Abstract: A mowing machine has a main frame made up of driving units and intermediate pieces which are mounted alternatively on a tie member. The tie member is normally under tension to compress the driving units and the intermediate pieces together to make the main frame substantially rigid. The tie member is positioned substantially centrally of the driving units and the intermediate pieces so as to provide even loading of their mating faces. The driving units preferably have cutting units with flexible hoods. The cutting units are driven by a common continuous drive shaft through bevel gearing and the direction of rotation of each cutting unit can be changed by removing the gear and replacing it the other way round within the driving unit housing on the driving shaft.

Abstract: A spreader has a hopper the lower region of which comprises a wall portion which coincides in part with a sphere and contains outlet ports for material to pass at an inclined angle from the hopper to a rotating distribution member. The free aperture of each port is adjustable by a dosing slide. These dosing slides are controlled by an adjusting mechanism capable of displacing either one of the dosing slides without displacing the other.

Abstract: A soil cultivating machine comprising soil cultivating members which are rotated about upwardly extending axes and carried by a gear box which extends transversely of the intended direction of operative travel whereas behind the cultivating members a supporting roller is provided that is vertically adjustable on the gear box by means of carrying arms. Legal provisions in force in various countries limit the maximum widths of the machine for highway travel, for example, to three meters. The gear box can be limited to the prescribed dimension, by, at least at one end of the gear box, providing an end plate which extends above the gear box and pivotally engaging on the inboard side thereof a carrying arm for the roller. In this manner the outer surfaces of the two end plates for the gear box are exactly at a relative distance corresponding to the maximum width allowed while at the same time there is no sacrifice in the width along the gear box required for connecting the roller.

Abstract: A spreader comprises a hopper having two delivery parts. At the bottom of each delivery part there is a delivery member having an outwardly and upwardly inclined wall in which are which outlet ports. The bottom of the delivery member is closed by a distribution member. The inclined position of the wall of the delivery member in which the outlet ports are provided enables high rates of flow of material from the hopper to be achieved.

Abstract: A mowing machine has a main frame made up of driving units and intermediate pieces which are mounted alternately on a tie member. The tie member is normally under tension to compress the driving units and the intermediate pieces together to make the main frame substantially rigid. The tie member is positioned substantially centrally of the driving units and the intermediate pieces so as to provide even loading of their mating faces. The driving units preferably having cutting units with flexible hoods. The cutting units are driven by a common drive shaft through bevel gearing and the direction of rotation of each cutting unit can be changed by removing the gear and replacing it the other way round on the driving shaft.

Abstract: A tractor is provided with a wheel slippage control to regulate the load produced by an implement. Wheel slippage is measured by pulses received from tachometers measuring the rotation of a non-driven wheel and a driven wheel. These pulses are applied to associated counters, where the total number of pulses received from each wheel is continuously counted. If the difference between the counts of the counters reaches a preset amount, a signal is applied to the control valve of a lifting device attached to the tractor, so that an implement carried by the device penetrates less deeply into the soil. After the lifting device has been energized, the counters are reset to zero to continue counting until reset again.

Abstract: A tank for transporting and/or spreading fluids has a conduit at its rear and an air/vacuum source for moving fluids into and out of the hopper. The conduit terminates in a rear opening which may be an outlet or inlet and has a gate valve located between the outlet and tank. A coupling linkage system mounted on the conduit near the valve is capable of articulation to position either a fluid supply connection or a fluid distributor connection on the conduit opening. The linkage system causes the valve to be sequentially opened and shut responsive to the connection of the fluid supply and the fluid distributor. In one variation, the coupling linkage is pivoted to fasten either a supply pipe or the distributor to the conduit opening by a hydraulic ram. Thereafter, pressure is increased further to articulate the linkage and open the valve. The hydraulic system may also include another piston and cylinder to operate the valve.

Abstract: A soil cultivating implement of relatively large working width mounts a transverse row of rotary soil working members and the soil working members are carried in two side-by-side groups by corresponding substantially axially aligned hollow frame portions. Each soil working member is rotatable about an upwardly extending axis and directly connected to a power take-off of a prime mower. In order to enable the implement to tow a separate implement, a rear coupling structure is provided that includes rearwardly directed arms that are prevented from becoming bent, broken or otherwise damaged during use, and particularly during inoperative transport. The two frame portions are foldable upwardly and inwardly towards one another about pivots by hydraulic rams and a forward frame beam mounts a coupling trestle on a central beam portion. A carrying structure having rear coupling points is releasably interconnected to the trestle and secured in a relatively fixed position.

Abstract: A soil working implement has a row of soil working tools that displace soil rearwardly and laterally. A side-plate is pivoted to each side of the implement frame and positioned adjacent the outer ends of the row to arrest the lateral movement of the soil. An elongated supporting roller is located to the rear of the row to support the implement and further work the soil. Each side-plate has a lower rim that rides along the ground and a guide element is attached to the rear of the side-plate to extend inwardly towards an outer roller end. The element is preferably a blade that is inclined to displace soil arrested by the side-plate and prevent ridging. The blade can be integral or attached to the rim.

Abstract: A soil cultivating implement has a central frame part that extends substantially horizontally perpendicular to the direction of operative travel of the implement, the frame part has lateral arms tiltably connected to its opposite ends about pivot pins which extend in the direction of travel. Each lateral arm has a corresponding group of power drivable rotary soil working members indirectly connected to it and, a strong but simple frame which resists the high operating forces without deformation. The inner ends of the arms are each held between respective spaced apart cheek plates so as to be surrounded on three sides by those two cheek plates and by a respective connecting piece that rigidly couples the pair of cheek plates to one another beneath the corresponding arm.

Abstract: A soil cultivating implement comprising soil working members having tines, the members being arranged in a row that extends transverse to the direction of travel. A ground roller is freely rotatable and positioned to the rear of the row of soil working members. In order for the roller to support the implement on the ground and regulate the maximum depth of penetration of the soil working members into the ground, the roller has crowns or assemblies of projections which comprise substantially radial portions and outer end portions which are bent over laterally in opposite directions by significant angles and also rearwardly with respect to the direction of normal roller rotation. In addition, they are widened towards the end in the direction of their rotational movement. Scraping members are positioned between the successive assemblies or crowns of projections and the roller may have a central tubular shaft or carrier of a different diameter.

Abstract: An agricultural device for spreading granular or powdery material or both, particularly fertilizer, which has at least one distribution member that rotates about a vertical axis. A hopper has a dosing member which is disposed over the distribution member at its axis for feeding material to be spread around such axis whereby it is thrown from the distribution member by centrifugal force. At least one screen plate for deflecting the material so thrown is spaced outwardly from the circumference of the distribution member and is entirely located on one side of a plane which passes through the axis of the distribution member and is disposed at a right angle to the intended direction of operative travel of the device. The screening plate deflects the material impinging thereon vertically downwardly whereby the desired uniform characteristics are achieved in the distribution pattern of the material being spread.

Abstract: A soil cultivating machine has a frame portion extending transversely of the intended direction of operative travel and a row of cultivating members on that portion are rotatable about upwardly extending shafts. Behind the cultivating members there is a ground-engaging support roller pivotally connected with the frame portion by means of supporting arms. A mechanism, including a screw spindle or an hydraulic ram is provided for adjusting the roller in a direction of height to vary the working level and a locking device for fixing the roller against pivotal movement relative to the frame portion is also included. The locking device includes two parts that can be clamped against one another with relatively co-operating toothings interengaged. A resilient device on a rod of the mechanism is provided to allow relative movement between the co-operating toothings at the time of clamping the parts together.

Abstract: A haymaking machine has a substantially horizontal main frame beam with lateral carriers which are pivotable upwardly and downwardly relative to the main beam. The pivots define horizontal axes and pivoting takes place between a working position in which the beam and carriers are substantially horizontally aligned, and an inoperative transport position in which the carriers are turned upwardly relative to the frame beam through 90.degree. or more. Breakage of, or other serious damage to the drive transmission to rotary rake members of the machine is prevented by drivingly connecting a rotary shaft within the main frame beam to the rotary shaft segments housed within the carrier by double universal couplings which still allow the shaft segments to be driven when they are inclined to the main beam at 90.degree. or more. Also, the carriers mount crop guides that can be pivoted about horizontal axes and/or displaced relative to the rake members so as to function during either tedding or swath forming.

Abstract: A cultivating implement has an elongated frame portion that mounts a row of rotors that rotate about upwardly extending axes. At the lateral sides of the frame portion, screening plates are positioned to arrest the lateral displacement of soil being worked. Each screen is substantially vertical with its front part being linked to an overlying frame structure and rear roller that supports the frame portion. Parallelogram links arranged one above the other interconnect each plate with a support part of the structure. The links extend forwardly from the plate from pivot connections to further pivot connections. The connections define horizontal transverse axes that allow the plate to move up and down as it rides along the ground. The front connections are resilient members that allow some lateral deflection of the plate. The plate has an upper, rear bent over portion that allows entry of a supporting roller arm to a pivot connection to the supporting frame structure.

Abstract: A haymaking machine has at least one rake member, preferably two members, with tine groups that are rotatable about an upwardly directed axis. Adhesion of hay and/or other crop to the tine groups is greatly reduced, as compared with conventional constructions, by arranging fastening spoke ends between the helical coils of each tine group. A spring-loaded setting device is arranged to co-operate with a retaining bracket of each tine group to retain the tines, and corresponding tine carrier portions, in either a position suitable for swath formation or a position suitable for tedding operation. Each spoke end is substantially rigidly clamped between the corresponding turnably mounted coils of the tine groups and the spokes extend directly away from their connections between the coils towards the axis of rotation of the rake member. Guides at the rear of the machine assist to deposit the crop in swaths or the guides can be set to ted the crop.

Abstract: A tractor has an engine, a torque converter, a lifting device for attachment to an implement such as a plow, the torque converter being controlled automatically whereby if an engine-driven ground wheel starts slipping, the torque converter reduces the tractor's speed. Engine speed and the implement's depth of penetration are also automatically controlled in dependence on the retarding force caused by the implement. In another embodiment, a power take-off shaft is automatically disengaged if the retarding force becomes excessive.

Abstract: A soil compacting roller comprises a cylinder rotatably mounted between the lower ends of substantially vertical limbs of two side supports. The cylinder is surrounded by a plurality of larger diameter rings which extend in relatively spaced apart, side-by-side relationship along the length of the cylinder. The roller also includes an internal tubular or rod supporting member spaced above the cylinder so that the rings are rotatable about that member and the cylinder entirely independently of one another. Guide members extend between the successively neighboring rings to keep them in position axially of the cylinder and to assist in dislodging adhering mud from the interiors and exteriors of the rings. The guide members can be in the form of pivotally mounted strips, spring steel rods, annular flanges carried at regular intervals along the cylinder, pairs of lugs carried by the supporting member or rotatably mounted circumferentially toothed discs which extend between the successive rings.

Abstract: A raking machine has at least one circular tined rake member that is rotatable about an upwardly and forwardly inclined axis of rotation. The tines are pivotably mounted on the outer perimeter of the rake member to turn about horizontal pivot axes. Preferably, the diameter of the rake member is defined by the path described by the tips of the tines in operation and is 2 to 3.3 meters. During operation, the tines, viewed in plan are directed outwardly from the perimeter and rearwardly with respect to the direction of rotation so that with travelling speeds over the ground between 6 and 12 kms/hour and when the member is driven at a speed of rotation of 80 rev/min., the tine at the front of the rake member at any moment extends at an angle of about 45.degree. to 90.degree.

Abstract: A device for displacing crop lying on the ground such as a side-delivery rake or tedder, has a frame supporting a row of ground-driven rake wheels each of which is movable up and down with respect to the frame. The device can be coupled to a tractor by a fastening structure that includes a frame portion passed through a central hole in one rake wheel. The frame portion connects the beam carrying the rake wheels, to a drawbar of the frame portion. By passing the frame portion through the rake wheel, the fastening structure can be of minimal dimensions reducing the damaging effect of forces applied to the fastening structure during use of the device. The rake wheels are similar to one another except the wheel with a central hole. The hole is surrounded by a circular hub rotatably mounted on fixed rollers on a structure connected to the frame.