An apparatus for feeding or conveying grain includes (i) a conveyor for moving grain and having an input end and an output end, and (ii) a viscous clutch either directly or indirectly connected to the input end of the conveyor for transmitting torque from an input component to the conveyor in a variable manner. A method of feeding or conveying grain using the conveyor includes operating the viscous clutch to transmit torque from the input component to the conveyor.

An apparatus for feeding or conveying grain includes (i) a conveyor for moving grain and having an input end and an output end, and (ii) a viscous clutch either directly or indirectly connected to the input end of the conveyor for transmitting torque from an input component to the conveyor in a variable manner. A method of feeding or conveying grain using the conveyor includes operating the viscous clutch to transmit torque from the input component to the conveyor.

A bubble-up auger assembly for an agricultural vehicle includes a rotatable shaft having flightings and a first connection end that is configured to be releasably engaged with an input shaft for rotating the rotatable shaft. A tube surrounds the rotatable shaft. A linkage guides movement of the auger assembly between a raised position and a lowered position. In the raised position, the connection end of the rotatable shaft is positioned to be engaged with the input shaft. In the lowered position, the connection end of the rotatable shaft is positioned to be separated from the input shaft. As the auger assembly is moved from the raised position to the lowered position, in a first movement, the linkage is configured to initially translate the auger assembly in a first direction, and in a second movement, the linkage is configured to rotate the auger assembly to the lowered position.

A bubble-up auger assembly for an agricultural vehicle includes a rotatable shaft having flightings and a first connection end that is configured to be releasably engaged with an input shaft for rotating the rotatable shaft. A tube surrounds the rotatable shaft. A linkage guides movement of the auger assembly between a raised position and a lowered position. In the raised position, the connection end of the rotatable shaft is positioned to be engaged with the input shaft. In the lowered position, the connection end of the rotatable shaft is positioned to be separated from the input shaft. As the auger assembly is moved from the raised position to the lowered position, in a first movement, the linkage is configured to initially translate the auger assembly in a first direction, and in a second movement, the linkage is configured to rotate the auger assembly to the lowered position.

A combine includes a feeder housing that include a movable cradle frame at the front, configured to receive a header, so that a controlled movement of the cradle frame may be imparted to the header during a harvesting run. The combine further includes a driveline for driving moving components of the combine header. The driveline includes a belt drive mounted laterally with respect to the feeder housing. The belt drive is configured to transfer a rotation of a first drive axle that is part of the driveline, to a rotation of a second axle to which a drive axle of the header can be coupled. The belt drive includes two pulleys which are maintained in a common plane regardless of movement of the header relative to the feeder housing. The pulleys are rotatably mounted in a longitudinally extendable bridge structure, and are coupled to the first and second axles.

A self-propelled combine for collecting and handling harvested material and a method for cleaning and/or referencing an optical measuring device of the self-propelled combine are disclosed. The self-propelled combine has a bypass device with an optical measuring device for determining harvested material properties of the partial flow of harvested material.

A grain harvesting articulated combine of a forward crop processing power unit (PPU), a rear grain cart, and an articulation joint that connects the PPU with the rear grain cart and includes an auger assembly that moves clean grain from the PPU to the rear grain cart. Two pump circuits deliver power to a pair of hydrostatic motors located in the rear grain cart, one pump circuit hydrostatic motor driving the grain unloader assembly, the other pump circuit hydrostatic motor driving the ascending fill lift auger assembly, the drag auger assemblies, and the articular joint auger assembly. Power (inertia) can be harvested from auger assemblies not moving grain for startup or clog clearing of the other auger assemblies.

A grain cart and foldable auger assembly having an upper auger assembly portion with a discharge portion, a lower auger assembly portion with an intake portion, and a compound angle joint that allows the upper auger assembly portion to be moved between operating and transport positions. When in an operating position, the upper auger portion and the lower auger portion are offset from each other by an operating offset angle. When in a transport position, the upper auger assembly portion is offset from the lower auger assembly portion by a transport offset angle such that the upper auger assembly portions folded across the front of the grain cart in a non-obstructive and non-protruding manner.

A grain cart and foldable auger assembly having an upper auger assembly portion with a discharge portion, a lower auger assembly portion with an intake portion, and a compound angle joint that allows the upper auger assembly portion to be moved between operating and transport positions. When in an operating position, the upper auger portion and the lower auger portion are offset from each other by an operating offset angle. When in a transport position, the upper auger assembly portion is offset from the lower auger assembly portion by a transport offset angle such that the upper auger assembly portions folded across the front of the grain cart in a non-obstructive and non-protruding manner.

A crop unloader system comprising: an elevator assembly, a boom assembly, a flexible drive, and a tensioning assembly. The elevator assembly has a frame, an elevator drive and drive motor, and an elevator drive output. The boom assembly has a frame connected to the elevator frame at a boom pivot axis to rotate through a range of motion, and an unloader drive input. The flexible drive is operatively connected between the elevator drive output and the unloader drive input. The tensioning assembly has a tensioner link and a control link that are pivotally to each other and with one of the two links each pivotally connected to one of the boom and elevator frame. An idler wheel is on the tensioner link. The tensioning assembly maintains a tension load on the endless flexible drive within a predetermined range, throughout the range of motion of the boom frame.