Abstract: A crop conveying drum for a drive disc cutter is mounted directly to the drive shaft mechanism providing rotational power to the cutterbar. The crop conveying drum is formed as mating segments, each forming a half of the drum. Each segment has a pair of support bars vertically oriented and extending between connecting flanges. A mounting bracket centrally supported by the vertical support bars is formed to partially wrap around the drive shaft mechanism. The mounting bracket has holes therein for the passage of fasteners to connect the drum segment directly to the drive shaft mechanism so that the crop conveying drum rotates with the drive shaft mechanism. Upper and lower mating connecting flanges are fastened together to form the entire crop conveying drum rotatable with the drive shaft. The crop conveying drum assists in conveying severed crop material laterally from outlying disc cutters that define a cutting width of the cutterbar that is greater than the operating width of the conditioning rolls.

Abstract: A mower for harvesting crop includes windrow forming housing where crop is discharged after being cut. A windrow grouper attachment includes a crop conveyor attached to the main frame of the mower by a vertically swingable support which is selectively disposable in a lowered working position where it intercepts crop exiting the windrow forming housing and transfers it side ways and in a raised non-use position wherein it permits crop exiting from the mower to be deposited into a windrow directly behind the mower. The vertically swingable support for the crop conveyor is mounted to a slide that is in turn mounted for shifting laterally on a transverse beam of the mower main frame. By selectively manipulating the conveyor among its working, non-use and shifted positions, it is possible to deposit three windrows alongside each other for being subsequently picked up together for processing by another machine, such as an ensilage harvester, for example.

Abstract: A gang mower mountable on a tractor and having a plurality of independently-cutting mower units whose cutting heads are individually powered by hydraulic motors. Each mower unit is suspended from the end of a support arm which can move vertically through a distance of about 12 inches, each mower unit is itself mounted beneath a swivel ball joint that allows the mower to undergo pitch, roll and yaw motions as well as the up and down movements of the support arm. Moreover, this mower suspension mechanism allows each of the mower units to hold the ground due to its own weight alone and does not require any stabilizing force to be applied through springs or otherwise. The freedom of motion of the suspension mechanism in combination with an independent drive for each mower unit yields a gang mower with a smooth, wide-cut mowing action.

Abstract: A mower which includes a cutting mechanism connected to a carrying structure by connections wherein each connection includes a device preventing at least some of the vibrations from being transmitted between the cutting mechanism and the carrying structure. The cutting mechanism includes a gear box at which are arranged cutting members each rotating about a respective axis of rotation which is at least approximately vertical during work and the carrying structure to which the cutting mechanism is connected includes at least one connection which has a flexible element.

Abstract: A machine for mowing corn and other similar stalk-like harvested crops independently of rows, has a plurality of feeding and mowing drums which, in an arrangement of mirror image symmetry on either side of a vertical, longitudinal median plane of the machine, are disposed centrally in front of a chopper with insertion rollers for the cut harvested crops. For a rotational movement about essential vertical axes of rotation, the feeding and mowing drums are driven by a driving mechanism, which can be connected to the central power train of the chopper and comprises two individual shaftings which are disposed on either side of the vertical, longitudinal median plane of the machine and in each case drive a group of feeding and mowing drums.

Abstract: A gang-type rotary lawn mower including a frame supported by wheels for movement over the ground, a power source which is mounted on the frame and which drives at least two of the wheels, an operator's seat mounted on the frame, a steering system enabling the operator to steer the lawn mower, at least two side-by-side front rotary cutting deck assemblies mounted on the frame, the front deck assemblies defining a gap between adjacent front deck assemblies, and at least one rear rotary cutting deck assembly mounted on the frame behind the front deck assemblies, each rear deck assembly being aligned with a respective gap between adjacent front deck assemblies, each of the front and rear deck assemblies including a single-spindle mulching deck defining a downwardly opening space, a single spindle mounted for rotation about a generally vertical axis within the space, and at least one cutting blade mounted on the spindle for rotation therewith.

Abstract: A center pivot mower conditioner includes an input driveline connected directly to a power transfer arrangement forming a part of the mower conditioner for providing input power to the cutterhead assembly and to the conditioning roll drive arrangement. The power transfer arrangement is in the form of a gearbox having a stationary lower section fixed to the frame of the mower conditioner, and an upper section pivotably mounted to the lower section for movement about a substantially vertical pivot axis. The driveline provides input power to the gearbox upper section, which is transferred to the lower section through a vertical pinion shaft. The vertical pinion shaft is connected to the cutterhead assembly for providing input power to the cutterhead assembly. The gearbox is preferably located toward the center of the mower conditioner, to provide input power to the cutterhead assembly substantially in the center of the cutterhead assembly.

Abstract: An attachment for a landscaping trimmer for use in precise trimming and edging of landscaped areas. The attachment has bores through an elongated body member which are adjacent to the free end of the body member and perpendicular to its axis. Pre-cut pieces of trimming line are secured through the bores by at least one screw positioned against the portions of the pre-cut pieces which are centrally located within the body member. Integral with the body member and on Its free end, the present invention may have a spacer for lawn cutting, or pointed bits with various surface configurations to perform functions including, but not limited to, "drilling out" weeds and unwanted grass in and around planters, flower pots and flower boxes, as well as tearing out unwanted roots near the surface of the soil.

Abstract: A modular disc cutterbar utilizes self-contained cutter modules clamped between alternating spacer modules by fasteners engaged with the spacer modules. To resist bending moments in the cutterbar, selected fasteners can have a length to span more than one cutter module. The drive mechanism is also of a modular construction including a symmetrical, reversible sealed drive apparatus within each cutter module and a transfer shaft passing through each interstitial spacer module to interconnect each cutter module drive mechanism. The drive apparatus incorporates an oil slinger to keep the remote seals lubricated. The rock guard for each cutter module is mounted on the adjacent spacer modules, while the skid shoe mounting is simplified. A crop mover mounted on each disc member above the cutting knife improves the transfer of severed crop material.

Abstract: A rotary cutterbar housing is constructed of a plurality of modules mounted in side-to-side relationship with the opposite sides of each module being planar and being secured in face-to-face engagement. A spur gear train is located within the housing and includes at least one gear in each module which is meshed with a spur gear of an adjacent module so that portions of the teeth of the spur gear associated with one of the modules extends a short distance into the other module, and vice-versa. The opposite sides of the modules are parallel to each other and are inclined relative to vertical such that a module between two other modules can be unbolted from them and removed without requiring the other modules to be moved in order to provide clearance for the protruding portions of the gear teeth.

Abstract: A modular disc cutterbar utilizes self-contained cutter modules clamped between alternating spacer modules by fasteners engaged with the spacer modules. To resist bending moments in the cutterbar, selected fasteners can have a length to span more than one cutter module. The drive mechanism is also of a modular construction including a symmetrical, reversible sealed drive apparatus within each cutter module and a transfer shaft passing through each interstitial spacer module to interconnect each cutter module drive mechanism. The drive apparatus incorporates an oil slinger to keep the remote seals lubricated. The rock guard for each cutter module is mounted on the adjacent spacer modules, while the skid shoe mounting is simplified. A crop mover mounted on each disc member above the cutting knife improves the transfer of severed crop material.

Abstract: A modular disc cutterbar utilizes self-contained cutter modules clamped between alternating spacer modules by fasteners engaged with the spacer modules. To resist bending moments in the cutterbar, selected fasteners can have a length to span more than one cutter module. The drive mechanism is also of a modular construction including a symmetrical, reversible sealed drive apparatus within each cutter module and a transfer shaft passing through each interstitial spacer module to interconnect each cutter module drive mechanism. The drive apparatus incorporates an oil slinger to keep the remote seals lubricated. The rock guard for each cutter module is mounted on the adjacent spacer modules, while the skid shoe mounting is simplified. A crop mover mounted on each disc member above the cutting knife improves the transfer of severed crop material.

Abstract: A modular disc cutterbar utilizes self-contained cutter modules clamped between alternating spacer modules by fasteners engaged with the spacer modules. To resist bending moments in the cutterbar, selected fasteners can have a length to span more than one cutter module. The drive mechanism is also of a modular construction including a symmetrical, reversible sealed drive apparatus within each cutter module and a transfer shaft passing through each interstitial spacer module to interconnect each cutter module drive mechanism. The drive apparatus incorporates an oil slinger to keep the remote seals lubricated. The rock guard for each cutter module is mounted on the adjacent spacer modules, while the skid shoe mounting is simplified. A crop mover mounted on each disc member above the cutting knife improves the transfer of severed crop material.

Abstract: A mower-conditioner has a header equipped with a rotary cutterbar for severing crop and directing it to a crop conditioner spanning a crop discharge opening centered rearwardly of the cutterbar and having a width some-what less than the length of the cutterbar. The cutter discs at the extreme outer ends of the cutterbar are equipped with upright, crop converging drums. For shorter cutterbars, paddles are mounted only to the tops of the cutter discs at the extreme outer ends of the cutterbars for operating in conjunction with the converging drums to move cut crop inwardly and rearwardly to the crop conditioner. For cutterbars of an intermediate length, paddles are also provided on the pair of discs respectively adjacent the discs at the extreme outer ends of the cutterbar and for cutterbars having a longer length, short crop converging drums are mounted to these adjacent discs.

Abstract: A modular disc cutterbar utilizes self-contained cutter modules clamped between alternating spacer modules by fasteners engaged with the spacer modules. To resist bending moments in the cutterbar, selected fasteners can have a length to span more than one cutter module. The drive mechanism is also of a modular construction including a symmetrical, reversible sealed drive apparatus within each cutter module and a transfer shaft passing through each interstitial spacer module to interconnect each cutter module drive mechanism. The drive apparatus incorporates an oil slinger to keep the remote seals lubricated. The rock guard for each cutter module is mounted on the adjacent spacer modules, while the skid shoe mounting is simplified. A crop mover mounted on each disc member above the cutting knife improves the transfer of severed crop material.

Abstract: A portable, powered grass whip and a novel free-moving bracket for mounting the same to riding equipment such as a lawn mower. Also, a combination of a new and novel grass whip in combination with a portable power pack.

Abstract: A modular disc cutterbar utilizes self-contained cutter modules clamped between alternating spacer modules by fasteners engaged with the spacer modules. To resist bending moments in the cutterbar, selected fasteners can have a length to span more than one cutter module. The drive mechanism is also of a modular construction including a symmetrical, reversible sealed drive apparatus within each cutter module and a transfer shaft passing through each interstitial spacer module to interconnect each cutter module drive mechanism. The drive apparatus incorporates an oil slinger to keep the remote seals lubricated. The rock guard for each cutter module is mounted on the adjacent spacer modules, while the skid shoe mounting is simplified. A crop mover mounted on each disc member above the cutting knife improves the transfer of severed crop material.

Abstract: A disc mower conditioner utilizing a modular disc cutterbar to sever standing crop material by impact action supports the cutterbar from the header of the mower conditioner by a pair of transversely spaced support arms mounted by spherical bushings to the header to allow flexing of the support arms as induced by the cutterbar. The mounting of the spherical bushings utilize conical washers engagable with conical sockets in spacers to limit vertical movement of the spacer relative to the header when the corresponding support arm flexes. The mower conditioner header further includes an optional viney crop guide that has a curved leading edge that directs viney crop downwardly into engagement with the adjacent disc cutter. The viney crop guide is also bent inwardly to contain and control the flow of crop material.

Abstract: A crop harvester header or platform includes a rotary cutterbar for cutting and directing crop to a crop conditioner having a length shorter than that of the cutterbar and being disposed centrally behind the cutterbar. The header is equipped with a crop converging structure including right- and left-hand drums or cages respectively mounted to the tops of right- and left-hand cutter discs respectively at opposite ends of the cutterbar, and further including right- and left-hand crop guiding or directing structures respectively disposed for guiding crop from forward locations of the drums or cages over the cutter discs respectively adjacent the end cutter discs and toward the crop conditioner.

Abstract: A mechanism for mounting a mower deck to a vehicle, the mechanism including a first member which pivots about a first pivot mechanism as the mower pivots to ride over ground undulations. When raised by the operator, the deck will pivot about the first pivot mechanism until the first member abuts a second member supported by a second pivot mechanism. As the deck continues to be raised it will pivot about the second pivot mechanism. A link coupled between the vehicle frame and the second member causes the second member to also pivot about a third pivot mechanism which swings the deck rearwardly as it is raised.

Abstract: A modular disc cutterbar utilizes self-contained cutter modules clamped between alternating spacer modules by fasteners engaged with the spacer modules. Each cutter module has detachably mounted thereon a disc member carrying a pair of opposingly mounted cutting knives pivotally supported on a pivot member to sever standing crop material by impact action upon rotation of the disc member. The disc member also carries on each pivot member above the corresponding cutting knife, but independently movable, a crop mover operable to move the severed crop material away from the corresponding cutting knife. The crop mover has a tapered leading edge that terminates in an outer tip that is narrower than the outer tip of the corresponding cutting knife so as to not interfere with the cutting action of the knife. The crop mover also includes a vertical portion for aggressively moving the severed crop material.

Abstract: Each knife-carrying disk of a rotary cutterbar has a hub connected to a drive shaft through means of a shear device. In a first embodiment of the invention, the shear device is in the form of either a collar or a clamping member having internal splines received on a splined upper end of the drive shaft and having shearable cylindrical drive lugs engaged with complementary shaped openings provided in an upper surface of the disk hub. In another embodiment of the invention, the shear device is in the form of a ring-like shear insert having shearable inner splines received on the splined upper end of the drive shaft and having outer splines engaged with a splined mounting hole of the disk hub.

Abstract: A utility expansion system (100) to be retrofitted onto a ground vehicle (10) is provided. The utility expansion system (100) expands the range of ground working functions that may be performed with the aid of the given ground vehicle (10) by enabling various ground working equipment (20) to be operably coupled to the ground vehicle (10) for concurrent operation therewith.

Abstract: A mower suitable for cutting high grass, brush, and like growth. The mower has a plurality primary cutting elements disposed ahead of a secondary cutting element. The primary cutting elements is that which first contacts growth, cutting this growth to a predetermined height. The secondary cutting element follows the primary cutting element, contacting the cut growth and cutting the same to a final, predetermined height less than that obtained by the first cut. The primary cutting elements are preferably unencumbered by a hood or guard, but preferably are partially encircled or surrounded at the front and sides by a bumper. The bumper prevents the mower from attempting to run over or cut rigid, immovable objects, such as trees, curbs, large stones, and the like. The primary and secondary cutting elements may be a singular element or plural elements arranged abreast of one another. The cutting elements may be rigid blades or flexible members, such as stranded metal, synthetic resin cords, or chains.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a cutting device from a vehicle and for allowing the operator of the vehicle to use the cutting device while the cutting device is supported from the vehicle. The cutting device includes an elongated shaft, a cutting head attached to one end of the shaft, and a drive mechanism for activating the cutting head. The apparatus includes a base for attachment to the vehicle; a support arm member having a first end for attachment to the base, having a midportion, and having a second end; and hanger structure attached to the support arm for suspending the cutting device from the support arm.

Abstract: A mower assembly for cutting, trimming, and edging a lawn. The inventive device includes a mower assembly having a blade rotating within a horizontal plane for cutting grass. A trimmer assembly extends laterally of the mower assembly for trimming grass. An edger assembly similarly projects laterally of the mower assembly and includes an edging blade rotating in a vertical plane for cutting grass adjacent a solid object.

Abstract: A mechanism for cutting of stalks or stems of plants and/or grass-like vegetation, in an environmentally safe manner, has counter-blades arranged on a circular path and rotary blades positioned above the counter-blades. The ratio of the surface area of the counter-blades actually taking part in the cutting and the surface area of the free spaces between them, in relation to each other, is smaller than a value of one. A distance of "h" between the counter-blades and the rotary blades is a value between 0-2 mm, and the peripheral speed of the rotary blades is between 10 and 50 m/sec.

Abstract: A pair of pincer-type cutting blades are pivotally supported from a frame to be mounted from a front loader and fluid cylinders having base ends pivotally supported from the frame outwardly of the remote sides of the cutting blades include outer ends universally coupled to the front ends of the cutting blades, the pivot axes of the cutting blades and the base ends of the cylinders being substantially parallel and the cylinders being downwardly and outwardly inclined toward the free ends thereof relative to a plane normal to the aforementioned axes, whereby the cutting blades, during movement toward their closed positions, are slightly downwardly and laterally displaced at their forward ends. A front loader including forwardly projecting lift arms is provided from which the aforementioned frame is supported and the front loader includes a forwardly spaced and downwardly directed spray head intermediate the lift arms thereof for downwardly directing a spray of vegetation killer upon a cut tree stump.

Abstract: A mower deck is convertible between a discharge configuration wherein grass clippings are discharged from the deck and a mulching configuration wherein grass clippings are mulched within the deck. The deck has a housing with a discharge port for discharging grass clippings from the housing when the deck is in the discharge configuration. Spindles are rotatably mounted to the housing and coupled to a drive mechanism. A cutting blade is attached to each spindle. A removable shroud can be attached to and removed from the housing. The mulching configuration of the deck corresponds to when the removable shroud is attached to the housing and the discharge configuration of the deck corresponds to when the removable shroud is detached from the housing. A fixed shroud is attached to the housing and partially enshrouds the cutting path of the cutting blade.

Abstract: The elongated cutter bed extending across the front of the harvester has a series of rotary cutting units which rotate about respective upright axes. Upright impeller cages associated with those cutter units located outside of the rear discharge opening of the header help gather cut crop toward the center of the machine for subsequent rearward delivery.

Abstract: Forage mower, including at least one module which is connected to a supporting unit provided with a feeding motion by means of a pair of motorized rockers and including a main frame which is pivoted to the rockers and to which two end subframes of a chain of three mutually pivoted subframes are pivoted; each subframe supports a disk that has mowing blades and is rotated by a hydraulic motor supported by the subframe. The main frame is pivoted to the rockers about an axis perpendicular to the direction of feeding motion, while the end subframes are pivoted to the main frame about axes parallel to the direction of feeding motion and the end subframes are also pivoted to the intermediate subframe about axes parallel to the direction of feeding motion.

Abstract: A rotary lawn mower accommodating plural blades supported for rotation in a housing having two generally cup-shaped compartments, the side walls of each compartment merging along a common wall portion so as to form a continuous downwardly extending housing skirt with a lower rim, the trailing edge of the housing in normal direction of movement extending rearwardly and outwardly to provide an exit spillgate, the spillgate having top and rear ground facing sides and edges to provide an extended spillgate for distributing grass clippings, the rear facing edge of the spillgate and the side edges being outwardly and downwardly sloped in the preferred embodiment to enhance distribution of grass and other material ingested in the lawn mower.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mower comprising first and second processing rollers, drive elements that are used to drive one of the first and second processing rollers and transmission elements that transmit the movement of rotation from one of the processing rollers to the other. The transmission elements are installed in a housing and the housing comprises a first part and a second part, connected to one another by a joint with a geometric axis directed at least approximately parallel to the axes of rotation of the processing rollers. Each of the parts of the housing is, in addition, mounted to pivot at least approximately around the axis of rotation of the corresponding processing roller.

Abstract: The harvester has a transverse cutter bed provided with a series of rotary cutting units that rotate about individual upright axes. Those cutting units located outboard of the discharge opening behind the cutting bed are provided with specially configured impeller plates that assist in the proper delivery of cut materials into the opening.

Abstract: The leading profile of a winged rotary cutter includes diverging leading profile sections, beginning with outer profile sections of a center housing section extending to opposite sides of the center housing section and continuing with inner profile sections respectively of right and left wing housing sections hinged to opposite sides of the center housing section. The right and left wing housing sections further include outer leading profile sections joined to respective rear ends of the inner leading profile sections and extending at a right angle to the direction of travel so as not to deflect plant stems outwardly of the width of cut of the cutter.

Abstract: The invention provides a tractor-drawn mower for use in harvesting a crop. The mower comprises a frame and at least two rotatable cutting elements for cutting the crop mounted rotatably on the frame. The cutting elements have non-overlapping loci of cutting movement and are arranged on the mower to cut in use overlapping swathes of crop material. Preferably, the cutting elements are provided at or towards the periphery of a plurality of cutting discs which are spaced along a substantially common axis on the mower frame.

Abstract: A first lawn mowing vehicle formed of self-propelled configuration mounts a second lawn mowing vehicle utilizing a frame assembly. The frame assembly is pivotally mounted to the first lawn mowing vehicle and to the second lawn mowing vehicle, with the second lawn mowing vehicle projecting through a housing receiving opening in the frame assembly, with the frame assembly rear distal end pivotally mounted to a first vehicle frame plate fixedly mounted to the first vehicle between forward and rear wheels of the first vehicle. A throttle cable is directed from the second vehicle to the first vehicle and mounted to a pivot handle secured to a support post adjacent the first vehicle frame plate.

Abstract: Apparatus for mowing a wide swath which is preferably hydraulically powered to provide reliability, efficiency, and ease of operation. The apparatus includes side-by-side wings. to which a plurality of mowers are mounted, the most distal mower being mounted on a horizontally pivoting swing-arm, which is mounted to a horizontally pivoting strut. The strut is pivoted under control of a hydraulic cylinder to facilitate mowing operations, and in particular, to allow mowing close to obstacles.

Abstract: A riding-type lawn mower has a cutter housing with a rear discharge slot defined in a rear wall thereof. The cutter housing accommodates a pair of cutter blades laterally spaced from each other and rotatable in a substantially horizontal plane. The cutter blades are arranged such that the cutter blade on the righthand side as viewed in a forward direction of the lawn mower body is rotatable clockwise as viewed in plan and the cutter blade on the lefthand side as viewed in the forward direction of the lawn mower body is rotatable counterclockwise as viewed in plan. The cutter housing has an upper wall that has a pair of laterally spaced portions raised upwardly and defining respective discharge passages in the cutter housing that lead to the rear discharge slot. Rotative power from a lawn mower engine is transmitted to the cutter blades by a belt-and-pulley mechanism disposed on a low flat portion defined between the raised portions of upper wall.

Abstract: A disc cutter bar including an upper part and a lower part which are welded together along an edge to form a housing for a row of gear wheels through which cutter discs are driven. The bar is provided with an elongation extending rearwardly in cross-section from the gear wheel row, which partly results in an increase of the stiffness and strength of the bar with a simultaneous low constructional height and partly makes it possible to increase the oil amount in the housing.

Abstract: A multi-bladed mulching mower is convertible between a mulching mode in which the grass clippings are deposited as mulch or a discharge/collection mode in which the grass clippings are discharged from the housing or are bagged. The mower includes two separate cutting chambers which are staggered forwardly relative to one another but otherwise are arranged side-by-side next to one another. The peripheral wall of the forward cutting chamber has a selectively openable gate which is closed in the mulching mode but is opened in the discharge/collection mode. The rearward cutting chamber is provided with a discharge outlet which can be selectively opened in the discharge/collection mode but is otherwise closed.

Abstract: An agricultural machine such as a mower conditioner includes a cutterbar carried by a header that is suspended from a frame. The cutterbar has a plurality of individual cutting units with two end cutting units located adjacent opposed sides of the frame and intermediate cutting units disposed between the end cutting units. Each cutting unit consists of blades pivotally mounted on a rotor. A tongue adapted for connection to a tractor is pivotally connected to the frame intermediate the opposed sides thereof. Input drive shafts deliver power from a power-take-off shaft on the tractor to a pair of generally vertical output drive shafts via a bevel gearbox and a spur gearbox. The generally vertical output drive shafts are connected to two of the intermediate cutting units, and generally horizontal output drive shafts connect these two intermediate cutting units to the other intermediate cutting units and to the end cutting units.

Abstract: An improved mower cutting deck (30) includes a main deck section (38), pivotal wing deck sections (40), and belt drive system (80) with electric clutch/brake units (131, 132) connected therebetween which allow constant belt tension to be maintained while minimizing belt wear and related maintenance. If desired, breakaway assemblies (150) may also be connected between the deck sections (38, 40). Shroud and baffle arrangements (162) are also provided for better grass dispersion.

Abstract: An agricultural machine such as a mower conditioner includes a cutterbar carried by a header that is suspended from a frame. The cutterbar has a plurality of individual cutting units with two end cutting units located adjacent opposed sides of the frame and intermediate cutting units disposed between the end cutting units. Each cutting unit consists of blades pivotally mounted on a rotor. A tongue adapted for connection to a tractor is pivotally connected to the frame intermediate the opposed sides thereof. Input drive shafts deliver power from a power-take-off shaft on the tractor to a generally vertical output drive shaft via a bevel gearbox. The generally vertical output dirve shaft is connected to one of the intermediate cutting units, and generally horizontal output drive shafts connect this one intermediate cutting unit to the other intermediate cutting units and to the end cutting units.

Abstract: A mower vehicle includes a vehicle frame and single front and rear driven wheels. First and second blade housings are pivotally connected to each other along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle frame and are attached to first and second side frames, respectively. Each side frame is pivotally attached to the vehicle frame near the rear thereof with a hydraulically retractable and extendable cylinder assembly urging each side frame downward or upward in response to changes automatically sensed in the slope of the terrain. Ground engaging outrigger wheels attached to each side frame contact the terrain and the vehicle frame is thus maintained in a generally upright position.

Abstract: A mower suitable for attachment to a vehicle having a raisable hitch. The mower includes a body adapted to carry a plurality of cutters. A draw bar attaches one end of the body to the hitch for being raised and lowered by the hitch. The body extends laterally outward of the vehicle when in the mowing position. One or more wheels are pivotally mounted to the body by one or more arms, said wheels being located on the body laterally of and remote from the vehicle when the mower is in use. A lever arm is mounted to move with the hitch. A connector connects the lever arm to a fixed point on the vehicle. A linkage transmits movement of the lever arm to the wheel mounting arms to raise or lower the body of the mower with respect to the wheels in response to the raising or lowering of the end of the body adjacent the draw bar.

Abstract: A mower is propelled along the ground by a tractor and the mower includes three cutting units mounted on a frame. The three cutting units are transversely mounted on the frame to cut in overlapping parallel patterns with each cutting unit being free floating on the frame such that each unit cuts at an elevation controlled by the ground immediately under the cutting unit.

Abstract: A multiblade mulching rotary lawn mower. A multiblade mower has a removably affixed mulching housing coupled to the mower deck top wall and is overlying an associated cutting blade. Mulching operation can be carried out without closing any discharge port, and the mower can readily be changed between mulching and nonmulching operation by removal of the mulching housings.

Abstract: A rotary mower of extra wide configuration has five cutters. The center cutter is mounted on a center section of the mower, while two wings on opposite sides of the center section carrying two cutters each. The cutters only wings include inner cutters offset forwardly from the center cutter and outer cutters offset rearwardly from the inner cutters. This provides the necessary overlap of the swaths cut by the individual cutters while providing a relatively compact mower in terms of overall length. The wheels supporting the center section are mounted outboard of the center section, behind the respective wings to provide good transport stability.

Abstract: A mobile harvester of leafy produce has two harvesting sections with a cutter located forwardly for severing the produce from the ground. A continuous belt having a large number of openings moves in a closed path presenting an upwardly facing surface. A low pressure plenum underneath the belt provides a vacuum attraction to the belt upwardly facing for picking up severed produce. An enclosure ove the belt protects against wind removal of produce leaves from the belt. The two harvesting sections are individually adjustable for proper height above the ground.