Abstract: A method for creating a building material that makes use of a wheeled, moveable apparatus that moves through a field after the straw or other agricultural waste has been processed into tightly bound cables. Said cables are formed into woven mats, and said mats are bonded together to form flat or curved wall sections or panels.

Abstract: A crop conditioning system to reduce the drying time of crops. The invention generally provides a framework, a fixed roller mounted on the framework, a movable roller mounted on one or more bellows which are mounted on the framework and a source of compressed gas or air for the bellows. The invention also provides a compressible roller sleeve which reduces down time due to jamming or clogging of the rollers with slugs and other debris, which includes a compressible base mat and a plurality of platform surfaces.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the treatment of forage material and other agricultural plants by crushing and impact maceration. The apparatus includes a pair of rotatable, generally cylindrical crushing rollers and a rotatable impact rotor having outwardly extending projections such as fins. Forage material is first passed between the crushing rollers where force applied to the rollers flattens the tubular structure of the plant stem, splitting or creating longitudinal cracks and making the plant fiber more compliant and ribbon-like. Additional maceration occurs as the crushed material is next impacted by the impact rotor, resulting in further splitting and separation of the stems into ribbons. The resultant macerated forage material produced may be subsequently pressed into mats for accelerated field drying. The mats could then be harvested by either baling or chopping when the desired moisture content is achieved.

Abstract: An apparatus wherein a self-propelled tractor mounts a support plate, a spool, and a reversing motor mounted to the spool to effectively extend and retract a cable wound about the spool. The cable is directed forwardly to a mounting plate positioned rearwardly and coextensively of a rear edge of an associated lawn mower housing to permit extension and retraction of a lawn mower about an incline of an associated slope in use of the lawn mower. A modification of the invention includes a plurality of spools, each including a reversible motor mounted in association with each respective spool to permit steering of each spool by selective relative rotation of each spool.

Abstract: A mower-conditioner drive system includes a main support casting having an outwardly projecting stub shaft and an inwardly projecting pivot pin mounted to an upright wall section at one end of a header frame. A slip clutch is received on the stub shaft and includes a main drive plate coupled to one shaft of an angle gear box and includes inner and outer pressure plates connected for being frictionally driven by the drive plate, the inner pressure plate having a main drive spur gear integral therewith and the outer pressure plate having a drive sheave integral therewith. The main drive spur gear forms part of a drive train for driving either a pair of conditioner rolls or for driving an impeller conditioner while the drive sheave is coupled by a belt for driving either a sickle-type cutterbar or a rotary type cutterbar.

Abstract: An improved corn head assembly for corn picking apparatus which is provided with a plurality of forward guides forming a plurality of laterally spaced openings adapted to receive a planted corn stalk as the apparatus is driven along the length of planted rows of corn. A corn stalk distributing member is provided at the rearward portion of each of the openings to engage and deflect the corn stalks entering one of the openings laterally into engagement with a pair of ear removing rotating snapping rolls associated with stripping plates. The axis of rotation of said rolls is disposed generally laterally to the direction of travel of said apparatus. The corn ears removed by the snapping rolls and stripping plates tend to be thrown upwardly and rearwardly toward conventional collection apparatus mounted to the rear of the corn head assembly.

Abstract: An improved tree cutting mechanism for a tree harvester. The mechanism employs two stacked circular saws which are rotated and moved forwardly to cut through a tree. A wedge between the saws moves pieces of the tree being cut between the saws out of the way of the support for the saws.

Abstract: A mower-conditioner for cutting and conditioning grass or other fodder comprises in combination a housing accommodating a cutting device (for example a bottom-driven disc-type rotary scythe device or a reciprocating cutter bar device) and a first conditioning device (for example a flail drum rotating about a horizontal axis and provided with pivotally-mounted flails), and a second conditioning device (for example a belt-driven fluted drum). The said first and second devices have at least one element (for example the said flail drum and driving belts or the like) in common. There are combs and grids to act on the cut fodder, and the mower-conditioner is readily adjustable for the treatment or production of different kinds of fodder.

Abstract: A process for the isomerization of maleic acid, its monoesters and monoamides in the presence of thiourea in anhydrous conditions at elevated temperature to the corresponding fumaryl forms yields intermediates which are useful in the synthetic pathways of aspartame and other useful polypeptides.