Abstract: A system for adjusting down pressure loads on a harrow of an agricultural implement may include a base hitch member and an upper tow arm pivotally coupled to the base hitch member. First and second linkage arms may pivotally couple to the upper tow arm. A lower support arm may pivotally couple to the first and second linkage arms. A plurality of ground engaging elements may be supported on the lower support arm. A tensioner assembly may include an actuator coupled between the base hitch member and the lower support arm. The actuator may include an actuator rod that extend and retract to adjust a relative distance between the base hitch member and the lower support arm. The actuator may regulate a down pressure applied on the plurality of ground engaging elements by adjusting the relative distance between the base hitch member and the lower support arm.

Abstract: A skid shoe assembly for use on a snow thrower includes a bracket having a mounting portion configured to couple to the snow thrower and a support portion extending generally perpendicular from the mounting portion. The skid shoe assembly also includes a replaceable insert composed of a plastic material. The insert includes an elongated body extending generally parallel to the support portion and configured to engage a ground surface.

Abstract: A skid shoe assembly for use on a snow thrower includes a bracket having a mounting portion configured to couple to the snow thrower and a support portion extending outwardly from the mounting portion. The skid shoe assembly also includes an insert including an annular body having a central aperture and a linear section configured to engage a ground surface. The central aperture receives the bracket so that the annular body is disposed around the mounting portion of the bracket. A portion of the annular body is configured to be captured between the support portion of the bracket and the snow thrower to secure the insert to the snow thrower.

Abstract: A pusher plow blade system includes a blade with horizontal and vertical reinforcing channels. The pusher plow includes side plates or vertical plates extending forward from each end of the blade. Each side plate includes a plurality of modular independently movable and independently replaceable skid shoes or wear shoes for sliding contact with the ground surface. The removable and repositionable skid shoes comprise replaceable cast steel wear parts.

Abstract: A plow attachment for an excavator, including a distal portion having elongated curved front and rear walls, and an elongated top wall, a pair of oppositely disposed elongated hook-shaped side walls connected to the top, front and rear walls and defining an elongated trough, a soil-deflecting wedge portion extending from between the sidewall portions and positioned opposite the top wall member. The plow attachment includes a proximal portion connected to the distal portion and having a flat skid plate member, a structural member connected to the flat plate member, and a hoe connecting member connected to the structural member.

Abstract: An improved spreader/grader system, which includes a frame having a pair of parallel sidewalls; a plurality of spreader/grader blades positioned between the sidewalls and secured within a slot along the length of each of the sidewalls, each blade having a lower edge for spreading or grading a surface upon which the spreader/grader rests; a hydraulic cylinder attached to each end of each blade to allow each blade to be moveable along the length of the sidewall in a parallel or non-parallel relationship as desired by the operator; and a hydraulic cylinder system for attaching the frame to a vehicle, such as a tractor, for pulling the spreader/grader during the spreading/grading process. The blades of the spreader/grader may alternatively be secured in fixed positions between the sidewalls of the frame with a bolt/nut combination.

Abstract: A land leveling device for leveling uneven surfaces. The land leveling device generally includes a frame adapted to be removably attached to a tractor. The frame will generally include a rear support, a first side support extending in a forward direction from a first end of the rear support and a second side support extending parallel to the first side support from a second end of the rear support. A central rod will preferably extend forward from a central point on the rear support parallel to and between the first side support and second side support. A pair of leveling members are each fixedly attached to the side supports at their respective ends and pivotally attached to the central rod. As the land leveling device passes over terrain, the leveling members automatically pivot about the central rod to adjust for uneven surfaces.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus for use on large areas such as parking lots and airport runways to remove snow and other debris or material therefrom. The apparatus includes at least two blades pivotally connected to one another, and mounting receptacle or bracket having a series of pairs of posts extending from the rear thereof to facilitate operational attachment to a loader or similar construction equipment. The present invention further includes improvements to enable the segmenting and automatic folding of the pusher.

Abstract: An adjustable grader-spreader bar with a three-point hitch has a blade frame assembly comprised of a plurality of blade frames, each blade frame having a blade edge fastened at the bottom. The blade frames are slideably connected so that the blade frames have an adjustable overlap. Actuating devices, such as hydraulic rams, are used to extend or retract the blade frames, so that the width of the of the adjustable grader-spreader bar may either be increased or decreased as required for the particular application. Ground engaging skids are attached to each side of the blade frame assembly. The vertical position of each ground engaging skid may be adjusted to raise or lower each side of the adjustable grader-spreader bar. Actuating devices, such as electrical motors, are used to change the vertical position of the ground engaging skids.

Abstract: A snow plow includes a central blade and left and right end blades pivotally connected to the ends of the central blade for movement between open positions in line with the central blade, and folded positions forward of the central blade. The rear of the central blade includes a horizontal slot for removable insertion of a loader bucket to lift and drive the plow. Side walls extend forward from the outer end of each end blade, each side wall including a removable wear shoe for sliding contact on a ground surface. The end blades are lockable in both their open and folded positions.

Abstract: This invention concerns a snow-handling trail-grooming device. The invention comprises a sled including at least one runner member, a sled front end, a sled back end and an open-ended longitudinal cavity therethrough open at opposed longitudinal ends thereof. The sled is connectable to a snowmobile by a towing or hitching member joined with the sled for hitching and unhitching the sled to and from the snowmobile. A tunnel structure is joined with the runner member and positioned over the open-ended longitudinal cavity. Finally, a handling-grooming member can be joined with the runner member, wherein the handling-grooming member is positioned in an extended direction away from the tunnel structure during snow-handling and trail-grooming.

Abstract: A spreader/grader attachable to a three point hitch of a tractor and including a pair of longitudinally extending, parallel, transversely spaced side pans or frame members oriented in fixed relation to each other and operatively connected to a three point hitch. Extending between the side pans or frame members is a plurality of transverse blades for engaging a soil surface in order to perform various earth working functions.

Abstract: An improved spreader/grader apparatus having a pair of substantially parallel sidewalls, spaced apart, and supporting at least two spreader/grader blades therebetween. There would be provided a hydraulic or manual adjustment member connected to at least one end of each of the cutting blades, for allowing the one end to be movably adjusted along the length of the sidewalls, so that the blades may be moved from a position substantially perpendicular to the length of the sidewall, to a position angulated therefore, so as to provide a means to prevent material graded to accumulate along the length of the blades, but to slide along the angulated blade and be deposited outside the grader apparatus. The blades are fixed in their relation to the surface itself, and cannot rotate about an axis.

Abstract: A grader especially adapted for use in association with a tractor having a three-point hitch with the grader being capable of use in cutting, moving, spreading and leveling all types of soil, aggregate and the like. The grader can also be used to carry, spread and level hot and cold asphalt, soil, aggregate and the like. The grader has blades adjustable to a predetermined depth with the specific angle of the grader blades and the speed of movement in relation to the surface being worked determining the operational characteristics of the grader. The grader includes a pair of transversely extending blades oriented at a particular angle and being vertically adjustably attached to a pair of side frame members having ground engaging slide shoes along the lower surface thereof. The ends of the blades are vertically adjustably connected to the side frame members and provided with manually operated cam structures to adjust the blades vertically.

Abstract: A pair of road-sliding skates for mounting onto a front-loaded, snowplow, automotive vehicle are provided, to prevent damage to the structural integrity of the vehicle when rolling on a high-crowned road, yet enabling unhampered snowblowing operation of the snowplow in high snow banks. The skates are mounted rearwardly of the front bucket side walls of the vehicle, being substantially inwardly offset relative to the vertical plane of the corresponding side walls, yet being forwardly positioned relative to the front leading edge of the recessed bucket flooring. Each skate position is adjusted about a horizontal, fore end aft axis as well as in elevation.

Abstract: Shellfish harvesting devices including a frame to move over the submarine surface of a shellfish growing substrate and a plurality of tines extending down from it for penetration into the substrate, are improved by addition of a vibrator to impart a vibratory motion to the tines, but not appreciably vibrate other parts of the frame, e.g., runners. The harvesting of clams or like bivalves with the tines vibrating while being pulled through the substrate mitigates environmental damage to the shellfish growing area and reduces the energy required to pull the devices forward on the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a ski-track forming apparatus with a track-forming unit (1) having two parallel track-forming tools (2), extending in the track direction. In order to form a ski-track, when a ski course is formed, along the ideal line of the course in one operation, the track-forming unit (1) is fastened to the end of an arm (3) the other end of which is supported for horizontal and transverse movement relative to the track direction on a guide rod support means (4) which can be mounted on a vehicle (VD), which is preferably a track-laying levelling caterpillar vehicle.

Abstract: A cross country ski grooming device comprising a track sled adapted to be towed by a vehicle in the direction of the track and having a pair of spaced apart tracking elements on the underside of the sled oriented in the direction of the track. Each tracking element comprises an elongated body which is trapezoidal in cross section and has a pointed wedge at its front end. The present invention lies in the improvement of the structure of the tracking elements by displacing the forward wedge tips away from the longitudinal center line of each tracking element in the direction toward the space between the tracking elements. This reduces the amount of snow passing between the tracking elements as the device is moved through the snow, eliminating objectionable compacting of the center ridge between the ski tracks.

Abstract: An earth scraper for use with a small tractor having a draw bar, the scraper being formed of a generally horizontal frame, the forward end being attachable to a ball hitch or the like on the draw bar of a tractor, the frame supporting an elongated blade of semi-circular, cross-sectional configuration providing a concave forward surface and a convex rearward surface, the top edge of the blades being pivotally secured to the frame and the bottom edge forming a scraping edge, skids affixed to each end of the blade extending in a vertical plane perpendicular the blade longitudinal axis, each skid having an arcuate forward end and an elongated flat bottom surface which is slightly elevationally above the blade scraping edge, and a lever for rotationally adjusting the blade relative to the frame.

Abstract: A device for backfilling a trench from spoil left alongside it comprises a forecarriage (7) and a main frame (10). The former comprises means (12) for positioning it centrally in the trench (3). The latter is located behind the former and carries one or more angled blades (9) and lateral stabilizers (18,19) adapted to contact the ground outside the spoil.The device is towed rather than pushed and if a long tow-rope is used a pipeline can be trenched and the trench backfilled in a single traverse.

Abstract: A skid shoe mounting arrangement detachably mounted to the side of the snow blower auger housing such that the skid shoe mounting assembly can be easily reassembled to a plurality of preset heights relative to said auger housing.

Abstract: A shellfish dredge includes a pair of longitudinally extending parallel and spaced apart runners having a collecting bag mounted adjacent the rear thereof. The runners support a frame comprising a pair of longitudinally extending spaced apart skids and at least two crossbars connecting the skids together. Secured to each crossbar and extending forwardly and downwardly therefrom at an acute angle are a plurality of tines thereby forming at least two parallel rows of parallel arranged tines. The skids extend downwardly beneath the bottom of the runners and are tapered at their forward ends so that the frame and tines will be cammed upwardly should the skids encounter an obstruction. Springs located between the runners and the skids bias the skids downwardly but allow for limited vertical movement between the runners and the skids.

Abstract: A spreader/grader is attachable to a three-point hitch associated with a tractor and includes a pair of curved cutting blades which are adjustable so as to control cutting depth. The cutting blades are mounted between a pair of side runners and include curved cutting edges to facilitate spreading or grading operations. The positioning of the blades is variable both with respect to cutting depth and to angular orientation with the surface being graded through the use of hydraulic ram adjustment mechanisms provided at respective ends of the blades. Both blades may be attached to the spreader/grader so as to present cutting edges directed in the same direction and their respective cutting depths may be varied from each other through the use of the hydraulic ram adjustment mechanisms, or alternatively, one or both of the blades may be positioned with their cutting edges reversely directed from the direction of forward movement of the pulling tractor so as to provide a grading or feathering operation.

Abstract: A turf thatcher having a mobile frame including a shaft on which a plurality of springs are mounted and extend down to the turf for dragging through the turf and removing the thatch therefrom. A pawl is movably mounted on the frame and is in a dragging position when the thatcher moves forward and engages the turf and raises the entire frame when the thatcher moves rearward to thus lift the thatching members off the turf in that rearward direction of movement.

Abstract: A trail leveler for smoothing snowmobile trails including a multi-blade rotating member positioned transversely to the path of the leveler and rotating in the direction opposite to the direction of travel of the leveler; and the leveler including a yoke-shaped adjustment linkage for changing the vertical position of the rear skis (or cleat track) in respect to the housing of the leveler to thereby provide adjustment of the position of the rotating member in respect to the surface of the trail to be worked.

Abstract: Apparatus for towing behind a tow vehicle to handle and condition snow on ski slopes, including a ripper assembly having teeth for ripping the surface of the snow, a scraper assembly for scraping the surface of the snow and to redeposit quantities of accumulated snow in low areas, a roller assembly for compacting loose snow and a drag assembly for dragging the surface of conditioned snow.

Abstract: This invention proposes a long-distance ski-track-ploughing device comprising a track sled adapted to be towed by a vehicle in the direction of the track, the underside of the said sled being equipped with tracking elements oriented in the direction of the track. This device is characterized in that the track sled is preceded by a forward sled, joined to the track sled by means of a connecting frame to which each sled is connected pivotably by means of a horizontal axis perpendicular to the direction of the track, the said connecting frame carrying a scraper perpendicular to the direction of the track and located between the said sleds.