Abstract: A tractor driving system includes an overload coupling in which at least one latch plunger housed in one coupling part fits in a recess of a second part to establish connection. The plunger has or is part of a hydraulic system and can be forced out of the recess upon overload against the hydraulic pressure in the system and, in some instances, with the aid of centrifugal forces if the coupling is rotary. The plunger can be part of a unit that can be releaseably fastened in the coupling housing and set to trip upon torque exceeding a predetermined level on the coupling. Also, the plunger can have internal ducts or external conduits that include a pressure relief valve, as well as a spring return, which can effect connection upon reduced speed when centrifugal force factors are reduced. The pressure in the system can be set remotely with a piston that is spring loaded.

Abstract: A soil cultivating machine has a front row of subsoil penetrating tools and a second soil working member or row of members that work the top soil. The tools can be strip-shaped tines, at least some of which have plate-shaped elements pivoted to their lower ends. The elements or tines are connected to an eccentric mechanism that periodically raises and lowers the elements as the machine is operated. The second soil working member can be a row of tined rotors or an elongated further working member that extends transverse to the direction of travel and works the top soil from a direction that is different from the direction of movement of the strip-shaped tines. Intermixing the worked top soil and the subsoil is prevented.

Abstract: A cultivating machine has soil working members that are driven to rotate about corresponding upwardly extending shafts. Each member includes a generally horizontal support and a tine or tine-shaped portion at each outer end thereof. The lower straight part of each tine has a chisel that is detachably secured thereto so that a leading edge of the chisel, considering the direction of rotation of the soil working member, is positioned to cut the ground. The chisel can be in the form of a knife or blade or a polygonal member with more than one side being a cutting edge. Also, the chisel can be mounted to extend at an angle to enter the ground. A fastening portion of the chisel can be sleeve-shaped and fitted on the lower active tine part.

Abstract: An agricultural implement has a main frame and laterally positioned carrier frames pivoted to the sides of the main frame. The main frame extends forward to a coupling point for connection to a prime mover. The rear of the main frame mounts a hydraulic piston assembly that is interconnected to each carrier frame to elevate same into an upward tilted transport position. Each frame and carrier frame supports a frame portion having a respective group of rotatable soil working members positioned in a row to work a broad path during working operation. Connecting members on the carrier frames are connected to the central frame portion to raise same when the carrier frames are in their tilted transport positions. Latches supported on the main frame secure beams of the carrier frames in their tilted positions until release.

Abstract: The invention relates to an articulated tractor with two engines in tandem, particularly an agricultural tractor having a three-point lifting device. A unit having a selectively positioned drawbar adapted to turn about an upright shaft carried between parallel supporting plates is detachably fastened to the lifting device.

Abstract: A cultivating implement has a supporting frame and elongated tined beams, extending transverse to the direction of travel, located below the frame. Each tined beam is connected to respective eccentric mechanisms mounted on two rotatable shafts that extend in the direction of travel and the shafts are supported on frame beams. One of the shafts is connected to a driving shaft via a gear box that houses a step-up gear transmission and drives the other shaft via the beams. The tined beams are moved through circular paths out of phase with respect to one another and can mount tines that crumble soil or strip-shaped tines that cut vegetation. A supporting roller is adjustably mounted on the frame to trail the tines and further work the soil.

Abstract: A soil cultivating implement has elongated transverse carriers that mount tines and corresponding eccentric mechanisms that are driven by a common shaft to orbit the tines through circular paths. Each carrier is pivoted to the frame by arms and springs suspend the carriers from the frame. During operation, the tines are moved smoothly, up and down, and torsion affects on the carriers are reduced. The tines can be connected to the carriers by quick-release cotter pins or bolts.

Abstract: A curtain rod assembly manufactured primarily from extruded aluminum components, the curtain rod defining an elongated cruciform groove in its upper portion to receive therein a like shaped support part, a horizontal flange being provided at the rod's lower portion to receive wheeled curtain carriers, the rod being symmetrical about a vertical plane. In a modification of the rod, instead of a vertically elongated cruciform groove, a vertical plate-liked portion is provided wherein such upper vertical portion is fastened through horizontal bolts to an overhead support, a flange on the lower aspect with a horizontal cross piece defining tracks for the wheeled curtain carriers as in the first modification, this second modification also being symmetrical about a vertical plane.

Abstract: A soil cultivating implement has soil working members mounted for rotation about corresponding upwardly extending axes. A soil working tool, preferably one or more tines, is connected to a support of the soil working member by at least one quick release fastener. The tool or tine can be a torsioned spring steel strip or a rod that has a spring coil. Each tine can have one or more operative soil contacting ends that are spaced apart from one another. When the operative ends are located one above the other, the soil working member can work deep in the soil. The fastener can be a pin that extends horizontal and at right angles to the axis of rotation of the soil working member so that the operative ends can pivot to some extent about the fastener. The ends of each tool or tine can extend in different directions from one another and tines in pairs can be mounted on the same support. The support can include arms pivoted to the fastening portions of the tines by spaced apart pins.

Abstract: An implement has rotatable soil working members that include tines mounted on supports. Each support is formed by resilient interengaging strips that are clamped between an upper hub flange and a lower locking plate, the latter being connected to an upwardly extending driven shaft. The strips are bent to form rectilinear bases and outwardly extending arms of inner and outer pairs of strips. The outer ends of the arms are secured by respective upper and lower clamping plates which, together with the strip ends, form holders for tine fastening portions. When the soil working member is rotated about an axis defined by the shaft, the tines can deflect in directions tangential to the shaft and mitigate damage if any obstacle is encountered.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring particulates which are borne by a surrounding gaseous medium, such as found in smokestacks or the like, through interception of the particulates by a hot filament having a bias potential in the range of about 100 to 1000 volts whereupon each particulate decomposes into a burst of ions which is collected by a nearby electrode at ground potential, by counting those bursts which produce a predetermined total charge and, at the same time, measuring the DC electric current produced by the bursts and other ion exchange between the hot filament and the electrode. The filament operates at a temperature level wherein infrared and visible radiations are emitted, such radiations being monitored by a phototransistor which receives the radiations.

Abstract: A haymaking machine has rake members that are driven to rotate about respective upwardly extending shafts. Each member has horizontally extending tine carriers, the outer ends of which have holders with tines and a swash plate is mounted on the respective shaft of each member. A rotatable ring on the plate is connected to each carrier via a corresponding universal pivoted lever that turns the tines to a downward crop engaging position when in their foremost positions to raised crop disengaging positions in their rearmost positions, considering the direction of machine travel. Each carrier is a hollow beam and the beams of each member cross one another adjacent the shaft that defines the axis of rotation of the rake member.

Abstract: A tractor having two internal combustion engines which are spaced apart on either side of the longitudinal axis of the tractor and are covered with separate spaced apart cowlings, the driveable rear wheels of the tractor numbering four or six and being mounted on an axle extending laterally from a narrow part of the tractor's body, an enclosed operator's seat and controls spaced above the rear wheels, the seat and controls being selectively rotatable to positions 180 degrees apart whereby the operator optionally faces forward or to the rear, the tractor having forward and rear lifting devices substantially fully visible from the operator's seat between, in front, the spaced-apart engines, the engines, which are identical, being connected through clutches and a gear train to the rear wheels via a torque converter and to a power take-off shaft extending forward and aft, the tractor's frame being a central horizontal beam and cross-beams rigidly connected thereto.

Abstract: A feeding wagon has a wheeled frame and a reinforced, enclosed receptacle with an entrance through which crop can be loaded. The receptacle can be attached to the frame by hydraulic cylinder and swash plate assemblies that engage coupling points on upwardly extending supports that are fastened at the sides of the receptacle. The swash plates are pivoted to lift the receptacle onto the frame with the aid of guides. A crop feeding device, including a pick up and advancing member on an auxiliary frame, is connected to the front of the receptacle frame adjacent the entrance. After the receptacle is loaded by the device, it is transported to a site and separated from the frame. The sidewalls of the receptacle have openings that can be exposed so that cattle can withdraw fodder until the receptacle has been emptied. In the meanwhile, a second receptacle can be loaded by the same feeding device and on the same wheeled frame.

Abstract: A haymaking machine has at least one, but preferably two, tined raking heads that are driven to rotate about upwardly extending axes from respective mountings. The mountings are connected to the rear of beams that converge forwardly to a right angled junction and a common gear box. Crop passing between the rake heads is thus unobstructed by an overhead frame. A coupling near the junction is connectable to a three point lifting hitch and a pair of spaced apart plates form a pivot connected at one side of the plates adjacent the junction. A retaining element secures the beams in operative positions about the pivot. Each rake head has one, but preferably two, ground supporting cylinders that are positionable around the rake head's axis of rotation. A rear crop guide is pivoted to each rake head near its mounting by a quadralateral linkage that can be set in any one of plurality of guide positions.

Abstract: A mowing machine is connectable to a tractor's lifting hitch and power take-off. A row of rotors is mounted along the length of a laterally extending support that includes an elongated supporting plate pivoted to the main frame. The supporting plate can be an integral plate profiled to have an upwardly extending front and a channel section. Each rotor includes an upwardly extending shaft splined to a gear positioned beneath a hub and a cutting member. The drive to each rotor can be meshed gear wheels readily removable and replaceable as a unit or an elongated driving shaft housed in the channel section. The unit enclosed gear box can house all of the gear wheels or individual gear boxes can be fixed to the supporting plate. The cutting members can be then one or two blades or wires per rotor that are freely pivotable about upwardly extending axes located a substantial distance from the respective shafts which define the axes of rotation of the rotors.

Abstract: A tractor of width acceptable for highway travel having a narrow rear body portion between the rear wheels, the width of the body portion being less than the width of each pneumatic tire mounted on the rear wheels. Four or six rear tires which are rotatable on the same axis have the narrow body portion disposed centrally and closely between them, such body portion extending forwardly relatively to the rear wheels with the forward portion of the body, which is substantially wider than the rear portion, mounting an engine near the front wheels. A power transmitting linkage connects the engine with the rear wheels through the rear body portion which, with lateral projections, houses a differential and the necessary shaft bearings. A lifting device extends rearwardly from the rear body portion to behind the rear wheels and then extends laterally where it functions to scrape mud or the like from the treads of the rear tires.

Abstract: A cultivator or rotary harrow has tined soil working members that are driven about upwardly extending axes. At least one, but preferably substantially all, of the soil working members have an overload release between the driving system and the tines so that when an immovable object is encountered by a tine, the drive to the respective soil working member is temporarily disconnected. The release can be between two parts that are normally spring biased together to maintain the driving engagement to the soil working member. In one form, a pinion gear to the soil working member has an outer toothed portion that can rotate relative to a central portion that is connected to the rotary shaft mounting the soil working member. Ball members in channels formed in the central portion are biased radially into recesses of the toothed portion. In another form, ball members are biased radially to engage the soil working member to its corresponding rotary shaft.

Abstract: A cultivator-material dispensing combination includes a soil-working member that rotates about a horizontal axis forwardly, relative to the direction of travel, to displace soil over the top of that member to a screening at the rear thereof. A seed dispensing hopper has conduits that are supported on a hood that overlies the member and extends to the rear thereof. Material is metered from the hopper through outlets at the conduits' lower rear sides. Drive to the hopper is via a one-way transmission that is driven by a rear roller only when the combination moves forwardly. A further roller can be positioned to the rear of the first mentioned roller and a fertilizer hopper feed also driven to dispense material to the worked soil.

Abstract: A cultivator implement has a row of soil working members mounted on upwardly extending shafts. The shafts extend to meshed pinion gears housed within an elongated hollow frame portion. Below each pinion two spaced apart bearings support the shaft and the bearings are mounted in a housing that is bolted to the upper surface of the lower part of the frame portion. The lower part can be profiled to receive the housings which include an enlarged circular or rectangular flange which is bolted to the profiled lower part. Each working member has a carrier mounted on a lower shaft portion and a group of tines is journalled for free rotation about an axis located at each opposite end of the carrier. The tines are secured in holders on arms and are angled to trail with respect to their normal directions of rotation.