Abstract: A rear end loader includes a hitch frame that is designed to be connected to the three-point hitch of a tractor. Connected to and extending rearwardly from the hitch frame is a lift arm structure. The lift arm structure is pivotally connected to the hitch frame such that the lift arm structure can be raised and lowered relative to the hitch frame. A bucket is connected to the lift arm structure and there is provided a hydraulic cylinder interconnected between the lift arm structure and the bucket for articulating the bucket. A flexible cable is connected at one end to the lift arm structure and extends forwardly therefrom to where another portion of the cable is secured to a fixed point relative to the three-point hitch of the tractor. Thus, as the three-point hitch is raised and lowered, the cable causes the lift arm structure to raise and lower relative to the hitch frame.

Abstract: The present invention entails a pull-type tobacco harvester having a mainframe, a tongue projecting from the mainframe, a defoliating unit mounted on the mainframe, and a conveyor assembly disposed adjacent the defoliating unit for conveying defoliated tobacco leaves from the defoliator unit upwardly and rearwardly to where the defoliated leaves are dumped into a trailing trailer. Disposed on one side of the mainframe is a single wheel while mounted to the opposite side of the mainframe is a pair of tandem wheels. The pair of tandem wheels are disposed so as to generally track behind a tractor that pulls the tobacco harvester through the field. In addition, the defoliator unit mounted on the harvester is a knife-type defoliator that comprises a series of bars that include knife elements thereon for cutting leaves from stalks of tobacco passing through the defoliator unit.

Abstract: The present invention entails a safe weapons system for a firearm. In particular, the safety system of the present invention comprises a non-fireable slug specifically designed to be received and accepted within a firing chamber forming a part of the firearm. The non-fireable slug includes an outer cylindrical tapered wall that is generally tapered to conform to the taper of the firing chamber itself and the slug is specifically sized such that it is designed to assume to seized or secured position within the firing chamber intermediately between opposed end portions of the firing chamber. Safety is realized because of the position occupied by the slug within the firing chamber. The position occupied by the slug within the firing chamber makes it practically impossible for the firearm to be chambered with a live ammunition round.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a chicken manure handling machine and system. The chicken manure handling machine is designed to be maneuvered inside a chicken house and is particularly used to automatically clean chicken manure from the chicken house between flocks. As the chicken manure machine is moved through the chicken house, a blade scrapes the caked-like chicken manure and associated litter up from the floor and directs the combined caked material (manure, litter, etc.) upwardly onto an elevator/shaker assembly. As the caked material is conveyed upwardly on the elevator/shaker assembly, the caked manure and associated litter is shaken, causing portions of the associated litter to be separated and to fall through the elevator/shaker assembly onto the chicken house floor where it can be reused by the next flock.