Abstract: A mulching mower mechanism, having an inverted U-shaped channel member positioned within the outer periphery of a cutting chamber of a mower deck for generally confining the clippings circulating at the outer periphery of the cutting chamber. The channel member extends generally across the mower deck's discharge outlet for generally diverting the stream of clippings away from the outlet and thereby serves to maintain the clippings within the deck to be re-cut by the blade. The channel member includes an upper and outer wall portions positioned adjacent the discharge outlet for generally blocking the clippings and air within the channel from exiting the discharge outlet. The channel member also includes an inner wall portion which separates the stream of clippings from the relatively clean air circulating within the inner portion of the deck.

Abstract: Leaves and other debris arranged in piles along a roadway are lifted by a flail-type rotary cutting device towed centrally behind a tractor. The device includes a containment hood having a forwardly opening throat which is adjustable to conform generally to the size of the piles for receiving the piles and restricting the material from being thrown forwardly from under the hood particularly at the end of a pile. The lifted material is delivered into a receptacle towed behind the cutting device. The rotary cutting device can handle leaves and other debris in states ranging from dry and fluffy to frozen and snow-covered. The tractor and/or additional brushes may be used for preliminary piles sizing and positioning. Brushes may also be added to the machine for additional cleaning action and to help part wide piles.

Abstract: An arrangement and assembly for making power connections during the hitching of an implement to a vehicle. The assembly includes mating halves of power connections located on hitch elements of the implement and vehicle respectively. Power connection halves are arranged so that the relative movement necessary between hitch elements of the implement and vehicle to accomplish their connection are also sufficient to cause coupling of the power connection. Alignment of the power connection halves is accomplished by a set of pins which engages a set of holes. The connector halves are resiliently mounted for axial movement in a direction parallel to the axis of the pins. Relative axial movement allows the power connections to be completed and the resilient mounting allows for a degree of axial misalignment.

Abstract: The feeding system for an axial flow rotary combine in which the separator is disposed generally fore-and-aft includes a dual auger feeder house in which a pair of side-by-side upwardly and rearwardly inclined augers are driven in such directions that a major part of the crop material handled is conveyed in a concentrated high speed stream between the augers and delivered in undershot fashion to be engaged by a separator infeed rotor for transfer downstream to a coaxial threshing section. In the preferred embodiment the infeed rotor and its housing are generally frusto-conical in form, the rotor including a frusto-conical core carrying four equally spaced axially extending tapered feed bars, each bar having a ramp-like cross section, with the rotationally leading edge of the ramp radially closer to the rotor axis than the trailing edge.