Abstract: A walk-behind tractor has an increased ground clearance to define a plant receiving space that has a greater height than a conventional walk-behind tractor having a straight axle. The walk-behind tractor has trailing drop arms from a frame that carry wheel axles that result in an elevated height of a driveshaft. The elevated driveshaft increases the ground clearance for taller plants to pass therebeneath during operation of the walk-behind tractor which would otherwise be too tall to pass below a conventional straight axle walk-behind tractor.

Abstract: A cultivator apparatus, for use on a motor vehicle, includes a blade-support/vehicle-connector assembly which includes a horizontally oriented base portion, blade connectors attached to the base portion for connecting to a blade assembly, and first vehicle connectors attached to the base portion for connecting to the motor vehicle. A blade assembly is connected to the blade connectors and extends downward from the base portion. The blade assembly includes a pair of downwardly descending strut members connected to the blade connectors and includes a horizontally extending scraper blade unit connected to the strut members. The blade-support/vehicle-connector assembly further includes a lift-link assembly supported by the base portion. The lift-link assembly includes housing walls connected to the base portion. A lower link-support pin is connected horizontally between the housing walls. An upper link-support pin is connected horizontally between the housing walls.

Abstract: A root grubber tool for brush which is attached to the boom of an excavator, such as, a track excavator or backhoe. The tool includes a framework which has a pair of side members which support, at the lower end thereof, a cutting blade with its leading edge swept inward and downward to accommodate centering the cutting blade on the roots and providing a deeper cut at the center than at the edges. The framework includes mounting arms to secure the tool onto the boom for working the tool. The framework may include a cross support for assisting in gathering smaller brush. Also, the lower edges of the side members are bevelled to aid in the cutting operation. The tool may be maneuvered to depths of 18 to 24 inches to grub out the roots of the brush and secure it between the boom and the tool for displacement from the right-of-way.

Abstract: An invention which is an attachment to a standard tractor for use in continuous clearing, uprooting and grubbing of small trees, stumps, roots and brush from the land. The unit is fabricated of structural steel elements specially designed for continuous cutting and release of targeted materials for removal. These elements, specially designed and new to the art include a safety shield with viewing windows which provides protection to the operator from flying, hazardous debris; a steel bar as a guide to the forward cutting blades which also aids in pushing over the targeted timber; a pair of curved blades for gripping and cutting, then releasing the material they cut and lift without clogging the blades. Also the blades do not stick in the wood. This is a unique property as it allows continual operation including clearing the blades of debris saving the operator time and labor dismounting and manually clearing the blades after each cutting operation.

Abstract: A plow having a forwardly facing V-notched digger blade, lifting wings, side arms, frame members, ears for attaching a hitch and breakable attachment of the hitch to the tow vehicle is provided. In use the plow cuts or digs out subterranean plant roots, and lifts soil for aeration.

Abstract: A hand propelled soil cultivation tool for accepting several different cultivation implements is described which includes a forward gauge wheel and a quick adjustment means for handle length. The different tool attachments described include a hoe implement, a cultivation tine implement and a trenching implement. The hoe implement has a "V" shaped light gauge blade construction which is rigidified and locked to the implement shank by opposed blade stabilizer brackets. The cultivation tine implement is formed of a single elongated piece of metal and the trenching implement is constructed of two diametrically opposed sections.

Abstract: A minimum upper ground layer and stubble disturbance tillage unit is provided including a pair of dependingly support opposite side plates between whose lower end a horizontally elongated blade assembly is supported with the blade assembly including front and rear marginal portions and disposed in an inclined position with the front marginal portion lowermost and the rear marginal portion uppermost. The blade assembly includes longitudinally spaced V-shaped cutting edges disposed along the forward marginal edge thereof and disposed in a forwardly and downwardly inclined plane generally paralleling the blade assembly. The V-shaped cutting edges are positioned with their apex portions forwardmost and define included angles of graeter than 90.degree.. Rotary members are disposed rearward of the blade assembly and include upper portions spaced above the upper rear marginal edge of the blade assembly. The rotary members are radially aligned with the junctures between pair of adjacent V-shaped blades.

Abstract: A separable drive assembly including first and second shafts, the shafts being normally aligned axially in an end to end relationship, a coupling portion operatively connecting adjacent ends of the first and second shafts, the coupling portion including a resilient section extending between the adjacent ends of the first and second shafts, a connector section extending from one end of the resilient section, the connector section including an axial opening, the adjacent end of the first shaft engaging and being affixed within the connector section opening, a guide section extending from the opposite end of the resilient section, the guide section including an enlarged end section, an axial bore extending through the guide section, the bore being capable of slidably engaging the adjacent end of the second shaft, the axial bore through the guide section having a cross-section substantially the same as the cross-sectional configuration of the second shaft end but slightly larger; whereby moving the adjacent first

Abstract: A drive assembly including first and second shafts, the shafts being normally aligned axially in an end to end relationship, a connector portion operatively connecting adjacent ends of the first and second shafts, the connector portion including a resilient section extending between the adjacent ends of the first and second shafts, a first end section extending from one end of the resilient section, the first end section including an axial opening, the adjacent end of the first shaft engaging and being affixed within the first end section opening, a second end section extending from the opposite end of the resilient section, the second end section including an axial opening, the adjacent end of the second shaft engaging and being affixed within the second end section opening; whereby the connector portion provides a flexible positive drive connection between the first and second shafts.

Abstract: A grubbing plow mounted on two lower arms and an upper attachment point of a 3-point tractor hitch includes a frame having (1) a horizontal pivotal bar journaled at opposite ends thereof on the lower hitch arms; (2) an upper crank arm; and (3) a lower member. The pivot bar is pivotally mounted for rotational movement about a horizontal axis. The upper crank arm and lower member are aligned and oppositely directed from the pivot bar.A knife-edged, V-shaped blade is rigidly attached to the lower end of the lower member and lies in a plane perpendicular to the length of the lower member.A hydraulic cylinder is connected between the upper attachment point and the upper end of the upper crank arm for forcibly swinging the blade in an arc around the axis of the pivot bar to engage and remove roots encountered within said arc.A force transmitting member is pivotally mounted to the frame and extends from the frame for contacting the ground on the side of the frame opposite from which the blade extends.

Abstract: A grubbing plow mounted on two lower arms and an upper attachment point of a 3-point tractor hitch includes a frame having (1) a horizontal pivotal bar journaled at opposite ends thereof on the lower hitch arms; (2) an upper crank arm; and (3) a lower member. The pivot bar is pivotally mounted for rotational movement about a horizontal axis. The upper crank arm and lower member are aligned and oppositely directed from the pivot bar.A knife-edged, V-shaped blade is rigidly attached to the lower end of the lower member and lies in a plane perpendicular to the length of the lower member.A hydraulic cylinder is connected between the upper attachment point and the upper end of the upper crank arm for forcibly swinging the blade in an arc around the axis of the pivot bar to engage and remove roots encountered within said arc.

Abstract: A commercially available four-wheel-drive loader has a conventional "quick-attachment" front plate liftable by operator-controllable hydraulic-cylinder means; and it has the transplant digging machine easily detachably mounted on said front plate for movement between rows of trees, etc., to a position laterally opposite one selected for transplanting (or root pruning). The transplant digging machine has a U-shaped undercutting blade mounted for downwardly swinging ground-penetrating movement and then horizontal root-cutting movement, by separate sequentially operable hydraulic cylinders. The first cylinder swings a slide-in-guide carrier for the blade through an arc from a downward inclination to a horizontal orientation. The second cylinder is in the carrier, and is operated to force the blade horizontally under the root "ball" being cut.

Abstract: A plow includes a single horizontal blade adapted to plow deep below the earth to cultivate turnrows or other strips of a field having no crop growing thereon. The blade has about a 12.degree. plow angle and is V-shaped with a 25.degree. drag angle sweeping back on either side of the medial apex.

Abstract: An undercutting knife for a sod cutting machine. The knife has an undercutting blade having a front portion and an upwardly bent rear portion. Connected to the rear portion are two support and guide members, one at each edge of the blade. Each support and guide member extends rearwardly from the blade and has a rear portion projecting laterally of the blade. Mounting arms are connected to the laterally extending portions. The mounting arms, which are connected to mechanism for supporting and reciprocating the knife, are clear of the ground and are spaced laterally of cut sod moving over the knife, so as not to tear the edges of the sod. A guide strip extends rearwardly from the blade between the support and guide members. The support and guide members and the guide strip can be three discrete members or a single integral unit.

Abstract: A flow-through brush cutter is mounted on a tracked vechicle and includes a thin, flat blade having a replaceable V-shaped forward cutting edge and adapted for movement along a horizontal plane disposed beneath the surface of the earth. A pair of thin legs extend upwardly from spaced points on the blade and are connected to the track assemblies of the vehicle by a pair of forwardly extending arms. The horizontal positioning of the blade is controlled by a fluid-powered cylinder mounted on a subframe secured to the frame of the vehicle and a cable system actuated by the fluid-powered cylinder and connected to the arms. Lateral displacement of the blade is controlled by guide members extending on opposite sides of the arms and secured to the track assemblies of the vehicle and to the subframe. The guide members are secured to the subframe by means of pin and slot connections which accommodate relative movement between the frame and the track assemblies of the vehicle.