Abstract: An apparatus for mowing, aerating and/or collecting includes a cultivation device, formed preferably as a mowing assembly, and disposed movable in a vertical direction relative to the frame, with guide elements disposed in front of and behind the cultivation device and adjustable relative to the cultivation device for setting the cutter level or the operating level of the cultivation device. In order to allow a uniform distance guide of the mowing assembly relative to the ground surface, even in case of an extremely uneven terrain, it is provided that the guide elements, disposed in front of and behind the cultivation device, are disposed at at least one common traverse. The traverse is disposed and swivelable in an upwardly aligned plane around a horizontally disposed axis, running perpendicular to the direction of travel.

Abstract: A pull-type harvesting machine is provided having a hydraulically controlled header tilt adjustment mechanism that can be operated from the tractor seat of a towing vehicle. The tilt adjustment mechanism includes a hydraulic tilt circuit and a remotely operated control valve assembly connectable with the tilt circuit and another operating circuit of the harvester. The valve assembly is shiftable between a pair of alternative positions for communicating either the operating circuit or the tilt circuit with the towing vehicle's source of hydraulic pressure. Accordingly, a single source of pressurized fluid may be controlled from within the towing vehicle to alternatively operate either the header tilt mechanism or another function of the harvester, such as swinging of a pulling tongue from side-to-side for lateral positioning of the machine relative to a towing vehicle.

Abstract: A mower includes a cutting mechanism, an attachment structure, a carrying beam connected to the cutting mechanism by way of a first articulation and to the attachment structure by way of a second articulation and a third articulation, and a safety device including an energy accumulator. The safety device includes a pivoting member connected to the attachment structure by way of a fourth articulation and a connecting rod installed between the pivoting member and the cutting mechanism or the carrying beam. The energy accumulator is connected to the pivoting member by way of a connection which is capable, from a certain angle of pivoting of the cutting mechanism toward the rear, about the axis of the third articulation, of reducing the lever arm with which the energy accumulator acts on the pivoting member.

Abstract: A coupling mechanism for connecting a working unit to a tractor body is disclosed which includes an engaging device and receiver brackets for coupling the working unit which is suspended from a lawn tractor body to links extending from the tractor body. The engaging device includes a first rod extending transversely from the links, a second cross rod spaced and parallel to the first cross rod, and a connecting device interconnecting the cross rods. Each receiver bracket includes a receiving groove for simultaneously receiving part of the first and second cross rods therein. The receiving groove includes a first groove portion having a length corresponding to a distance between the two cross rods, a second groove portion extending from the first groove portion in a direction substantially perpendicular thereto, and an opening to the exterior of the bracket. With this construction, the engaging device is not readily separable from the receiver brackets when the lawn tractor moves forward or backward.

Abstract: A mower unit includes a plurality of blade mechanisms each having a blade and a blade shaft fixed to the blade for supporting the blade, pulleys and a belt for transmitting drive among the blade mechanisms, a plate-like support frame for interconnecting the blade mechanisms through intermediate members, a mower deck, and vibration proofing rubber elements disposed between the mower deck and the blade mechanisms.

Abstract: A rock guard for a crop harvesting combine header. The guard is attached to the grain table immediately behind the cutter bar and extends vertically upward from the grain table such that the upper edge is spaced below the resilient fingers of the reel when they move over the guard. Gaps formed in the guard register with the joints of the flexible grain table so that the guard will flex with the grain table. Brackets used to mount the guard to the grain table are secured by the exiting cutter bar bolts so that no special mounting holes are needed.

Abstract: A conventional header of a combine is modified by the addition of a second sickle knife positioned rearwardly of the pan of the header. The second sickle knife is mounted on a bar which is connected to a pair of arms extending under the pan to a forward end pivotally mounted just behind the conventional sickle knife of the header. The arms and the second sickle knife can thus pivot upwardly and downwardly and are mounted on suspension springs carried on the frame of the header. A simple drive from the conventional shaft of the header is connected through a belt to a drive wobble box carried on the second sickle knife at a position partway along its length.

Abstract: A mower deck carriage for mounting a mower deck on a vehicle such as a mower or tractor, including laterally aligned, spaced channels attached to the upper side of the mower deck, a suspension frame attached to the vehicle, the suspension frame supporting a plurality of laterally aligned, spaced rollers, the rollers received in the channels. The mower deck channels are laterally moveable along the spaced rollers. A spring attached between the mower deck and the vehicle biases the mower deck in a preferred position. A mower deck guard extends exterior of the mower deck. The roller guard, the channels, the rollers and the spring allow lateral movement of the mower deck upon encountering a fixed object such as a tree or fence post.

Abstract: A hedge trimmer blade assembly preferably a double acting assembly having upper and lower reciprocating blades. Superimposed cutting teeth extend laterally from the sides of the assembly from each of the blades. Guard portions extend from the teeth of the upper blade only on one side and from the teeth of the lower blade only on the other side. The guard portions are asymmetrical with a straight side and a tapered side, the taper preferably including a shallow bevel near the base and a sharper bevel near the tip of the guard portion. The cutting teeth of both upper and lower blades on both sides form oval shaped cutting chambers with cooperative hook configurations at the entry to the cutting chambers. The upper and lower blades are preferably identical in configuration but inverted one relative to the other in the assembly. The straight sides of the guard portions are all faced toward the power head of the trimmer to produce a hooking action as the user sweeps the trimmer during operation.

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: An improved drive structure is provided for use between a lawn and garden type vehicle and a vertically adjustable belt driven, belly-mounted implement such as a rotary mower. The structure is usable with a standard length engine crankshaft which is mountable to project below the vehicle chassis and power the belt driven mower. It includes a stub shaft extension that is adapted to carry an electric clutch as well as a pulley for driving a belt entrained around the mower spindle pulleys. The extension permits positive power transmission to the drive pulley and also allows for it to be mounted substantially horizontal with the implement pulleys as they are shifted vertically in response to height of cut adjustments and/or variation in terrain. The extension further eliminates the need for jacksheave power relay arrangements commonly used to reduce the angles of drive belt entry and exit into and out of drive and driven pulleys.

Abstract: A control for a structural assembly oscillatingly supported around a swivel axis on a base unit in a harvesting machine and including a cutter table inclinably supported about an axis of rotation relative to a conveyor channel, has an hydraulic operation cylinder. The inclination of the cutter table relative to the conveyor channel is effected by the hydraulic operation cylinder pivoted at one end to the conveyor channel and at the other to the cutter table. An hydraulically loaded relief cylinder, the pressure medium of which is cushioned by a pressure reservoir, is installed with one end to the conveyor channel and with the other end to the cutter table so as to balance a position of the cutter table relative to its point of rotation by the force of the relief cylinder.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a front mower driven by a self propelled all terrain vehicle to the rear of the mower and connected by an articulating hitch. The hitch includes a pair of spaced pivot mechanisms to allow the mower to pivot from front to rear relative to the all terrain vehicle and a third pivot mechanism to allow the mower to rotate about a horizontal axis from side to side such that the mower is driven by the all terrain vehicle, but is free to follow the contour of the ground being traversed by the apparatus independent of the all terrain vehicle.

Abstract: A windrowed crop harvester of the type including a tined pickup drum and a transverse, center discharge auger is modified to include opposite side seed pickup vacuum heads for disposition within the outer furrows of a three furrow swath along which the harvester is being moved with the vacuum heads being operative to vacuum up any seeds disposed within the aforementioned outer furrows. Also, the harvester includes a center vacuum head downwardly receivable within the center furrow of a three furrow swath and operative to vacuum up seeds from the center furrow and to transfer those vacuumed seeds into the interior of the harvester.

Abstract: A riding lawn mower having a mower unit suspended from a chassis frame through a link mechanism. A driver's seat supporting auxiliary frame is provided, which includes a foot rest, a seat mount and right and left rear wheel fenders formed integral with one another. The auxiliary frame has a forward end portion thereof supported by the chassis frame to be pivotable about a cross pin, and a rear end portion supported by the chassis frame through a suspension mechanism. The cross pin is disposed adjacent a shift pedal and a brake pedal, while the suspension mechanism is disposed below the driver's seat.

Abstract: A small riding lawn mower having a grass cutting unit suspended from a body frame between a front axle and a rear axle, an engine supported by a body frame in a position forwardly of the rear axle with respect to a longitudinal direction of the body frame, a hydrostatic transmission disposed rearwardly of the rear axle, and a driver's seat disposed forwardly of the engine. The body frame includes profile members disposed at opposite sides and extending longitudinally of the mower, and a cross plate interconnecting the profile members. A belt transmission mechanism connecting the hydrostatic transmission to an engine output shaft is surrounded by a plate frame structure formed below the body frame. The plate frame structure defines a further independent chamber for accommodating a muffler of the engine. This chamber has peripheral walls shaped to guide cooling air from the engine to the muffler and laterally outwardly of the mower.

Abstract: A full flotation mower deck for a rear engine walk behind lawn mower, such flotation deck including a fixed frame having a pivoting axle, with the mower deck independently supported by anti-scalping wheels and interconnected to the frame by pins with a separate mechanical interconnection between the mower deck and the frame for forward and aft movement in respect thereto.

Abstract: A rotary mower (22) having an improved castering wheel assembly (39, 92) so as to reduce rotation of the castering wheel (4) about its support shaft (6). In one embodiment, a torsion resistance mechanism (2) is interposed between the shaft (3) and mower frame (67), the torsion resistance mechanism (2) including a resilient material (46) rigidly bonded to a sleeve (77) in which the shaft (3) is retained. The resilient material (46) is press fit into a housing (11), the housing (11) being rigidly bonded to the mower frame (67). In another embodiment, a cap (98) housing a spring (102) is threadably attached to the castering wheel support shaft (81). Rotation of the cap (98) compresses spacers (85-90) mounted co-axially on the shaft (81) while urging the shaft (81) in an upward direction (111) so as to prevent axial rotation of the shaft (81) when the castering wheel loses contact with the ground.

Abstract: A mower in which during work a limiting device is connected to a hitching structure by a hinge having a geometric axis that is at least approximately parallel to a geometric axis of a first hinge. The limiting device is connected so as to slide in relation to a support beam, and for transport, the sliding connection of the limiting device can be blocked in relation to the support beam by a locking device that is used to lock a cutting mechanism in its raised position for transport.

Abstract: A riding-type powered lawn mower has a frame, front and rear wheels rotatably mounted on the frame, an engine mounted on the frame for rotating the rear wheels, a cutter deck mounted on the frame and housing a cutter blade drivable by the engine, a driver's seat mounted on the frame by a seat bracket in front of the engine, and a steering column mounted on the frame forwardly of the driver's seat. The riding-type powered lawn mower also has a body paneling mounted on the frame. The body paneling comprises a unitary front body cover covering the steering column, the seat bracket, and a front portion of the engine, and a unitary rear hood detachably connected to a rear end of the front body cover and covering a rear portion of the engine.

Abstract: A control device for controlling a cutter table oscillatingly supported on a base unit about an axis of rotation of a harvesting machine, wherein the cutter table is inclinable about the longitudinal axis of a harvester thresher, the inclination being effected by a hydraulically operating cylinder relative to a conveyor channel. The operating cylinder is pivoted at one end to the conveyor channel and, at the other end, to the cutter table. A spring bridges the hydraulically operating cylinder and rests on one end at the operating cylinder and, on the other end, at a piston rod of the operating cylinder and is biased by a bolt nut on a threaded portion of the piston rod so that an imbalance of the cutter table relative to its point of rotation is equalized.

Abstract: A flotation mechanism for use on a crop harvesting machine having a header suspended from the frame thereof by flotation springs is disclosed wherein a hydraulic cylinder interconnects the frame and at least one of the springs to allow selective adjustment of the weight of the header supported from the frame. The extensible hydraulic cylinder is operable to vary the length of at least one of the flotation springs while the crop harvesting machine is in operation and movable over the ground.

Abstract: A mechanism coupling a yoke and cutting unit to a push arm, and having an upright steering pivot mechanism which establishes a relatively large effective steering lever arm for decreasing scuffing of the turf by the rollers of the cutting units, and an inclined pivot mechanism having an axis which is directed generally toward the cutting unit to decrease the effective lever arm between the rollers and the pivot axis and thereby reduce turf scuffing during execution of turns during mowing operations.

Abstract: A slope mower which can tilt a tractor body upslope about pivot points on the front and rear axles during operations on sloping terrain. The slope mower has a novel all geared powered belly mower and also has a novel mower lifting system. The slope mower also has a novel three point hitch attached to the tractor axle which allows for attaching utility devices but does not interfere with the tilting mechanism. The slope mower also has the ability to transfer engine power to the rear of the slope mower. Upon removal of the belly mower, a power take off is extended through both the front axle pivot point and the rear axle pivot point. This allows engine power to be transferred to a rear utility device without affecting the tilting ability of the slope mower. Reinforced caster wheels are attached to the belly mower.

Abstract: A mechanism for coupling a vehicle control such as a foot pedal to a vehicle component such as a brake. The mechanism includes a rod member coupled to shift the component between operating modes, and having a rounded end portion. The control includes a recessed portion in abutment with the rounded end portion of the rod. A spring biases the rod into and against the recessed portion such that the rod is supported or carried by the recessed portion. Guides are formed in the vehicle frame for aligning the rod with the recessed portion during the process of manufacture.

Abstract: A harvesting attachment for a combine that includes a table or platform carrying an auger to convey a cut crop into the combine body for threshing. The leading edge of the table carries a reciprocating knife to cut the crop. There is a considerable gap between the cutting knife and auger which is bridged by special rod-like teeth which are mounted on the knife and reciprocate therewith. Such teeth assist in conveying the cut crop to the auger especially when the crop is short, thin and has a strong tendency to bunch.

Abstract: A slope mower which can tilt a tractor body upslope about pivot points on the front and rear axles during operations on sloping terrain. The slope mower has a novel all geared powered belly mower and also has a novel mower lifting system. The slope mower also has a novel three point hitch attached to the tractor axle which allows for attaching utility devices but does not interfere with the tilting mechanism. The slope mower also has the ability to transfer engine power to the rear of the slope mower. Upon removal of the belly mower, a power take off is extended through both the front axle pivot point and the rear axle pivot point. This allows engine power to be transferred to a rear utility device without affecting the tilting ability of the slope mower. Reinforced caster wheels are attached to the belly mower.

Abstract: A mower includes a frame having a connecting mechanism for connecting the frame to a motor vehicle. The mower also includes at least one harvesting mechanism which comprises cutting elements and is connected to the frame through a suspension device. The suspension device permits the displacement in height of the harvesting mechanism relative to the frame. The mower further includes a lightening device operatively connected to the harvesting mechanism and comprising at least one spring connected directly to the harvesting mechanism. The lightening device makes it possible to reduce the pressure with which the harvesting mechanism rests on the ground by transferring a part of the weight of the harvesting mechanism to the frame.

Abstract: A mechanism for coupling a mower deck to a powered vehicle and having push arms pivotally connected to the vehicle between the front wheels of the vehicle and coupled to the front portion of the deck for pushing the deck in front of the vehicle. A member or outrigger extends outwardly from the rear of one of the push arms and supports a rear side portion of the deck and thereby establishes a pivot point for the deck outwardly from the rear of the push arm such that as the opposite side of the deck rides over a bump in the ground the side of the deck carried by the member or outrigger will not dip an undesirable amount.

Abstract: A draft tongue is horizontally adjustably connected to the left-hand end of a wheel-supported main frame of a crop harvester for movement between an outward working position and an inward transport or traveling position. The tongue includes front and rear portions which are disposed angularly relative to each other and, when the torque is in its working position, the rear portion extends outwardly from a straight ahead direction and the front portion extends forwardly and downwardly in a vertical plane extending in the straight ahead direction when the tongue is in its working position.

Abstract: A combine or power unit attachment by which two disc mower-conditioner units are attached to and driven by a combine with the mower-conditioners being arranged at slight opposing angles and in slightly staggered relation for discharge of the cut material in side-by-side relationship to form a single windrow. The mower-conditioners attached to the combine are in and of themselves a known structure and the combine or power unit in and of itself is a known structure with the attachment enabling the mower-conditions to be connected to, supported from and driven from the feeder housing on the combine with the attachment including a supporting framework that is quickly and easily attached to and removed from the feeder housing, a drive connection extending from each side of the feeder housing and a control mechanism for controlling the attitude of the mower-conditioners.

Abstract: An agricultural mower having a cutter mechanism for cutting a crop, a reel for guiding the crop into the cutter mechanism and lifting the crop after it is cut, and conditioning rollers, the machine including a pair of parallel swing arms on each side of the cutter mechanism for permitting the cutter mechanism when it strikes an obstacle to swing primarily rearwardly initially and then upwardly to a clearing height as the arms swing pendulum-like, side support arms for the reel connected to the cutter mechanism by lift links constructed and arranged to raise the reel upon initial rearward movement of the cutter mechanism so that the reel assembly will also clear the obstruction without damage, and support arms for the conditioning rollers to allow the conditioning rollers to move rearwardly initially and then upwardly upon predetermined rearward movement of the cutter mechanism.

Abstract: A mower includes a first chassis attachable to a tractor for movement in a work direction, a second chassis having first and second structures connected at a joint extending perpendicular to the work direction, and connecting rods, each having respective ends pivotally connected to the first chassis and to the second structure of the second chassis so as to form with the first and second chassis an upwardly deformable quadrilateral deformable such that the work elements may move to adapt to ground contours. A release safety device normally prevents pivoting of the first structure about the joint but permits pivoting of the first structure about the joint axis when the first structure or the working elements hooks an obstacle during movement of the mower in the work direction. This limits forces applied to the mower.

Abstract: A mowing machine comprising a cutter bar having rotary mowing members arranged thereabove. The cutter bar is connected for its support in two places to a carrier frame. One of these connections includes a flexible member, constituted by a resilient element, which permits relative limited movement between the carrier frame and the portion of the cutter bar that is contiguous to the connection. The resilient connection can be attached to a mowing member mounted on the cutter bar or outside the reach of the mowing members by means of an upwardly extending connection beam which is rigidly connected to the carrier frame at its upper end and is connected to the cutter bar at its lower end via a horizontal resilient element.

Abstract: The towed mower (22) is attached by a hitch (44) to the self propelled front mower (21). The front mower has its own forwardly positioned cutter unit (30). The towed mower has a centrally positioned frame segment (62) that does not include a cutting blade, and the two side frame segments (63) and (64) each include cutting blades that are supported in bat-wing fashion from the central frame segment. The swath cut in the grass by the front mower 21 is straddled by the swaths cut by the blades of the side frame segments (63) and (64) of the towed mower (22).

Abstract: Lift structure particularly useful with front mounted implements for providing both lift and weight transfer functions from a single valve. The valve acts as an adjustable bleeder for the lift cylinder and includes a control knob which is movable both axially and rotationally to respectively provide lift and adjustable flotation. The valve is normally biased to an adjustable orifice position for operating the implement in a lowered, flotation position. To momentarily lift the implement, the operator moves the control knob against the bias to direct flow to the lift cylinder thereby raising the implement off the ground. When the operator releases the valve, it automatically returns to the preset orifice position to provide the desired flotation.

Abstract: A V-belt guide is provided for the drive belt of a vehicle-implement combination wherein the implement is capable of vertical up and down floating movement relative to the vehicle. The guide is positioned above the strands of the belt, just ahead of the drive pulley, and serves to restrict the angle at which the belt strands can enter into and exit from the drive pulley. The guide takes the form of a plate having a gently curving surface around which the belt is guided into or out of the drive pulley. Vertically projecting members are attached to the guide plate and restrict excessive lateral movement of the belt strands.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an agricultural mower having a cutter mechanism for cutting the crop and a reel for guiding the crop into the cutter bar and lifting the crop after it is cut. The machine includes a pair of parallel swing arms on each side of the cutter bar for permitting the cutter mechanism when it strikes an obstacle to swing primarily rearwardly initially and then upwardly to a clearing height as the arms swing pendulum-like. The side support arms for the reel are connected to the cutter bar assembly by lift links constructed and arranged to raise the reel upon initial rearward movement of the cutter mechanism so that the real assembly will also clear the obstruction without damage.

Abstract: A dam, positioned behind the sickle blades on the cutter bar of a combine, prevents rocks and dirt from entering the combine and saves grain pods, prematurely dislodged from the stem, from falling from the combine header platform onto the ground. The grain-saver dam may be made in sections, bolted together loosely, so as to flex with the flexible cutter bars utilized on today's combines, or may be of one piece for use with a rigid cutter bar.

Abstract: A mower has a system of levers carrying the cutting head to project it laterally of the tractor on which it is mounted, the actual mounting for the levers being adjustable along the length of a beam extending across the tractor while the tractor is in motion, by means of a motor driving a rack and pinion on the mounting and beam respectively.

Abstract: A mower deck height and angle adjustment means is disclosed which utilizes adjustment to the length of a bolt extending between a mower deck suspension mechanism part and an in-line located flange to vary the relationship between the mower deck and the mower frame.

Abstract: The mower comprises at least two mowing groups 6, each of the at least two mowing groups 6 being composed of a cutting bar 8 equipped with cutting elements, the cutting bars 8 being connected to one another by a joint 9 and the mowing groups 6 being connected to the chassis 1 by a suspension device 12, 20, 18; 12, 20, 39. The suspension device 12, 20, 18; 12, 20, 39 comprises an intermediate structure 12 movably connected to the chassis 1 by a connecting device 18; 20, 39. Each one of the at least two mowing groups 6 is connected to the intermediate structure 12 by a joint 16 having an axis at least approximately perpendicular to the vertical plane containing the longitudinal axis of the corresponding cutting bar 8. The joints 16 are capable of movement in the direction crosswise to the direction of work 25 in relation to the intermediate structure 12.

Abstract: A pull-type mower-conditioner has a main frame including a pair of laterally spaced, downwardly projecting legs. A lower conditioner roll has opposite ends rotatably mounted to the main frame while an upper conditioner roll is mounted for arcuate movement towards and away from the lower roll by means of a pair of laterally spaced, L-shaped roll support arms that are respectively vertically pivotally mounted to the pair of main frame legs and have forwardly projecting legs in which opposite ends of the upper roll are rotatably mounted. A header is suspended from the main frame for vertical floating movement by a pair of four-bar linkages respectively coupled to opposite ends of the header and coupled directly between upstanding legs of each of the roll support arms and a bottom link of each of the four-bar linkages is a float spring that acts to simultaneously exert a lifting force on the header and a downwardly biasing force on the upper conditioner roll.

Abstract: A mowing machine having a mobile frame, made up of a portion including the mower units and a support frame, which can be coupled by means of a pivotal arm to a prime mover. During operation, the mobile frame is located behind and offset to one side of the prime mover. The pivotal arm carries drive means for driving the mowing machine through the PTO-shaft of the prime mover. The pivotal arm is constructed so that it may pivot over a broad range of angles thereby facilitating turns. To accomodate the construction of the pivotable arm, the drive means may be divided into three sections interconnected by two universal joints.

Abstract: The riding mower chassis of this invention has laterally spaced front traction wheels, attachment fittings for a mower that rides in front of those wheels, and laterally spaced rear wheels that can float up and down to accommodate terrain irregularities, For such floating a rear axle has at its midpoint a pivot connection with the frame whereby its ends can swing up and down, and the rear wheels are mounted on its ends for rotation and for swiveling relative to it. Swiveling of the rear wheels is controlled by an operator seated on the chassis from a steering wheel at its front. A pair of cable stretches that have their front ends connected with the steering wheel shaft extend rearwardly at the underside of the chassis frame to connections with a steering linkage on the rear axle.

Abstract: The harvesting system has a crop cutting device disposed transversely of the direction of travel of the harvesting machine. A crop combing device is disposed adjacent to and extends forwardly of the cutting device. There is provided a pneumatic arrangement for generating a bed of air moving across the combing device in the direction towards the cutting device and generally parallel to the cutting plane of the cutting device. The moving bed of air facilitates gathering of the crop and reduces grain loss. The pneumatic arrangement includes nozzles for discharging air whereby to create said bed and a delivery system for delivering air under pressure to the nozzles. The nozzles are located in the plane of the bed and the delivery system is disposed generally beneath the combing device. Also disclosed is a finger attachment for a known harvesting system of agricultural machines. The finger attachment facilitates conversion of the known harvesting system to a harvesting system according to the invention.

Abstract: An improved mower clutch control is disclosed that transforms part of the upward height control movement of a mower deck into a forward declutching movement by angularly deflecting the mower deck in an arc through use of a pivotally connected lost motion lockout bolt.

Abstract: A device for attaching a working implement to the front of a running vehicle for performing work while following the ground comprises a pair of opposite inflexible links pivoted at their rear ends to the front of the vehicle. These inflexible links are movable upwardly or downwardly and each link has a front end for movably supporting the front portion of the implement about a lateral pivot. A pair of opposite suspenders are each mounted on a longitudinally intermediate portion of each link for suspending the rear portion of the implement, each of the suspenders including a rod assembly pivotally connectable to the implement's rear portion and a resilient member. The rod assembly is inserted in an upstanding state through the link and is movable axially thereof to thereby permit upward or downward movement of the implement's rear portion due to the movement of the implement about the pivot.

Abstract: A weight transfer control for a front mount mower including a foot pedal actuated mechanical linkage to selectively transfer a portion of the mower weight to the drive vehicle. The operator can easily and quickly engage and disengage the weight transfer control as the mowing conditions and terrain dictate. The foot pedal, through a series of control links, actuates or winds a torsion spring which will transfer a large portion of the mower weight to the drive vehicle.

Abstract: An agricultural mower including a parallel linkage suspension mechanism for the cutter assembly, the suspension mechanism including swing arms which in the use position are substantially vertically oriented, enabling the cutter assembly, upon striking an object, to respond by moving quickly rearwardly relative to the forwardly traveling main frame, and then, as the pendulum action continues, to elevate the cutter assembly above the obstruction to a clearing height. In the use position, the cutter bar and guards are directed down and forward defining the lowest and leading part of the cutter assembly.