Abstract: A method of soil preparation simultaneously ploughs soil and tills soil ploughed in a previous pass. An apparatus for tilling soil provides tilling members mounted for deployment on either side of a tractor. The tilling members on one side of the tractor may be brought into engagement with the soil while tilling members on the other side of the tractor are lifted away from the soil. The tilling members are located to coincide with an adjacent strip of land ploughed in a previous pass of the tractor.

Abstract: A grout removal tool includes an adapter having a replaceable cutting blade mounted thereon. The adapter is configured to be installed within a common reciprocating saw. The adapter has a proximal attachment end for attachment to the saw, an elongated proximal leg extending from the proximal attachment end, and an elongated distal leg extending from the proximal leg at an angle to terminate in a distal end whereupon the cutting blade is attached. When the proximal attachment end of the adapter is installed within the reciprocating saw, the cutting blade reciprocates in a parallel plane beneath the plane in which the proximal leg reciprocates. When the cutting blade is reciprocated across a grouted work surface, it results in a high rate of grout removal with low dust dispersion.

Abstract: A wheel track closing device is mounted on a tractor for closing the wheel tracks formed by self-propelled irrigation systems. A first soil mover is positioned at the front of the tractor and moves soil laterally to the wheel track from one side thereof, with the soil being moved thereinto being compacted by the right front wheel of the tractor. A second soil mover is mounted at the right side of the tractor between the right front wheel and the right rear wheel and moves soil, from the other side of the wheel track, into the track with the soil that has been moved into the wheel track being compacted by the right rear wheel of the tractor.

Abstract: A ripping apparatus includes a housing having a bearing assembly therein which is connected to a support member of a vehicle, a ripper mechanism having a shaft member pivotally mounted in the bearing assembly, a lever arm connected to the shaft member, a material ripping element connected to the bottom of the shaft member, and a fluid operated linear actuator connected to the support member and to the lever arm for rotating the ripping element between a retracted position and a transversely disposed working position. The ripping apparatus is particularly adapted to shatter a compacted railroad bed underneath the rail and supporting ties.

Abstract: A tree saw for sawing trees beneath ground level. A saw blade is attached to the front end of a land vehicle which has furrow forming blades on the sides thereof. Movable cutting bits are pivotally attached to the saw blade longitudinal side edges and each bit has two cutting edges. One cutting edge contacts a tree during a forward stroke of the saw blade to cut the tree, and the other cutting edge contacts the tree on the reverse stroke to cut the tree. A hydraulic cylinder connected to the land vehicle moves the blade sideways to cut the tree while the vehicle moves forward and/or rearward.

Abstract: A vehicle mounted lift assembly having latch mechanisms for latching pivoted lift arms in an uplift position whereby an implement, particularly a powered rotary mower, connected to the lift arms can be automatically latched in an elevated position while other implements are being raised or lowered by the lift assembly. The latch mechanisms each include a pivotal and an axially translatable bolt having a non-circular end portion which is slidably received in a complementary non-circular opening when in an arm latching position. The bolt is manually movable to an unlatched position with the non-circular portion moved axially out of engagement with the non-circular opening, and with the bolt then being pivoted about its axis to preclude registration of the non-circular portion with the non-circular opening.