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: A crop harvesting machine has a crop gathering attachment lift mechanism which includes a pair of lift assemblies and a pair of actuators. Each lift assembly includes a lift arm and a boost arm. The lift arm is pivotally mounted to the base unit and pivotally connectable to the attachment. Pivoting of the lift arm causes raising of the attachment from its lowered position to a partially raised position being located at a height between its fully raised position and its lowered position. The boost arm is pivotally connected to the lift arm and has a roller rotatably mounted thereon for making rolling contact engagement with an arcuate cam structure on the attachment. The boost arm also is pivotally connected to the actuator.

Abstract: The present invention is for a mounting system for supporting harvesting units from the frame of a cotton harvester. The present invention allows greater access to the rear of the harvesting unit while also allowing independent mounting of each harvesting unit.

Abstract: A height adjustment device for a front mount mower including a support frame pivotally attached to the mower deck at the point where the rear of the mower deck is supported by push arms extending forward from the drive vehicle. The forward portion of the support frame carries a pair of ground engaging wheels and the forward end of the mower deck is disposed to be attached to and supported by the support frame at one of a number of vertically spaced positions. A cable connection between the push arms and the support frame automatically levels the rear of the mower deck with the adjusted level of the front of the mower deck.

Abstract: A grass cutting attachment for use particularly with compact tractors has a mounting frame, two cutting units lying behind the tractor front wheels and respective support arms which extend from a forward part of the frame rearwardly over the tractor front wheels to support the cutting units. The support arms are pivotal about inclined axes so that the cutting units may be lifted and simultaneously brought sideways into the tractor to reduce overall width. The cutting units are mounted for rocking movement relative to the support arms about fore and aft axis, these axis becoming inclined in the lifted position so that each unit is tilted forwardly and upwardly to improve operator access.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in lawn and garden maintenance, in which a chassis having a pair of axially aligned and independently operable drive wheels carries a cultivator comprising a frame mounted on the chassis and movable pivotably in the vertical plane of the axis of the drive wheels, a plurality of hoes adjustably mounted on the frame, and means mounted on the chassis to raise and lower the frame pivotably into an inoperative and an operative position respectively .

Abstract: On a tractor having a main frame channel that includes an overhead wall and depending side walls and a lift arm mounted on a rockshaft for raising and lowering a tractor-supported implement, a power means for rocking the rockshaft with a lost motion connection between the power means and the rockshaft, a vertical member extending through the overhead wall and freely swivable therein and having a manual controllable portion above the transverse wall structure and an axially hollow section beneath the wall structure, a fixed pipe-like member in axial alignment with the swivel member and having an internal threaded portion, a stud threaded into the pipe-like member and having a head seated in and connected to the hollow section of the swivel member to swivel therewith, and a vertically disposed rod having an upper end portion extending to and engaging the lower end of the stud and a lower end connected to the rockshaft in radial offset relation to its axis.

Abstract: A vehicle has a forward end portion which extends above a portion of an implement mounted to the front of the vehicle by a pair of hydraulically controlled lift arms. A latch link is connected to one and has a hook engageable with the other of the vehicle forward end portion and the implement when the implement is in a raised, inoperative position.

Abstract: A hitch structure includes a pair of arms each having their opposite ends vertically pivotally connected to a vehicle and an implement. The arms each include first and second sections pivotally inter-connected to each other at a location between the vehicle and an adjacent end of the implement. A stop block is carried by each first section and limits the flexure of the sections about their pivotal inter-connection. The remote end of the implement is supported on a pair of caster wheels and flexible members support the adjacent end of the implement from the arms. Lift actuators are connected to the arms and are operable to lower the first sections of the arms to the extent that the adjacent end of the implement rests on the ground.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning bush. The apparatus has a frame with a circular saw mounted at the front end and power means, for use in operating the saw, mounted at the rear end. Pivot means on the frame are used to pivotally mount the apparatus on a bush vehicle. The vehicle is driven in bush and the saw is operated to cut down bush and small trees. The vehicle operator can both move the circular saw from side to side, and tilt the frame, to raise or lower the saw with one hand.

Abstract: A front-mounted rotary mower is coupled to a vehicle by a pair of vertically swingable lift arms coupled between the vehicle and mounting brackets located in a central portion of the mower blade housing. A lift mechanism includes a pair of linkages respectively coupled between the pair of lift arms and the rear of the blade housing. Each linkage includes one link which carries a roller at one end disposed for engagement with the vehicle frame as the lift arms are swung upwardly, which action causes the one link to pivot to effect elevation of the rear end of the housing.

Abstract: A vehicle includes hydraulically actuated lift arms which are pivotally connected to central locations of the top of a mower blade housing and are operative for moving the mower vertically between working and transport positions. When the mower is in its working position, a pair of caster wheels suppports the front of the blade housing while the rear of the housing is supported from the lift arms by a pair of suspension assemblies. Each of the suspension assemblies includes a fore-and-aft extending adjuster screw which is operable for effecting selected fore-and-aft movement of an adjuster bracket, which is connected to an associated lift arm by a chain, so as to cause the rear end of the housing to be adjusted vertically. These suspension assemblies cooperate with adjustment mechanisms associated with the caster wheels to place the mower at different cutting heights.

Abstract: A lawnmower attachment for providing an increased cutting width on a lawnmower uses a mower deck attachable by means of a hitch to the back of a riding lawnmower, or other pulling unit, and includes the use of at least two additional lawnmower cutting blades operably powered by an independent motor mounted on the mower deck. A pair of guide wheels mounted in a spaced apart relationship are provided to support the mower deck off the ground, while a non-horizontally pivotable hitch arrangement is provided to prevent jackknifing of the attachment during a reverse movement of the riding lawnmower.

Abstract: A bean cutting device to cut beans when harvesting a bean crop. The device is mountable on the front of a tractor and includes a frame carrying a plurality of generally upright but forwardly inclined columns. Each column carries a cutting assembly including a cutting blade mounted on a shaft rotated by a hydraulic motor. The cutting blade is comprised as a spherical segment and has a leading edge disposed in slightly penetrating relationship relative to the soil surface. The cutting blades operate in counter-rotating pairs to cut and windrow rows of beans. Deflector units are mounted at the bases of the columns to deflect cut beans into a windrow located between pairs of counter-rotating blades.

Abstract: A supporting structure for an agricultural machine which may be connected to a movable vehicle includes a first frame adapted to be connected to the vehicle, a second frame adapted to be connected to the agricultural machine, an articulation device including a pivotable parallelogram mechanism connected to the frames, and permitting movement therebetween, and restraining devices limiting the movement between the frames.

Abstract: There is provided a coupling section which comprises a main planar body having an aperture at one end. Extending from the main planar body on a first side is a rod. Secured to the end of this rod is a depending flange having an aperture coaxial with the aperture in the main body. An extending tab is secured to the vehicle body and is aligned between the flange and the main body. The tab has an aperture which, when aligned with the apertures in the flange and main body, provide a pivot point when a suitable pin or bolt is inserted through the apertures. The other side of the planar body contains a box-like housing having an extending rod to which a movable piston associated with a hydraulic cylinder is coupled. The cylinder body is rigidly secured to the vehicle chassis. The front end of the planar body has a transverse flange to which one end of a cutting head support beam is coupled. The other end of the beam is coupled to one side of a cutting head assembly.

Abstract: The riding lawn mower includes a prime mover supported on wheels for movement over the ground, a blade housing carrying one or more cutter blades and having leading and trailing end portions, one or more ground engaging wheels partially supporting the blade housing for gaging the distance the leading end portion of the blade housing travels above the ground, and a suspension system mounting the trailing end portion of the blade housing on the front end of the prime mover and arranged to transfer a portion of the weight of the blade housing to the prime mover so that the prime mover front wheels gage the distance and trailing end portion of the blade housing travels above the ground.

Abstract: A two point hitch for a mowing implement towed by a two point hitch tractor. The hitch structure includes a pair of upstanding plates which are pivotally pinned to the hitch arms of the tractor. A pair of support arms projecting from the implement underlie the hitch arms. When the hitch arms are raised, the support arms come into contact with them and the implement is thereafter raised in unison with the hitch arms to an elevated transport position.

Abstract: The riding mower (10) includes a prime mover (12) and a cutter blade housing (28) mounted on the prime mover (12) for pivotal movement between a lowered mowing position and a raised non-mowing position. The blade housing (28) is moved between the mowing and non-mowing positions by a flexible member (56), such as a chain, having a first end (58) connected to the blade housing (28) and a second end (60) connected to the prime mover (12) and a fluid-actuated cylinder (64) including a piston rod (66) carrying an arcuate element (68), such as a pulley, which engages an intermediate portion (62) of the chain (56) and lifts it in response to extension of the piston rod (66). The chain (56) is maintained in tension and in engagement with the pulley (68) at all times by a spring-biased arm (70) pivotally mounted on the prime mover (12) and connected to the second end (60) of the chain (56).

Abstract: An improved bean harvester comprising a frame attachable to a tractor, the frame having a transverse mounting shaft between the front and rear tractor wheels, and a plurality of cutting blades each pivotally mounted to the shaft and each having a presetting height adjustment and cutting angle adjustment and blade cleaning scraper, each cutter blade being independently hydraulically powered.

Abstract: Crop cutting apparatus providing a wide cutting path and even cutting while following variations in ground level. Known drum and disc mowers of wide cut do not follow variations in ground level, and are easily damaged by ground shocks. Cutter drums 29, 29' and gear boxes 41, 41' are mounted on subframes 16, 16', which are pivotally mounted on main frame 13 to allow independent vertical movement of the drums 29, 29'. Each drum 29, 29' is driven by a flexible belt drive 42, 42' from its gear box 41, 41' to protect the gear boxes from ground shock. The gear boxes 41, 41' are driven by a cross-shaft 48 from a tractor p-t-o. The drums are driven by untimed drive and clash of cutting knives 31, 31' is prevented by a spacing roller 102 which rolls over a cam plate 102' and forces the drums 29, 29' apart when the drums are cutting at the same level. Support members 9 and 9' move apart on cross members 21, 21' and are linked together by tie bar 103 to give overlap of cutters when cutting at different levels.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the growth of unwanted plants, such as weeds, volunteer plants, and the like, which project upwardly from a cultivated crop growing in a field, comprises providing an agricultural vehicle having a cutting bar thereon. The cutting bar is positioned at an elevation slightly above the uppermost portion of the crop, and the agricultural vehicle is piloted over the field, thereby cutting the upwardly projecting portions of the unwanted plants at a point thereon slightly above the uppermost portion of the crop, thereby arresting the growth of the unwanted plants, and facilitating the mechanical harvesting of the crop.

Abstract: A mower conditioner which is attached to its mobile carrying frame by an upper link and two laterally spaced lower swing links, is provided with a lateral floatation lockout device in the form of a torque transmitting bar selectively rigidly attached at each end to the lower swing links coaxially with the pivotal connection of the latter to the laterally elongated crop harvesting header.

Abstract: A delimber attachment for a tractor comprises an elongate drum mounted transversely and rotatably within a downwardly opening enlosure. The drum has a plurality of chains connected at one thereto. A frame extends forwardly from the enclosure. A hinge connector near a forward end of the frame hingedly connects the delimber to the tractor for upward and downward pivoting. A cable receiver is located near a top portion of the enclosure. A hydraulic damping cylinder is connected near a first end to the delimber and extends upwardly and forwardly therefrom. The cylinder has a clasp near a second end of the cylinder for connecting the cylinder to the tractor above the hinge connector.

Abstract: A tractor mounted corn harvesting unit has ground engaging steerable wheels, side frame members pivotally connected to the tractor, and a hydraulic cylinder connected between the tractor and the harvesting unit for adjusting the unit weight carried by the ground engaging wheels. The side frame members movably support the rear end of the harvesting unit on the tractor for up and down movement of the front end thereof, and the hydraulic cylinder operates to raise and lower the harvesting unit between an elevated position therefor, wherein the ground engaging wheels provide substantially no ground support for the front end of the harvesting unit, and a lowered position therefor wherein the wheels provide at least a partial ground support for the harvesting unit.

Abstract: A semi-mounted or trailed agricultural mower has vertical axis crop-cutting rotors and a rigid rectangular open frame mounted above the rotors to support the rotors. The frame has at one end a ground-engageable support wheel secured to a rear beam of the frame and at the other end a headstock secured to a front beam of the frame. At least one of the rotors is trailed from the front beam on a linkage permitting the rotor to rise and fall relative to the frame.

Abstract: A mower for cutting grass, brush and the like includes a substantially U-shaped frame which is to be pivotally connected to the front end of a vehicle. The frame has a pair of arms with free ends extending in the direction of travel when the mower is in a cutting position. The frame is movable between the cutting position and a non-operating position during which the vehicle may be driven over roads without removing the mower. A rocker arm is pivotally connected to the free end of each of the arms of the U-shaped frame, and a cutter assembly, including cutter blades, is suspended from the U-shaped frame being pivotally connected between the rocker arms. The cutter assembly has a support shoe at each end to which the rocker arms are pivotally connected. The points of pivotal connection of each of the rocker arms to the free ends of the U-shaped frame are located in front (with respect to the directon of travel of the mower) of the connection of the rocker arms to the support shoes.

Abstract: A three-point mounting hitch for supporting an implement beneath a tractor and between the front and rear wheels thereof includes an upright rear frame member connectible with the tractor three-point hitch and a horizontal implement supporting frame member at the lower end of the rear frame member extended forwardly below the tractor. The implement is raised and lowered as a unit assembly with the three-point hitch into and out of an operating position. A belt drive mechanism on the hitch connects the tractor power take-off unit to the implement drive shaft.

Abstract: A control apparatus is provided for controlling a gathering unit mounted on a forage harvester for vertical articulative movement about a transverse axis thereon, the control apparatus including a main lever pivotally mounted on the forage harvester frame and operatively attached by a tension apparatus to the gathering unit, a lifting apparatus interconnecting the frame and main lever through a lost motion connection for selectively engaging the main lever to lift the gathering unit, a floatation spring lever having a first pivotal connection and a second detachable connection with the main lever, and a floatation spring assembly interconnecting the spring lever and the frame, the floatation spring assembly counterbalancing a portion of the weight of the gathering unit when the detachable connection between the spring lever and the main lever is attached and being ineffective when the detachable connection is detached.

Abstract: There is disclosed a memorial marker trimmer including a horizontal rotary drum mounted from a supporting vehicle and rotated about a horizontal axis. Mounted at equidistance about the periphery of the drum are four axially extending rows of leather thongs forming whips about eleven inches long and a quarter-inch square in cross section. Consequently, when the rotor is driven at high r.p.m.'s, the thongs will whip radially outwardly in vertical planes with the free extremities thereof engaging the grass to be trimmed during their downward sweep and breaking the top portions of the individual grass blades from the stalks thereof, as well as mulching the cuttings and sweeping clean obstacles over which the drum is passed.

Abstract: In a mowing machine of the kind comprising a frame adapted to be mounted on a tractor three-point linkage, and a plurality of cutting units connected to the frame, including at least two laterally spaced side cutting units and a center cutting unit positioned so as, in use, to cut the swath between the two swaths cut by the side cutting units, the side cutting units are mounted directly on the frame, so that in use part of the weight of the frame is supported by the side cutting units, and the center cutting unit is mounted at the rear end of a mounting arm connected to the frame by a universal joint, biasing springs being connected between the frame and the mounting arm to increase the pressure exerted on the ground by the center cutting unit so that it takes some of the weight of the frame from the side units and ensures uniformity of cut. The universal joint between mounting arm and frame also allows the center unit to take the optimum line when the machine follows a curved path.

Abstract: Gathering unit attaching apparatus is provided for a forage harvester of the type having a basic processing unit and a crop gathering unit which articulates in a vertical plane relative thereto. The attaching apparatus includes an attaching yoke pivotally mounted on a fixed transverse axis provided on the basic unit in proximity of the feed rolls. The attaching yoke provides a movable auxiliary axis about which the gathering unit pivots during the attaching process and securing elements for locking the gathering unit to the yoke for field operation. Apparatus is provided on the basic unit for pivoting the yoke about the fixed axis between a lowered generally forwardly extending pickup position and raised operating and transport positions.

Abstract: The improvement incorporated by a harvesting machine is a shock-isolated electric actuator interconnected between the header and the frame of the machine and being operable to move the header between field operating and transport positions relative to the frame. Electrical circuitry is provided for interconnecting the actuator to a source of electrical power and a switch is disposed in the circuitry for controlling the transmission of power to the actuator and thereby the operation of the actuator. Also, the electric actuator at one end is operably connected to the header and a shock isolator assembly interconnects the other end of the actuator to the machine frame. The shock isolator assembly includes a support bracket rigidly mounted on the frame, an elongated member connected to the other end of the actuator and a shock absorbing body formed of resilient rubber-like material supporting the elongated member and, in turn, itself being mounted to the support bracket.

Abstract: An agricultural implement having a transversely extending horizontal frame beam which is composed of pivoted sections. The pivots are located at a substantial spacing under the frame beam sections and connected to the frame beam sections by arms which extend obliquely downwards from the ends of the frame beam sections. The sections may be lifted by hydraulic rams. If the implement is mounted at the front of a tractor via a three point linkage, the lower links of said linkage are slidingly extensible.

Abstract: A pull-type harvesting machine in the form of a baler has a vertically adjustable windrow pickup mechanism and a generally fore-and-aft laterally swingable tongue that connects the baler to a towing tractor, lateral adjustment of the tongue causing the baler to shift between a transport position behind the tractor and an operating position wherein the pickup mechanism is disposed outwardly of the tractor. The positions of the tongue and the header are respectively controlled by a pair of two-way hydraulic cylinders, and the flow of pressurized fluid between the cylinders and the tractor hydraulic system is controlled by a single control valve on the tractor, the cylinders being connected in parallel.

Abstract: A safety support for maintaining the feeder of a harvester combine, together with its associated header, in an elevated position in case of failure of the usual lift cylinder. A telescopic brace has its forward end pivoted to the feeder and, when in a predetermined extended operative condition, has facilities at its rear end whereby it is supported on the front axle housing of the combine so that it may function under compression to assimilate the weight of the feeder and maintain the latter elevated. In a collapsed inoperative position the brace closely underlies the bottom wall of the feeder in a stored position and is held in such position by a suspension bracket which supports the rear end of the brace. A single anchor pin cooperates with the brace to maintain the latter in its extended position and also cooperates with the suspension bracket to maintain the rear end of the collapsed brace in an elevated position.