Abstract: A ground guide system for a trimming head of a powered vegetation trimmer, which may be of the type having a rotatable drum enclosing a spooled trimming cord and a bump feed mechanism on the bottom of the drum, comprises a housing above the drum, a hollow hub mounted within the housing and coupled to the drum for driven rotation therewith, an elongated mounting shaft slidably received within an axially extending sleeve fixed within the housing for upward and downward axially-directed motion, a spring for resiliently biasing the mounting shaft in a downward axial direction, and a ground guide threadably attached to the mounting shaft below the bump feed mechanism for adjusting trimming height. The mounting shaft includes an actuating ring arranged to operatively engage the bump feed mechanism incident to bumping the ground guide against a rigid environmental surface to restore a free end of the trimming cord.

Abstract: A rotary lawn mower characterized by an elongated framework presenting a rear power portion and rotor-cutter blade assemblies rotatable around wheel supported shafts connecting to said framework at the front thereof and featuring a cutter blade vertical adjustment operable in unison by a chain-sprocket arrangement for achieving uniform cutting. Vertical displacement of the rotor-cutter blade assemblies is accomplished by rotation of threaded members secured to decking overlying the rotor-cutter blade assemblies and vertically movable therewith. A power source serves to drive the wheels for the power portion of the mower and, as well, the front cutter portion, i.e. the rotor-cutter blade assemblies.

Abstract: A tool for reconditioning or restoring the threads of externally threaded members, such as bolts, studs, and the like, includes, in one embodiment, a collet having a bore formed therethrough with a portion of the bore defining a guide surface, and a threading insert that includes thread cutting means. In order to recondition threads, the threading insert is selectively positioned along the longitudinal axis of the threaded member with the thread cutting means engaging the threads of the member. The collet is placed over the end of the member and positioned such that the threading insert is received within a socket formed in the collet thereby retaining the threading insert in place against the externally threaded member. Rotation of the tool relative to the threaded member causes the cutting means to recondition the threads. In one alternate embodiment, the cutting means are associated with the collet rather than with the threading insert.

Abstract: A tapping device having at least two components for use in rethreading damaged threads in a tapped opening or for tapping an opening in a workpiece, wherein the thread cutting member is inserted into the opening and its cutting surface is held in place and is pressed against the work surface by one or more guide members that have also been inserted into the opening and wedged tightly adjacent the cutting member. The cutting member and the guide member are then rotated as a unit and threads are tapped or retapped in the work surface.

Abstract: A working vehicle, for example, a lawn mower, floor brush, or snowblower, is disclosed wherein a steerable ground-engaging wheel is located within the sweep of a rotary mechanism. A spindle portion of the wheel is journaled in a sleeve portion of the rotating mechanism and the mechanism is operatively connected to a power source by a power transfer system. The wheel and the rotary mechanism are independently rotatable. Apparatus is provided in both the single cutter and multiple cutter embodiments to adjust the height of the rotary mechanism as a unit. An alternate drive mechanism is disclosed for use with such devices in which a ground-engaging wheel interior of the rotating mechanism is individually powered. In another embodiment, the wheel is castered. Each of the rotating mechanisms includes a rotatable member rotatably supported within a receiving portion of a body which includes a plurality of support wheels.