Abstract: An apparatus for in-situ reconditioning of a media used in an effluent treatment bed is disclosed, in which passage of effluent has become impeded by clogging matter within the media, the bed having been planted with vegetation having roots extending into the media. The apparatus includes a frame supporting a superstructure operable to be disposed above a surface of the bed when in operation, a pair of spaced apart arms having distal ends extending downwardly from the frame, and an agitator extending between the pair of arms and having tines for sub-surface tilling of the media. The agitator is coupled to a drive system operable to cause rotation thereof. A lifter bar is disposed between the arms above the agitator such that when the frame is advanced through the bed the lifter bar passes through the bed below a primary root zone of the vegetation lifting and separating the primary root zone while the agitator tills the media below causing clogging matter to be separated from the media.

Abstract: A process for processing a rotary tillage blade for a dry farmland based a wasted steel rail is provided. The process specifically includes the following steps: selecting a waste annotated steel rail U71Mn or U75V; breaking the steel rail into a rail head, a rail web and a rail bottom in a cutting area by means of a flame cutting device and then cutting the steel rail; and applying a hydrostatic pressure to the steel rail by using a hydraulic machine to separate the rail head, the rail web and the rail bottom. The wasted steel rail can be processed into the rotary tillage blade for the dry farmland by means of methods such as segmenting, rolling, blanking, punching, electric furnace heating, bending, hot forging and thermal treatment. The surface hardness and a wear resistance value thereof are superior to those of an existing rotary tillage blade.

Abstract: A mower blade includes two symmetrical body portions disposed on either side of an axis of rotation, wherein each body portion includes a straight leading edge having a first sharpened edge formed along at least a portion of the leading edge, and a curved trailing edge having a second sharpened edge formed along at least a portion of the trailing edge, so that each body portion tapers to a rounded end.

Abstract: A powered hand tool is adapted to use a variety of interchangeable rotary tools to assist in outdoor activities. Either of two basic tool designs can be utilized for activities including garden tilling, brushing and cleaning, auguring or post hole digging, and auto finishing and polishing. In one embodiment, an adjustable shroud is utilized along with a tiller construction to change the viewing angle of the working tiller tines to facilitate use by operators of different heights, including a kneeling position. The ability to utilize tow torque and low speed assists in avoiding accidental damage to underground wires and, if encountered, the reversibility of the drive assists in untangling the wires.

Abstract: An agricultural implement has gangs of soil aerator tools. Each gang includes a set of integral multi-tine units mounted on a frame for rotation in unison. Each tine unit has a hub with tines. The hub has a first surface defining a first set of indexing receivers and a second surface defining a second set of indexing receivers. At least one indexing spacer separates each tine unit from the next tine unit. Keys of the indexing spacers assemble with selected ones of the first set of indexing receivers or the second set of indexing receivers to establish and maintain a predetermined pattern of rotational index positions among tine units in a group and groups in a gang. A method of rotationally indexing agricultural tools in an assembly. One method includes providing a shaft, tine units, and indexing spacers.

Abstract: The spike wheels of the harrow are arranged in gangs to rotate about a common axis during ground engagement. Each wheel has a plurality of spikes that project outwardly from a cylindrical hub having a pair of opposite ends. Projections at one end of the hub are matingly received within notches in the opposite end of the hub of the next adjacent wheel so that the wheels are interlocked for rotation in unison. The projections on each hub are offset angularly from the notches by a certain amount so that adjacent wheels are correspondingly rotatively offset from one another. The outermost tips of the spikes of each wheel are inturned to a certain extent so as to render each wheel generally concavo-convex, with the concave sides of the wheels leading as the machine is pulled through the field. Front gangs of the wheels are disposed in a certain oblique attitude with respect to the path of travel of the machine, while rear gangs are disposed in opposite oblique attitudes.

Abstract: An agricultural implement has gangs of soil aerator tools. Each gang includes a set of integral multi-tine units mounted on a frame for rotation in unison. Each tine unit has a hub with tines. The hub has a first surface defining a first set of indexing receivers and a second surface defining a second set of indexing receivers. At least one indexing spacer separates each tine unit from the next tine unit. Keys of the indexing spacers assemble with selected ones of the first set of indexing receivers or the second set of indexing receivers to establish and maintain a predetermined pattern of rotational index positions among tine units in a group and groups in a gang. A method of rotationally indexing agricultural tools in an assembly. One method includes providing a shaft, tine units, and indexing spacers.

Abstract: The harrow includes a series of sleeves each having a plurality of teeth and telescoped non-rotatably over a rod which is rotatably journaled by laterally spaced bearings supported by mounting arms which, in turn, are attached to a tool bar. The teeth roll over the ground and pulverize and level the soil as the tool bar is pulled forwardly. The toothed sleeves may be laterally positioned as necessary on the rod to enable the bearings and the mounting arms to be located laterally as required to permit attachment of the arms to any particular tool bar. The tool bar is supported by parallel links which may be adjusted upwardly or downwardly by manually operable jacks in order to change the operating height of the harrow, the jacks being connected to the links in such a manner as to enable the links to float upwardly or downwardly in the event the harrow encounters a rise or falls into a valley.

Abstract: A harrow includes a series of sleeves each having a plurality of teeth and telescoped non-rotatably over a rod which is rotatably journaled by laterally spaced bearing assemblies supported by mounting arms which, in turn, are attached to a tool bar. The bearing assemblies include an outer bearing and a generally cylindrically-shaped collar having a circular outer perimeter and a split extending longitudinally along the collar. The collar defines an inner perimeter disposed to receive the elongated rod. At least one radially directed pilot hole for receiving a set screw is formed through each collar. A set screw is threaded through the pilot hole and may be rotatably advanced therein to abut the elongated rod. Reactionary force from the abutment expands the collar at the split to positively engage the outer perimeter of the collar with the outer bearing.

Abstract: A debarker head for use in a rotary tree debarking machine has a drive shaft with a polygonal cross sectional shape and a plurality of substantially similar cutting elements with mounting apertures corresponding to the drive shaft shape and sized for slip fit engagement of the cutting elements on the drive shaft so that the cutting elements may be mounted to the drive shaft at a number of rotational positions relative to the drive shaft. Further, the cutting elements have a plurality of arms with cutting knives. The number of arms of at least some of the cutting elements is not an integer multiple of the number of sides of the mounting aperture so that a variety of cutting knife arrangements for debarking various species of logs using the same head may be obtained by adjusting the rotational position of the cutting elements relative to the drive shaft. This design of debarker head can be repaired in the field.

Abstract: A mobile, self-propelling crushing machine includes a structure essentially consisting of two beams, on which a central frame is welded. The central frame houses a rotor which is supported on a frame, which, in one form, is lowered by hydraulic cylinders fixed to the frame. In another form, the frame is lowered by four mechanical jacks being driven by a single hydraulic motor. Thus, the penetration of the rotor into the soil to be treated does not depend only on its own weight, but especially on the action of the just-mentioned hydraulic cylinders or mechanic jacks. The rotor is driven by two hydraulic motors which are opposite to one another and which are self-adjusting so that when a pressure transducer signals a pressure increase to the hydraulic motors of the rotor due to an increased effort, the forward movement speed of the machine, which moves on tracks, decreases as a consequence.

Abstract: An assembly for attachment to a tractor having rotatable elements which will form water collecting and retaining pockets in the ground surface being traversed thereby preventing or reducing water erosion, wind erosion and retaining water for penetration into the soil. The assembly also includes a leveller assembled in front of the tractor to level the uneven terrain created by a previous formation of water retaining pockets. The assembly for forming water retaining pockets includes a plurality of disc-like elements having a substantially semi-circular cut-out to form a pair of diametrically opposed concave soil penetrating, cutting and lifting elements rotatable about an axis inclined in relation to the direction of travel so that water retaining pockets will be formed in the ground surface at regular intervals and the soil that is removed to form the pockets will be dumped on the ground surface adjacent the pockets thus resulting in bumps or humps.

Abstract: A cultivating tool propelled by a walking attendant has sheet metal tines mounted on a rotating axle for rotation therewith. The tines are channel-shaped with axle-accommodating apertures through the flanges and also through the webs. When the axle is engaged through the flange apertures, the ends of the web engage the soil flatwise so as to provide a hoeing action; and when the axle is engaged through the web apertures, the ends of the web engage the soil edgewise so as to provide a chopping action.