Ford New Holland, Inc.

New Holland Inc.

Guy H Osselaere

Wilfried E Gunst

Antoon G Vermeulen

Bert Jf Paquet

Alfons W Dedeyne

Roger C Deroo

A self-propelled agricultural harvesting machine (1) is provided with a single channel network (300) for serial communication of digital data messages between programmable microprocessors (215, 218) in a multi-master configuration. The messages are encoded according to an advanced serial communications protocol and are available to all microprocessors (215, 218). The network comprises an optical transmission network with an active starpoint (230) and plastic optical fibres (231), which link the nodes which lay physically far away from each other. An RS232 socket, which is linked to the network (300), enables loading of data and programs to the microprocessors (215, 218). Thus is obtained a reliable and flexible control system for the machine settings, which comprise on-road and off-road (harvesting) parameters. The introduction of a wide range of automatic control routines simplifies to a large extent the tasks of the operator during operation.

Method and apparatus for the control of self-propelled agricultural

A harvester having a mobile base unit adapted for movement over the ground, a transversely extending crop harvesting header supported from the base unit for allowing pivotal movement about a generally fore-and-aft axis of the machine, and a lateral flotation system for pivoting the header about the generally fore-and-aft axis is disclosed wherein the lateral flotation system includes a two way hydraulic actuator means extending between the header and the base unit for pivoting the header in the one or the other direction and positioning the header in a nominal position intermediate opposed extreme positions prior to starting flotation operation, a pressure source coupled by a pair of pressure fluid supply lines to the hydraulic actuator means, and energy storage means connected to the hydraulic actuator means. The energy storage means is in the form of a hydro-pneumatic accumulator coupled to each one of the pressure fluid supply lines and pressurized at a pressure greater than the working pressure of the hydraulic actuator means for pivoting the header in the one or other direction, such that, when the header is positioned at a nominal position and meets an obstruction, said header is permitted to temporarily pivot in the one or other direction away from its nominal position for moving over said obstruction.

Header flotation system for an agricultural machine

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Zedelgem, Belgium

Guy H Osselaere