Abstract: A rotary-type earth-boring drill bit including a layer-manufactured, substantially hollow bit crown and an integral bit interior and bit gage. The bit interior and bit gage may be formed of a particulate material infiltrated with an infiltrant material. A particulate material of the bit crown may be integrally infiltrated with the particulate material of the bit interior and bit gage. Alternatively, the bit interior and bit gage may comprise a single cast material. The particulate material of the bit crown may be infiltrated with the cast material of the bit interior and bit gage. A method of fabricating the drill bit includes employing known layered-manufacturing techniques to fabricate the bit crown, positioning a bit gage mold adjacent the bit crown, and disposing a core material within an interior of the bit crown and a cavity of the bit gage mold.

Abstract: A reel for harvesters of the type including a leading platform with crop cutters and cut-plant collectors and conveyors, the reel comprising a plurality of parallel cross bars rotating around a driving shaft, the bars being driven by end transmission bands at respective ends of the reel, the bands running over wheels arranged in a desired manner to define a desired close path.

Abstract: A wide pick-up of a large round baler is mounted for floating or pivoting vertically about the axis of rotation of a rotary secondary conveyor that includes a pair of centering augers at its opposite ends. Provided at each side of the pick-up is a float spring assembly including a coil tension spring and an L-shaped link. Each coil tension spring has its upper end coupled to the baler main frame by a bracket receiving a rod joined to a spring end retainer, and has its lower end defined by a hook which is received in a hole provided in an upper end of the L-shaped link. The lower end of the link is defined by a short leg which projects forwardly beneath lower rear structure of the pick-up frame and contains a kidney-shaped aperture in which a cylindrical coupler is received, the coupler being fixed to a side member of the pick-up frame.

Abstract: The mower includes a frame which is supported for movement upon a plurality of ground engaging wheels and upon which are supported a motor generator set, an internal combustion motor and a plurality of reel lawn mowers. The motor generator set provides electrical energy for electric motors that drive the reel type lawn mowers. A housing encloses the internal combustion motor and motor generator set and utilizes a combination of passive noise abatement and active noise abatement to reduce noise generated within the interior of the housing. The passive noise abatement includes multiple sound abating linings, and the active noise abatement is provided at plurality of locations around the motor generator set within the housing.

Abstract: A method for replacing the concave insert of a rotary combine. The rotary combine includes a rotor having a longitudinal axis of rotation and a concave removably mounted adjacent the rotor. The concave is removable in a direction outwardly transverse relative to the axis of rotation of the rotor. In a preferred embodiment, a concave assembly includes a longitudinally extending frame having first and second sides spaced circumferentially around the rotor. Each of the first and second sides is transversely moveable relative to the axis of rotation of the rotor. A concave insert is removably mounted to the frame.

Abstract: A twin-lever drive wheel steering mower for a sitting operator with each lever independently controlling a brake and the speed of each drive wheel through a separate hydraulic pump and motor transmission. A brake positioned on each drive wheel; a pair of pivotally mounted steering levers, each controlling one of said pumps mounted on the mower for longitudinal movement, each steering lever is connected independently to the swash plate of its controlled pump providing variable speeds forward, reverse, and a neutral zero flow position; linkage members connecting the steering levers for each wheel to said brake on each wheel; a pair of T-shaped slots having a lateral leg in a cover plate surrounding each of the steering levers allowing the levers to move laterally outward in the lateral leg to engage the brakes only in the neutral position.

Abstract: A self-propelled mower includes a frame and a mower housing mounted underbelly relative to the frame by a mounting assembly. The mounting assembly allows the mower housing to be disconnected from the frame and swung near the front of the housing from a mowing configuration to an access configuration as a front end of the mower is raised. The frame includes a yoke that receives a nose of the housing, as the front of the mower is raised.

Abstract: Yield monitor apparatus and methods for a forage processing machinery are provided. The yield monitor measures a forage yield by variously measuring a forage impingement force, a forage volume flow, a forage volume increment accumulation, or a forage processing machinery drive load. The yield monitor may generate a yield amount, with the yield amount capable of being stored and displayed to a forage processing machinery operator. Alternatively, the yield monitor may generate a groundspeed control signal that is used by the forage processing machinery to control a forage processing machinery groundspeed or other forage processing machinery parameters.

Abstract: A backhoe loader is provided with a reversible operator's seat having a first working position facing the loader and a second working position facing the backhoe. A first hydraulic pump directs pressurized hydraulic fluid through a first supply line to loader control valves, stabilizer control valves and backhoe control valves that are mounted in series. A second hydraulic pumps directs pressurized hydraulic fluid through a second supply line to the first supply line upstream from the loader control valves. The second supply line is provided with a two-position solenoid valve. In its first position, the valve directs pressurized hydraulic fluid from the second hydraulic pump to sump. In its second position, the valve directs pressurized hydraulic fluid from the second hydraulic pump to the first supply line. The solenoid of the two-position solenoid valve is in electrical communication with a seat switch signaling the working position of the operator's seat.

Abstract: A soil tiller assembly for plowing multiple independent rows of soil includes a frame and attached thereto a coulter, a pair of tiller discs, a pair of secondary coulters, and a tilling assembly including a tiller wheel. The perimeter of the tiller wheel has a plurality of blades attached thereto, and the blades are rotated in the direction opposite each of the other blades described above. The soil tiller assembly is used to build up separate rows of plowed soil, which will prevent overtilling of the soil. Furthermore, the preferred method of operation allows the operator to build multiple rows of soil, delay contact of the soil for several months, and then plant seed in the rows of soil, such that the soil will receive required nutrients during the period of delay while further limiting erosion.

Abstract: A rotary cutter includes a hitch comprising upper and lower arm sections which define a parallel linkage extending between the deck of the rotary cutter and a ball clevis forming a forward end of the hitch. The ball clevis includes identical upper and lower halves which include block-like rear portions that are clamped together so that a ball is releasably retained between ring-like front portions of the clevis. Leveling of the deck is accomplished by a pair of adjustable leveling mechanism respectively coupled between rear parts of the separate arm sections and the deck. Provision is made for mounting a jack stand to one side of the clevis and for storing the jack stand on the deck.

Abstract: An axial displacement mechanism for precisely adjusting the axial displacement of a turret plate relative to a turret table is disclosed. Turret tables are commonly used to support a workpiece such as the hollow tubular section of a tin box immediately prior to the seaming of a lid thereto and are commonly angularly indexed between a plurality, usually four, separate work stations disposed above the turret plate. The turret table is rigidly secured to a frame while the turret plate must be capable of being axially displaced relative thereto to suit a variety of different components. The turret plate is rigidly secured to an annular bush through a central aperture of which passes a cylindrical screw, the threads of which engage in corresponding threads in the inner annular surface of the bush. The screw abuts an axially fixed portion secured to or being a drive spindle which imparts motion to said fixed portion, said annular bush and said screw to cause the turret plate to rotate.

Abstract: A foot pedal lift system is provided for the mower deck of a lawn or garden tractor. The foot pedal is pivotally mounted to the frame of the tractor and is linked to the linkage arms which suspend the mower deck from the frame. The pedal is movable between a depressed forward position to raise the mower deck to a transport position and a retracted rearward position to move the mower deck to a lower removal position. The pedal can be locked in the depressed or retracted positions by a latch pivotally mounted on the exterior of the tractor console. Engagement and disengagement of the latch with the foot pedal is controlled by a handle mounted on the console connected to the latch by an elongated connecting rod. Pulling upwardly on the handle locks the latch into engagement with the foot pedal in both the depressed and retracted positions. Pushing downwardly on the handle disengages the latch from the foot pedal so that the mower deck is free to move upwardly or downwardly.

Abstract: A lawn rake includes a number of tines attached onto a rake member, and a single presser bar disposed across the tines and secured to the rake member for easily and quickly securing the tines to the rake member. A number of seats are formed on the rake member, the presser bar is engaged through the seats. The rake member has one or more spring latches engaged with the presser bar for securing the presser bar to the rake member. The tines each includes a bent end engaged into the rake member for being solidly secured to the rake member.

Abstract: A fruit removal assembly forming part of a mobile fruit harvester has a single motor for orbiting two pairs of oppositely disposed panels to which are mounted a plurality of longitudinally extending fingers which penetrate a fruit tree canopy and dislodge fruit. The motor is coupled to the panels by a mechanical drive and thereby provides for synchronized simultaneous movement of the panels. The panels are coupled to a structural frame for supporting the panels and tethers fixed to an anchor positioned to space the tethers from the structural frame at an intermediate portion between the panels and the structural frame are provided to align the panels and mitigate the occurrence of collisions between orbiting panels.

Abstract: An on-board cotton harvester baling system includes first and second balers mounted side-by-side on the frame of a cotton harvester adjacent a single accumulator that extends generally the width of the balers. One of two sets of metering rollers located at the bottom of the accumulator is selectively activated to feed cotton to the first baler. A reversible auger extending the width of the accumulator moves cotton withing the accumulator towards the activated set of metering rolls to assure a continued supply of material for the operating baler. When the first bale is fully formed, the opposite set of metering rolls and the second baler are activated, and the auger is reversed. The completed bale can be easily unloaded while the second baler operates so that cotton harvester operation.

Abstract: A doffer assembly for doffing cotton from the saw drum of a cotton cleaner includes a plurality of brushes supported by channels and clamps in a drum configuration. A first nut on an easily accessible radial retaining bolt tightened against a special clamp secure the brush in place, and the same bolt and a second nut hold the corresponding doffer channel. The special clamp has a first leg positioned over a corner of the channel so the brush is held securely. A second brush-protecting leg extending up in front of the brush removes foreign matter that lodges on the saw drum. The channels are protected by the clamp, and the clamp is easily replaceable if damaged.

Abstract: A two-piece retainer for securing a pivot tube of a combine feederhouse to a combine frame, having a first piece made of a polymer material and a second piece made of a metal material.

Abstract: A harvester system for separating ripe fruit such as tomatoes from harvested plants includes first and second sorters for detecting and sorting loose fruit and accepting or rejecting the loose fruit on the basis of the detected color and a transport conveyor for recycling rejected loose fruit from the second sorter back through the first sorter.

Abstract: The sprinkler head edging device has a cutting assembly attached to a handle or other device such as a powered rotational device. The cutting assembly has cutting blades attached which are oriented to cut and remove grass, weeds, dirt and other materials from around the periphery of a sprinkler head. The cutting assembly housing is generally a hollow cylindrical shape and may have a different diameter at each end of the housing for ease in changing the cutting head to accomodated varying size sprinkler heads. In the instance of the variable shaped housing the cutting assembly is rotatably attached to the handle or other device.