Abstract: A turf cutting machine, more particularly a four-wheel drive turf cutting machine, is provided. The turf cutting machine has a transmission arrangement which includes a transmission belt arranged between a rear axle pulley and a front axle pulley and which further includes a plurality of deflection pulleys which are arranged between the rear axle pulley and the front axle pulley so as to define a path for the transmission belt that extends from a rear axle to a front axle and then back to the rear axle passing over a cutting blade.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method are provided for limiting operating speed at high temperatures of a self-propelled, agricultural product applicator having a hydraulic drive system including a pump supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid to a variable-displacement hydraulic motor operatively connected for propelling the applicator. A temperature sensor detects a temperature of the pressurized hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic system. A propel controller is operatively connected between the temperature sensor and the propulsion motor and configured for limiting displacement of the propulsion motor according to one or more predetermined de-rated conditions resulting in reduced motor speed, in accordance with a predetermined schedule, when predetermined motor de-rating activation temperature limits of the hydraulic fluid are detected by the temperature sensor. The controller is further configured for providing a de-rated condition warning signal prior to limiting displacement of the propulsion motor.

Abstract: A payload control system includes a tool position sensor, a boom lift sensor, and a boom swing sensor. A controller is configured to determine a segment of a work cycle based upon the tool position, the boom lift, and the boom swing signal, and determine a payload moved by the tool during the segment of the work cycle.

Abstract: In a rotation control device for rotating a rotation motor at speed in accordance with a boom raising operation amount, at the time of a combined operation for simultaneously performing a rotation action and a boom raising action, a limitation value of rotation torque in accordance with the boom raising operation amount is determined by rotation torque limitation value setting means of a controller, the limitation value serving as a rotation torque limitation value is sent to rotation speed control means, and a command value of the rotation torque is torque-limited by rotation torque limiting means.

Abstract: A rear wheel drive assist for an articulated machine such as a wheel tractor scraper, the machine including a first frame section having a first longitudinal axis, a second frame section with a second longitudinal axis, the first and second frame sections being pivotally connected to an articulation hitch, and an articulation sensor configured to provide an articulation angle signal indicative of an articulation angle formed between the first and second longitudinal axes. The rear wheel drive assist includes a drive motor operatively connected to the rear wheel of the machine, and a controller configured to control operation of the rear wheel drive assist based upon the articulation angle signal.

Abstract: A method of operating a motion-control system is provided. The motion-control system may include an actuator and a moveable component driven by the actuator. The method may include providing input that indicates a target value of a parameter of the motion of at least one of the actuator and the moveable component with an operator-input device that is mechanically decoupled from the moveable component. The method may also include controlling the operation of the actuator at least in part with a control signal, including generating the control signal at least in part by determining a control gain based at least in part on a control error between the target value of the parameter and an actual value of the parameter. Generating the control signal may also include multiplying the control gain by the control error or a value derived from the control error.

Abstract: A roller that is particularly useful for use with golf course greens. The roller has a base having front, rear and opposing sides, the base having a frame and a deck disposed on the frame. An operator seat is disposed on a base deck and fixedly oriented toward the front of the roller. Operator controls are disposed in front of the seat. The roller has a driven roller which normally rolls substantially in the front and rear directions. The driven roller is cylindrical and rotates about an elongated axis which is oriented substantially normally side to side with respect to the roller. The driven roller is disposed behind the seat.

Abstract: A soil cultivation device drivable in a displacement direction relative to the soil and designed to break up sub-soil. The device has a chassis or frame, a row of support arms and a drive unit, respective cutting tool pivot units pivotally hinged on the support arms to pivot relative to the arms about a second pivoting axis, permitting a cutting tool fixed on the cutting tool pivot units to pierce the soil and the cutting tool pivot units to be pivoted in relation to the support arms. In addition, the device has at least one gear mechanism, which transmits the relative displacement of the cutting tool pivot unit and the support arm, which at least occurs when the cutting tool has pierced the soil and the soil cultivation device is traveling onwards in the displacement direction, to at least one unit not displaced up and down with the support arm.

Abstract: A tiller can include a frame supported by at least one wheel. An upright assembly can extend from the frame. A drive mechanism can be supported by the frame and include a motor having an output member. A tilling implement can have a drive shaft that is driven by the output member. The tilling implement can comprise at least one tine plate. A slider assembly can communicate with the wheel and be movably coupled along the upright assembly. The slider assembly can be configured to securably locate in at least a first position wherein the wheel is located at a first elevation relative to the frame and a second position wherein the wheel is located at a second elevation relative to the frame. The first and second elevations can be distinct.

Abstract: A walk aerator comprises a frame supported by a plurality of ground engaging wheels, the frame carrying a coring head having a plurality of side-by-side tine assemblies. The wheels define a wheelbase which is substantially equal to or less than the width of a coring swath and the wheels are located in advance of the coring head to keep the wheels from passing over the holes or soil cores left in any preceding coring swathes formed by the aerator. The vertical position of the coring head is adjustable up and down as the ground contour changes to keep hole depth substantially constant. The tine assemblies are reciprocated by a single crankshaft driven by a single pulley, the crankshaft being assembled from multiple crank arms that are splined and bolted together. Sealed bearings connect drive arms that drive the tine assemblies to the crankshaft. The crankshaft can be disassembled to allow the sealed drive arm bearings to be replaced. Integral core deflectors are used on the drive arms.

Abstract: A function changing system of construction machinery includes a hydraulic excavator and a base station. The hydraulic excavator is deployed at a construction site and is provided with a rewritable memory storing control programs and/or data required for control of the machinery, a CPU for reading out the control programs from the memory and executing them, and a communications device The base station is provided with a communications device, a center server for identifying the serial number of the hydraulic excavator and transferring information with the control unit, and a database managed by the center server and storing control programs corresponding to the hydraulic excavator. When changing or switching an attachment of the hydraulic excavator, information is transferred with the center server of the base station and the control programs or data stored in the storage unit are rewritten to enable work suited to the changed part.

Abstract: A control system for an agricultural implement such as a large round baler includes a microprocessor-based implement module mounted to the baler and a microprocessor-based input device mounted within the cab of the tractor behind which the baler is towed. A communications link extends between the input device and the implement control device, for communicating signals therebetween. Sensors are interconnected with one or more of the components of the large round baler for sensing operation of such components, and providing signals to the implement control device microprocessor indicative of one or more baler operations. The sensor signals are analyzed by the microprocessor, and signals are communicated via the communications link to the cab module microprocessor. The input device includes a visual display, and the display is actuated responsive to the cab module microprocessor to provide a visual indication to the operator of the one or more sensed operations of the baler.

Abstract: An inventive three-point hitch assembly that attaches to the front end of a truck or pickup and supports at three points a plurality of implements or tools. It has a belt-driven power take-off for rotary tools that is controlled by an electric clutch and driven by a pulley attached below the truck engine pulley. A hydraulic lift cylinder raises and lowers the hitch and implement or tool, which by the hitch parallelogram form maintains the implements in a vertical orientation. The lift cylinder hydraulic pressure is supplied by connections to the truck power steering system via electrically controlled solenoid valves.

Abstract: A selector or shift lever manipulates gears in a ground wheel transmission to select a running mode when moved in the transverse direction, and manipulates gears in a plow transmission to select the rotating direction of a rotary plow when moved in the vertical direction. A drag bar is mounted on a machine frame, slidable in the vertical direction, the vertical movement of the drag bar being interlocked with the vertical movement of the selector lever through rods and links. Hence, when the selector lever is moved downward to select forward rotation of the rotary plow, the drag bar is moved down into the ground in coordination, subjecting the soil tilling machine to great resistance from the ground, to enable a tilling operation to be performed while preventing lunging foward of the machine.

Abstract: A power transmission device for a tractor in which a main shifting device and a secondary shifting device are disposed in front and back of one another within a transmission case which is mounted on a rear part of the tractor body is disclosed. Drive power, which is transmitted from an engine, is changed in speed by the main shifting device and secondary shifting device and then transmitted to an axle through a differential shaft. The differential shaft is disposed between the main shifting device and secondary shifting device. A lower link for connecting a piece of agricultural machinery is pivotably connected to the transmission case on the side of the secondary shifting device and behind the differential shaft. Various shafts within the transmission case are arranged on two different vertical level above and below the differential shaft, which extends at right angles with respect to these shafts. The differential shaft is connected to the axle through a reduction gear apparatus which has a counter-shaft.

Abstract: A turf aerator includes a wheel-supported frame and drive means for propelling the frame across the ground at a predetermined rate. A pair of substantially vertical tine arms each having a plurality of downwardly directed turf coring tines attached to the lower end thereof are mounted on the frame for alternate penetrating engagement with the ground. A tine arm actuating mechanism produces an essentially elliptical movement of the upper end of each tine arm, the major axis of the elliptical movement being substantially vertical. A rocker mechanism indirectly connects the lower end of one tine arm with the lower end of the other tine arm such that the horizontal movement of one tine arm with respect to the frame upon engagement of that tine arm with the turf produces an equal and opposite horizontal movement of the other tine arm and vice versa. The aerator produces a substantially vertical insertion and withdrawal movement of the tines and a resultant minimal disturbance of the surrounding turf area.

Abstract: A foldable trencher boom assembly including a first boom portion pivotally connected to a second boom portion by a hinge. One leg of the hinge is connected to the first boom portion while the other leg of the hinge is connected to the second boom portion. When the boom portions are aligned, fasteners secure the hinge to maintain the colinear relationship between the boom portions. In the initial phase of folding, the fasteners are removed thereby permitting the boom portions to pivot relative to each other. The digging boom is conveniently folded by securing the digging chain to one of the foldable boom portions and employing the trencher drive motor as an actuator to achieve the folding action. With the foldable trenching boom of the present invention, an overall decrease in the machine length is attained for transport and maneuverability. Further, when the folded trencher boom is in its transport position, the machine height is decreased and a better distribution of weight is achieved.

Abstract: A retractable in-row tiller device is adapted for mounting on a movable vehicle and for tilling the ground around and between objects in a row. An outrigger arm with a rotary tiller mounted on its distal end is retracted inwardly and extended outwardly by a trapeze-type control arm which amplifies the velocity and magnitude of reciprocal motion produced by a hydraulic ram to move around and avoid objects encountered in the row. Both manually and automatically operable controls are included respectively to allow an operator to retract and extend the tiller out of and into the row as desired and to cause the tiller to be retracted and extended out of and into the row automatically upon encountering an object in the row. Manual control is also provided for the operator to override the automatic retraction control.

Abstract: A mower embodies a translatable main frame connectable to a towing vehicle having a power take-off unit connectable to a transmission carried by the main frame. At least one translatable wing frame is hingedly connected to an adjacent side of the main frame and is adapted to pivot selectively to a lower operative position and to an upper inoperative position. Depending cutter carrying shafts are supported for rotation on the main frame and the wing frame and are connected in driving relation with the transmission. An extensible drive shaft is operatively connected at one end to the depending shaft on the wing frame and a clutch operatively connects the other end of the extensible drive shaft to the transmission. An extensible clutch rod operatively connects the wing frame to a clutch actuator to move the clutch to an engaged position while the wing frame is in a lower operative position and to move the clutch to a disengaged position upon movement of the wing frame to an upper inoperative position.

Abstract: A pull type folding grain drill driven by the gauge wheels including pivoting legs carrying the gauge wheels which drive a clutch shaft through a first chain and sprocket drive, the clutch shaft axis being offset from the pivoting leg axis. A second chain and sprocket drive between the dispensing seed shaft and the clutch shaft including an idler pulley having cam means on the end thereof for disengaging a clutch on the clutch shaft when the pivoting legs are rotated to lift the planter out of the ground in the transport position.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tilling apparatus characterized by a regulating drive connection between the towing tractor drive axle and the tiller shaft, the tiller tines having a modified arcuate configuration which provide a pocketed, rather than a furrowed or channeled, tilling depth profile.