An agricultural machine includes at least one processing device for harvested material and a drive train for the at least one processing device. The drive train has an output transmission stage with an output shaft for the at least one processing device. The output transmission stage includes an input gear and a grooved shaft connected in a non-rotatable manner to the input gear and the output shaft in such a manner that a drive connection between the input gear and the output shaft is achieved via the grooved shaft. The grooved shaft is provided with a ring groove defining a predetermined breaking point. The ring groove is configured in the drive flow direction between the input gear and the output shaft, and the grooved shaft is accessible through an assembly opening on an input gear side of the grooved shaft. The assembly opening is axially aligned with the grooved shaft.

A bearing assembly engaged with an end of a rotatable shaft. The assembly includes a hub defining a first bore extending between a first opening at a first end of the hub and a second opening at a second end of the hub. A bearing sleeve engaged in the first bore defines a second bore. The shaft's end is inserted through a first opening in the second bore. A sealed bearing located between the bearing sleeve and the hub's interior surface enables relative rotation therebetween. A first sealing mechanism seals the first bore's first opening and a second sealing mechanism seals the second openings of both of the first and second bores. The first sealing mechanism includes an L-shaped ring circumscribing the bearing sleeve and a rubber sealing member. The second sealing mechanism includes a hemispherical region and flange secured to the hub by a retaining ring.

A roller is connected to a harvesting platform for movement with a combine over a ground surface in a direction of travel. The roller includes a first portion defining a first diameter and including a first material, and a second portion defining a second diameter and including a second material. The second diameter is greater than the first diameter. The second portion substantially surrounds the first portion, the second material has different material properties than the first material. The roller extends in the direction of travel and rotates about a second axis which extends generally parallel to the direction of travel.

A bearing unit for agricultural use, the bearing unit comprising: a rolling bearing, a housing body for the rolling bearing, and a sealing device for preventing the entry into the rolling bearing of contaminants. The sealing device in turn having, at least on one side of the rolling bearing, a first sealing level defined by at least one sliding-contact sealing lip and a second sealing level arranged in series with the first sealing level along an axis of symmetry of the rolling bearing. The sealing device defining a labyrinth for preventing the entry of contaminants into the first sealing level.

A greaseless bushing assembly for the gauge wheel arms of an agricultural row planter. The greaseless bushing includes an outer threaded tube for threaded mounting within the gauge wheel arm, and an internal non-metallic sleeve through which the wheel bolt extends for mounting the gauge wheel onto the arm. The sleeve provides dry lubrication for the bushing. The bushing may also include a lip or wiper seal at each end to prevent entry of dust into the bushing.

A rotary milking platform (1) comprises a platform (3) having a circular carrier beam (7) secured to the underside of the platform (3). The carrier beam (7) is supported on a plurality of support elements (10), each of which comprise a freely rotatable roller (35) which is configured to rollably engage an under surface (38) of the carrier beam (7). Each support element (10) comprises an anchor plate (27) adjustably mounted on a corresponding ground engaging element (20) which is secured to the ground. A carrier plate (40) is carried on four guide bolts (50) extending upwardly from the anchor plate (27). Side members (41) extending downwardly from the carrier plate (40) rotatably carry the roller (35). Compression springs (59) acting between abutment washers (55) secured to the guide bolts (50) and the carrier plate (40) urge the carrier plate (40) against heads (53) of the guide bolts (50). The compression springs (59) accommodate downward and upward movement of the roller (35) in order to accommodate rising and falling of the under surface (38) of the beam (7). The compression springs (59) permit tilting movement of the roller (35) about a tilt axis (61) which extends in the direction of motion of the beam (7) in order to facilitate tilting of the roller (35) to follow any non-horizontality of the under surface (38) of the beam (7). The tilt axis is located just below a line of contact (67) of the roller (35) with the under surface (38) of the beam (7) to minimise lateral movement of the roller relative to the beam (7) as the roller (35) tilts about the tilt axis.

A transmission housing (2) including two housing elements (9) that can be positioned to press against each other and that in the assembled state define: a cavity (13); a shaft (6) projecting at least in part from the housing; a motion transmission mechanism (30) for transmitting motion to said shaft (6), the motion transmission mechanism (30) being housed at least in part inside the cavity (13) of the housing (2); and adhesive connection means (16) for connecting together housing elements (9) that are arranged in the zone where said housing elements (9) are pressed together and referred to as a join plane (10). The adhesive connection means (16) include a main channel (163) for receiving adhesive surrounding said cavity (13), said main channel (163) comprising a female element (1631) carried by a housing element (9) and a male element (1632) carried by the other housing element (9) with the male element (1632) being engaged at least in part in the female element (1631) in the assembled-together state of said housing elements (9).

In one embodiment, an apparatus, comprising: a housing; a spherical bearing disposed within the housing; a shaft disposed in part beneath the housing and penetrating a portion of the spherical bearing; a bellow circumscribing a lower portion of the housing and providing an interface between the spherical bearing and the shaft; and a cover adjacent a lower end of the bellow and having a circumferential groove configured to enable rotational movement of the bellow, the cover extending to and circumferentially surrounding a portion of the shaft to seal the shaft.

A transmission comprising a shaft (6) made as a single piece or as at least two shaft sections (6A, 6B) on a common axis, a drive toothed wheel (5) mounted to rotate freely on said shaft (6), and an automatically clutching clutch mechanism (8) arranged between the drive wheel (5) and the shaft (6) or each of the shaft sections (6A, 6B), the or each clutch mechanism (8) comprising: a clutch plate (81) mounted to rotate freely on the associated shaft (6) or shaft section (6A, 6B); a part (82) that is carried by and constrained to rotate with the associated shaft (6) or shaft section (6A, 6B); and a brake of said clutch plate that acts continuously on the angular speed of said plate (81). The brake (83) of the at least one of the clutch plates (81) is threaded on the shaft (6) or the shaft section (6A, 6B) carrying said plate (81).

A telescopic drive shaft in a protective tube of a handheld work apparatus has one end connected to a rotational drive and the other end thereof to a driven tool. The drive shaft includes a rigid shaft segment and a connecting section. The rigid shaft segment has a hollow shaft end portion and an engagement length (E) of the connecting section engages therein. The engagement length (E) and the length of the hollow shaft end portion mutually overlap to form a joining section. The hollow shaft end portion is deformed for connecting the connecting section to the rigid shaft segment. The material of the hollow shaft end portion is compressed over its entire periphery and deformed so that the material of the hollow shaft end portion is radially displaced and is pressed in a rotative manner onto the engagement length (E) to produce a balanced, loadable connection.