Crop harvesting platform having a reversible drive for the reel, cutterbar center-feed augers and conditioner rolls

A self-propelled windrower is provided with a platform including a reel which sweeps crop to be cut over a sickle cutterbar and into the nip of a pair of counter-rotating center-feed augers that, in turn, deliver the crop to the nip of a pair of counter-rotating conditioner rolls; and these driven components may be reversed to disgorge slugs of crop. The reversible drive includes a hydraulic pump carried by the traction unit and coupled to a motor carried by the platform. The hydraulic motor on the platform is coupled to power a main gear box which distributes power to the driven components of the platform. Operation of the pump is electro-hydraulically controlled with a single switch being operable to effect forward operation of the platform drive train, and with a second switch being designed to be moved and held in place to effect and maintain the drive train in reverse. Both switches cannot be operated at the same time, however the machine can be reversed with the platform lowered, fully raised, or anywhere in between.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Crop harvesting implements such as windrowers and pull-type 
mower-conditioners, for example, may use a sickle-type cutterbar to sever 
the crop from the ground. This crop is conveyed over the cutterbar and up 
the platform deck by a reel, moved to the center portion of the platform 
by a single or a double centering auger arrangement, then through 
conditioning rolls to be crimped to facilitate crop drying, with the crop 
leaving the rolls and engaging forming shields so that the crop forms a 
windrow or swath on the ground. If the flow of material in the platform is 
stopped by lack of machine capacity or a foreign object, a plug or wrap 
will occur. When this happens, the machine must be stopped and the plug or 
wrap removed. In most cases, this is accomplished by hand with a knife or 
other cutting device along with reversing the platform manually. This can 
be very time consuming. 
It is known on combines to provide a reverse drive mechanism including an 
additional hydraulic or electrical motor in the platform and/or 
feederhouse drive which may be selectively driven to back plugs out of the 
feederhouse and onto the platform. U.S. Pat. No. 4,467,590 granted to 
Musser et al. on 28 Aug. 1984 discloses such a reversing mechanism. On 
forage harvesters, a gear case, which may be shifted into a reverse drive 
mode, is used on the feedrolls to convey material to the cutterhead. If 
the cutterhead or feedrolls plug, the gear case is shifted to its reverse 
drive mode to cause reverse rotation of the feedrolls so as to back out 
slugs. 
While windrowers are known which utilize hydraulic pump and motor units for 
powering drives for various components of the platform and it would seem 
that the units could easily be reversed to clear plugs, a closer look at 
the drives, e.g., chain-sprocket sets and belt-pulley sets, reveals idler 
usage which does not lend to transferring power in reverse. Normally, only 
a place to couple a large bar for turning drive shafts or components in 
reverse by hand is provided and, in the case of the reel, belt tension is 
released and the reel turned backward by hand. In other machines, such as 
mower-conditioners, it is known to automatically cause the upper 
conditioning roll to be raised relative to the lower roll to permit slugs 
to be fed rearwardly between the rolls but no provision is made for 
clearing slugs in any area besides that of the conditioner rolls. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
According to the present invention there is provided an improved drive for 
the various driven components of a platform of a crop harvesting 
implement. 
An object of the invention is to provide a drive system for a platform 
wherein all of the drive components may be driven in reverse, in order to 
clear slugs of crop, without damage to any of the drive components. 
A more specific object of the invention is to provide a platform drive 
system including a reversible hydrostatic drive motor coupled through a 
gear train for driving upper and lower conditioner rolls, respectively, 
with at least one of the conditioner rolls being coupled by a chain drive 
for at least one center-feed auger having oppositely projecting support 
stub shafts carrying a toothed belt sprocket coupled for driving and 
timing a sicklebar knife drive and with one auger support stub shaft 
carrying a belt pulley coupled for driving a reel jackshaft carrying a 
chain sprocket coupled for driving the reel shaft. 
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a method of unplugging a 
slug of crop from the platform of a crop harvesting implement equipped 
with a drive train coupled for driving a reel, sickle knife, at least one 
center-feed auger and conditioner rolls, by performing the steps of (a) 
stopping forward progress of the platform and (b) reversing the direction 
of rotation of the entire drive train to thereby reverse the rotation of 
all of the driven components of the platform. 
Still another object of the invention is to provide a method of unplugging 
as set forth in the immediately preceding object and further including the 
step of slowing the reverse drive speed of the drive train sufficiently 
from a normal forward drive to an amount which results in the crop being 
kept under control so as to not damage the drive train nor the driven crop 
treating components. 
These and other objects will become apparent from reading the ensuing 
description in conjunction with the appended drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Preliminarily, it is to be noted that terms such as "right" and "left" as 
used herein are made in accordance with the view point of a person 
standing behind the implement and facing in the direction of forward 
travel. Also, some elements are described as occurring in pairs when only 
one of the two is shown, it to be understood that the element not 
illustrated is identical to or a mirror image of the one shown. 
Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a self-propelled windrower 10 which 
is an example of the type of implement with which the present invention is 
particularly adapted for use. Specifically, the windrower 10 includes a 
main frame 12 including a pair of wheel support structures 14 at its 
forward end respectively to which a pair of transversely spaced drive 
wheels 16 are mounted. An axle 18 extends transversely at a rear portion 
of the frame 12 and is connected thereto for swinging about a horizontal 
longitudinal pivot axis established by a mounting (not shown) between a 
mid-point of the axle with the frame 12. Respectively mounted to opposite 
ends of the axle 18 are a pair of caster-mounted wheels 20. An operator's 
cab 22 is mounted to an upper forward location of the frame 12 and 
contains various controls (not shown) for the windrower 10. An internal 
combustion engine 24 is mounted on a rear section of the frame 12 and 
provides the power for driving all of the traction unit components plus 
the driven components associated with the windrower platform. 
A platform or header 26 is suspended from the frame 12 for floating 
vertically during cutting operation and for being moved vertically between 
a raised transport position and a lowered working position. Specifically, 
referring now also to FIGS. 2 and 3, it can be seen that the platform 26 
includes outer, right- and left-hand sidewalls 28 and 30, respectively, 
joined at upper front locations by a knock-down bar 32, at upper rear 
locations by a cross beam 36 and at lower central locations by a sickle 
cutterbar sill assembly 38. Respectively spaced inwardly from the outer 
side walls 28 and 30 are inner right- and left-hand side walls 40 and 42. 
The platform or header 26 is suspended from a forward end of the frame 12 
by a pair of lower links 43 and a central upper link 44. Specifically, the 
pair of lower links 43 have rear ends respectively pivotally mounted to 
lower ends of the pair of wheel support structures 14 and front ends 
respectively pivotally mounted to the platform 26; and the upper link 44 
having opposite ends respectively pivotally coupled to a main frame 
bracket 45 and a bracket 46 fixed to a location of the cross beam 36 
approximately midway between its opposite ends. Coupled between each lower 
link 43 and a respective one of a pair of crank arms 47, respectively 
fixed to opposite ends of a rockshaft 48 rotatably mounted to the frame 
12, is a lift link 50 defined by a pair of parallel straps and including a 
float slot 52 in its upper end. A hydraulic platform float cylinder 54 is 
coupled between each wheel support structure 14 and the adjacent lower 
link 43; and a hydraulic platform lift cylinder 56 is connected between 
the main frame 12 and the rockshaft 48. 
Referring now also to FIG. 4, there is shown a platform drive structure 
including a power-distributing gear box or housing 58 bolted to an inner 
surface of the outer left-hand sidewall 30. The gear box 58 is vertically 
elongated, and bolted to an inner upper location thereof is a hydraulic 
motor mount casting 60 containing a horizontal gear box input shaft 62 
mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis and carrying an input spur 
gear 64. A reversible, fixed displacement hydraulic motor 66 is mounted to 
an inner end of the casting 60 and has an output shaft 68 coupled to the 
input shaft 62. An upper drive shaft 70 extends horizontally through and 
is rotatably mounted in the gear box 58 and carries an upper drive gear 72 
mounted in constant mesh with the input spur gear 64 and with an identical 
lower drive gear 74 carried by a lower drive shaft 76 that also extends 
horizontally through and is rotatably mounted in the gear box 58. 
Respectively mounted to outer ends of the drive shafts 70 and 76 are upper 
and lower roller chain sprockets 78 and 80. 
As best seen in FIG. 3, located in general axial alignment with the upper 
drive shaft 70 is an upper conditioner roll 82 which extends between, and 
includes oppositely projecting, axially aligned stub shafts 84 projecting 
through vertically elongated openings 86 provided in, the inner sidewalls 
40 and 42. Ends of the oppositely projecting conditioner roll stub shafts 
84 are respectively received in a pair of support bearings 88 carried in 
forward ends of a pair of respective support arms 90 having their rear 
ends vertically pivotally mounted to the inner sidewalls 40 and 42, in a 
manner not shown but well known in the art, so as to permit limited 
vertical movement of the upper conditioner roll 82 for a purpose explained 
below. A lower conditioner roll 92 is located in general axial alignment 
with the lower drive shaft 76 and extends horizontally between, and 
includes opposite ends defined by stub shafts 94 respectively projecting 
through holes provided in the inner sidewalls 40 and 42. Ends of the stub 
shafts 94 are respectively received in a pair of bearings 96 carried by 
respective bearing supports 98 fixed to outer faces of the inner sidewalls 
40 and 42. 
As can best be seen in FIG. 3, an upper telescopic drive shaft assembly 100 
includes a u-joint yoke 102 at its left-hand end connected to the upper 
drive shaft 70 by a coupling defined by an annular flange 104 welded to 
the u-joint yoke 102 and bolted to an annular flange 106 welded to a 
collar 108 keyed to a smooth tapered right-hand end of the drive shaft 70. 
The shaft assembly 100 also includes a u-joint yoke 110 at its right-hand 
end received on a splined end of the upper conditioner roll shaft 84. 
Similarly, a lower telescopic drive shaft assembly 112 includes a u-joint 
yoke 114 at its left-hand end connected to the lower drive shaft 76 by a 
coupling defined by an annular flange 116 welded to the u-joint yoke 114 
and bolted to an annular flange 118 welded to a collar 120 keyed to a 
smooth tapered right-hand end of the drive shaft 76. The shaft assembly 
112 also includes a u-joint yoke 122 at its right-hand end received on a 
splined end of the lower conditioner roll shaft 94. 
As viewed in FIG. 4, the forward or normal direction of rotation of the 
input spur gear 64 is clockwise, with the upper conditioner roll drive 
gear 72 rotating counterclockwise and the lower conditioner roll drive 
gear 74 rotating clockwise. With the drive operating in this fashion, the 
upper and lower conditioner rolls 82 and 92 are counter-rotated so as to 
feed material rearwardly therebetween. The drive sprockets 78 and 80 are 
likewise counter-rotated and their respective rotations are transferred to 
upper and lower center-feed augers 124 and 126. The upper auger 124 
includes opposite ends defined by oppositely projecting, axially aligned 
auger support stub shafts 128 respectively rotatably supported by the 
platform outer sidewalls 28 and 30. A roller chain sprocket 130 is secured 
to a left-hand end portion of the leftwardly projecting stub shaft 128 
outboard of the sidewall 30 in fore-and-aft alignment with the sprocket 
78. A roller chain 132 is trained about the sprockets 78 and 130. 
Likewise, the lower auger 126 includes a pair of oppositely projecting 
auger support stub shafts 134 respectively rotatably supported by the 
platform outer sidewalls 28 and 30, with a roller chain sprocket 136 being 
mounted on a left-hand end portion of the leftwardly projecting stub shaft 
134, the sprocket 136 being in fore-and-aft alignment with the roller 
chain sprocket 80. A roller chain 138 is trained about the sprockets 80 
and 136. Preferably, the chains 132 and 138 are each operated in lubricant 
contained in a fluid-tight housing 139 (FIG. 3). 
Referring now also to FIG. 5, it can be seen that mounted to ends of the 
oppositely projecting upper auger support stub shafts 128 are right- and 
left-hand toothed-belt, sicklebar knife drive sprockets 140 and 142 (FIG. 
4), respectively. The cutterbar sill assembly 38 supports a dual sicklebar 
including right-and left-hand sicklebar knives (not shown) reciprocably 
mounted, in a conventional manner such that inner ends thereof overlap in 
a zone between opposite sidewalls of the platform 26. The sicklebar knives 
are respectively driven from opposite sides of the platform 26 through 
right- and left-hand wobble drive arrangements respectively including 
right- and left-hand drive housings 144 and 146 (FIG. 2). Rotatably 
mounted in an upper end portion of the housings 144 and 146 are horizontal 
input shafts 148 (FIG. 5) and 150 (FIG. 4), respectively. Mounted on the 
shaft 148 in fore-and-aft alignment with and coupled for being driven from 
the toothed belt sprocket 140, as by a toothed belt 152, is a toothed belt 
sprocket 154 having a diameter approximately one-half that of the sprocket 
140 to produce a desired reciprocating speed at the right-hand sicklebar. 
An adjustable idler pulley 156 is provided for maintaining proper tension 
in the belt 152. Similarly, mounted on the shaft 150 in fore-and-aft 
alignment with and coupled for being driven from the toothed belt sprocket 
142, as by a toothed belt 158, is a toothed belt sprocket 160 having a 
diameter approximately one-half that of the sprocket 142 to produce a 
desired reciprocating speed at the left-hand sicklebar knife. An 
adjustable idler pulley 162 is provided for maintaining proper tension in 
the belt 158. The belts 152 and 158 are commonly called timing belts and 
operate so that the sicklebar knives are driven in a timed fashion 
relative to each other so that the reciprocating dynamic knife forces are 
counterbalanced to reduce platform vibrations. 
Located on the right-hand side of the platform 26, so as to balance some of 
the weight of those platform drive components located only on the 
left-hand side of the platform, are reel drive components. Specifically, 
mounted inboard of the sickle drive toothed belt sprocket 140 on a 
right-hand end portion of the rightwardly projecting upper auger support 
stub shaft 128 is a reel drive belt pulley 164. A jackshaft 166 extends 
horizontally and is rotatably supported, in cantilever fashion, by a 
double roller bearing (not shown) mounted in a bracket 168 mounted to the 
outer platform sidewall 28 for fore-and-aft adjustment at a location 
adjacent a forward end of the platform 26. A belt pulley 170 is mounted on 
the jackshaft 166 in fore-and-aft alignment with the belt pulley 164 and 
is coupled to the latter by a reel drive belt 172. An adjustable belt 
tensioning device 174 is provided for keeping proper tension in the belt 
172. The device 174 includes a fixed idler pulley 176 that is mounted for 
rotating about a shaft 178 carried by a support block 180 secured to the 
sidewall 28. A lower portion of the idler pulley 176 is engaged with a top 
surface of an upper run of the belt 172 at a location approximately 
half-way between the belt pulleys 164 and 170. A second idler pulley 182 
is mounted to one end of a triangular shaped bell crank 184 that is 
mounted for swinging vertically about the shaft 178, the pulley 182 being 
disposed for engaging a lower surface of the upper run of the belt 172 at 
a location adjacent to that engaged by the fixed idler pulley 176. The 
movable idler pulley 182 is biased against the belt 172 by the action of a 
coil compression spring 186 forming part of a spring capsule assembly 188 
connected between the bell crank 184 and an end of a crank arm 190 of an 
over-center lever assembly 191 including a handle 192, the arm 190 and 
handle 192 being fixed to a pin 193 that is pivotally mounted to an 
upstanding bracket 194 welded to the rear cross beam 36. The handle 192 is 
swingable between a downward tension-applying position, as shown in solid 
lines, wherein it loads the spring 186, and a tension-releasing position, 
as shown in broken lines, wherein it acts to release the energy stored in 
the spring 186. 
A reel 196 includes a pair of oppositely projecting stub shafts 198 
respectively supported by the sidewalls 28 and 30 such that the an axis 
defined by the stub shafts 198 is located approximately on a line of 
centers extending through the upper auger support shaft 128 and the 
jackshaft 166 at a location that is approximately transversely aligned 
with the idler pulley 182. A reel drive chain sprocket 200 is mounted on 
the right-hand stub shaft 198 in fore-and-aft alignment with a reel drive 
chain sprocket 202 mounted on the jackshaft 166 and is coupled to be 
driven from the sprocket 202 by a reel drive chain 204. The diameter of 
the sprocket 202 is much smaller than the diameter of the sprocket 200 so 
as to effect a considerable speed reduction between the jackshaft 166 and 
reel stub shafts 198. Different reel speeds are achievable by changing the 
size of the smaller sprocket 202. The adjustable mount for the jackshaft 
166 permits the drive chain 204 to be properly tensioned. 
It is important to note that the platform drive system described above is 
designed to be driven in the reverse direction without causing damage to 
any of the drive components. Specifically, the constant mesh gearing 
contained within the power distribution gear box 58 can be reversed 
without causing damage to any of the gears or to the conditioner rolls 82 
and 92. Also, because of their relatively short length and accurate 
placement of their support shafts, no idler sprockets are required to be 
used with the roller chains 132 and 138 in order to keep the chains 
properly tensioned. Therefore, changing the direction of rotation of the 
input gearing merely results in a change of the slack and tensioned runs 
of the chains 132 and 138 without causing any harm to the chains or the 
sprockets about which they are trained. Further, it is noted that a 
significant characteristic of the timing belts 152 and 158 is that they 
undergo little or no elongation during operation. Thus, operation of the 
timing belts 152 and 158 in reverse does not have any adverse affect on 
the belts nor on the sicklebar knives forming part of the cutterbar sill 
assembly 38. In normal operation, the reel drive jackshaft 166 is driven 
clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 5, with the upper run of the drive belt 172 
being the slack run of the belt and with the fixed idler pulley 176 and 
the spring-loaded idler pulley 182 taking up this slack. While reversal of 
the direction of rotation of the jackshaft 166 results in the lower run of 
the belt becoming the slack run, the spring capsule assembly 188 acts as a 
stop to limit the movement of the idler pulley 182, the idler pulley 182 
thus working in conjunction with the fixed idler pulley 176 to insure that 
proper torque is transmitted for rotating the reel in reverse. Thus, the 
entire platform drive is reversible to effectively discharge slugs of crop 
without causing any damage to the drive components. 
Referring now to FIG. 6, there is shown an electro-hydraulic drive control 
circuit 206 for permitting remote control of the platform drive. 
Specifically, the drive control circuit 206 includes a hydrostatic drive 
including a variable displacement pump 208 coupled in a closed loop 
circuit with the fixed displacement motor 66 by a first pressure/return 
conduit 210 coupled between a forward work port 212 of the pump and a 
first work port 214 of the motor, and a second pressure/return conduit 216 
coupled between a reverse work port 218 of the pump and a second work port 
220 of the motor. The pump 208 includes a swashplate 222 movable from a 
neutral position by forward and reverse stroking cylinders 224 and 226, 
respectively. Control fluid for effecting operation of the cylinders 224 
and 226 is supplied by a charge pump 228 having an inlet port coupled to a 
sump 230 and an outlet port coupled, as by a branched supply line 232, to 
solenoid-controlled, two-position "forward" and "reverse" control valves 
234 and 236, these valves being coupled to the sump 230 by a branched 
return line 238. In a manner not shown but well known in the art, relief 
valves would be connected between the pressure/return lines 210 and 216; 
and a source of charge pressure would also be coupled to the lines 210 and 
216 to make up fluid losses due to leakage. 
As viewed in FIG. 6, an upper end of the valve 234 is provided with a 
"forward" solenoid 240 which, when energized, shifts the valve 234 
downwardly, against the bias of a return spring 242, so as to route 
control fluid to the "forward" control cylinder 224 which acts to move the 
swashplate 222 to cause the pump 208 to supply pressure fluid to the 
pressure/return line 210. Similarly, the upper end of the valve 236 is 
provided with a "reverse" solenoid 244 which, when energized, shifts the 
valve 236 downwardly against the bias of a return spring 246, so as to 
route control fluid to the "reverse" cylinder 226 which acts to move the 
swashplate 222 to cause the pump 208 to supply pressure fluid to the 
pressure-return line 216. It is here noted that a stop (not shown) is 
provided for limiting the stroke of the cylinder 226 such that the 
resulting flow of pressure fluid from the pump to the pressure-return line 
216 will cause the motor 66 to be driven at about 25% of the forward drive 
speed of the motor. This slower reverse speed is desired in order to back 
out crop under control to avoid damaging platform driven elements or 
components. 
The control of electrical current to the solenoids 240 and 244, 
respectively of the "forward" and "reverse" control valves 234 and 236, 
from a source of electrical power, here shown as a battery 248 is effected 
by normally "open", manually-operated platform drive "forward" and 
"reverse" control switches 250 and 252, respectively, together with an 
operator presence sensing circuit represented by functional box 254 and 
including a "forward" relay switch 256 forming part of a latching relay. 
Specifically, a power lead 258 connects the battery 248 to a switch 
element 260 of the "forward" control switch 250, the switch element 260 
normally being in contact with an "interlock" contact 262 connected, as by 
an interlock lead 264, to a switch element 266 of the "reverse" control 
switch 252, which is normally biased into engagement with an "open" 
contact 268. The switch element 266 may be manually switched and held in 
engagement with a "reverse" contact 270 connected, as by a "reverse" lead 
272, to the solenoid 244 of the "reverse" control valve 236. Release of 
the element 266 results in it returning to its "open" position. Thus, it 
is apparent that the interlock lead 264 functions to provide power for 
actuating the solenoid 244 for shifting the control valve 236 to its 
"reverse" position only when the "forward" control switch 250 is in its 
"open" position. The "forward" control switch 250 includes a "forward" 
contact 274 connected, as by a lead 276, to a normally open switch element 
278 of the "forward" relay switch 256. The switch 256 includes a coil 280 
having one end coupled, as by a lead 282 to a branch of the lead 276 and 
having a second end connected, as by a lead 284, to a normally open, 
electronically controlled ground switch 286 forming part of the operator 
presence sensing circuit 254 and being operable to establish a ground 
connection only when the operator is in a proper position for operating 
the vehicle 10 and the switch element 260 of the "forward" control switch 
250 is in engagement with the "forward" contact 274. Circuit protection 
diodes 288 and 290 are provided for respectively preventing current flow 
from the lead 276 to the lead 284 and vice-versa. Preferably, the ground 
switch 286 embodies an electronic switching device such as a transistor 
connected in circuit with a capacitor that acts as a time-delay device so 
that the transistor is not turned "off" by momentary absence of an 
operator from a proper operating position. In the absence of the operator 
position sensing circuitry, as might be desired, the latching relay would 
be omitted with the "forward" contact 274 being coupled directly to the 
"forward" solenoid 240. 
Energization of the coil 280 results in the relay switch element 278 being 
moved into engagement with a "forward" contact 292 which is connected, as 
by a "forward" lead 294, to the solenoid 240 of the "forward" control 
valve 234. 
Assuming an operator to be properly seated for operating the windrower 10 
and that it is desired to cut a swath of crop, the header or platform 26 
will be lowered at the desired location in a field. The switch element 260 
will be moved to its "forward" location in engagement with the contact 
274. This will result in the coil 280 being energized which causes the 
element 278 of the relay switch being moved into engagement with the 
contact 292. The element 278 will be latched in this position until such 
time that the circuit through the coil 280 is broken by either the 
operator moving the switch element 260 into engagement with the contact 
262 or by becoming improperly seated thus triggering opening of the 
operator position sensor switch 286 and hence the opening of the ground 
circuit for the coil 280. In any event, latching of the element 278 into 
engagement with the contact 292 completes an electrical circuit to the 
solenoid 240 of the "forward" control valve 234 causing the latter to be 
shifted downwardly, thus, connecting the charge pump 228 to the "forward" 
control cylinder 224 resulting in the swash plate 222 being moved in a 
first direction from a "neutral" position for effecting the delivery of 
pressure fluid to conduit 210 and the forward driving of the motor 66. 
This results in the reel 196 being rotated and in the upper and lower 
conditioner rolls 82 and 92, respectively, and the upper and lower 
center-feed augers 124 and 126, respectively, being counter-rotated to 
feed crop rearwardly through the windrower 10. The sicklebar knives would 
also be driven by way of the drive including the belts 152 and 158. 
In the event that a slug of crop is fed into the windrower 10 which causes 
a plug condition, the operator will stop forward movement of the windrower 
10 and may, but not necessarily, raise the platform 26 from its lowered, 
working position. Next the operator will move the switch element 260 of 
the "forward" switch 250 into contact with the switch element 262. This 
will de-energize the relay coil 280 resulting in the switch element 278 
moving to its "open" position so as to de-energize the solenoid of the 
"forward" control valve 234. The spring 242 will then act to return the 
valve 234 to its "dump" position connecting the pump cylinder 224 to the 
sump 230 so as to neutralize the swashplate of the pump 208 resulting in 
no fluid being supplied by the pump. The operator will then actuate the 
"reverse" control switch 252 by moving, and then holding, the normally 
open switch element 266 to its "closed" position wherein it engages the 
contact 270. This completes a circuit to the solenoid 244 of the "reverse" 
control valve 236 which remains completed only so long as the operator 
holds the switch element 266 in its "closed" position. Completion of the 
circuit results in the "reverse" valve 236 shifting downwardly so as to 
connect the pump 228 to the "reverse" control cylinder 226 resulting in 
the swashplate 222 being moved in a second direction from its "neutral" 
position so that the pump 208 operates to deliver pressure fluid to the 
pressure/return line 216. The motor 66 is then driven in the reverse 
direction so as to reverse the direction of operation of the reel 196, 
cutterbar knife drives, augers 124 and 126, and conditioner rolls 82 and 
92. Due to the presence of a stop, the stroke of the "reverse" control 
cylinder 226 will be limited so that the speed of operation of the motor 
66 is only about 25% of its normal forward drive speed. Reverse operation 
of the aforementioned driven components of the platform 26 will cause the 
slug of crop to be disgorged from the windrower. It is noted that the 
sicklebar knives will also be driven in the reverse direction, which in 
some conditions will aid in the disgorgement of a crop slug. 
Referring now to FIG. 7, there is shown an alternate to the hydraulic 
portion of the electro-hydraulic control circuit 206, with like components 
being given like reference numerals. Specifically, there is shown an 
electro-hydraulic control circuit 206' wherein a three-position, 
spring-centered, solenoid-operated direction control valve 296 is coupled 
to an output of a variable displacement pump 298 by a supply line 300, to 
the sump 230 by a return line 302, to the work port 214 of the motor 66 by 
a pressure/return line 304 and to the work port 220 of the of motor by a 
pressure/return line 306. The direction control valve 296 includes a 
"forward" solenoid 308 coupled to the "forward" lead 294 and a "reverse" 
solenoid 310 coupled to the "reverse" lead 272. It is to be understood 
that a conventional pressure relief valve would be located between the 
lines 300 and 302. 
Operation of the electro-hydraulic control circuit 206' is similar to that 
of the above-described operation of the control circuit 206. However, 
instead of the swashplate of the pump 298 being controlled to reverse the 
flow through the pump, and hence the direction of operation of the motor 
66, the valve 296 is shifted to opposite sides of its centered, "neutral" 
position to effect a reversal of flow through the motor 66 so as to change 
the drive direction of the motor 66. Thus, energization of the "forward" 
solenoid 308, by moving the switch element of the "forward" switch 250 
into engagement with the contact 274 so as to effect energization of the 
relay coil 280 and closure of the relay switch element 278, will result in 
the valve 296 shifting to couple the output of the pump 298 to the 
"forward" motor work port 214 and to couple the "reverse" work port 220 to 
the return line 302. Energization of the "reverse" solenoid of the control 
valve 296 is accomplished by first energizing the interlock lead 264 by 
moving the switch element 260 of the "forward" switch 250 into engagement 
with the contact 262. The switch element 266 of the "reverse" switch 252 
is then manually moved and held against the contact 270 to complete a 
circuit to the "reverse" solenoid 310. This will result in the valve 296 
shifting to connect the output of the pump 298 to the motor "reverse" work 
port 220 by way of the line 306, and to connect the motor "forward" work 
port to the sump 230 by way of the return line 302. The motor 66 will 
operate in "reverse" so long as the switch element 266 is held depressed 
by the operator. Appropriate controls for the swash plate of the pump 298 
would be used to establish the displacement for resulting in the desired 
"forward" and "reverse" speeds of the motor 66, the maximum "reverse" 
speed being approximately one-fourth of the maximum "forward" speed. 
The pump 298 could be a fixed displacement pump in which case the reverse 
speed of the motor 66 could be controlled by placing a flow control valve 
of known construction in the line 306 which operates in response to 
pressure fluid being routed to the line 306 in the direction of the motor 
66 to divert part of this flow to the sump 230.