International Harvester Company

Caterpillar Tractor Co.

Richard W Staiert

Eugene J Krukow

Richard A DePauw

A weld joint structure (12) is provided for a flexible coupling (10) having an inner hub (38), an outer cup (40), and an elastomeric ring (42) for torsional vibration protection of a drive train (14). The outer cup (40) defines an integral radially inwardly disposed tubular portion (64) having an internal seat (68), and an adapter member (70) of different ferrous material composition has an external seat (74) that is connected to the cup (40) by an annular weld joint (78). Preferably, the cup (40) abuts a shoulder (76) on the adapter member (70) where the weld joint is located, and a reverse bend transition portion (62) on the cup (40) functions with the tubular portion (64) to minimize bending loads on the weld joint.

Weld joint structure for an elastomeric flexible coupling

A self-propelled crop harvesting combine having a variable speed crop threshing and separating rotor. The crop material is delivered from a conventional cleaning system into a grain holding tank. A system is provided to determine the ratio of damaged to undamaged grain from predetermined amounts of grain delivered to the grain tank. An electronic control system varies the speed of the rotor in response to changes in the ratio whereby the speed of the threshing mechanism is automatically varied to minimize grain damage in the threshing process.

Crop damage responsive control of rotor speed

A self-propelled combine for harvesting a crop and including a crop threshing and separating mechanism and a feeder for feeding crop material into the threshing and separating mechanism. The feeder has an electro-hydraulic control system for engaging and disengaging drive to the feeder. An electronic control system monitors the speed of the feeder drive and actuates the electro-hydraulic control system to disengage the feeder drive in response to sensing feeder drive speed below a predetermined minimum.

Combine feeder drive control

A self-propelled axial flow combine having a crop harvesting header for supplying crop material to a longitudinally oriented rotor power-rotated within a generally cylindrical casing. The casing includes a grate through which crop material is impelled at high speed by the rotor. The combine includes a grain cleaning system having a chaffer sieve reciprocably mounted to receive crop material from the grate for sifting the material as a part of the cleaning process. Crop sensors are mounted on the chaffer sieve to sense material flow from the grate. In addition, crop sensors are mounted at the rear of the chaffer sieve for sensing crop losses from the sieve.

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Geneseo, IL, United States of America

Richard W Staiert