Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for towing behind a vehicle, the apparatus comprising a body portion, a wheel, and a mounting member connecting the wheel to the body portion, wherein the mounting member comprises a hinge portion, and wherein the wheel is movable from a first position substantially behind the body portion to a second position substantially adjacent to the body portion via actuation of the hinge portion. Use of the apparatus is also described.

Abstract: A forage bale feed out apparatus is described. The apparatus comprises a chassis arranged to be operatively mounted on or in association with a vehicle in use; feed out means comprising a feed out roller having an axis of rotational symmetry about which the roller is arranged to rotate, a drive motor arranged to rotate the feed out roller, conveying means for urging a bale towards said feed out roller as the size of a bale diminishes. The feed out roller is located at a feed out region, and the conveying means is orientated such that the end of the conveying means proximate the feed out region is elevated towards the axis of rotational symmetry of the feed out roller. The apparatus further comprises a spreader tool adapted to spread and distribute the forage bale portions fed out from the feed roller at the feed out region, wherein the spreader comprises a roller having an axis of rotational symmetry about which the roller is arranged to rotate.

Abstract: A forage bale feed out apparatus is described. The apparatus comprises a chassis arranged to be operatively mounted on or in association with a vehicle in use; feed out means comprising a feed out roller having an axis of rotational symmetry about which the roller is arranged to rotate, a drive motor arranged to rotate the feed out roller, conveying means for urging a bale towards said feed out roller as the size of a bale diminishes. The feed out roller is located at a feed out region, and the conveying means is orientated such that the end of the conveying means proximate the feed out region is elevated towards the axis of rotational symmetry of the feed out roller. The apparatus further comprises a spreader tool adapted to spread and distribute the forage bale portions fed out from the feed roller at the feed out region, wherein the spreader comprises a roller having an axis of rotational symmetry about which the roller is arranged to rotate.

Abstract: A spreading apparatus (10) for spreading granular and/or pulverulent material such as grain, salt, fertiliser and the like is disclosed. The apparatus (10) includes a hopper (11) having a discharge aperture (12), a vibration unit (17) arranged for agitating material within the hopper (11), circuitry (22) arranged for supplying power from a power source to one or more material handling components of the spreading apparatus (11), monitoring the power drawn by the one or more material handling components and controlling operation of the vibration unit (17) in dependence upon said power. In various embodiments, the material handling components may include one or more of: a spreading disk (15) arranged for distributing material received from the discharge aperture (12); an auger (18) extending through the discharge aperture (12); and/or a conveyer belt arranged for conveying material from the discharge aperture to the spreading disk (15).

Abstract: A spreading apparatus (10) for spreading granular and/or pulverulent material such as grain, salt, fertiliser and the like is disclosed. The apparatus (10) includes a hopper (11) having a discharge aperture (12), a vibration unit (17) arranged for agitating material within the hopper (11), circuitry (22) arranged for supplying power from a power source to one or more material handling components of the spreading apparatus (11), monitoring the power drawn by the one or more material handling components and controlling operation of the vibration unit (17) in dependence upon said power. In various embodiments, the material handling components may include one or more of: a spreading disk (15) arranged for distributing material received from the discharge aperture (12); an auger (18) extending through the discharge aperture (12); and/or a conveyer belt arranged for conveying material from the discharge aperture to the spreading disk (15).

Abstract: A mowing apparatus including a body portion comprising rotary drive means (not shown) and a wing portion pivotable about a main axis relative to the body portion between a lowered cutting position and a raised position, the wing portion comprising rotary cutting means (not shown) arranged to cut the grass or other plant matter, the drive means and the cutting means being coupled through a limited range of angular positions of the wing between the lowered position and a partially raised position.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for loading samples into a gel of an electrophoretic gel system (EGS). The preferred sample loader includes a membrane having a net negative charge, net neutral charge or no charge (preferably nitrocellulose or nylon) which releasably retains the samples such that the samples are actively released when the membrane is inserted into the gel of an EGS. In one preferred embodiment, the sample loader includes a substrate having a plurality of sample loading areas extending therefrom. In an alternative embodiment, the membrane is substantially thick and serves as its own substrate. In another embodiment, sample inhibiting agents such as hydrophobic ink are formed through the membrane to inhibit the diffusion of samples between sample loading areas. Each sample loading area includes an affixed membrane. In use, one or more samples to be subjected to electrophoretic action are applied to the membrane before the membrane is inserted into a previously polymerized gel.