Abstract: A turf or soil aerating apparatus includes in one embodiment a carrier drum having a plurality of turf aerating tines pivotally supported thereon such that movement of the drum along a turf surface establishes a pattern of aerification holes in the turf. In one embodiment, a tubular coring tine is provided having a generally cylindrical elongated shank portion, a sharpened penetrating end and a bulb portion proximate the penetrating end, the bulb portion having an outer diameter greater than the diameter of the shank portion so as to substantially eliminate friction drag on the shank portion during turf penetration. The inner surface of the shank is sized to facilitate easy passage of turf plugs through the tine.

Abstract: A grass/lawn debris handling system for a lawn mower having a side grass discharge duct includes a rigid hopper mounted on the side of the mower proximate tha grass discharge duct. A substantially vertical chute mounted on the discharge duct communicates at its lower end with the duct and at its upper end with the front end of the hopper. Relative movement of the chute and the hopper as well as the selective disconnection and reconnection thereof is made possible by an oversized opening in the hopper for receiving the chute upper end and flexible seal means in the opening for sealing the space between the hopper and chute end. The hopper is supported on a lift arm pivoted at the rear of the mower. A cylinder provides selective pivotal movement of the lift arm to rotate the hopper into an elevated dumping position. A hinged hopper door of air-permeable material opens automatically when the hopper is elevated to its dumping position to permit discharge of the hopper contents.

Abstract: A turf aerator includes a wheel-supported frame and drive means for propelling the frame across the ground at a predetermined rate. A pair of substantially vertical tine arms each having a plurality of downwardly directed turf coring tines attached to the lower end thereof are mounted on the frame for alternate penetrating engagement with the ground. A tine arm actuating mechanism produces an essentially elliptical movement of the upper end of each tine arm, the major axis of the elliptical movement being substantially vertical. A rocker mechanism indirectly connects the lower end of one tine arm with the lower end of the other tine arm such that the horizontal movement of one tine arm with respect to the frame upon engagement of that tine arm with the turf produces an equal and opposite horizontal movement of the other tine arm and vice versa. The aerator produces a substantially vertical insertion and withdrawal movement of the tines and a resultant minimal disturbance of the surrounding turf area.

Abstract: A tine holder for turf aerating equipment includes a horizontal tine arm having a plurality of spaced apertures therein corresponding to mounting positions of the coring tines. The hollow tines are outwardly tapered at their upper ends and the apertures in the tine arm are of a diameter equal to the inner diameter of the upper ends of the tines. A tine holding bar disposed beneath the tine arm is provided with tapered apertures aligned with the apertures in the tine arm. The taper of the bar apertures corresponds to the taper of the tine upper end and permits the seating of the coring tines in the apertures with a small portion of each tine extending thereabove. A plurality of bolts passing through aligned bolt holes in the tine arm and tine holding bar permit a clamping of the tines against the tine arm in alignment with the tine arm apertures.

Abstract: A mechanism for driving the upper ends of a pair of tine arms of a turf aerating apparatus comprises an engine-driven crank shaft having a pair of cranks extending in diametrically opposed relation therefrom. A pair of pitman arms are each pivotally connected at one end to the upper end of one of the tine arms and at the opposite end to an oscillating link suspended from the aerator frame. A crank is pivotally connected to each of said pitman arms at a point intermediate its end attachment points. Rotation of the crank shaft produces an elliptical motion of each of the tine arm upper ends with the major axis of the ellipse lying in a substantially vertical plane, thereby maintaining a substantially vertical attitude of the tine arms.

Abstract: A tine holder for turf aerating equipment includes a horizontal tine arm having a plurality of spaced apertures therein having a diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the upper ends of the tines. The hollow tines are substantially cylindrical at their upper ends and abut the tine arm in alignment with the tine arm apertures. A tine holding bar disposed beneath the tine arm includes a plurality of tapered apertures aligned with the apertures in the tine arm. The tines pass through the tine holding bar apertures and are secured in position by split collets having frusto-conical exterior surfaces which seat within the tapered apertures of the tine holding bar. A plurality of bolts passing through aligned bolt holes in the tine arm and tine holding bar provide a tightening of the split collets to secure the tines in position against the tine arm.

Abstract: A self-propelled aerator including a chassis having a handle, an aerator rotor, and an engine having an idle speed. A throttle operatively connected with the engine is movable between a normally idle position for operating the engine at the idle speed and an advanced position for operating the engine at above the idle speed. An aerator drive is movable between a normally disengaged position rendering the aerating rotor inoperative and an engaged position drivingly connecting the aerating rotor with the engine. A control mechanism moves the aerator drive from the disengaged position to the engaged position before moving the throttle from the idle position to the advanced position and moves the throttle from the advanced position to the idle position before moving the aerator drive from the engaged position to the disengaged position. The aerating rotor is mounted on the rear end portion of chassis for rotation relative thereto, and the handle is attached to the rear end portion.

Abstract: The drive coupling assembly, which is adapted to drivingly connect together a drive member mounted for rotation about a first axis and a driven member mounted for rotation about a second axis generally coaxially with the first rotational axis, has identically arranged torque transmitting members mounted on the drive and driven members and connected together by a pair of resilient members extending transversely of the rotational axes. Each transmitting member includes a base portion for mounting on the associated drive member and driven member, first and second opposed wall sections extending axially from the base portion in spaced, parallel relationship on the opposite sides of the rotational axes. A first axially extending projection on the first wall section of one torque transmitting members extends in spaced, parallel relationship to a corresponding first axially extending projection on the first wall section of the other torque transmitting member.

Abstract: The rotary mower has a blade housing supported on wheels for travel along the ground and including a top deck, a front wall and opposed side walls depending from the top deck, a rear wall depending from the top deck and extending transversely between the rear portions of the side walls, and a plurality of cutter blades which are mounted inside the blade housing and are rotated in the same direction about laterally spaced vertical axes. A flexible flap extending transversely generally coextensively with the rear wall and extending substantially vertically down to engage the mowed grass forms an effective air seal substantially across the rear of the blade housing.

Abstract: The riding lawn mower includes a prime mover supported on wheels for movement over the ground, a blade housing carrying one or more cutter blades and having leading and trailing end portions, one or more ground engaging wheels partially supporting the blade housing for gaging the distance the leading end portion of the blade housing travels above the ground, and a suspension system mounting the trailing end portion of the blade housing on the front end of the prime mover and arranged to transfer a portion of the weight of the blade housing to the prime mover so that the prime mover front wheels gage the distance and trailing end portion of the blade housing travels above the ground.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a trailer for carrying a machine having a frame supported by a wheel, the trailer including a trailer frame having a forward frame end and a rearward frame end, and a ground engaging trailer wheel attached to the frame adjacent the rearward frame end for supporting the trailer frame for movement on the ground and supporting the trailer frame for movement between a generally vertical position wherein the machine can be attached to the trailer frame and a generally horizontal position wherein the machine can be supported on the trailer frame. The trailer also includes means for supporting the machine wheel connected to the trailer frame adjacent the trailer wheel, and a pivotable locking arm supported by the frame for releasably restraining the machine wheel on the wheel supporting means, the pivotable locking arm being movable between a first position wherein the machine wheel is restrained against the wheel supporting means and a second position spaced from the first position.

Abstract: A mechanism including a linear hydraulic motor for displacing the wing of an agricultural field implement through 180 degrees about a horizontal axis so that it lies inverted on the body of this implement. A special feature of the mechanism is that the arrangement of the line of action of the hydraulic motor is never such, when in compression, as to lift a guiding roller for a wing actuating link off the upper surface of a cooperative short horizontal flat track. From the time the roller first engages the track to the time the roller has been displaced to the far side of the track, the force acting on the roller is directed downwardly. The roller is mounted on a pivoted arm and during this time, the pivot axis of the arm moves steadily upwardly.