Agco Corporation

Daniel Dreyer

Shane A Bollinger

Randall Lohrentz

Friedrich Robert Honeyman

Dustin Jost

Brendon C Nafziger

Dane Austin Mosel

Mark Glade

David Holt

In one embodiment, a computer-controlled method for adjusting a height of a header reel, the method comprising: measuring a rotational speed of the reel; measuring a force opposing rotation of the reel; determining a target load for the reel based on the measured rotational speed and the measured force and a first input; and causing movement of the reel according to the target load based on a change in load on the reel.

Auto reel height

A reel for a harvesting header has a tine paddle mounted to a tine so as to engage the crop materials as the tine rakes through the crop materials. The tine paddle has a collar portion for at least partially wrapping around a tine tube to which the tine is mounted and an elongate plate member with a distal end spaced inwardly from the outer finger tip of the tine to which the at least one paddle is mounted. One side of the plate member has first and second detents arranged to partially wrap around and engage the finger to hold the tine paddle on the tine. Each detent has an inwardly extending catch that is received in a notch in a side portion of the finger.

Tine paddle for reel of a crop harvesting header

A dual path agricultural machine including a control system having a number of input sensors, status sensors, and output sensors, and a controller configured to operate the dual path machine in a stability control mode and a selective rear-steer engagement and actuation mode. In the stability control mode, the controller adjusts an actual drive output of the dual path machine according to data received from the input sensors and feedback received from the output sensors so as to reduce a difference between the actual drive output and a desired drive output. In selective rear-steer engagement and actuation mode, the controller engages rear-steer mechanisms with caster wheels of the dual path machine and actuates the caster wheels via the rear-steer mechanisms if a criterion is satisfied. The controller disengages the rear-steer mechanisms from the caster wheels or does not actuate the caster wheels if the criterion is not satisfied.

Control system for dual path machine

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.

Dual cam controlled reel tines

A row crop harvesting header () operable to be advanced along a forward travel direction to harvest a series of plants in a crop row. The row crop harvesting header broadly includes a row crop toolbar (), a crop-gathering row unit assembly, and a plant stalk stomper (). The row crop toolbar () extends laterally relative to the forward travel direction. The row unit assembly is supported by the toolbar () to define a forwardly extending row path, with the row unit assembly being operable to collect the crop row along the row path and sever crop stalks as the header () moves forwardly. The row unit housing () is attached to the row crop toolbar () with forward and aft fasteners (). The plant stalk stomper () is attached to the toolbar () with at least one of the fasteners ().

Easy mount stalk stomper

A plant stalk stomper assembly is operable to be mounted relative to a toolbar of a row crop header for advancement over the ground in a forward travel direction. The stomper assembly includes a frame and an elongated stomper skid plate operable to engage the ground as the stomper assembly is advanced in the forward travel direction. The skid plate presents an attachment section along which the skid plate is mounted relative to the frame. At least part of the skid plate includes a unitary plate element that depends below the attachment section to present a lowermost ground-engaging margin. The unitary plate element includes a deformation region located between the attachment section and the ground-engaging margin, with the unitary plate element operable to bend along the deformation region in response to relative movement between the attachment section and the ground-engaging margin.

Growing community of inventors

Hesston, KS, United States of America

Daniel Dreyer