crank. The first cam follower is attached at an inner end of the arm and engages the first cam track. The second cam follower is attached to the arm at a position between the first cam follower and the crank and engages the second cam track. | 11-05-2015 |
20150305245 | SQUARE BALE EJECTOR SYSTEM - A bale ejecting mechanism includes a shuttle shiftable toward and away from the open end in repetitive ejection and retraction strokes. The shuttle has a series of projections yieldably biased to an extended position projecting into the bale case for engaging and moving a bale during an ejection stroke of the shuttle. The projections are shiftable into a retracted position disposed outside of the bale case to avoid engaging and moving a bale during an ejection stroke. The mechanism includes a selector member movable with the shuttle during ejection and retraction strokes of the shuttle but shiftable relative to the shuttle to any one of a number of selectable retaining positions in which the selector member retains selected ones of the projections in the retracted position. An adjustable shifter member is disposable in a plurality of selectable operating positions corresponding to the selectable retaining positions of the selector member. | 10-29-2015 |
20150272105 | Real Time Sensing of Pests - A real time sensing method, comprising transporting a portable sensing system on a field comprising crops; receiving at an air intake system of the portable sensing system one or more organic chemical compounds emitted from the crops in the field; detecting by the portable sensing system in real time a chemical of interest from the received one or more organic compounds; and providing by the sensing system feedback of the detection. | 10-01-2015 |
20150258556 | RECLAMATION SYSTEM FOR A CONTROLLED DROPLET APPLICATOR - A controlled droplet applicator (CDA) reclamation method includes deflecting a portion of fluid dispersed from a rotating cup of a CDA nozzle, the deflection causing a change from a circular spray pattern to a truncated spray pattern. The deflected fluid portion is collected in a reclamation shroud encircling a lip of the cup. | 09-17-2015 |
20150258555 | Rotatable Shroud for Directional Control of Application Area - A controlled droplet application (CDA) nozzle has a CDA nozzle cone having a first axis of rotation in a first position and, after adjustment, a second axis of rotation in a second position orthogonal to the first. A rotationally adjustable directional shroud surrounds at least a portion of the cone, the directional shroud blocking at least a portion of a lip of the cone regardless of whether the cone is positioned in the first or second axis of rotation. | 09-17-2015 |
20150251198 | Horizontally Rotating Controlled Droplet Application - A controlled droplet application (CDA) nozzle including a cone having plural ridges disposed longitudinally on an interior surface of the cone; and a fin assembly connected to the interior surface, the fin assembly comprising a plurality of fins extending between a central portion of the cone and the interior surface, wherein adjacent pairs of the plurality of fins and the interior surface at least partially define a respective compartment for the collection of a defined volume of fluid. | 09-10-2015 |
20150241879 | SENSOR ENHANCED FENCEROW MANAGEMENT - An agricultural machine has an auto guidance system operative to direct the agricultural machine along a predetermined path. At least one sensor is attached to the agricultural machine, the at least one sensor configured to indicate the presence of an obstruction in the predetermined path. The agricultural machine further includes a processor operatively coupled to the auto guidance system. The processor receives an output from the at least one sensor indicating the presence of the obstruction in the predetermined path and sends a signal to the auto guidance system, the signal operative to cause the auto guidance system to change an operating characteristic of the agricultural machine from a first state to a second state in response to the detected obstruction. | 08-27-2015 |
20150224521 | CONTROLLED DROPLET APPLICATION WITH DIRECTIONAL SHROUD FOR LIMITING APPLICATION AREA - A controlled droplet application (CDA) nozzle has a cone having plural ridges disposed longitudinally on an interior surface of the cone. The cone has a circumferential lip having grooves defined by the plural ridges, and a directional shroud having one or more arcs disposed on the surface of the shroud that cover all but a portion of the lip. | 08-13-2015 |
20150156966 | Helical Acting Snap Roll Flutes for Corn Header - A helical-acting snap roll for a harvesting header having straight flutes which are free of a formed twist. The snap roll includes a plurality of elongated straight flutes that extend substantially the entire length of the snap roll but that are parallel misaligned with a central axis of rotation of the snap roll. A pair of opposing and counter-rotating snap rolls of the present invention chops and pulls crop stalks passing therebetween downward toward the ground while also creating a helical action such that the crop stalks are conveyed rearward. In one embodiment, at least a pair of straight portions acting as flutes are partially parallel aligned with one another along the length and one side of each snap roll. | 06-11-2015 |
20150148077 | DYNAMIC COOPERATIVE GEOFENCE - A system includes one or more location determining devices for determining the locations of a plurality of mobile objects and one or more computing devices. The one or more computing devices are operable to identify the geographic locations of the objects using data generated by the one or more location determining devices and generate a single geofence corresponding to the geographic locations of the objects, wherein the objects associated with the geofence form a geofence group. The one or more computing devices are further operable to identify a change in the geographic location of at least one of the objects and change the geofence to reflect the change in the geographic location of the at least one object. The one or more computing devices are further operable to, after creating the geofence, include additional objects in the geofence group and remove objects from the geofence group according to inclusion rules. | 05-28-2015 |
20150145720 | COARSE ATTITUDE DETERMINATION FROM GNSS ANTENNA GAIN PROFILING - Systems and methods provide coarse attitude determination without inertial sensor input. An attitude determination module can be configured to compare receiver-calculated values with expected values based on an antenna gain pattern. The differences between calculated and expected values can be used to generate an attitude plane. Platform attitude can be determined from the inclination of the attitude plane with respect to a horizontal reference plane. By way of example, platform roll and pitch can be determined for a receiver unit mounted on an agricultural vehicle. The roll and pitch values provided by the ADM can be used to improve the accuracy of receiver-calculated geo-positions. | 05-28-2015 |
20150141097 | Adjustable Vane in Combine Harvester - A processing system for a combine harvester having a rotor housing that receives a rotor. A cover directs crop material through the rotor housing. At least one adjustable vane guides the crop material. The vane has a cover-facing proximal edge adjacent the cover and an edge projecting toward the rotor. A leading end of the vane is connected with a first pivot connection and the vane is connected to the cover along its inner edge with a second pivot connection. A line drawn through the pivot connections intersects a plane perpendicular to an axis of the cover and forms an angle with the plane of between 5 and 15 degrees. The vane pivots with respect to the cover about an axis along the line to adjust a tilt angle of the vane. Also, tilting the vane adjusts an angle of the distal edge of the vane relative the plane. | 05-21-2015 |
20150102593 | VEHICLE WITH CHASSIS HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT - A machine includes a chassis, a plurality of ground engaging elements supporting the chassis above a ground surface, a motor for driving at least one of the ground engaging elements and a plurality of assemblies supporting the chassis on the ground engaging elements. Each of the assemblies is configured to selectively raise and lower the chassis relative to the ground surface and includes a first attachment component for attaching the assembly to one of the ground engaging elements, a second attachment component for attaching the assembly to the chassis, an adjustment component for shifting the first attachment component between a plurality of operating positions relative to the second attachment component. A control system allows an operator to remotely control the adjustment components of each of the assemblies. | 04-16-2015 |
20150102572 | MACHINE SUSPENSION AND HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT WITH ROTARY ACTUATOR - An assembly for supporting a vehicle chassis on a wheel of the vehicle includes a wheel attachment component for attaching the assembly to the wheel, a chassis attachment component for attaching the assembly to the chassis, and a suspension component for regulating motion transfer between the wheel attachment component and the chassis attachment component. The chassis attachment component includes a hydraulic rotary actuator for attaching to the vehicle chassis and selectively pivoting the assembly relative to the chassis. | 04-16-2015 |
20150102571 | MACHINE SUSPENSION AND HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT - An assembly for supporting a vehicle chassis on a wheel of the vehicle includes a frame pivotably connected to the vehicle chassis at a connection location and a wheel attachment component slidingly coupled with the frame. The wheel attachment component is positioned on a first side of the connection location and is configured to pivot in unison with the frame and to move between a plurality of operating positions relative to the frame. A suspension component is positioned on a second side of the connection location opposite the attachment component and is operably interposed between the frame and the attachment component for regulating motion transfer between the frame and the attachment component, the suspension component. An adjustment actuator is rigidly coupled with the frame and is configured to shift the attachment component between any of the plurality of operating positions relative to the frame. | 04-16-2015 |
20150102570 | MACHINE SUSPENSION AND HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT - An assembly for supporting a vehicle chassis on a ground engaging element of the vehicle includes a first attachment component for attaching the assembly to the ground engaging element, a second attachment component for attaching the assembly to the chassis and an adjustment component for shifting the first attachment component between a plurality of operating positions relative to the second attachment component. A suspension component is operably interposed between the first attachment component and the second attachment component is configured to regulate motion transfer between the first attachment component and the second attachment component. The suspension component functions independently of the operating position. A locking mechanism mechanically locks the assembly into any of the plurality of operating positions. | 04-16-2015 |
20150102569 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF ADJUSTING THE CHASSIS HEIGHT OF A MACHINE - A vehicle includes a chassis, a plurality of ground engaging elements supporting the chassis above a ground surface, a motor for driving at least one of the ground engaging elements to thereby propel the machine along the ground surface, and a chassis height adjustment system for selectively raising and lowering the chassis relative to the ground surface. A track width adjustment system is configured to shift the position of at least one of the ground engaging elements laterally relative to the chassis and a controller is configured to automatically actuate the track width adjustment system when the chassis height adjustment system is actuated to preserve a constant track width as the chassis moves up and down relative to the ground surface. | 04-16-2015 |
20150102568 | MACHINE SUSPENSION AND HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT - An assembly for supporting a vehicle chassis on a wheel of the vehicle includes a wheel attachment component for attaching the assembly to the wheel, a chassis attachment component for attaching the assembly to the vehicle chassis, and a suspension component. At least one adjustment element is coupled with the chassis attachment component and with a first portion of the suspension component, and is configured to shift the first portion of the suspension element between a plurality of operating positions relative to the chassis attachment component. A single strut bar is rigidly coupled with the wheel attachment component and with a second portion of the suspension component, and is configured to pivot relative to the chassis attachment component. The suspension component is configured to regulate motion transfer between the wheel attachment component and the chassis attachment component. | 04-16-2015 |
20150096735 | CONTROLLER FOR WORK VEHICLE COOLING PACKAGE - A controller and method for operating an air mover for a cooling system of a work vehicle. In one embodiment, engine coolant, hydraulic oil and charge air temperature data is measured. The temperature data is reconciled by using the largest required fan speed as the set point speed for cooling the heat exchangers with airflow. An air mover is operated at the set point speed to generate airflow across each of the heat exchangers. | 04-09-2015 |
20150029011 | ARTICULATED MACHINE PROXIMITY SYSTEM - In one embodiment, a towed implement proximity system, the system comprising: a first device comprising a transceiver, the first device configured to: transmit a signal; receive a first signal at a first angle and a second signal at a second angle responsive to the transmitted signal, the first and second signals comprising first information and second information, respectively, the first and second information each corresponding to respective positional information; and a controller coupled to the first device, the controller configured to determine a relative position in three axes between a first machine and a second machine based on the first and second information. | 01-29-2015 |
20150008005 | CLOSING WHEEL EQUALIZER - A furrow closing apparatus is used with a planter that opens a furrow and deposits seeds as the planter moves in a forward direction over the ground. The furrow closing apparatus includes a frame attached to the planter and first and second closing wheels rotatably mounted on respective first and second closing wheel axles. A pivot axle extends from the frame generally transverse to the direction of travel of the planter and an equalizer bracket pivotably connected to the pivot axle. The equalizer bracket receives the first closing wheel axle in a position aft of the pivot axle and receives the second closing wheel axle in a position forward of the pivot axle such that the equalizer bracket pivots as the closing wheels traverse uneven ground to cause the first closing wheel and the second closing wheel to apply a substantially equal force in closing the furrow. | 01-08-2015 |
20150007545 | FLEXIBLE DRAPER HEADER WITH FEEDER HOUSE ADAPTER AND CENTER DECK - A harvesting machine includes a harvesting header with an adapter, a header frame, a cutterbar assembly attached to the header frame along the length thereof and configured to cut a crop, and a draper assembly positioned behind the cutterbar assembly. The draper assembly includes a fore-and-aft draper that delivers crop material to a feeder house of the harvesting machine. The fore-and-aft draper includes a draper frame swingably supported on the header frame at a pivot to project forwardly therefrom and a draper belt supported on the draper frame to present a rearwardly moving run for conveying the crop rearwardly. | 01-08-2015 |
20140360149 | FORE AND AFT TILT FOR CORN HEADER - A harvesting header and feederhouse for use with a crop harvesting machine has a feederhouse interface at a distal end of the feederhouse and a header frame providing structural support for the harvesting header. The header frame has a top beam, a bottom beam, and first and second vertical main structures connecting the top and bottom beams. The feederhouse interface and the vertical main structures of the header frame are pivotably connected to enable the header frame to pivot with respect to the feederhouse interface. | 12-11-2014 |
20140357332 | GEOMETRY FOR CONTROLLING AIR VELOCITY IN A COMBINE HARVESTER - A combine harvester has a threshing mechanism for threshing grain and cleaning apparatus for removing chaff from the threshed grain. The threshing mechanism includes a plurality of concaves and the cleaning apparatus includes and upper chaffer and a lower sieve. The combine harvester also has a blower having a rotating impeller and a blower housing. The blower housing has a first duct that directs a first airstream onto the upper chaffer and lower sieve, and a second duct that directs a second airstream along the underside of the concaves. An inlet to the second duct has a cross-sectional area that is larger than the cross-sectional area of an outlet of the second duct. The blower has a divider plate that separates high-velocity air from the impeller and directs the high-velocity air to either the first duct or the second duct. | 12-04-2014 |
20140345481 | VARIABLE SPEED ROUND BALE CHAMBER CONTROL WITH ACCUMULATOR SENSOR - A sensor detects a characteristic of accumulated crop material and a controller manipulates the speed of a baling chamber in response thereto. The speed of a baling chamber of a variable speed baler is manipulated in response to a characteristic of an accumulated crop material. For example, the height of accumulated crop material in an accumulation area may be detected and the speed of the baling chamber manipulated in response thereto. The rate of growth of the bale may also be determined and used in manipulating the speed of the baling chamber. | 11-27-2014 |
20140335923 | METHOD FOR EVEN CROP DISTRIBUTION - A combine harvester has a thresher rotor assembly having a thresher rotor and a grate. At least one distribution device is disposed beneath the thresher rotor and is controllable to deflect grain falling from the thresher rotor assembly in a transverse direction. The distribution device may take the form of stub augers, pivoting plates or sliding plates. A cleaning shoe has a pan upon which grain falling from the thresher rotor assembly impacts. Plural sensors are disposed adjacent the pan and are each arranged to generate a signal indicative of crop load on the pan, wherein the distribution device is controlled automatically in response to the generated load signals. | 11-13-2014 |
20140326149 | CROP CONTACTING ROLLER DRIVEN BY BALE FORMING BELTS - In an example embodiment, a crop contacting roller is provided that is driven indirectly by bale forming belts of a baler. A first roller may be driven by contact with a bale forming belt and a crop contacting roller may be rotatably coupled to the first roller so that rotation of the first roller causes rotation of the crop contacting roller. The crop contacting baler may be positioned in various positions such as to contact a bale in a baling chamber of the baler or to contact incoming crop material at a throat of the baler. In one example, the crop contacting roller is rotatably coupled to a tailgate idler roll. In another example, the crop contacting roller is rotatably coupled to a bale density roll. | 11-06-2014 |
20140325951 | FLEXIBLE DRAPER AND CUTTER BAR HAVING SHIFTABLE CROP DIVIDER WITH DEFLECTOR - A harvesting machine includes a harvesting header with a header frame, a cutterbar assembly attached to the header frame along the length thereof and configured to cut a crop, and a draper assembly positioned behind the cutterbar assembly and operable to receive severed crop material from the cutterbar assembly. The draper assembly includes a center draper that delivers crop material to a feeder house of the harvesting machine and oppositely spaced side drapers that deliver crop material to the center draper. The harvesting header is operable to flex and thereby follow an uneven terrain. | 11-06-2014 |
20140312055 | Integral Seed Meter Drive Motor - A metering device ( | 10-23-2014 |
20140274237 | Double-Walled Plastic Grain Bin With Integrated Support Structure - In one embodiment, a combine harvester comprising a chassis; and a double-walled, plastic grain storage bin coupled to the chassis, the bin comprising an integrated support structure disposed on an interior surface of the bin that contacts crop material processed by the combine harvester. | 09-18-2014 |
20140274235 | Grain Bin Constructed of Plastic Panels - In one embodiment, a method of forming a grain storage bin for a combine harvester, the method comprising forming, in a plastic molding process, plural double-walled plastic panels of the grain storage bin; and coupling the plural double-walled plastic panels in an interlocking arrangement. | 09-18-2014 |
20140274234 | Roto-Molded Plastic Grain Bin - In one embodiment, a combine harvester comprising a chassis; and a grain storage bin coupled to the chassis, the bin comprising a single-walled, plastic storage container for the storage of crop material processed by the combine harvester. | 09-18-2014 |
20140274233 | Double-Walled Plastic Grain Bin With Integrated Fluid Storage Between Walls - In one embodiment, a combine harvester comprising a chassis; and a double-walled, plastic grain storage bin coupled to the chassis, the bin configured to store crop material processed by the combine harvester. | 09-18-2014 |
20140262585 | System and Method for Operating Vehicle Drive Wheels - An agricultural machine, such as a combine harvester, includes a chassis supported by a pair of front wheels and a pair of steerable rear wheels, a first drive mechanism for driving at least one of the front wheels to move the chassis at a designated forward speed, and a second drive mechanism configured to operate independently of the first drive mechanism and to drive at least one of the rear wheels. A controller is configured to actuate the second drive mechanism in response to a user command to drive the at least one rear wheel to apply forward pressure on the chassis regardless of the forward speed. The controller may actuate the second drive mechanism to apply a maximum forward torque to the at least one rear wheel to thereby apply the forward pressure to the chassis. | 09-18-2014 |
20140260170 | SPRING TINE WITH INTEGRATED RELIEF SECTION - A spring tine for use on the pickup assemblies of crop baling machines and the like comprises a single, continuous strand of resilient material formed into a base of multiple, side-by-side, helical coils and an elongated leg projecting outwardly from the base. The leg is formed to present a relief notch in an inner section of the leg adjacent the base for avoiding interference with a support member for the tine when the tine springs back and forth during operation. | 09-18-2014 |
20140260169 | CHOPPER ATTACHMENT TO IMPROVE CONDITIONING OF BIO-MASS TYPE CROPS - A harvesting header includes a cutter bed having a plurality of cutting elements arranged transverse to the header and a crop chopping and conditioning region having a crop chopping device and a crop conditioning device. The crop chopping device is configured to chop crop cut by the cutter bed into smaller lengths and the crop conditioning device is configured to crimp the crop to aid in drying. The first chopping roller has a tubular, cylindrically-shaped body and a plurality of parallel knife-mounting lugs extending radially outward along substantially the full length of the body. A plurality of chopping knives are attached to the knife-mounting lugs and arranged around the body, each chopping knife having a length that is shorter than the length of the knife-mounting lug to which it is attached such that each chopping knife covers only a portion of the lateral length of the first chopping roller. | 09-18-2014 |
20140260158 | HARVESTER WITH EXTENDABLE REAR AXLE - A combine harvester has a rear axle that can be extended on-the-go to enable its ground wheels to be turned more sharply during steering operations without striking nearby portions of the chassis. Extension may be carried out manually by the driver or automatically in response to a predetermined input, such as the commencement of a turn by the harvester. In one embodiment the rear ground wheels are powered, such as by a single hydraulic or electric motor, while in another embodiment they are non-powered. | 09-18-2014 |
20140260152 | HARVESTER WITH SUSPENDED REAR AXLE - A combine harvester has a suspension axle assembly supporting the rear end of the chassis of the harvester. Side frames of the chassis direct loading down to a transverse axle through a pair of suspension devices interposed between the side frames and the axle. The suspension devices are resilient and expandable to cushion the chassis and to provide changes in the fore-and-aft attitude of the combine. The suspension devices may be independently operated to tilt the axle relative to the chassis, and provision is made for shifting the axle longitudinally, side-to-side of the chassis to facilitate turning of the steerable rear ground wheels. | 09-18-2014 |
20140259897 | Infinitely Variable Planting or Spraying Device - In one embodiment, an applicator system comprising a beam; an applicator transducer; an applicator hose system coupled to the beam and the applicator transducer, the applicator hose system comprising: a trolley system configured to move bi-directionally along the beam based on a cable-pulling operation of the applicator transducer; a hose carrier configured to carry at least a portion of a hose; and an applicator that is coupled to one end of the hose carried by the hose carrier and operably coupled to the trolley system. | 09-18-2014 |
20140183276 | APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING TANK LEVEL ON A SLOPE - A crop sprayer used to deliver chemicals to agricultural crops in a field includes a chassis, a chemical storage tank mounted on chassis used to store fluid to be sprayed on the field, and apparatus for gauging an amount of fluid in the tank. The tank has two planes of symmetry perpendicular to one another forming a central axis created by the intersection of the planes of symmetry The apparatus includes a sight gauge, an inclinometer, and a multiplier scale. The inclinometer is mounted to the tank on a plane created by the sight gauge and the central axis of the tank created by the intersection of the planes of symmetry. | 07-03-2014 |
20140179382 | COMBINE CLEANING SYSTEM WITHOUT A SHAKING SIEVE - A method comprising rotating a rotor to expel, radially, a mixture of grain and material other than grain (MOG) from the rotor and past a rotor cage encircling the rotor; causing an air flow in a substantially arcuate channel defined by the rotor cage, a first cover assembly covering a substantial portion of the rotor cage, and a passive sieve, to entrain a first portion of the MOG; capturing a first portion of the grain with the first cover assembly and plural vanes located along the length and on the interior surface of the first cover assembly, the captured grain sliding by gravity along the vanes to the passive sieve, the captured grain comprising threshed and unthreshed portions; enabling the passage of the captured grain through the passive sieve and into a second channel within which a grain conveying assembly is disposed; conveying with the grain conveying assembly the passed, unthreshed portion rearwardly; and conveying with the grain conveying assembly the passed, threshed portion forwardly. | 06-26-2014 |
20140174304 | BALER UNLOADING RAMP RETURN MECHANISM - A round baler having a mobile chassis, a bale-forming chamber supported on the chassis and including a tailgate that can be raised for discharging a bale from the chamber and a bale discharge ramp. A combination pivot and spring assembly attaches the ramp to the chassis below the chamber for movement of the ramp from a raised, standby position to a lowered, unloading position for guiding a bale down to the ground as the bale leaves the chamber. The combination pivot and spring assembly includes an internal spring for yieldably maintaining the ramp in its raised position until a bale exiting the chamber engages the ramp and overcomes the force of the spring to swing the ramp down to its lowered position. | 06-26-2014 |
20140172248 | ZONAL OPERATOR PRESENCE DETECTION - A method for detecting zonal operator presence includes receiving a sensor output from a sensor. The sensor may be located on an agricultural machine and the sensor output indicates an operating state of the agricultural machine. Once the sensor output has been received, the operating state of the agricultural machine is determined based on the sensor output. The operating state includes an operator being located within a work area of the agricultural machine. The work area is divided into a plurality of zones. An operating parameter is adjusted based on the operating state. | 06-19-2014 |
20140172225 | SPEED CONTROL IN AGRICULTURAL VEHICLE GUIDANCE SYSTEMS - Speed control in agricultural vehicle guidance systems may be provided. First, an auto-guidance processor may be loaded with a wayline and topographical data of an area where an agricultural vehicle may be located. A drive component coupled to the auto-guidance processor may be engaged to cause the agricultural vehicle to traverse the wayline. The wayline may define a path for the agricultural vehicle to travel within the area. The agricultural vehicle's speed may be altered as the agricultural machine traverses the wayline based upon the topographical data. | 06-19-2014 |
20140172224 | SPEED CONTROL IN AGRICULTURAL VEHICLE GUIDANCE SYSTEMS - Speed control in agricultural vehicle guidance systems may be provided. First, an auto-guidance processor may be loaded with a wayline. A drive component coupled to the auto-guidance processor may be engaged to cause the agricultural vehicle to traverse the wayline. The wayline may define a path for the agricultural vehicle to travel within an area. The auto-guidance processor may receive inclination data. The agricultural vehicle's speed may be altered as the agricultural machine traverses the wayline based upon the inclination data. | 06-19-2014 |
20140172222 | SPEED CONTROL IN AGRICULTURAL VEHICLE GUIDANCE SYSTEMS - Speed control in agricultural vehicle guidance systems may be provided. First, an auto-guidance processor may load a wayline and topographical data of an area where an agricultural vehicle may be located. A drive component coupled to the auto-guidance processor may be engaged to cause the agricultural vehicle to traverse the wayline at a speed. The wayline may define a path for the agricultural vehicle to travel within the area. The speed may be based upon the topographical data. The auto-guidance processor may receive inclination data. The agricultural vehicle's speed may be altered as the agricultural machine traverses the wayline based upon the inclination data. | 06-19-2014 |
20140165859 | SQUARE BALER HAVING FLYWHEEL PLANETARY DRIVE - A powered square baler is operable to be powered by a prime mover to form a bale by compressing loose material. The powered square baler broadly includes a chassis, a plunger assembly, a flywheel, and a planetary gear train. The chassis includes a baler frame that presents a baling chamber to receive the loose material. The plunger assembly includes a reciprocating plunger head slidably mounted relative to the baler frame and operable to reciprocate into and out of the chamber and apply a compressive force to the loose material. The flywheel is rotatably mounted on the chassis and is operable to be driven by the prime mover. The planetary gear train is drivingly attached to the flywheel and is drivingly attached relative to the plunger assembly to transmit power between the flywheel and the plunger assembly and thereby drive the plunger head. | 06-19-2014 |
20140165528 | Automatic Bale Forming Chamber Speed Based on Incoming Crop Mass - A bale forming control method comprising causing motion of one or more forming drives of a bale forming chamber of a baler; sensing an amount of the crop material before the crop material enters the bale forming chamber; and responsive to the sensed amount, adjusting a speed of forming a bale from the crop material in the bale forming chamber. | 06-19-2014 |
20140158002 | SQUARE BALER HAVING PLANETARY PLUNGER DRIVE - A powered square baler is operable to form a bale by compressing loose material. The powered square baler broadly includes a chassis, a plunger assembly, and a plunger drive. The chassis includes a baler frame that presents a baling chamber to receive the loose material. The plunger assembly includes a reciprocating plunger head and a pair of connecting arms attached to the plunger head. The reciprocating plunger head is slidably mounted relative to the frame and is operable to reciprocate into and out of the chamber and apply a compressive force to the loose material. The plunger drive includes a pair of planetary gear trains and a common drive shaft that powers both of the gear trains, with each gear train drivingly connected to a corresponding one of the connecting arms to cooperatively power the plunger assembly. | 06-12-2014 |
20140157748 | ADJUSTABLE CROP ACCUMULATING AND METERING DEVICE - An accumulating method comprising conveying crop material on a rotating first conveyor past a screed toward a baler while the baler is traversing a field, the screed configured in a raised position; and obstructing the flow of the crop material to the baler by lowering the screed while the first conveyor is rotating, the obstructing implemented while the baler continues traversing the field. | 06-12-2014 |
20140144119 | ROUND BALER ACCUMULATION AREA OF WIDTH GREATER THAN BALE CHAMBER - A continuous baling method comprising conveying crop material on a rotating conveyor toward a baler while the baler is traversing a field, the conveyor comprising a conveying surface having an entire crop material-carrying width of a first distance; narrowing the flow of the crop material to transition the crop material flow from the conveyor to the baler; and receiving the narrowed flow at an inlet to a baling chamber of the baler, the inlet comprising a width having a second distance smaller than the first distance. | 05-29-2014 |
20140137757 | AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT WITH POWER INPUT HAVING CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION - A crop baler has a plunger reciprocable through compression and retraction strokes for compressing charges of crop material into bales within the baler. The crop baler also includes a rotatable flywheel operably coupled with the plunger for transferring kinetic energy to the plunger during reciprocation of the plunger. An output shaft is operably coupled with the flywheel for rotating the flywheel and driving the plunger through its compression and retraction strokes and an input shaft is adapted to be coupled with a power takeoff shaft of a towing tractor for receiving driving power from the tractor. The crop baler also includes a continuously variable transmission operably coupled between the input and output shafts for adjusting the ratio of the angular velocities of the shafts in response to changes in the angular velocity of the flywheel while maintaining the input shaft at a substantially constant angular velocity. | 05-22-2014 |
20140128133 | HARVESTER HAVING CHAFFER WITH TILTABLE SECTION - An adjustable chaffer assembly is operable to be mounted in a chaffer housing of a harvester. The adjustable chaffer assembly includes forward and aft chaffer sections. The forward chaffer section includes a forward frame assembly and adjustable forward louvers shiftably mounted on the forward frame assembly. The aft chaffer section includes an aft frame assembly and adjustable aft louvers shiftably mounted on the aft frame assembly. The aft chaffer section is shiftably mounted relative to the forward chaffer section and is shiftable between a parallel condition where the frame assemblies are substantially parallel with each other and an oblique condition where the frame assemblies define an oblique angle. | 05-08-2014 |
20140110539 | PLUMBING MOUNT FOR AGRICULTURAL SPRAYER - A mount for supporting plumbing conduits on an agricultural sprayer includes a mounting base mountable on the boom arm at its proximal end and having a platform portion extending to a distal end. The platform portion has front and rear faces, and opposing side faces, the front face forming a base interface having a center groove running between two tracks. The tracks run from the distal end to a primary stop. One of the tracks has a secondary stop formed thereon located between the primary stop and the distal end of the mounting base. The plumbing mount also has at least one conduit bracket having a conduit retaining portion and a bracket interface configured to lock with the base interface. The bracket interface has a center tongue with skids on opposing sides. The conduit bracket is configured to engage the mounting base by interlocking the center tongue and center groove. | 04-24-2014 |
20140107884 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SWITCHING DISPLAY MODES IN AGRICULTURAL VEHICLES - A display system for an agricultural vehicle includes a display for displaying a representation of the vehicle's location in a field in which the vehicle is operating and a control device for receiving an indication of an operating state of the vehicle and for controlling a viewing mode of the display according to the operating state. | 04-17-2014 |
20140097239 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING 1D AND 2D BARCODES IN ELECTRICAL TROUBLESHOOTING AND SERVICE PARTS INFORMATION - Barcodes, such as QR codes are strategically placed on the work vehicle in a location representative of an electrical system. Scanning the QR code with a QR scanner, smart phone or other device will take a user to the schematic location for the system and/or a list of systems in the area. Schematic details may be provided by electrical means via OEM diagnostic tool, web site or reference to a printed manual and page number. Alternately, from the schematic a user could scan a code to point them to a location on the work vehicle for system or component. In addition to QR codes on the work vehicle, QR codes and 1 dimensional codes could also be placed on components like harnesses, sensors, modules and the like to provide schematic location and assist in component detail, part numbers and ordering. | 04-10-2014 |
20140090345 | FLEXIBLE DRAPER HEADER WITH RELATIVELY RIGID CENTER SECTION - A harvesting machine includes a harvesting header with a header frame, a flexible cutterbar assembly attached to the header frame along the length thereof and configured to cut a crop, and a draper assembly positioned behind the cutterbar assembly and operable to receive severed crop material from the cutterbar assembly. The draper assembly includes a fore-and-aft draper and side drapers, with at least part of the draper assembly being rigidly supported on the header frame. A center section of the cutterbar assembly is rigidified so as to be restricted from flexing, while the side sections of the cutterbar assembly flex and follow the changes in terrain. | 04-03-2014 |
20140087793 | AGGRESSIVE GRATE FOR COMBINE HARVESTER - A processing system for a combine harvester has a tubular rotor housing that concentrically receives a rotor used for threshing and separating crop materials. Concave and separator grate assemblies are arranged side-by-side axially along the processing system. Each grate assembly has laterally spaced apart side rails and a plurality of axial bars spanning the side rails. Each axial bar has a plurality of fingers extending therefrom toward an adjacent axial bar, the fingers defining apertures through which grain may pass. Each axial bar additionally has a plurality of disrupter walls placed between adjacent fingers, wherein an upper edge of each disrupter wall projects above the fingers on the same axial bar such that it is closer to the rotor to disrupt the axial flow of the crop material through the rotor housing. | 03-27-2014 |
20140048612 | Spreader Nozzle Light - An agricultural spreader has a hopper containing a granular material, a boom arm with a plurality of spreader nozzle assemblies configured to disperse the material and a pneumatic supply to propel the granular material from the hopper, and out the spreader nozzle assemblies. The spreader nozzle assemblies include a conduit defining a pathway through which the material is delivered and a spreader nozzle in fluid communication with the pathway. A piezoelectric material is located within the pathway. A light source is located proximate the spreader nozzle and in electrical communication with the piezoelectric material. The light source arranged to direct emitted light into a spread pattern produced by the spreader nozzle. | 02-20-2014 |
20140048611 | Spray Nozzle Light - An agricultural sprayer has a tank containing chemicals and a boom arm with a plurality of nozzle assemblies configured to disperse the chemicals in the tank. The nozzle assemblies include a conduit defining a fluid pathway and a spray nozzle in fluid communication with the fluid pathway. A turbine is operatively located within the fluid pathway and a light source is located proximate the spray nozzle and in electrical communication with the turbine. The light source is arranged to direct emitted light into a spray pattern produced by the spray nozzle. | 02-20-2014 |
20140041885 | AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT MARKER FOLDABLE ABOUT COMPOUND ANGLE - A foldable marker mounted to an agricultural implement includes pivotally connected inboard and outboard arms, with the outboard arm supporting a ground marker device. The arms are shiftable between folded and unfolded conditions, with the inboard arm defining a longitudinal axis extending along the length of the inboard arm and a transverse axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, with the inboard arm operable to be unfolded so that the transverse axis is substantially aligned with a forward direction in the unfolded condition. A pivot joint defines a pivot axis, with the pivot axis and transverse axis defining a lateral angle of at least twenty degrees and a vertical angle of at least twenty degrees. The outboard arm is in a laterally extended position when the arms are in the unfolded condition and in a laterally retracted position when the arms are in the folded condition. | 02-13-2014 |
20140041352 | Automatic Header Electronic Pitch Control - An agricultural machine has a harvesting header mounted on a feeder house for use in severing crops at desired elevation above a ground surface and feeding the crop to a thresher. The feeder house pivots about an axis to raise and lower the header, and the header pivots on the feeder house to adjust the fore/aft pitch angle of the header relative the feeder house so as to alter the angle of its cutterbed. A position sensor produces a signal that is representative of the rotational position of the feeder housing. A header pitch sensor produces signal that is representative of the fore/aft pitch angle of the header relative the feeder house. A header control system maintains a constant cutter bed angle as the header moves along an arc while being raised and lowered by adjusting the header pitch angle in response to movement of the feeder house. | 02-13-2014 |
20140039761 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR OPTIMIZING PERFORMANCE OF VEHICLE GUIDANCE SYSTEMS - A vehicle guidance system includes a location determining component for determining locations of the vehicle; a weight sensor for sensing a weight associated with the vehicle; a steering actuator for steering at least one wheel of the vehicle; and a computing device in communication with the location determining component, the weight sensor, and the steering actuator. The computing device receives cartographic data representative of a desired path for the vehicle, receives location information from the location determining component, controls operation of the steering actuator in order to guide the vehicle along the desired path, and adjusts a steering parameter at least partially based on the weight sensed by the weight sensor. | 02-06-2014 |
20130316770 | KNIFE-SHARPENING SYSTEM FOR AN INFEED CUTTER OF AN AGRICULTURAL IMPELMENT - An agricultural implement having an infeed cutter includes a plurality of knives and at least one knife-sharpening assembly. The knives are mounted on shiftable knife beds that swing into and out of an operating position. The beds are laterally slidable in opposite directions to provide access to the knives. The knife-sharpening assembly includes a hood and a plurality of sharpening stones mounted on a shaft that moves along a path corresponding to the shape of the cutting edges of the knives, meaning the sharpening stones preferably follow the substantially arcuate contour of the uppermost edges of the knives during the course of sharpening. The hood is configured to contain any sparks produced by the interaction between the stones and knives. The knife beds and sharpening assemblies are configured such that sufficient ground clearance for travel of the agricultural vehicle is available during sharpening of the knives. | 11-28-2013 |
20130298515 | FRONT AND REAR GROUND SENSING FOR HEADER PITCH CONTROL - A harvesting header and feederhouse for use with a crop harvesting machine has a feederhouse interface at a distal end of the feederhouse and a header frame. The header frame has a top beam, a bottom beam, and first and second vertical main structures connecting the top and bottom beams. The feederhouse interface and the vertical main structures of the header frame are pivotably connected to enable the header frame to pivot with respect to the feederhouse interface. At least one hydraulic ram connects between the feederhouse interface and the header frame to pivot the harvesting header on the feederhouse to a desired fore/aft pitch angle. A hydraulic supply provides hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic ram. Front and rear ground sensors provide an output that is used to control the fore/aft pitch angle of the harvesting header relative the ground by pivoting the header frame relative the feederhouse interface. | 11-14-2013 |
20130291511 | VARIABLE LENGTH HEADER TRUSS FOR HARVESTING HEADER - A harvesting header frame has a top beam, a bottom beam, and a diagonal truss member. A first end of said diagonal truss member is structurally connected to the top beam and an opposing second end of said diagonal truss member is structurally connected to the bottom beam. The header frame also has a diagonal truss length adjustment mechanism that adjusts the length of the diagonal truss member to selectively lengthen or shorten the effective length of the diagonal truss member to modify the concavity of the header frame after the top and bottom beams and diagonal truss member have been connected. In one embodiment, the diagonal truss length adjustment mechanism is a telescoping compression member. | 11-07-2013 |
20130255214 | Header Flotation System with Computer Control for a Self-Propelled Windrower - In one embodiment, a header control method for an agricultural machine, the method comprising receiving, through a graphical user interface, operator input corresponding to a first set point and a second set point for flotation pressures corresponding to independently controllable first and second header portions, respectively; and automatically causing first and second sets of hydraulic valves to increase or decrease pressure to the first or second header portions to meet or at least approximate the first and second set points, the first and second sets each comprising opposing-action hydraulic valves, the causing responsive to sensed pressure at respective first and second accumulators associated with respective first and second float cylinders. | 10-03-2013 |
20130248619 | APPLICATOR BOOM TILT FRAME - A tilting boom applicator broadly includes a laterally-extending applicator boom a lift, and a tilt frame. The lift includes upper and lower lift arms that support the applicator boom and are operable to vertically shift the applicator boom. The tilt frame interconnects the applicator boom and lift and includes a fixed section mounted to upper lift arms and a swinging section mounted to the applicator boom. The frame sections are attached to each other at a frame pivot joint that defines a longitudinal tilt axis, with the frame pivot joint permitting tilting movement of the applicator boom relative to the lift about the longitudinal tilt axis. Lower lift arms are directly attached to the swinging section to limit movement of the applicator boom relative to the lift about a lateral pitch axis while permitting the tilting movement. | 09-26-2013 |
20130247532 | TRANSFER PAN AND PICKUP ASSEMBLY - A pickup for a combine-towed baler. In one embodiment, crop material such as the residue or material other than grain (MOG) from the back of the combine is directly projected toward a target on a baler collection device. A tailboard with deflection panels may be used to alter the direction of the crop residue from the combine. The tongue of the baler is configured to not obstruct the crop material as the crop material is projected toward the baler. One or more knives of a chopper coupled to the combine may be configured to optimally project MOG toward the baler. Also, the stuffer chute of the baler may be configured to facilitate the flow of crop material such as MOG and therefore minimize obstructions. The crop material is transferred from the combine to the baler without the use of a conveyor. | 09-26-2013 |
20130247529 | FLEXIBLE DRAPER AND CUTTER BAR HAVING SHIFTABLE CROP DIVIDER WITH DEFLECTOR - A harvesting machine includes a harvesting header with a header frame, a cutterbar assembly attached to the header frame along the length thereof and configured to cut a crop, and a draper assembly positioned behind the cutterbar assembly and operable to receive severed crop material from the cutterbar assembly. The draper assembly includes a center draper that delivers crop material to a feeder house of the harvesting machine and oppositely spaced side drapers that deliver crop material to the center draper. The harvesting header is operable to flex and thereby follow an uneven terrain. | 09-26-2013 |
20130205737 | FLEXIBLE CUTTERBAR STOP STRUCTURE FOR DRAPER HEADER - A harvesting header includes a header frame, a flexible cutterbar assembly attached to the header frame, a draper assembly supported behind the cutterbar assembly for conveying severed crop materials received from the cutterbar assembly, and a plurality of laterally spaced apart support arms attached to and cooperatively supporting the flexible cutterbar assembly, with each support arm being pivotal about a lateral axis. The header further includes stop structure corresponding with each of the support arms, with the stop structure located forwardly of the lateral axis and defining a limited range of angular support arm movement. | 08-15-2013 |
20130196724 | TRANSLATING GRAIN BIN EXTENSIONS FOR AGRICULTURAL HARVESTING MACHINE - A grain bin located atop a harvester includes upstanding walls having a substantially continuous upper edge defining an opening. A grain bin extension is deployable between extended and refracted positions to expand the capacity of the grain bin. The extension includes extension panels and a cap overlaying the opening. The cap is supported by a cap frame that is also deployable between extended and refracted positions. An extension deployment apparatus raises and lowers the extension panels. Extension deployment mechanisms located at opposing corners of the grain bin control the deployment of adjacent extension panels. Each extension deployment mechanism has a first rack and a trunion to drive extension panels in a vertical direction and pivot the panels in an outward direction and a second rack mounted to the trunion to drive the cap frame in a vertical direction, and a dive gear between the first and second racks. | 08-01-2013 |
20130192855 | Interlocking Basket for Strip Tillage Machine - A strip tillage implement for movement over a crop berm has a frame configured to carry a coulter, a row cleaner, a shank and closing discs. The implement includes a basket assembly located behind the closing discs having a downwardly and rearwardly directed basket drawbar that forks into left and right support arms. The basket assembly includes a left basket half section rotatably attached to the left support arm and a right basket half section rotatably attached to the right support arm of the basket drawbar in cantilever fashion. Each of the basket half sections includes a support plate and a plurality of clod-breaking tines spaced about the periphery of the plate. Each plate is substantially perpendicular to the axis of its respective support arms such that the two plates form an upwardly diverging angle with the drawbar acting between the basket half sections to clean residue collected between the half sections. | 08-01-2013 |
20130182865 | ACOUSTIC FAULT DETECTION OF MECHANICAL SYSTEMS WITH ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION - An active noise cancellation fault detector (NCFD) is presented that is configured to cancel normal machine noise in an operator cabin, while allowing noise associated with a machine failure mode to remain so that an operator can hear when a machine component is beginning to fail or is in a failure mode. An NCFD can generate a model waveform of normal noise scaled to machine operating parameters. The model waveform can be inverted and adjusted in gain and phase to provide a cancellation waveform. The invention can be configured to determine operator location within a machine cab so that cancellation signals can be configured with the proper phases to destructively interfere with normal machine noise within a quiet zone or noise suppression envelope around an operator. Noise within the quiet zone can be detected and compared to various fault waveforms to determine whether a machine component is beginning to fail. | 07-18-2013 |
20130173116 | AUTOMATIC TRANSITION CONTROL OF HITCH MODES - In one embodiment, a control method for a multi-mode steerable 3-point hitch coupled to a work machine, the hitch comprising a pivotal hitch frame and a hitch support structure affixed to a chassis of the work machine, the hitch frame coupled to first and second draft arms and the hitch support structure coupled to a pair of steering cylinders that are coupled to the hitch frame, the control method comprising: receiving a signal corresponding to one or more parameters; and responsive to the one or more parameters reaching or exceeding a respective threshold value, automatically causing the plural steering cylinders to switch between the non-articulated mode and the multi-mode, the multi-mode including articulation and draft sway motion of the hitch. | 07-04-2013 |
20130170942 | Multiple Fan Blade Angles in a Single Crossflow Fan - A fan may be provided. The fan may comprise a first plurality of vanes and a second plurality of vanes. The first plurality of vanes may be arranged substantially parallel to an axis of rotation and positioned along a first arc substantially centered on the axis of rotation. Vanes in the first plurality of vanes may be being positioned at a first angle relative to the first arc. The second plurality of vanes may be arranged substantially parallel to the axis of rotation and positioned along a second arc substantially centered on the axis of rotation. Vanes in the second plurality of vanes may be positioned at a second angle relative to the second arc. The first angle may be different than the second angle. | 07-04-2013 |
20130169785 | METHOD OF DETECTING AND IMPROVING OPERATOR SITUATIONAL AWARENESS ON AGRICULTURAL MACHINES - Methods, systems and apparatus are presented that can warn a machine operator of an object in a machine path when an operator is not looking in the machine travel direction. A situational awareness detector (SAD) can be configured to determine operator orientation and operator sight direction or field of view. A SAD can be configured to determine machine or implement travel path and whether an object of interest such as a boundary, pond, rock pile, etc. is positioned within the travel path. By comparing operator line of sight or field of view with machine and/or implement travel path, a SAD can determine operator awareness of the object in the travel path. If an operator is unaware of the object, an alert can be provided. If a determination is made that an operator is aware of an object, a system of the invention can refrain from providing an alert. | 07-04-2013 |
20130168113 | MULTI-MODE STEERABLE 3-POINT HITCH - In one embodiment, a multi-mode steerable 3-point hitch comprising: a pivotal hitch frame having a generally vertical pivot axis, the hitch frame coupled to first and second draft arms on each side of the hitch frame; and a hitch support structure affixed to a chassis, the hitch support structure coupled to a pair of opposable steering cylinders that are coupled to the hitch frame, the hitch frame and hitch support operably connected to enable concurrent rotation about the vertical pivot axis with draft arm sway. | 07-04-2013 |
20130167955 | Vented Fan Duct - A duct may be disclosed. The duct may comprise a first wall and a second wall. The first wall and the second wall in combination may define a passage, an inlet, and an outlet. The inlet and the outlet may be in fluid communication with the passage. The second wall may define at least one opening in fluid communication with the passage. | 07-04-2013 |
20130167934 | Adjusting Air Flow without Restricting a Fan - A duct may be disclosed. The duct may comprise a wall and a cover. The wall may define a passage, an inlet in fluid communication with the passage, an outlet in fluid communication with the passage, and an opening in fluid communication with the passage. The cover may be arranged to selectively block the opening. | 07-04-2013 |
20130167739 | STUFFER CHUTE FILL INDICATOR - In one embodiment, a stuffer chute assembly comprising: a duct defining a passageway, the duct having a lower inlet opening and an upper outlet opening, the duct comprising a lower surface with plural slots located proximal to the upper outlet; plural rotating devices arranged transversely across the duct, the plural rotating devices extending at least partially both through the plural slots and into the passageway, each of the plural rotating devices comprising plural fingers along the circumference of the rotating device to engage crop material in the duct; and a sensor coupled to at least one of the plural rotating devices, the sensor configured to sense a parameter corresponding to density of the crop material in the duct. | 07-04-2013 |
20130167501 | CAMLESS PICKUP WRAPPER - In one embodiment, a camless pickup assembly comprising a cam independent, rotatable reel having a plurality of tines affixed thereto and spaced apart from each other by a respective predefined first gap radially on the reel and spaced apart by a respective predefined second gap transversely across the reel; and a plurality of tine wrappers distributed transversely along the reel and occupying each of the respective second gaps, wherein a first of the plurality of tines is configured to extend past a plane of the tine wrapper surface according to a substantially constant length throughout a first arc of rotation and a second of the plurality of tines is configured to extend past the plane of the tine wrapper surface according to a gradually decreasing length throughout a second arc of rotation, the second of the plurality of tines spaced radially from the first of the plurality of tines by the predefined first gap. | 07-04-2013 |
20130167500 | OFFSET TINE ROWS OF A PICKUP ASSEMBLY - In one embodiment, a reel assembly for a pickup assembly of an agricultural machine, the reel assembly comprising: a rotatable shaft; a bulkhead rotatable with the shaft, the bulkhead comprising alternating tine occupying and non-tine occupying areas; a first row of tines extending from a first of the tine occupying areas according to a first orientation at a given moment in time; and a second row of tines offset from the first row, the second row of tines extending from the first of the tine occupying areas according to the first orientation at the given moment in time. | 07-04-2013 |
20130167499 | TINE PICKUP WITH NARROW TINE SPACING FOR A BALER - In one embodiment, a reel assembly for a pickup assembly of an agricultural machine, the reel assembly comprising: a rotatable bulkhead; plural rows of tines rotatable with the bulkhead; and a reel cover coupled to the bulkhead and comprising plural slots through which the tines extend. | 07-04-2013 |
20130167498 | AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT HAVING KNIFE LOAD RESPONSIVE INFEED CUTTER - An agricultural implement having an infeed cutter is operable to automatically accommodate large objects that pass through the infeed cutter and detect and counteract jams that occur or might otherwise occur in the infeed cutter. The implement includes a plurality of knives mounted on a vertically moveable knife bed. The bed is associated with a hydraulic load-sensing system that is operable to lower the bed if a load threshold has been reached and raise the bed when the load has decreased sufficiently. Each knife is also associated with a hydraulic load-sensing system that is operable to lower the respective knife if a load threshold has been reached and raise the respective knife when the load has decreased sufficiently. | 07-04-2013 |
20130166152 | Geographic Reference Detection and Performance Modification - Location information may be received and a location of a machine may be determined based on the location information. Once the location of the machine is determined, a performance characteristic of the machine may be modified based on the location of the machine. | 06-27-2013 |
20130166132 | Auto-Guidance - Auto-guidance may be provided. First, location information may be received and a location of a machine may be determined based on the location information. Once the location of the machine is determined, an auto-guidance data file may be loaded based on the determined location of the machine. | 06-27-2013 |
20130165193 | Discharge Shield - A rotor discharge shield may be disclosed. The rotor discharge shield may comprise a planar wall, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall. The planar wall may define an opening. The first sidewall may be located proximate the opening. The second sidewall may be located proximate the opening. The first sidewall and the second sidewall may define a passage having an inlet and an outlet. An actuator may be arranged to selectively pivot the first sidewall. | 06-27-2013 |
20130165192 | Dual Outlet Fan in Axial Flow Combine - A combine harvester has a threshing mechanism with a rotor and a plurality of concaves for threshing grain and cleaning apparatus for removing chaff from the threshed grain. The cleaning apparatus includes a rotor pan arranged below the concaves and a sieve arranged below the rotor pan. A fan is arranged to blow air into an inlet. A duct has a wall defining a passage in fluid communication with the inlet, a first exhaust and a second exhaust in fluid communication with the passage. The first exhaust is arranged to direct a first portion of airflow on the sieve and then up toward the underside of the rotor pan. The second exhaust is located above the rotor pan and arranged to direct a second portion of airflow between the top of the rotor pan and an underside of the concaves. | 06-27-2013 |
20130160420 | Tine Adjustment for a Header - An apparatus for adjusting tines of a header may be disclosed. The apparatus may comprise a reel lift arm, a reel comprising a plurality of tines, a tine adjustment ring, and an actuator. The reel may be operatively connected to the reel lift arm. The tine adjustment ring may be operatively connected to the reel and the plurality of tines. The actuator may be operatively connected to the reel lift arm and the tine adjustment ring. | 06-27-2013 |
20130160418 | Support for Reel or Auger with Single Piece Tube - A reel may be disclosed. The reel may comprise a bearing mount, a bearing, and a reel tube. The bearing mount may be connected to the bearing. The reel tube may comprise a midpoint. The reel tube may also be a continuous piece and may be supported proximate the midpoint by the bearing. | 06-27-2013 |
20130160417 | FLEXIBLE DRAPER HEAD PROVIDING REDUCED CROP RESIDUE ACCUMULATION - A harvesting header includes a header frame, a flexible cutterbar assembly, and a draper assembly. The cutterbar assembly is mounted to the header frame and includes a plurality of skids. The draper assembly includes a draper belt with upper and lower runs, and a run support panel is provided below the lower run. The run support panel is spaced from the skids to define a residue opening therebetween through which any crop residue falling onto the skids is permitted to pass. | 06-27-2013 |
20130160414 | Rotary Cutter-Style Crop Conditioning Header Having End-Mounted Rotary Shear - A rotary conditioning header has upright end panels that project forwardly from opposite ends of the rotary cutter bar. A top panel structure spans the end panels across their upper ends to define a crop receiving space between the end panels and beneath the top panel structure that is open at the front to define a mouth into the header. An upright rotary shear on at least one of the ends panels is located within the crop receiving space at the edge of the mouth but is exposed at the front such that its forwardmost cutting extremity is generally aligned with but underneath a transverse lean bar across the front edge of the top panel structure. The rotary shear severs and separates tangled crop stalks in the vicinity of the end panel to enable the stalks to be properly acted upon by the lean bar and received into the mouth. | 06-27-2013 |
20130158772 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SWITCHING DISPLAY MODES IN AGRICULTURAL VEHICLES - A display system for an agricultural vehicle includes a display for displaying a representation of the vehicle's location in a field in which the vehicle is operating and a control device for receiving an indication of an operating state of the vehicle and for controlling a viewing mode of the display according to the operating state. | 06-20-2013 |
20130157731 | Method for Measuring Air Efficiency and Efficacy in a Combine Harvester - The airflow through a harvesting machine is adjusted by calculating a G-factor at a first point on an upper chaffer to determine if it is greater than 1+n, where n represents a desired factor. A blower is adjusted to reduce an airstream if the G-factor is greater than 1+n. A MOG factor is calculated if the G-factor is less than 1+n. The blower is adjusted to increase the airstream if the MOG-factor is less than 1+x, where x represents a desired factor. A MOG-factor is calculated at a second point if the MOG-factor at said the point is greater than 1+x and the blower is adjusted to reduce the airstream if the MOG-factor at the second point is greater than 1+y, where y represents a desired factor or adjusted to increase the airstream if the MOG-factor at the second point is less than 1+y. | 06-20-2013 |
20130154236 | Drawbar Pin Retention Device - In an example embodiment, an automatic engaging drawbar pin retention device includes a biased locking plate configured to retain a drawbar pin within a drawbar bore. The locking plate may be movably coupled to a drawbar clevis between a pin-lock to at least partly cover the bore and prevent removal of the drawbar pin and a pin-unlock condition. | 06-20-2013 |
20130154222 | STEERABLE REAR AXLE SYSTEM FOR DUAL-PATH STEERED WINDROWER TRACTOR - A working vehicle has a castor wheel assembly selectively providing steering assist. A pivoting caster spindle coupled with a caster wheel and an engagement plate connected to the caster spindle in a fixed manner such that the engagement plate pivots with the caster spindle. A pivoting steering arm is rotatably connected to the caster spindle and a steering cylinder is connected to an outward end of the steering arm with a tie rod configured to pivot the steering arm. A keyed connecting mechanism selectively couples the steering arm with the engagement plate. In an engaged position, the keyed connecting mechanism couples the steering arm with the engagement plate such that the steering cylinder pivots the caster spindle and caster wheel. In a disengaged position, the steering arm is uncoupled with the engagement plate such that the caster spindle and caster wheel are free to pivot independent of the steering cylinder. | 06-20-2013 |
20130154219 | INDIVIDUALLY STEERED REAR AXLE FOR DUAL PATH STEERED VEHICLES - A caster wheel assembly selectively providing steering assist includes a pivoting shaft coupled with a caster wheel with an engagement lug connected to the shaft in a fixed manner. A steering arm selectively engages the engagement lug to couple the steering arm and engagement lug so that pivoting motion of the steering arm is transferred to the engagement lug. A turn assist cylinder connects to an outward end of the steering arm and an engagement mechanism acting upon the steering arm for engaging the steering arm with the engagement lug. When engaged, the steering arm is coupled with the engagement lug such that the turn assist cylinder pivots the shaft and caster wheel. When disengaged, the steering arm is uncoupled with the engagement lug such that the shaft and caster wheel are free to pivot independent of the turn assist cylinder. | 06-20-2013 |
20130152539 | HARVESTING HEADER WITH A FLEXIBLE CUTTERBAR AND TILT ARM FOR CUTTERBAR DRIVE - A harvesting machine includes a harvesting header with a header frame, a flexible cutterbar assembly attached to the header frame along the length thereof and configured to cut a crop, a plurality of laterally spaced apart support arms, a conveyor assembly, and a cutterbar drive. The support arms are pivotally coupled to the frame for swinging movement about a laterally extending axis so that the flexible cutterbar assembly is operable to flex along the length thereof in response to changes in terrain as the header is advanced. The cutterbar drive includes a drive element and a forward gearbox drivingly connected between the drive element and the cutterbar assembly. The forward gearbox is supported on an outer support arm. | 06-20-2013 |
20130152534 | SPECIFIC LOCATION DRY YIELD MEASUREMENT FOR FORAGE - Dry yield for baled forage crop materials may be obtained for specific cut locations in the field by allocating the overall average baled dry yield for the entire field to the specific cut locations in accordance with the cut yield at such locations. Information obtained from a position sensor and one or more crop volume sensors on the windrower or mower is later combined with information obtained from a weight sensor on the baler to arrive at a specific location dry yield report for the baled product. | 06-20-2013 |
20130149088 | Unloading Configuration for an Agricultural Grain Cart - A grain cart has a lower frame supported by an axle with a pair of wheels attached thereto and a grain storage hopper. The grain storage hopper includes a substantially vertical front wall, a substantially vertical rear wall, and left and right sidewalls. At least one trough extends along the bottom of the hopper and a sump is positioned below a central portion of the at least one trough, wherein the trough opens into the sump to permit the flow of grain from the trough into the sump. At least one horizontal auger, having a shaft and helical flighting, is rotatably secured in the at least one trough, wherein the flighting on one portion of the shaft is configured to move grain in a first direction toward the sump and the flighting on a second portion of the shaft is configured in a reverse orientation so as to move grain in an opposite direction toward the sump such that rotation of the shaft results in material at either end of the hopper moving toward the center of the hopper. The hopper also includes an unloading auger assembly extending from the sump to an upper corner of the hopper. | 06-13-2013 |
20130137492 | THROUGHPUT CONTROL ADJUSTABLE VANES ON AGRICULTURAL COMBINE HARVESTER - A threshing mechanism for a combine harvester has a cylindrical rotor for moving crop materials and a plurality of separator tines secured thereon for threshing crop material. A rotor chamber has a top casing forming an upper portion defining a volume of space between the rotor and the top casing. A plurality of crop transport vanes extend away from an inward surface of the top casing to direct the crop material generally helically along the chamber. The vanes have a rotor-facing edge at an outer end away from the inward surface of the top casing. The vanes are positionable between a base position and at least one extended position with respect to the rotor, wherein in the base position, the rotor-facing edge is positioned a greater distance from the rotor than when in the at least one extended position. | 05-30-2013 |
20130133303 | COMBINE HARVESTER DRAPER HEADER WITH PIVOTING STRUCTURE WITHIN SIDE DRAPER - A harvesting header includes a header frame, a flexible cutterbar assembly mounted to the header frame, a plurality of laterally spaced apart support arms, and a draper assembly. The support arms are attached to and cooperatively support the cutterbar assembly and are pivotally coupled to the frame for swinging movement about a laterally extending axis. The draper assembly includes a side draper carried on multiple ones of the support arms so as to flex with the cutterbar assembly. The draper assembly includes rollers and a roller frame that operably interconnects the interior support arm and a respective one of the rollers. | 05-30-2013 |
20130133302 | FLEXIBLE DRAPER HEADER HAVING CENTER DRAPER - A harvesting machine includes a harvesting header with a header frame, a flexible cutterbar assembly attached to the header frame along the length thereof and configured to cut a crop, and a conveyor assembly positioned behind the cutterbar assembly and operable to receive severed crop material from the cutterbar assembly. The conveyor assembly includes a fore-and-aft draper with a draper frame swingably supported on the header frame at a pivot where the draper frame projects forwardly from the pivot, such that the draper frame is operable to swing relative to the header frame. The fore-and-aft draper includes a draper belt supported on the draper frame to present a rearwardly moving run for conveying the crop rearwardly. | 05-30-2013 |
20130118366 | KNOTTER MECHANISM FOR CROP BALERS AND THE LIKE - Knotter operation on a crop baler or the like is controlled electronically by a programmable electronic control unit. Rotary and/or linear electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic drive motors are utilized to drive the knotting components and are controlled by the electronic control unit. | 05-16-2013 |
20130112125 | TWIN ROW PLANTER - An apparatus and method to precisely meter and dispense two or more crop inputs with a common metering disc is presented to achieve proper placement in the soil relative to one another. In one embodiment, dry granular or granulized fertilizer is metered from one side of the disc and seed is metered from the opposite side of the same metering disc. The fertilizer is placed in a concentrated “pulse” approximately equal distances between seeds within a common seed furrow and/or between seed furrows to improved nutrient use efficiency by minimizing soil to fertilizer contact and subsequent chemical reactions that make applied supplemental nutrients less available to plants. Pressurized air may be utilized to assist discharge of both the seed and fertilizer from the disc meter to assure precise spacing in the soil. A cover may be placed on the meter and metering disc to recirculate air and thus minimize potential atmospheric contamination from seed coatings and fertilizer materials. | 05-09-2013 |
20130110357 | Agriculture Combination Machines for Dispensing Compositions | 05-02-2013 |
20130105639 | VARIABLE DIAMETER HOSE MOUNTING SYSTEM | 05-02-2013 |
20130105591 | DRIFT PLUME DISPLAY | 05-02-2013 |
20130105583 | AVOIDING THE MISAPPLICATION OF CONTENTS IN ONE OR MORE CONTAINERS | 05-02-2013 |
20130103260 | METHODS AND SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC USER-CONFIGURABLE STEERING PARAMETER CONTROL - A vehicle guidance system and method for automatically adjusting an amount of a user-configurable steering parameter applied to at least one steerable wheel of a vehicle. The vehicle guidance system may comprise a computing device for receiving a desired angle of the steerable wheel, measuring the actual angle of the steerable wheel, and comparing the actual angle with the desired angle. The computing device may then decrease the user-configurable steering parameter automatically if over-steering has occurred, meaning the actual angle of the wheel is determined to be greater than the desired angle of the wheel and angled in the same direction as the desired angle, or the computing device may increase the user-configurable steering parameter automatically if under-steering has occurred, meaning the actual angle of the wheel is determined to be less than the desired angle of the wheel or is angled in the opposite direction as the desired angle. | 04-25-2013 |
20130103211 | DYNAMIC SPRAY BUFFER CALCULATION - In one embodiment, a method that comprises retrieving by a processing unit an application plan from memory, the application plan comprising coordinates for a buffer area associated with dispensing a product onto a field; receiving information from a weather station, the information corresponding to substantially current climatic conditions detected by the weather station in the field; responsive to receiving the information from the weather station, adjusting the application plan; and causing an agricultural machine to operate according to the adjusted application plan. | 04-25-2013 |
20130099070 | PLUMBING MOUNT FOR AGRICULTURAL SPRAYER - A configurable plumbing mount for supporting plumbing conduits on a boom arm of an agricultural sprayer includes a mounting base mountable on a beam of the boom arm at its proximal end and having an elongated platform portion extending to a distal end. The platform portion has a front face, a rear face, and opposing side faces, the front face forming a base interface having a center groove running between two tracks. The tracks run from the distal end to a primary stop. One of the tracks has a secondary stop formed thereon located between the primary stop and the distal end of the mounting base. The plumbing mount also has at least one conduit bracket having a conduit retaining portion and a bracket interface configured to slidingly engage and lock with the base interface of the mounting base. The bracket interface has a center tongue with first and second skids on opposing sides on the center tongue. The conduit bracket is configured to slide on the mounting base by interlocking the center tongue with the center groove. | 04-25-2013 |
20130099069 | Modular Boom Mounting System for Agricultural Sprayer - A mounting system for plumbing conduits on an agricultural sprayer boom arm includes a mounting base on a beam of the boom arm with an elongated platform portion extending to a distal end. The platform portion has a front face, a rear face, and opposing side faces, the front face forming a base interface having a center groove running between two tracks. The tracks run from the distal end to a primary stop. One of the tracks has a secondary stop between the primary stop and the distal end of the mounting base. At least one conduit bracket has a conduit retaining portion and a bracket interface configured to lock with the base interface. The bracket interface has a center tongue with first and second skids on opposing sides. The conduit bracket is configured to slide on the mounting base by interlocking the center tongue with the center groove. | 04-25-2013 |
20130096782 | Control Method for a Pivoting Grain Unloading Spout for Use with Combine Harvesters - In one embodiment, a method for controlling a pivoting auger spout of an auger tube from an operator console in a cab of a combine harvester, the auger tube at least partially encompassing an auger, the method comprising receiving a first signal corresponding to user activation of a first interface element of the operator console to a first state; and if the auger is engaged, causing the pivoting auger spout to pivot about a first axis responsive to receiving the first signal, otherwise, if the auger is disengaged, causing the auger tube to swing toward a first position responsive to the first signal. | 04-18-2013 |
20130092407 | Tube Joint in Implement Frame - An agricultural implement frame has a beam with a pair of tube members joined by a tube joint. The tube joint has an overlaying portion formed by overlaying ends of the first and second tube members, each overlaying end having an overlaying wall and a base wall connected by opposing side walls. The side walls have interface surfaces extending from a lip at one end of the overlaying wall to a foot in the base wall such that when the tube members are joined together, the interface surfaces contact and the lip of the first tube member abuts the foot of the second tube member and the lip of the second tube member abuts the foot of the first tube member. A fastener clamps together the overlaying ends of the tube members and interlocking load transfer teeth in the interface surfaces transfer load between the tube members. | 04-18-2013 |
20130092065 | Precision Fertilizer Placement - A method to precisely meter and dispense two or more crop inputs with a common metering disc is presented to achieve proper placement in the soil relative to one another. In one embodiment, dry granular or granulized fertilizer is metered from one side of the disc and seed is metered from the opposite side of the same metering disc. The fertilizer is placed in a concentrated “pulse” approximately equal distances between seeds within a common seed furrow and/or between seed furrows to improved nutrient use efficiency by minimizing soil to fertilizer contact and subsequent chemical reactions that make applied supplemental nutrients less available to plants. Pressurized air may be utilized to assist discharge of both the seed and fertilizer from the disc meter to assure precise spacing in the soil. A cover may be placed on the meter and metering disc to recirculate air and thus minimize potential atmospheric contamination from seed coatings and fertilizer materials. | 04-18-2013 |
20130091707 | Method for Making a Tube Joint in an Agricultural Implement Frame - An agricultural implement frame having at least one beam welded to additional components is formed by cutting the beam into a first tube member and a second tube member having an overlaying portion formed by overlaying ends of the first and second tube members. Each overlaying end has an overlaying wall and a base wall connected by opposing interface side walls. The laser cut forms interface surfaces in the interface side walls. The cut forms a plurality of interlocking load transfer teeth in the interface surfaces. Micro tabs are left uncut in the interface side walls to keep the first and second tube members aligned. The beam is then welded to other components of the implement frame. The micro tabs are broken to separate the first and second tube members so the frame may be folded. When joined, the interface surfaces contact and the interlocking load transfer teeth mesh. | 04-18-2013 |
20130082153 | Docking Station - A hydraulically-operated implement has a hydraulic system with a hose and a coupler connecting the hose to a mating port on a tractor. A docking station is mounted on the implement receives the coupler on the free end of the hose when disconnected from the tractor. The docking station includes a station body having a coupler receiving portion and a leakage collection portion. The coupler receiving portion has a primary side with at least one circular bore and the leakage collection portion contains a drain opening. A retention device positioned on the inner periphery of each of the circular bores receives the coupler. The drain opening is sealed with a drain plug and the docking station has an inside bulkhead parallel with the primary side of the station body. The bulkhead has a circular hole formed therein aligned with the at least one cylindrical bore in the primary side. | 04-04-2013 |
20130054074 | Guidance System Automatic Wheel Angle Sensor Calibration - In one embodiment, a wheel angle sensor calibration method, comprising, while a vehicle is moving, automatically causing movement of the vehicle to a first full steering position followed by automatic movement to a second full steering position; recording wheel angle sensor values at the first and second full steering positions, respectively; determining an average of the wheel angle sensor values, the average corresponding to a target center wheel position; automatically causing movement of the vehicle to the target center wheel position; and responsive to the wheel angle sensor having a value equal to the average, recording the wheel angle sensor value as the target center wheel position. | 02-28-2013 |
20130042592 | Feeding For Wide Cut Rotary Header Having Helper Roll - In an example embodiment, a harvesting header includes a helper roll having an auger flighting configured to move crop material laterally inward. The auger flighting may be outboard of a crop receiving area. The helper roll may be placed rearward of a cutter mechanism and forward of a conditioning roll of the header. The axis of rotation of the helper roll may be positioned slightly above a cutting plane of a cutting bed so that the auger flighting extends vertically past the cutting plane. In an example embodiment, at least a portion of the auger flights are positioning outboard of a conditioning roll of the header. The helper roll may be supported within the cutting zone and comprised of a plurality of sub-helper rolls. | 02-21-2013 |
20120324855 | DRAPER ASSEMBLY WITH ROLLERS FOR A FLEXIBLE DRAPER HEADER - A harvesting machine includes a harvesting header with a header frame, a flexible cutterbar assembly attached to the header frame along the length thereof and configured to cut a crop, and a flexible draper assembly positioned behind the cutterbar assembly to permit the draper assembly to flex with the cutterbar assembly and operable to receive severed crop material from the cutterbar assembly. The draper assembly includes fore-and-aft extending rollers and an endless flexible belt entrained around the rollers. | 12-27-2012 |
20120318588 | Linkage Lift Mechanism for Off-Road Vehicle - A self-propelled implement may include a suspension arrangement with a suspension spring, an elevation toggling linkage, and a wheel. The suspension spring may support a main frame of the self-propelled implement at a sprung end. The elevation toggling linkage may be mounted at an unsprung end of the suspension spring. The elevation toggling linkage may be used to configure the self-propelled implement at a raised elevation or a lowered elevation. | 12-20-2012 |
20120315964 | AIR DIVERTER FOR COMBINE SHOE - A cleaning system in a combine harvester includes a fan producing an airstream, an oscillating upper chaffer that separates grain and smaller residue from larger non-grain particles while the airstream entrains light non-grain particles and carries them out the rear of the machine. An oscillating lower sieve receives the grain and smaller residue passing through the upper chaffer and allows grain to pass through openings while residue unable to penetrate the lower sieve travels off the end of the lower sieve and the airstream entrains light non-grain particles and carries them out of the machine. An airstream diverter located between the upper chaffer and the lower sieve redirects a portion of the airstream through lower air-flow areas of the upper chaffer. The diverter is horn-shaped with a narrow leading edge and a wider trailing edge with a concave air-directing surface between the leading and trailing edges. | 12-13-2012 |
20120292969 | Seat Latching and Storage Mechanism - In an example embodiment, an instructor seat for the cab of an agricultural vehicle is convertible between a sitting condition when the seat is in a forward position and a non-sitting condition when the seat is in a rearward position. The instructor seat may include a seat base and seat back, a conveyor to move the seat between a forward position and a rearward position, and a latch mechanism to place the seat back in a generally vertical position when the seat is in a forward position and force the seat back into a generally horizontal non-sitting position when the seat is in a rearward position. | 11-22-2012 |
20120279191 | Interlocking Belt Guards for a Draper Header - A harvesting machine includes a harvesting header with a header frame, a cutterbar assembly attached to the header frame along the length thereof and configured to cut a crop, and a draper assembly positioned behind the cutterbar assembly and operable to receive severed crop material from the cutterbar assembly. The draper assembly includes a center draper that delivers crop material to a feeder house of the harvesting machine and oppositely spaced side drapers that deliver crop material to the center draper. The harvesting header is operable to flex and thereby follow an uneven terrain. | 11-08-2012 |
20120275847 | ADHESIVELY BONDED JOINT IN AGRICULTURAL BOOM STRUCTURE - An adhesively bonded joint in a boom arm of an agricultural sprayer has a tee-shaped brace member with a top flange and a stem extending from the top flange. A brace-receiving portion of the joint has a slot formed therein that receives the stem of the tee-shaped brace member. The sides of the stem and underside of the top flange are adhesively bonded to facing surfaces of the brace-receiving portion. The slot is formed with a v-shape, with the mouth of the slot being wider than the width of the distal end of the slot, to provide some flexibility in the angular positioning of the tee-shaped bracing member. The joint further includes a locking collar around an end of the tee-shaped brace. Opposite sides of the locking collar engage notches on either side of the slot to lock the stem of the tee-shaped brace member in the slot. | 11-01-2012 |
20120274460 | Field Efficiency Gauge - A field gauge includes an indicator for a present value and an indicator for a comparison value of an operating characteristic, such as field fuel efficiency. | 11-01-2012 |
20120273626 | MODULAR AGRICULTURAL BOOM STRUCTURE - A boom arm extending from a chassis of an agricultural sprayer includes a plurality of chords extending outward from the sprayer and a plurality of cross-sectional frame members connecting the chords to provide structural integrity. The cross-sectional frame members include brace-receiving portions having slots formed. The boom arm has a plurality of tee-shaped brace members, each having a top flange with a stem extending therefrom. The stem is received in a slot in the brace-receiving portion of adjacent cross-section frame members. Sides of the stem and the underside of the top flange are adhesively bonded to facing surfaces of the brace-receiving portions. Each cross-sectional frame member is configured to receive an extension member that extends between the cross-sectional member and a connector mounted on the first chord. The length of the extension member is determined by the position of the cross-sectional frame member on the tapered boom arm. | 11-01-2012 |
20120266764 | BALER DENSITY CONTROL MECHANISM AND METHOD - A method of electronically sensing the fill of material in a stuffer chute and tripping a stuffer of a baler. | 10-25-2012 |
20120266582 | COMBINE HARVESTER DRAPER HEADER WITH FLOOR PAN REARWARD OF CENTRAL DRAPER - A harvesting header includes a header frame, a cutterbar assembly mounted to the header frame, and a conveyor assembly supported behind the cutterbar assembly to receive crop severed by the cutterbar assembly. The conveyor assembly includes a pair of side conveyors and a fore-and-aft draper located between the side conveyors. The header further includes a central crop-conveying member that overhangs the rear margin of the fore-and-aft draper and a floor pan that at least partly defines a transition area. The floor pan presents a forwardmost edge adjacent to and rearward of the rear margin. The forwardmost edge is located above a lower run of the draper to direct severed crop materials from the upper run of the draper and to facilitate crop material flow through the transition area. | 10-25-2012 |
20120264493 | Twin Straw Chopper - In one embodiment, a straw chopper apparatus of a combine harvester, the straw chopper apparatus comprising plural chopper rotors disposed proximally to a rearward end of the combine harvester, each of the chopper rotors comprising a shaft having an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the direction of travel, the shaft having a length dimension and a diameter dimension, the length dimension greater than the diameter dimension, the shaft comprising plural sets of blades that are pivotably coupled to the shaft. | 10-18-2012 |
20120261145 | Hydraulic Walking Beam - A hydraulic walking beam method of a pull-type implement, the method comprising: receiving hydraulic fluid at a first hydraulic cylinder associated with a first gauge wheel assembly from a second hydraulic cylinder associated with a second gauge wheel assembly, the first and second gauge wheel assemblies coupled to a frame of a pull-type implement; extending a cylinder rod associated with the first hydraulic cylinder responsive to receiving the hydraulic fluid; and retracting a cylinder rod associated with the second hydraulic cylinder concurrently with the extending. | 10-18-2012 |
20120260837 | SEED FLAP FOR SEED METER - A metering device having an obstruction within its metering chamber to prevent inputs such as seeds from passing from a seed sump to other areas within the metering chamber and causing to the metering device to become overfilled with seeds when the metering device is raised out of the planting position. In one embodiment, the obstruction includes one or more hingedly connected flaps that move due to the changing orientation of the metering device. In one or more positions of the metering device, the obstruction is positioned to prevent the seeds from leaving the seed sump. The seeds are prevented from leaving the seed sump without having to manually shut a gate on each metering devices of a planter. | 10-18-2012 |
20120259537 | Moving Geofence for Machine Tracking in Agriculture - An agricultural vehicle tracking system provides a moving geofence about the location of a vehicle. When the moving geofence contacts a point of interest, such as another moving geofence, an alert is issued. The particular characteristics of the moving geofence may be generated in accordance with a predetermined scheme. | 10-11-2012 |
20120256763 | Remote Machine Query and Control Using Telemetry Unit and Other Sensors - Systems and methods for remote query and control of an agricultural machine use an onboard telemetry unit as a gateway for communication with the machine. The telemetry unit can be coupled to both the machine's electrical system at the machine, and a machine's controller area network (CAN). A user can call up the machine's telemetry unit using a cell phone, personal computer, or other remote communication device. In response, output from the telemetry unit can be used to energize the CAN through the vehicle's electrical system. Once energized, the CAN is able to receive commands from a user through the telemetry unit and provide them to control nodes of various machine apparatus and devices via the CAN communications bus. | 10-11-2012 |
20120256760 | Remote Weather Sensing For Harvesting Conditions - Systems and methods for remote query of weather conditions at an agricultural machine use an onboard telemetry unit as a gateway for communication with the machine. The telemetry unit can be coupled to both the machine's electrical system at the machine, and a machine's controller area network (CAN). A user can call up the machine's telemetry unit using a cell phone or personal computer to retrieve weather data such as temperature, humidity and rainfall from a weather station coupled to the machine. A system can provide an alert when a desired predetermined condition is present at a machine, for example an alert that a harvesting or baling condition is present. The system can also enable an operator or fleet manager to check the state of various devices or apparatus at a machine, enabling remote diagnostics via the onboard telemetry unit. | 10-11-2012 |
20120253744 | Real-Time Evaluation of Machine Performance For Fleet Management - A real-time performance evaluation system can compare machine performance to a performance standard. A Fleet Operations Subsystem (FOS) can determine a machine status such as Parked, Idle, Working, Travel or Turning. The FOS can be configured to determine machine performance by determining the amount of time spent in each status. The performance can be compared to predetermined performance standards, for example a minimum number of hours spent working, or a maximum number of hours spent idle. A performance score can be generated based on the comparison. A report of the performance evaluation can be provided. A report can be in the form of a performance marker graphic on a visual display. The performance marker can represent the performance score. The performance marker can be in the form of an alarm symbol for a poorly performing machine. The system provides an operator or manager the opportunity to improve machine performance. | 10-04-2012 |
20120253743 | Real-Time Determination of Machine Performance for Fleet Management - A real-time performance determination system is configured to determine machine performance over a predetermined time interval. An automatic data unit onboard a machine can provide apparatus data to a Fleet Operations System (FOS) of a Fleet Management System. Apparatus data can be used to determine a machine status such as Parked, Idle, Working, Travel or Turning. A performance determination module of the FOS can determine the amount of time a machine spent in a particular status. A performance report can include a graphical indicator in a visual display that can convey the percentage of time spent in each status. A report can include performance determinations for a plurality of machines, each represented by performance indicator that allows easy comparison of machines. A performance report can be provided to a fleet manager for fleet management purposes such as scheduling and allocation of resources, as well as performing machine maintenance and adjustments. | 10-04-2012 |
20120253709 | Automatic Detection of Machine Status for Fleet Management - An automatic machine status detection system uses apparatus data from one or more sensors or machine components to determine a status for an agricultural machine. An automatic data unit onboard a machine can receive apparatus data and communicate it to a central management system. In an exemplary embodiment, a status determination module can receive the apparatus data, use the to make one or more state determinations, and based on the results of those determinations, determine an activity status for a machine. Engine state, motion state, heading state, implement state and PTO state can be used to determine that a machine has a status identified as “Off”, “Idle”, “Traveling”, “Turning” or “Working”. Machine status information can be provided to a user to improve operations efficiency and facilitate billing and administrative services. | 10-04-2012 |
20120248227 | MULTI PORT NOZZLE POINT INJECTION SYSTEM - A multi port nozzle may be provided. The multi port nozzle may include a main inlet. In addition, the multi port nozzle may include a first chamber branching off from the main inlet. The first chamber may have a first port. Moreover, the multi port nozzle may include a second chamber branching off from the main inlet. The second chamber may be separated from the first chamber by a partition and may have a second port. The first chamber may include a first plurality of mixing elements and the second chamber may include a second plurality of mixing elements. | 10-04-2012 |
20120247752 | CONTROLLER FOR WORK VEHICLE COOLING PACKAGE - A controller and method for operating an air mover for a cooling system of a work vehicle. In one embodiment, engine coolant, hydraulic oil and charge air temperature data is measured. The temperature data is reconciled by using the largest required fan speed as the set point speed for cooling the heat exchangers with airflow. An air mover is operated at the set point speed to generate airflow across each of the heat exchangers. | 10-04-2012 |
20120247738 | DEBRIS PASSAGEWAY FOR WORK VEHICLE COOLING PACKAGE - A debris passage for a cooling box of a work vehicle. Airflow is provided into the cooling box from the exterior environment. A plurality of heat exchangers transfer heat into the airflow. The debris passage is defined between opposing heat exchangers to permit debris to pass from the airflow to the exterior of the cooling box. In one embodiment, the debris passage is underneath an air mover and is substantially vertical. | 10-04-2012 |
20120247729 | AIR MOVER REVERSING FOR WORK VEHICLE COOLING PACKAGE - A method for reversing an air mover to remove debris from a cooling system of a work vehicle. In one embodiment, the largest required fan speed for cooling the engine coolant, hydraulic oil and the charge air is used as the set point speed for a fan. The fan is operated at the set point speed to generate airflow across each of the heat exchangers. Multiple conditions are evaluated for reversing the direction of the fan. | 10-04-2012 |
20120247728 | CONTROL METHOD FOR PRIMARY AND SUPPLEMENTAL COOLING SYSTEMS FOR A WORK VEHICLE - A method for controlling a supplemental cooling system for an independent hydraulic system used in combination with a primary cooling system for a work vehicle. Airflow is provided from a first air mover to the primary cooling system and a second airflow is provided to the supplemental cooling system. Multiple conditions are evaluated for reversing the direction of the second airflow to remove debris. In one embodiment, reversing of the airflow from the first and second air movers is synchronized to remove debris from both the primary and supplemental cooling systems and the second airflow from the second air mover is staged. | 10-04-2012 |
20120247712 | COOLING PACKAGE ASSEMBLY FOR WORK VEHICLES - A cooling package assembly for a work vehicle. A plurality of heat exchangers cooperate with one another to define an interior of a cooling box. Single pass airflow is pushed across the heat exchangers. In one embodiment, the heat exchangers cooperate with one another to define a v-shape. | 10-04-2012 |
20120247711 | PUSHER AIRFLOW FOR WORK VEHICLE COOLING SYSTEM - Overhead pushed airflow for a cooling system of a work vehicle. In one embodiment, a cooling includes an interior defined by upstream faces of heat exchangers. An air mover pushes ambient air downward through said cooling box from overhead of the work and across the heat exchangers. | 10-04-2012 |
20120247709 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING WHEN COOLING SYSTEM IS RESTRICTED - A method for determining when a cooling system for a work vehicle is restricted with debris. A first temperature difference between an inlet and an outlet of a heat exchanger is determined when the airflow though said heat exchanger is substantially unrestricted. When a subsequent temperature difference is less than the first temperature difference by a predetermined amount, the direction of the airflow is reversed to remove debris from the heat exchanger. | 10-04-2012 |
20120247348 | UNIFORM DENSITY PACKER STUFFER SYSTEM - In one embodiment, a stuffer method of a baler, the method comprising conveying with a plurality of pivotally-biased elements coupled along a moveable link a first portion of crop material from an inlet of a stuffer chute to a location proximal to an outlet of the stuffer chute; and responsive to a crop material density of the first portion meeting or exceeding a first predefined threshold density, conveying with a subset of the plurality of pivotally-biased elements a subsequent portion or portions of crop material from the inlet to the first portion until the subsequent portion or portions meets or exceeds a second predefined threshold density that substantially equals the first predefined threshold density. | 10-04-2012 |
20120245801 | Baler Charge Indicator - A baler charge indicator is configured to indicate a characteristic of a charge in a stuffer chute of a baler. A sensor may be used to detect a characteristic of a baler and a display may be used to indicate the characteristic to an operator. | 09-27-2012 |
20120244921 | AXIAL FLOW DISRUPTER - A combine harvester having a tubular housing that concentrically receives a rotor used for threshing and separating crop materials. Concave assemblies are arranged side-by-side along the a processing system. The processing system also includes at lease one disrupter plate placed between adjacent concave assemblies having an arcuate configuration similar to that of concave assemblies. An upper edge of the disrupter plate projects above the transverse bars and curved rods of the concave assemblies toward the rotor to slow the axial flow of the crop material through the rotor housing. Accordingly, the disrupter plate provides a tortuous flowpath for the crop material as it moves axially through the processing system to permit the more time for threshing and separation to take place. | 09-27-2012 |
20120240795 | Roller Bale Chute Accumulation - In an example embodiment, a roller bale chute accumulator apparatus includes a roller bale chute configured to receive a bale from a discharge opening of a baler and a bale drop mechanism configured to change the roller bale chute between a drop condition for dropping the bale from the roller bale chute and a non-drop condition for maintaining the bale on the roller bale chute. In one example embodiment the bale drop mechanism comprises a brake that is configured to manipulate a roller of the roller bale chute. In another example embodiment, a foldable bale chute portion is movable between a lower bale drop position and an upward non-drop position. | 09-27-2012 |
20120240527 | Baler Mesh Wrap Control With Tension Variance - In an example embodiment, a bale wrap mechanism is configured to wrap a bale with a pre-tensioned wrap material and include a wrap material dispensing mechanism and a wrap material tensioning mechanism. The dispensing mechanism is configured to provide wrap material to a rotating bale in a baling chamber, and the tension mechanism is configured to pretension the wrap material by manipulating the speed of the meshwrap supply relative to the speed of the rotating bale in accordance with a predetermined scheme. The tensioning mechanism may include a brake to manipulate a material wrap payoff roll and a controller to manipulate the brake. A user interface may be used to provide a desired scheme to the controller, such as a desired tension. | 09-27-2012 |
20120240421 | Field Productivity Gauge - A field productivity gauge includes an indicator for a present value and an indicator for a comparison value of an operating characteristic, such as field productivity. | 09-27-2012 |
20120237284 | Boom Fore and Aft Breakaway Assembly - A breakaway assembly may be provided. The breakaway assembly may comprise an upper joint connecting a boom tip to a structure (e.g. a plate.) The breakaway assembly may further comprise a first hinge connecting the boom tip to the structure and a second hinge connecting the boom tip to the structure. In addition, the breakaway assembly may comprise a pressure assembly connected to the boom tip and a lower joint connecting the pressure assembly to the structure. When a force is applied to the boom tip (e.g. from either side, fore or aft), the pressure assembly may be configured to oppose the force and one of the first hinge and the second hinge may be configured to release in response to the boom tip rotating. | 09-20-2012 |
20120234651 | Continuous Round Baler - In an example embodiment, a continuous baler includes a round baler and an adjustable conveyor for providing crop to the round baler. The adjustable conveyor may include a conveyor belt and a controller for manipulating the conveyor belts. In one example embodiment, the speed of the conveyor is adjusted in accordance with the operation of the baler. | 09-20-2012 |
20120222565 | Continuous Round Baler With Pickup - In an example embodiment, a continuous baler includes a round baler and a pickup conveyor for providing crop to the round baler. The pickup conveyor may include a conveyor belt and a controller for manipulating the conveyor belts. In one example embodiment, the speed of the conveyor is adjusted in accordance with the operation of the baler. | 09-06-2012 |
20120221213 | Intelligent Stuffer Mechanism For Baler - An intelligent stuffer trip mechanism is configured to detect a characteristic of a charge within a stuffer chute and actuate the stuffer in response to the characteristic. A user interface may receive desired characteristics of a charge from a user, a sensor may be used to detect characteristics of a charge in a stuffer chute and a controller configured to actuate the stuffer in accordance with a predetermined scheme and the detected characteristics of the charge. | 08-30-2012 |
20120216500 | BELT GUARD CROP DAM FOR FLEXIBLE DRAPER HEADER - Belt guards that overlie the interface between a flexible cutterbar assembly and a flexible draper assembly of a harvesting header define an underlying void region that is sealed against the entry of crop residue by an upright dam wall that bears against the underside of the overhanging belt guards forward of the front edge of the upper run of the belt of the draper assembly. The upright dam wall is on the front extremity of flexible support panels that underlie the upper belt run and may be essentially rigid or provided with a resilient trim seal strip. | 08-30-2012 |
20120211572 | Strainer System for Agricultural Sprayer - A spray system detects the pressure differential across a plurality of spray section filters and determines whether the resulting values meet predetermined criteria. A sensor may be provided at each boom spray section to determine a differential pressure across an associated filter. A pressure evaluator module may receive the pressure values and determine whether to trigger an alarm. | 08-23-2012 |
20120210918 | High Clearance Crop Inter-Seeding - An inter-seeding unit may be provided. The inter-seeding unit may comprise an upper suspension unit and an intermediate joint connected to the upper suspension unit. The inter-seeding unit may further comprise a row unit connected to the intermediate joint. The row unit may comprise a seeding device. | 08-23-2012 |
20120210888 | Giant Round Baler Compressor - In one embodiment, a round baler, comprising: a first compartment comprising a bale forming system, the bale forming system configured to form a round bale; a compression system; a second compartment comprising a moveable wall operably coupled to the compression system, the compression system configured to cause the moveable wall to compress a round bale formed in the first compartment; and a gate located between the first compartment and the second compartment, the gate moveable between an open position and a closed position. | 08-23-2012 |
20120210693 | Fixed Rotary Knife with Multiple Cutting Surfaces - A crop harvesting header has a cutter bed to cut crop material as the harvester advances through a field. The cutter bed includes a plurality of rotatable cutters having knives extending from opposing ends of the cutters. Each cutter is ninety degrees out of phase with respect to its adjacent cutters such that the circular paths of travel of the knives of adjacent cutters overlap one another, and adjacent cutters rotate in opposite directions. Each cutter has a generally elliptical knife carrier, and a pair of knives at opposites ends of the carrier, wherein a portion of each knife extends beyond the end of the carrier to expose a cutting surface to sever the standing crop. The cutter also includes an attachment device connecting each knife to the knife carrier, and a fixed stop restricting rotational movement of the knife with respect to the carrier about the attachment device. | 08-23-2012 |
20120210692 | Fixed Rotary Knife - A crop harvesting header has a cutter bed to cut crop material as the harvester advances through a field. The cutter bed includes a plurality of rotatable cutters having knives extending from opposing ends of the cutters. Each cutter is ninety degrees out of phase with respect to its adjacent cutters such that the circular paths of travel of the knives of adjacent cutters overlap one another, and adjacent cutters rotate in opposite directions. Each cutter has a generally elliptical knife carrier, and a pair of knives at opposites ends of the carrier, wherein a portion of each knife extends beyond the end of the carrier to expose a cutting surface to sever the standing crop. The cutter also includes an attachment device connecting each knife to the knife carrier, and a fixed stop restricting rotational movement of the knife with respect to the carrier about the attachment device. | 08-23-2012 |
20120210691 | Bell Knife for Rotary Mower - A crop harvesting header has a cutter bed to cut crop material as the harvester advances through a field. The cutter bed includes a plurality of rotatable cutters having knives extending from opposing ends of the cutters. Each cutter has a generally elliptical knife carrier, and a pair of knives at opposites ends of the carrier, wherein a portion of each knife extends beyond the end of the carrier to expose a cutting surface to sever the standing crop. Each knife is shaped such that its width dimension at a proximal end where mounted on the knife carrier is narrower than its width dimension at a distal end extending away from the knife carrier. | 08-23-2012 |
20120204737 | Tracking Bale Density Door for Big Square Baler - In one embodiment, bale density door system of a baler, comprising: plural bale density doors defining a chamber, the chamber comprising a front end and a rear end; and plural tracking surfaces associated with a portion of the plural bale density doors, the plural tracking surfaces moveable in a direction from the front end to the rear end. | 08-16-2012 |
20120204736 | Passive Ramp Bale Clear Indicator - In an example embodiment, a baler with a bale clear indicator is provided. A passive bale ramp may be configured to deposit a bale clear of the path of a tailgate of the baler. One or more sensors may be used to determine the position of the passive ramp and whether a bale is clear of the ramp and the tailgate path and an indicator provided to notify an operator that the bale is clear. In one embodiment a bale up sensor is used to determine the position of the passive bale ramp. In another example embodiment, a ramp down sensor is used. In another example embodiment, a bale up sensor and bale down sensor are used to determine the position of the passive ramp. | 08-16-2012 |
20120204528 | HIGH SPEED CORN ROW UNIT DECK PLATES - A curved stripper plate for a row unit of a harvesting header. The stripper plate removes useable parts from crop stalks gathered in a crop passage. In one embodiment, the stripper plate is arched thereby providing an upwardly curved edge along a crop passage of the row unit. | 08-16-2012 |
20120192538 | SPRING FLOTATION FOR CENTER DECK OF DRAPER HEADER - A harvesting machine includes a harvesting header with a header frame, a cutterbar assembly attached to the header frame along the length thereof and configured to cut a crop, and a draper assembly positioned behind the cutterbar assembly. The draper assembly includes a fore-and-aft draper that delivers crop material to a feeder house of the harvesting machine. The fore-and-aft draper includes a draper frame swingably supported on the header frame at a pivot to project forwardly therefrom and a draper belt supported on the draper frame to present a rearwardly moving run for conveying the crop rearwardly. The fore-and-aft draper includes a counterbalance mechanism coupled between the header and draper frames to counteract the weight of the fore-and-aft draper about the pivot. | 08-02-2012 |
20120189417 | Passive Ramp With Ramp Down Switch - In an example embodiment, a baler with a bale clear indicator is provided. A passive bale ramp may be configured to deposit a bale clear of the path of a tailgate of the baler. One or more sensors may be used to determine the position of the passive ramp and whether a bale is clear of the ramp and the tailgate path and an indicator provided to notify an operator that the bale is clear. In one embodiment a bale up sensor is used to determine the position of the passive bale ramp. In another example embodiment, a ramp down sensor is used. In another example embodiment, a bale up sensor and bale down sensor are used to determine the position of the passive ramp. | 07-26-2012 |
20120186465 | Variable Density Pre-Compression Chamber - In one embodiment, a stuffer system for a baler, the stuffer system comprising: a pre-compression chamber used to transport crop material to a plunger; and plural stuffer arms having coupled to the plural stuffer arms a retractable fork, each of the plural stuffer arms pivotable about an axis and driven in a clockwise and counterclockwise shared path by a first motive apparatus, the fork driven by a second motive apparatus, the fork and stuffer arm independently controlled, wherein the first and second motive apparatuses cause the plural stuffer arms and the fork, upon engagement, to advance plural crop material charges along the pre-compression chamber before delivering the plural charges to the plunger. | 07-26-2012 |
20120180447 | FLEXIBLE DRAPER HEADER HAVING CENTER DRAPER - A harvesting machine includes a harvesting header with a header frame, a flexible cutterbar assembly attached to the header frame along the length thereof and configured to cut a crop, and a conveyor assembly positioned behind the cutterbar assembly and operable to receive severed crop material from the cutterbar assembly. The conveyor assembly includes a fore-and-aft draper with a draper frame swingably supported on the header frame at a pivot where the draper frame projects forwardly from the pivot, such that the draper frame is operable to swing relative to the header frame. The fore-and-aft draper includes a draper belt supported on the draper frame to present a rearwardly moving run for conveying the crop rearwardly. | 07-19-2012 |
20120179338 | Baler Charge Density Feedback System - In one embodiment, a baler charge density feedback system, the system comprising: a pre-compression chamber having a first end to receive crop material and a second end proximal to a plunger of the baler, the second end comprising retractable load sensing holding fingers configured to sense the load corresponding to the crop material moved through the pre-compression chamber, the holding fingers retracted from the pre-compression chamber based on a value of the sensed load. | 07-12-2012 |
20120175852 | King-Pin Height Adjuster - A height adjuster may be provided. The height adjuster may comprise a hydraulic lift cylinder and a ram configured to receive the hydraulic lift cylinder. The height adjuster may further comprise a wheel motor housing connected to a lower end of the ram. A lower end of the hydraulic lift cylinder may be connected to the wheel housing. In addition, the height adjuster may comprise a king-pin configured to receive the ram. | 07-12-2012 |
20120174553 | Header with Elevated Doors for Tall Robust Crops - A header assembly supported on the front of a windrower includes a header configured to process crop material standing in a field and a lean bar as the leading element for contacting crop material and preparing the crop material for processing by the header. The lean bar is positioned forward of the header so that the lean bar is the forward-most element of the header assembly. The header assembly has a plurality of cutting elements arranged in a line transverse the header. A cutter bar shield door is positioned to an elevated position such that a forward most point of the cutter bar shield door is above a rearward most point of the cutter bar shield door. The forward most point of the cutter bar shield door lies on or behind a line drawn between the forward edge of the lean bar and a rotational center of the cutting elements. | 07-12-2012 |
20120174550 | AUXILIARY DRIVE MOTOR FOR HAY CONDITIONER ON A WINDROWER HEADER - Disclosed is a crop harvesting header configured for attachment to a mobile frame of a harvesting machine. The header has a cutter mechanism to cut crop material and a pair of laterally extending crop conditioner rolls to condition crop material cut by the cutter mechanism. The header includes a header power system having first and second main hydraulic motors and a belt and sheave drive configured to transmit power from the main hydraulic motors to the pair of conditioner rolls. The header also includes an auxiliary drive motor directly connected one of the conditioner rolls of the pair of conditioner rolls. | 07-12-2012 |
20120168254 | Common Power Lubricated Gearboxes on Combine Harvester - In one embodiment, a lubricant distribution system for a combine harvester, the lubricant distribution system comprising: a plurality of gearboxes coupled to different locations on the combine harvester, each of the plurality of gearboxes comprising lubricating fluid; a reservoir configured to receive the lubricating fluid from the plurality of gearboxes; and a pump configured to pump the lubricating fluid received from the reservoir to the plurality of gearboxes. | 07-05-2012 |
20120159917 | Twisted Stalk Chopping Knives For Corn Headers - A knife for cutting crop stalks and impacting the cut crop stalks to prevent damage to the tires of agricultural vehicles. Leading and trailing edges of the knife oppose one another and define a trailing face therebetween. The leading edge is higher than the trailing edge to cut stalks and the tailing edge is angled downward in trailing relationship to the leading edge so that as the knife cuts a crop stalk the trailing face also impacts the cut stalk to force it downward to the ground. | 06-28-2012 |
20120159764 | HEADER OBSERVATION MIRROR ON COMBINE CAB - Disclosed is a method of mating a feederhouse of a combine vehicle with a harvesting header using an observation mirror mounted near an operator's cab of the combine vehicle. The mirror is oriented such that a reflection of a forward part of a feeder house is visible to an operator of the combine vehicle is visible to the operator while in the operator's cab. The combine vehicle is then driven towards the harvesting header while the operator observes the relative position of the feederhouse and a pick-up header on the harvesting header to guide the combine vehicle into position to mate with the harvesting header. | 06-28-2012 |
20120151893 | FLEXIBLE CUTTERBAR STOP STRUCTURE FOR DRAPER HEADER - A harvesting header includes a header frame, a flexible cutterbar assembly attached to the header frame, a draper assembly supported behind the cutterbar assembly for conveying severed crop materials received from the cutterbar assembly, and a plurality of laterally spaced apart support arms attached to and cooperatively supporting the flexible cutterbar assembly, with each support arm being pivotal about a lateral axis. The header further includes stop structure associated with a respective one of the support arms, with the stop structure located forwardly of the lateral axis and defining a limited range of angular support arm movement. | 06-21-2012 |
20120151892 | SWIVEL DRAWBAR HITCH - In one embodiment, a swivel drawbar hitch comprising a first cradle having a first pivot mechanism located ahead of a connection between a drawbar and the swivel drawbar hitch, the swivel drawbar hitch further comprising an elongated second cradle coupled to the first cradle and further having a second pivot mechanism, the first cradle pivotable about a horizontal axis of the swivel drawbar hitch, the elongated second cradle pivotable about a longitudinal axis of the swivel drawbar hitch. | 06-21-2012 |
20120150439 | Automatic Determination of Tire Height for Improving Guidance Performance - A system and method improve guidance system performance. An accuracy improvement module (AIM) can be configured to compare observed and expected inclination compensation factors (ICFs) at a plurality of inclination angles to detect an inaccuracy in antenna height. In response to detecting an inaccuracy, an AIM can determine a revised antenna height that more accurately represents the height of an antenna above ground. A proposed antenna height can be determined using an observed ICF. A fixed vehicle body height can be subtracted from the proposed antenna height to provide a proposed tire radius. The proposed tire radius can be compared to a table of standard tire radii to determine a tire radius value, which can then be added to the fixed vehicle body height to provide a revised antenna height. The revised antenna height can improve the accuracy or calculated ground positions, thereby improving guidance system performance. | 06-14-2012 |
20120146907 | Input Mechanism for Multiple Consoles - A locking input may be received. In response to the received locking input, a first input device may be configured to navigate a first cursor only within a first display. Then an unlocking input may be received. In response to the received unlocking input, the first input device may be reconfigured to navigate the first cursor both within the first display and within a second display. | 06-14-2012 |
20120144793 | PULL TYPE SIDE PIVOT ROTARY MOWER CONDITIONER GEARBOX - In one embodiment, an apparatus, comprising: a pull-type implement having a top surface; a tongue assembly pivotably mounted to the pull-type implement; and a gearbox assembly mounted on the top surface and offset from the center of the top surface, the gearbox assembly comprising: a top gearbox unit rotatably coupled to a driveline via a joint that is functionally distinct from a constant velocity (CV) joint, the top gearbox unit pivotably coupled to the tongue assembly; and a bottom gearbox unit in pivotal relationship with the top gearbox unit. | 06-14-2012 |
20120143642 | Fleet Management Revenue Assurance - Methods and systems for automatic inventorying and reporting of field operations are presented. The invention provides a method for automatically reporting the completion of a field harvest or product application. An apparatus data unit can transmit apparatus location and state data to a central inventory system (CIS), preferably embodied as a central server. The CIS can convert the apparatus data to agricultural elements that can be mapped to a business state for a particular field. The CIS can provide a report of the field business state to an administrative service for scheduling or billing purposes. The invention provides a layer of abstraction so that a report recipient need not have familiarity with agricultural terms in order to perform administrative tasks related to field and fleet management. The invention enables resource management and billing services to be performed in a timely, efficient and accurate manner. | 06-07-2012 |
20120137646 | AGRICULTURAL HEADER TRANSPORT KIT - An agricultural header assembly broadly includes a header and a header transport assembly. The header is disposed in a transport orientation when a rigid beam thereof is out of vertical alignment with the header center of gravity. The transport assembly includes first and second pairs of spaced apart wheels shiftably connected to the rigid beam for movement between a transport position and a field position. The first and second pairs of wheels define respective first and second midpoints therebetween when in the transport position. The first and second midpoints are each disposed in general vertical alignment with the header center of gravity when the header is in the transport orientation to substantially balance the header on the transport assembly. | 06-07-2012 |
20120137645 | DRAPER ASSEMBLY WITH ROLLERS AND A DRAPER BELT SUPPORT PANEL FOR A FLEXIBLE DRAPER HEADER - A harvesting machine includes a harvesting header with a header frame, a flexible cutterbar assembly attached to the header frame along the length thereof and configured to cut a crop, and a flexible draper assembly positioned behind the cutterbar assembly to permit the draper assembly to flex with the cutterbar assembly and operable to receive severed crop material from the cutterbar assembly. The draper assembly includes fore-and-aft extending rollers and an endless flexible belt entrained around the rollers. The draper assembly further includes at least one support panel to support the belt. | 06-07-2012 |
20120132730 | Enhanced Nozzle Body - A nozzle body may be provided. The nozzle body may comprise a flow path and a vent. The flow path may be configured to provide an open channel for a fluid between a lower portion of a pipe and at least one outlet. The vent may be configured to vent a gas in an upper portion of the pipe to the flow path. | 05-31-2012 |
20120111584 | Implement Tongue Locking Mechanism - A tongue-hitch structure for a pull-type implement may comprise a tongue locking mechanism. A work frame for the pull-type implement may comprise a vertically adjustable rear wheel suspension comprising an actuator for moving the work frame between a lowered, working position and a raised, transport position. The tongue-hitch structure may be adapted to allow vertical movement between the tongue-hitch structure and the work frame. A leveling arrangement may be coupled between the work frame and the hitch-tongue structure operable to prevent and/or allow vertical movement between the tongue-hitch structure and the work frame. | 05-10-2012 |
20120096825 | FLEXIBLE COMBINE HARVESTER DRAPER HEADER HAVING DRAPER BELT WITH INTERNAL GUIDE RIB - A harvesting machine includes a harvesting header with a header frame, a flexible cutterbar assembly attached to the header frame along the length thereof and configured to cut a crop, and a flexible draper assembly positioned behind the cutterbar assembly to permit the draper assembly to flex with the cutterbar assembly and operable to receive severed crop material from the cutterbar assembly. The draper assembly includes fore-and-aft extending rollers and an endless flexible belt entrained around the rollers. The draper assembly further includes at least one support panel to support the belt. | 04-26-2012 |
20120079800 | Interlocking Belt Guards for a Draper Header - A harvesting machine includes a harvesting header with a header frame, a cutterbar assembly attached to the header frame along the length thereof and configured to cut a crop, and a draper assembly positioned behind the cutterbar assembly and operable to receive severed crop material from the cutterbar assembly. The draper assembly includes a center draper that delivers crop material to a feeder house of the harvesting machine and oppositely spaced side drapers that deliver crop material to the center draper. The harvesting header is operable to flex and thereby follow an uneven terrain. | 04-05-2012 |
20120079272 | ONE-TIME USE AUTHORIZATION CODES WITH ENCRYPTED DATA PAYLOADS FOR USE WITH DIAGNOSTIC CONTENT SUPPORTED VIA ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS - In one embodiment, a computing apparatus that receives respective unique identifiers corresponding to a machine and a diagnostic tool and a requested parameter setting for configuring a machine component residing in the machine, and provides an authorization code with a payload comprising the requested parameter setting, the payload encrypted based on the unique identifiers. | 03-29-2012 |
20120078490 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING THE ENGINE SPEED OF AGRICULTURAL VEHICLES FOR INCREASING ENGINE SPEEDS - An engine speed control system for an agricultural vehicle includes a variable throttle controller, a mode selector, and a control device. The variable throttle control permits an operator to select a variably adjustable engine speed and the mode selector permits the operator to select between a plurality of pre-set engine speeds. The control device receives output signals from the throttle controller, generates engine speed commands, and delivers the commands to an engine controller for controlling the speed of the agricultural vehicle's engine. The control device is operable to generate a first engine speed command associated with one of the pre-set engine speeds when an operator activates the mode selector and to temporarily or permanently override the first engine speed command with a second engine speed command associated with the throttle controller when the operator activates the throttle controller. | 03-29-2012 |
20120078474 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING AND CANCELLING THE ENGINE SPEED OF AGRICULTURAL VEHICLES - An engine speed control system for an agricultural vehicle includes a variable throttle controller, a mode selector, and a control device. The variable throttle control permits an operator to select a variably adjustable engine speed and the mode selector permits the operator to select between a plurality of pre-set engine speeds. The control device receives output signals from the throttle controller, generates engine speed commands, and delivers the commands to an engine controller for controlling the speed of the agricultural vehicle's engine. The control device is operable to generate a first engine speed command associated with one of the pre-set engine speeds when an operator activates the mode selector and to temporarily or permanently override the first engine speed command with a second engine speed command associated with the throttle controller when the operator activates the throttle controller. | 03-29-2012 |
20120072922 | EVALUATING TRIGGERS FOR APPLICATION CONTROL AND MACHINE CONFIGURATION - Evaluation of control and configuration triggers may be provided. A data transmission may be received from a machine. A first initial filter criteria may be determined to apply to the transmitted data, and the transmitted data may be provided to an application service associated with the initial filter criteria. A return message may be received from the application service and may be evaluated to determine whether the transmitted data should be compared to additional initial filter criteria. | 03-22-2012 |
20120072533 | DYNAMIC SERVICE GENERATION IN AN AGRICULTURAL SERVICE ARCHITECTURE - Dynamic service generation may be provided. An application service may be created. Upon receiving a data transmission from a machine, wherein the data transmission comprises a machine identifier, an application service may be identified as being associated with the machine according to the machine identifier. The application service may be invoked on the transmitted data and a response message may be received from the application service. | 03-22-2012 |
20120072341 | ALLOCATING APPLICATION SERVERS IN A SERVICE DELIVERY PLATFORM - Application service allocation may be provided. An initial filter criteria comprising an application service may be identified as being associated with a machine. A host address for the application service may be resolved, and the application service may be invoked. A service profile comprising the at least one initial filter criteria may be transmitted to the machine. A plurality of data may be received from the machine and transmitted to the host address associated with the application service. | 03-22-2012 |