A harvesting reel of an agricultural harvester having a plurality of support members mounted to a frame and a plurality of tines press-fitted onto the support member is disclosed. The plurality of tines includes a cam for securely attaching the tine to the support member via a press-fit application to forego the need for any additional separate fasteners and tools necessary for production of the harvesting reel and maintenance upkeep of the plurality of tines on the harvesting reel.

A header for an agricultural vehicle including a frame, a reel rotatably mounted to the frame, and a reel drive assembly operably connected to the reel. The reel drive assembly rotates the reel in a first drive configuration and a second drive configuration. The reel drive assembly includes a first drive operably connected to the reel, and a second drive selectively connected to the reel such that the second drive is disconnected from the reel in the first drive configuration and the second drive is operably connected to the reel in parallel with the first drive in the second drive configuration.

A header for an agricultural vehicle including a frame, a reel rotatably mounted to the frame, and a reel drive assembly operably connected to the reel. The reel drive assembly rotates the reel in a first drive configuration and a second drive configuration. The reel drive assembly includes a first drive operably connected to the reel, and a second drive selectively connected to the reel such that the second drive is disconnected from the reel in the first drive configuration and the second drive is operably connected to the reel in parallel with the first drive in the second drive configuration.

A hydraulic motor drive system controls the pressure of the hydraulic fluid delivered to a motor by a variable pressure source to control the rotation of a high inertial load rotary member driven by the motor. The speed of the motor and/or rotary component is monitored and changes in the speed are controlled by changing the pressure of the hydraulic fluid delivered to the motor.

A plant pushing apparatus for mounting on a reel of a combine where the reel comprises a center shaft rotatably mounted at each end thereof to the combine header, a plurality of contact members mounted to the center shaft in a horizontal orientation radially spaced from the center shaft, and a drive operative to rotate the center shaft such that the contact members below the center shaft move in a rearward direction toward the combine header. For each contact member, a projecting shield member is adapted at an inner portion thereof for attachment to the contact member such that an outer edge of the projecting shield member is substantially horizontal and rearward of the contact member, and such that the outer edge of the projecting shield member contacts plant stalks, particularly sunflower plant stalks, and pushes the plant stalks toward the combine header ahead of the following attached contact member.

A plant pushing apparatus for mounting on a reel of a combine where the reel comprises a center shaft rotatably mounted at each end thereof to the combine header, a plurality of contact members mounted to the center shaft in a horizontal orientation radially spaced from the center shaft, and a drive operative to rotate the center shaft such that the contact members below the center shaft move in a rearward direction toward the combine header. For each contact member, a projecting shield member is adapted at an inner portion thereof for attachment to the contact member such that an outer edge of the projecting shield member is substantially horizontal and rearward of the contact member, and such that the outer edge of the projecting shield member contacts plant stalks, particularly sunflower plant stalks, and pushes the plant stalks toward the combine header ahead of the following attached contact member.

A harvester head may include a position adjustable reel having a first segment and a second segment, a hydraulic supply comprising a pump and a reservoir, a first plurality of hydraulic cylinders coupled to the first segment to reposition the first segment, a second plurality of hydraulic cylinders coupled to the second segment to reposition the second segment, a first bidirectional valve operably coupled between the hydraulic supply and the first plurality of hydraulic cylinders, a second bidirectional valve operably coupled between the hydraulic supply and the second plurality of hydraulic cylinders, at least one sensor to sense relative positioning of the first segment and the second segment and a controller. The controller may output control signals to the first bidirectional valve and the second bidirectional valve based upon signals from the at least one sensor to synchronize positioning of the first segment and the second segment.

A harvester head may include a position adjustable reel having a first segment and a second segment, a hydraulic supply comprising a pump and a reservoir, a first plurality of hydraulic cylinders coupled to the first segment to reposition the first segment, a second plurality of hydraulic cylinders coupled to the second segment to reposition the second segment, a first bidirectional valve operably coupled between the hydraulic supply and the first plurality of hydraulic cylinders, a second bidirectional valve operably coupled between the hydraulic supply and the second plurality of hydraulic cylinders, at least one sensor to sense relative positioning of the first segment and the second segment and a controller. The controller may output control signals to the first bidirectional valve and the second bidirectional valve based upon signals from the at least one sensor to synchronize positioning of the first segment and the second segment.

A telescopic reel for an agricultural machine includes at least one side module being telescopic relative to a central module for causing the reel to switch from a retracted position to an extended position. A second crosspiece of the side module is adapted to enter into a cavity of a first crosspiece of the central module when the reel is in the retracted position, and is adapted to be extended when the reel is in the extended position. The first crosspiece and the second crosspiece are provided with a crop lifting system. The lifting system includes a connection for connecting lifts to at least one intersection element of the reel so that the lifts can slide along the second crosspiece of the side module. The lifts are brought close to each other when the reel is in the retracted position and the lifts are positioned relative to each other and to the at least one intersection element, at a distance substantially matching that of connection, when the reel is in the extended position.

A telescopic reel for an agricultural machine includes at least one side module being telescopic relative to a central module for causing the reel to switch from a retracted position to an extended position. A second crosspiece of the side module is adapted to enter into a cavity of a first crosspiece of the central module when the reel is in the retracted position, and is adapted to be extended when the reel is in the extended position. The first crosspiece and the second crosspiece are provided with a crop lifting system. The lifting system includes a connection for connecting lifts to at least one intersection element of the reel so that the lifts can slide along the second crosspiece of the side module. The lifts are brought close to each other when the reel is in the retracted position and the lifts are positioned relative to each other and to the at least one intersection element, at a distance substantially matching that of connection, when the reel is in the extended position.