Abstract: A system for connecting a towing, pushing, or hoisting self-propelled vehicle to a non-propelled vehicle utilizes two, three, four or five links connected to each vehicle by respective ball joints. The links converge so that the centers of the non-propelling vehicle's forces and motions can be located at places favorable to the steering, stability, and weight distribution of the two vehicles, usually at or near the center of gravity of the self-propelled vehicle. The locations of steering and carrying centers are determined by point-centers or two- or three-degree-of-freedom linear combinations of line-centers where lines extended from the links intersect in points or lines of intersection. The invention includes apparatus for varying the location of the virtual steering and support centers when the vehicles are at rest or in motion, by changing the separation of the hinge points or ball joints on either vehicle.

Abstract: A system for connecting a towing, pushing, or hoisting self-propelled vehicle to a non-propelled vehicle utilizes two, three, four or five links connected to each vehicle by respective ball joints. The links converge so that the centers of the non-propelling vehicle's forces and motions can be located at places favorable to the steering, stability, and weight distribution of the two vehicles, usually at or near the center of gravity of the self-propelled vehicle. The locations of steering and carrying centers are determined by point-centers or two- or three-degree-of-freedom linear combinations of line-centers where lines extended from the links intersect in points or lines of intersection. The invention includes apparatus for varying the location of the virtual steering and support centers when the vehicles are at rest or in motion, by changing the separation of the hinge points or ball joints on either vehicle.

Abstract: A system for connecting, a towing, pushing, or hoisting self-propelled vehicle to a non-propelled vehicle utilizes two, three, four or five links connected to each vehicle by respective ball joints. The links converge so that the centers of the non-propelling vehicle's forces and motions can be located at places favorable to the steering, stability, and weight distribution of the two vehicles, usually at or near the center of gravity of the self-propelled vehicle. The locations of steering and carrying centers are determined by point-centers or two-or three-degree-of-freedom linear combinations of line-centers where lines extended from the links intersect in points or lines of intersection. The invention includes apparatus for varying the location of the virtual steering and support centers when the vehicles are at rest or in motion, by changing the separation of the hinge points or ball joints on either vehicle.

Abstract: In a machine for treatment of tree thinning residues and logging slash of the type having free-swinging flails pivotably connected to rotatable support structures at a pivot point, the improvement is made wherein each flail comprises a cutting blade containing the effective center of mass of said flail, and a plurality of side arms connected at one end of said cutting blade and having at the other end means for pivotal connection to said rotatable support structure, said means for pivotal connection being located on said rotatable support structure and the length of said arms being such that the distance R from the axis of rotation of said rotatable support structure to said pivot point, and the distance L from said pivot point to said flails effective center of mass having the following relationship:R/L=n/2where n is any integer from 1 to 5.