Device to unplug combines cuts down work time

Jun 17, 2016

Four years ago, Richard Arnold was harvesting his crop at his farm near Hamiota, Man., when, as it had many times before, his combine plugged. He went to unplug it and pinched a nerve in his neck. For years he had been thinking there had to be an easier way to unplug it.

Arnold enlisted the help of his son Douglas, an engineer, to help. Together they came up with and designed the hydraulic ratcheting cylinder deslug wrench for New Holland CX series combines.

A combine can become plugged when weeds or crops get past the cylinder and plugs the beater in the combine. It can take anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes or more to unplug it manually. Combines do come with a factory wrench to be used to unplug them.

Arnold’s device, however, mounts permanently onto the the combine and uses the machines hydraulic system. It attaches to the cylinder drive pulley where the factory wrench normally fits. It can be locked so the cylinder can be rotated backwards or forwards on the spot to break up the clog.

“It basically is like a big ratchet, with a hydraulic cylinder mounted to it,” Arnold said.

To use it, you turn on the supply valve on the combine which then gives pressure to another valve. The valve can either be locked or put into a reverse position. When it is in a reverse position, it gets rid of the plugged cylinder.

The device can unplug a combine in five to 10 minutes.

Arnold and his son spent three years developing the product, then spent all of last year’s harvest testing it out on their own equipment. They debuted it at Ag Days in Brandon in January under the name Arnold Innovations. Response was great with them selling several devices.

Arnold is at Canada’s Farm Progress Show this week with it.

When farmers see the device they are normally impressed — as long as they have a New Holland CX series combine Arnold said. Currently it is only available on that model because that is the combine that Arnold uses himself.

“We are going to develop one for CAT combines this coming summer and fall. And hopefully we’re going to have it on the market for Ag Days in January 2017,” Arnold said.

Source : Leaderpost

Video: Will the 2025 USDA December Crop Report Be a Market Mover/Surprise?

Historically, the USDA December crop report is a non-event or another dud report as the USDA reserves any final supply changes to the final report in January of the following year in this case 2026. But after the longest U.S. government shutdown in history at 43 days and no October crop report will they provide more data/surprise and make an exception?
Our China U.S. soybean purchase tracker is now at 26.6% or a total of 3.2 mmt but for traders it’s taking too long to unfold.
The final Stats Canada production report was bearish canola and wheat projection a record crop in both (it adds to the global glut of supplies) and bullish local corn and soybean prices in Ontario/Quebec thanks to a drought. It will not help the fund flow short-term, the USDA may need to offset it?
A U.S. Fed interest rate cut of another 25-basis point next Wednesday (probability 87.1%) could help fund flow and sentiment in stock and ag commodities into year end.
More inflows into Bitcoin this past week saw prices rebound back above 90,000 with support at 82,000 and resistance at 96,000.
A V-shaped bottom in cattle suggest the lows are in after Mexico reported another new world screwworm case. Lower weights, seasonal demand and higher U.S. beef select/choice values with a continued closure of the Mexican border to cattle will result in a resumption of higher cattle futures into yearend.
Australia is expected to produce its 3rd largest wheat crop ever at 36 mmt adding to the global glut of supplies.
Reports of ASF in hogs in Spain the largest pork exporter in Europe could see the U.S. win more pork export business long-term.
If the rains verify into next week of 3-5 inches for Brazil it would go a long way to fixing the dry regions from the last 2-months, but the European weather model has been wrong for the past 2-months!
Natural gas futures are surging to the 3rd price count as frigid hold temps set in.
CDN $ is also surging to end the week on a very resilient economy and better employment numbers suggesting no interest rate cuts next week.
Finally, the CFTC report showed funds were net buyers of soybeans but sellers of corn, canola and wheat. In real time the funds have gone back to selling as they take some profits.