Abstract: A rotary mower having a central section and extension wings or end sections relatively pivotably movable upwardly and downwardly with respect to the central section. Each of the sections includes a plurality of cutting units mounted for rotation about vertical axis to provide a horizontal cutting plane across the width of the mower when the extension wings are in a lower or mowing position. Each cutting unit is carried on a horizontally disposed pneumatic tire wheel. An external drive rotates one of the tire wheels. The other tire wheels are mounted in frictional circumferential engagement with each other and the driven tire wheel so that all wheels are driven in the mowing position. When either of the extension wings is pivotally raised to a position greater than approximately 30.degree. relative to the center section, its tire wheels are moved out of frictional engagement with the tire wheels of the center section so that its cutting units are rendered inoperable.

Abstract: This invention provides an apparatus to support a trimmer used in cutting weeds or grass in a generally horizontal mode and having an elongate tubular member providing a handle. The support apparatus includes a mounting assembly having opposed ends, one of said ends being connected to the tubular member in height-adjustable and angularly-adjustable relation and the other of said ends being connected to a pair of ground wheels having an axis of rotation transverse to the axis of the cutting plane of the trimmer.

Abstract: A self propelled riding mower includes a power unit (11) that pushes its cutter unit (12), and the units are connected together by an impact resistant pivot connection (25) which permits the cutter unit to pivot with respect to the power unit when travelling over uneven terrain. The pivot connection includes or is supplemented by bumpers (44, 45) carried by one unit in an array about or straddling the pivot bar (40) and pivot tube (58), and a bumper plate or plates (55) carried by the other unit that is or are maintained in sliding relationship with the bumpers.

Abstract: An athletic field line cutter (10) has a chassis (12) including a plurality of wheels (98-104) for locomotion across the ground. A cutter head assembly (18) is mounted on the chassis (12) and includes a plurality of cutter blades (92) mounted on a rotating axle (30). Axle (30) is mounted parallel to the ground. An engine (14) is connected to axle (30) for supplying power to the axle (30) and the cutter blades (92). An operator station (60) at which an operator (90) directs the apparatus over the ground is in line with the cutter head assembly (18) and the line of travel of the apparatus (10). Rotating axle (30) has a section (126) which is polygonal in shape, and cutter blades (92) have central polygonal holes that closely fit over this polygonal shape. Blades (92) are angularly fixed with respect to each other.

Abstract: A lawn edger device is disclosed having a motor and a cutter blade supported by a platform and a handle mounted hand control for varying the depth of the cutter blade relative the ground. The platform includes a first and a second end, the first end being supported by a first set of ground engaging wheels. A first arm is pivotally connected to the second end of the platform. The distal end of the first arm rotatably supports a second set of the ground engaging wheels. A connecting arm is secured to the first arm and includes a toothed portion which cooperates with a locking plate rigidly connected to the platform. The toothed portion cooperates with the locking plate to variably adjust the longitudinal disposition of the connection arm relative the locking plate.

Abstract: A grass cutting height indicator in a combination of a lawn mower and a power-driven tractor having an operator's seat, including a lawn mower unit suspended from a tractor frame of the tractor, an adjusting lever disposed adjacent to the operator's seat, and a link mechanism operatively connected between the adjusting lever and the lawn mower unit for adjusting the height of the lawn mower unit above ground in response to operation of the adjusting lever. The indicator comprises an indicator member mounted on the link mechanism and having indicia for indicating grass cutting heights, and an indicator window defined in a tractor body adjacent to the operator's seat, the indicator member being positioned so that the indicia has at least a portion thereof facing the indicator window.

Abstract: A power driven lawnmower of the walk-behind type has its ground support wheels all disposed behind the blade travel path and to the side walls of the lawnmower which straddle the blade, to enable the blade to be maneuvered closer to upstanding objects such as walls. The lawnmower has a gasoline powered engine and an electric generator which is driven by the engine. The generator includes an electrical outlet socket capable of receiving a multi-pronged plug of an external electrically driven implement. Vertical height adjustment of the blade is achieved by an extension of the blade shaft which extends upwardly through a sleeve. Holes in the sleeve and shaft extension are suitably aligned and affixed to provide for the height adjustment. During such adjustment, the lawnmower may be positioned atop a platform which carries a slot for receiving the blade to prevent rotation of the blade as the shaft nut is unscrewed.

Abstract: A combination rotary mower and edger having a control lever on the handle, a flexible cable connected to the lever, and edger operating parts connected to the cable including a pivotal arm for raising and lowering the edger blade, an idler pulley for belt tightening to provide power to the edger blade, and a belt brake that is released to permit powering of the edger blade.

Abstract: The wheeled assembly supports and converts a hand-held power grass trimmer device into a wheeled power mower. The assembly includes a wheeled frame and a two-part detachable joint. The frame is mounted on ground-engaging, support wheels. The two-part joint includes (1) a bracelet which is fixably and releasably mounted on the trimmer's shaft without impairing the operator's ability to hand manipulate the trimmer when it is fully detached from the frame, and (2) a casing secured to the frame which detachably receives and holds the bracelet together with its shaft in a predetermined upstanding and inclined position against downward and rotational movements, but leaves the casing free to release the lock between the bracelet and the casing when a pull is exerted on the trimmer handle in an upward direction along the longitudinal axis of the trimmer shaft.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a lawn mower including a motor housing for vertically enclosing a motor; and a cutter casing disposed below the motor housing for housing a cutter fitted to the lower extremity of the shaft of the motor. The cutter casing is connected to the motor housing in such a manner that they communicate with each other. The cutter casing has at the upper portion thereof air-passing ports vertically extending therethrough. There is provided on the cutter casing a shroud for enclosing the motor housing, and the shroud has at a portion thereof apertures opening to communicate with the atmosphere; and air inlets opening to communicate through an air filter with the interior of the motor housing. In the cutter casing and above the cutter, there are provided an air impeller for creating a flow of air to support the mower on a cushion of air; and an axial impeller for cooling the motor. Both impellers are fitted to the motor shaft such that the axial impeller overlies the air impeller.

Abstract: A coupling for the handle shaft of a flailing line type trimmer which permits angular adjustment of a drive head. The coupling clamps two parts of the handle shaft together. The coupling prevents rotation of one part and permits the selectible rotation of the other. It is preferably formed as a split clamp joining and securely holding the parts in abutment. A pin on the split clamp engages a recess in the end of one handle shaft part to prevent its rotation while a lip on the split clamp engages a circumferential groove in the other handle shaft part to enable it to rotate. A releasable fastener permits loosening of the clamp to allow rotational adjustment of the parts, and their retention at a selected orientation.

Abstract: An edger is provided with a rotatable cutting blade for trimming grass, weeds, and the like, wherein the angular orientation of the cutting blade is quickly and easily adjusted to a selected one of several cutting positions. The cutting blade is driven by a motor mounted within a motor housing which is in turn supported for rotation about a longitudinal axis between a front wheel assembly and a rear wheel assembly. A locking mechanism carried by the motor housing has a pair of spring-biased lugs normally received into locking recesses in the front and rear wheel assemblies to lock the motor housing at a selected rotational position and thereby lock the cutting blade at a selected angular orientation. The locking mechanism is manually retractable to withdraw the lugs simultaneously from their respective locking recesses to permit rotation of the motor housing simultaneously with respect to the front and rear wheel assemblies to alter the angular orientation of the cutting blade.

Abstract: A rotary mower has an engine supported by an engine platform secured to a frame having wheels and a handle, the engine has an output drive shaft which has a cutting blade rigidly secured at its end, a counter-rotating housing overlies the blade and is rotated in a direction opposite to the blade by a transmission means, the transmission means has a drive pulley rigidly secured to the output drive shaft, a pair of idler pulleys rotationally supported by the engine platform, a driven pulley rotationally supported by the drive shaft, and an endless belt trained from the drive pulley through the idler pulleys to the driven pulley, the counter-rotating housing is rigidly affixed to the driven pulley.

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 mower hitch support (103) pivoted to the front of a tractor (11) has a connection (126, 128, 132) with an axle link (46) interconnecting front wheels (17, 18) mounted individually on the tractor frame (12) to cause an underslung mower to tilt laterally in response to the front wheels encountering undulations in the ground thereby substantially avoiding scalping of the lawn.

Abstract: A self-propelled stump cutting machine including a forwardly projecting, front mounted cutter assembly controlled by a pivoted, rear mounted handle assembly. The machine comprises a rigid frame to which a pair of spaced-apart drive wheels are rotatably coupled. A motor pivotally secured to the frame and linked to an intermediate transaxle to selectively drive the wheels, also provides power for the cutter assembly. The handle assembly pivot connection is operatively elevated above ground a desired amount by a dolly wheel assembly which is also pivotably secured to the frame. The operating point is established by selectively securing the handle assembly relative to the dolly wheel assembly. When the handles are pushed downwardly by the operator, the remote cutter assembly will similarly move downwardly into engagement with a stump to be removed.

Abstract: A sugar-cane harvester having a frame and a cutter unit is provided with means for adjusting a vertically swingable cutter unit having a skid engaging the ground in its traveling path over uneven ground. This means includes a double-acting hydraulic piston-cylinder unit and a spring whose force counteracts the major part of the weight of the cutter unit. The piston of the hydraulic unit is connected to the cutter unit whereas its cylinder is connected to the frame of the harvester. The adjusting assembly further includes a slide adapted to selectively supply with a working fluid each of two opposite ends of the cylinder chamber, and a pair of electro-magnetic valves actuating the movement of the slide in two opposite directions in response to any inclined position of the cutter unit in its travelling path over uneven ground.

Abstract: In turf maintenance machines, lifting and lowering of e.g. cutter units and partial counterbalancing of such units in their working positions may be provided by hydraulically actuated means comprising at least one selector valve, the or each valve having ports connected with at least one unit lifting ram, a pump, a reservoir and an accumulator. An operator can be certain that, when a unit is lowered to the ground, the required degree of partial counterbalance can be provided.The selector valve is a four position spool valve which in the "lower" position thereof permits discharge of fluid from a ram to the reservoir thereby lowering an associated unit, while connecting the pump to charge the accumulator. When the unit reaches the ground the operator moves the valve to the counterbalance position, thereby counterbalancing the unit to the required extent by connecting the ram to the accumulator.

Abstract: An independently powered mowing attachment for small or medium sized lawn and garden tractors of the low profile type having a rotary mower mounted on the underside of the tractor frame. The attachment has spaced mower assemblies that cut swaths on both sides of the tractor mowers central cut. The mower attachment includes a frame pivotally connected to the tractor drawbar having rear wheels that steer as the tractor turns to assure that the mower assemblies follow and overlap the swath of the leading tractor mounted mower.Each mower assembly is pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis at one side of the attachment frame and has three rotary cutting blades driven by an internal combustion engine mounted centrally on the frame. Two hydraulic actuators are provided for raising and lowering the mower assemblies either simultaneously prior to transort and use, or independently when an obstruction is encountered on one side of the cutting path.

Abstract: A mower comprising a mower frame attached to the bottom of a vehicle body, cutting blades rotatably supported by vertical shafts on the mower frame, a drive assembly on the frame for rotating the blades, arms supported on the frame and pivotally movable upward or downward, gauge members supported by the free ends of the pivotal arms, an operating member operatively connected to the pivotal arms for pivotally moving the arms, and locking means for disengageably holding the operating member. The mower frame is upwardly or downwardly movable by the movement of the pivotal arms with the gauge members in engagement with the ground to position the cutting blades at the desired level. The blades are retainable at this level by the locking means.

Abstract: An accessory for a rotary lawnmower for the trimming of lawn edges and comprising a channelled elongated frame provided with clips near opposite ends for attaching the frame beneath the baseplate of the lawnmower, a drive pulley on the frame having spaced upright posts engageable by a collar secured to the lower end of the lawnmower drive shaft for rotation of said pulley, a housing supported upright from one end of said frame and containing a transfer pulley, a belt drive between said pulleys, a trimmer blade belt driven from the transfer pulley to rotate in a vertical plane, and a canopy for said blade connected to said housing and free to pivot on two axes to provide adjustment of height of cut and angle of cut of said trimmer blade.

Abstract: A wheeled carrier for a lawn mower and edger which can be of the nylon line type. The mowing and edging tool is yieldably supported on a frame of the carrier to permit multi-directional operator controlled movement of the tool with respect to the carrier by manipulation of handle bars connected to a support for the cutter. The mounting permits steering a front wheel of the carrier by pressure applied to the handle bars. Rear wheels of the carrier are mounted to be fixed in different positions with respect to the front wheel, and parallel to each other to enable moving the carrier in different straight-line directions with respect to its longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A vegetation trimmer having a powered cutter arranged to cut in an upright plane. A catcher is provided for catching the cut vegetation. It includes a first upwardly opening U-shaped collecting portion underlying the cutter and having a front portion extending to substantially forwardly of the bottom of the cutter, and an upwardly opening U-shaped rear portion extending from the first portion to substantially rearwardly of the bottom of the cutter. The catcher is removably secured to a soleplate portion of the cutter which may be a hand-held cutter. A wand may be removably attached to the hand-held cutter to permit its use at foot level.

Abstract: Linkage for supporting a mower beneath a tractor, having first and second pairs of interconnected links and with the first pair pivotally mounted at their forward ends to the front axle of tractor and rockable about a fore and aft horizontally disposed axis. The second pair of links is connected to the frame of the tractor. Foot pedal means connected to the linkage adjusts height of mower in opposition to force of spring means attached to linkage and frame which tends to urge linkage into folded condition beneath tractor frame. Rocking action of front axle through linkage causes mower to follow ground contour to provide an even cut.

Abstract: An improved indexing means for a garden edger-trimmer having interengaging surfaces on the end of the handle and the head housing for selectively positioning the head.

Abstract: Power grass shears detachably attached to a handle: the handle includes a rod extending in the cutting plane; a connection between the shears and the rod to enable the shears to be rotated around the rod; the connection comprises various arrangements of a pin, and detent like means for enabling the shears to be held at various rotative positions.

Abstract: A power mower in which the mower is adjustably suspended as to elevation between a pair of large diameter wheels of the bicycle type, whereby the power mower is not only of light weight but is easily maneuverable, capable of a wide range of height adjustments, and capable of not only trimming ground cover but also cutting weeds which may be growing through ground cover.

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.