Abstract: An agricultural implement, particularly a pick-up wagon, comprises a pick-up member for picking up crop lying on the ground, an advance mechanism located behind the pick-up member, viewed in the intended direction of displacement of the crop and stationary cutters arranged behind the advance mechanism, between which stationary cutters the crop can be passed on with the aid of the advance mechanism, whereby the advance mechanism comprises a plurality of additional cutters adapted to rotate about a rotary axis during operation so that these rotating cutters displace the crop in the direction towards the stationary cutters and fingers adapted to reciprocate during operation and pushing the crop also in the direction towards the stationary cutters during operation, the arrangement being such that the rotating cutters move in between the reciprocating fingers.

Abstract: A reel blade mower that provides for proper reel blade contact pressure on the bed knife at all times without any system adjustment. The mower includes a free floating reel blade suspended on a pair of pivotal support arms that is not mechanically fixed to a rigid position, but that is free to move vertically relative to the bed knife. The overall force of the reel blade in contact with the bed knife (contact pressure) is determined by combining the downward vector from the weight of the blade system and the force vector generated by the rotary movement of the reel blades. The mower is not damaged by debris engaging the reel blade or bed knife which easily passes through.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a clamping system for knives with angular cross-sections, especially suited for agricultural cutting operations in which a portion of the length of the sidepiece extending the cutting edge of the knife protrudes over the knife holder when the knife is clamped, with the clamping element engaging the knife in the area of its angular bend. This system allows for a reduction of knife thicknesses while maintaining other desirable characteristics, and provides the knife with greater strength in the area stressed by bending as compared with the unclamped position of the knife.

Abstract: The chopping cylinder has knives that extend longitudinally of the axis of rotation of the cylinder and which are twisted in such a way that their longitudinal cutting edges wind generally helically around the periphery of the cylinder so that a scissor-like shearing cut is obtained as the knives move past a cooperating shearbar. Special crop flow directors are bolted to the inner faces of the knives between supporting spiders for the knives so as to intercept the crop flow headed toward the interior of the cylinder following severance and to maintain the same adjacent the outer periphery of the cylinder during the movement of the crop material around and with the cylinder to a point of discharge. Special mounting hardware permits the individual directors to be attached directly to the knives in a manner to increase the efficiency and performance of the cylinder.

Abstract: An improved snowthrower (2) comprises a housing (4) having a rotatable impeller (6) therein. Impeller (6) is rotationally molded from plastic and is easily replaceable in housing (4). Moreover, impeller (6) includes a plurality of snow impelling blades (60) which are sufficiently rigid to transmit a drive torque from one side wall (63) to the other side wall (62) of impeller (6). Thus, impeller (6) does not require the use of a through shaft. In addition, snowthrower (2) includes a switch (93) for actuating the drive motor (8). Switch bar (96) is movable to cause switch (93) to close. However, lockout member (110) can be positioned in engagement with switch bar (96) to prevent inadvertent or accidental actuation of switch (93). Lockout member (100) is moved to a non-locking position only when a key member (116) is inserted into a control grip (112).

Abstract: An improved mowing machine of the type which includes a bed knife, a cylindrical rotary knife which, in turn, comprises a plurality of generally elliptical discs mounted parallel to each other on a shaft, and means for rotating the cylindrical knife construction in peripheral contact with the bed knife, the improvement comprising ears formed on the discs extending oppositely outwardly from the plane of the discs at the respective ends of the major axes of the respective elliptical discs, the discs have formed therein a rectangular aperture which fits around a square shaft such that when the aperture rests against the shaft the discs are parallel to each other at an angle of 30 to 50 degrees, and further comprising supporting bars extending outwardly along the major axes of the discs and wherein the discs are specially constructed having a relatively unhardened center section and hardened surface sections on the respective planar surfaces of the discs such that the disc knives are self-sharpening is disclosed.

Abstract: In a machine for treatment of tree thinning residues and logging slash of the type having free-swinging flails pivotably connected to rotatable support structures at a pivot point, the improvement is made wherein each flail comprises a cutting blade containing the effective center of mass of said flail, and a plurality of side arms connected at one end of said cutting blade and having at the other end means for pivotal connection to said rotatable support structure, said means for pivotal connection being located on said rotatable support structure and the length of said arms being such that the distance R from the axis of rotation of said rotatable support structure to said pivot point, and the distance L from said pivot point to said flails effective center of mass having the following relationship:R/L=n/2where n is any integer from 1 to 5.

Abstract: To pick up crop or other strewn materials from ground or other level, a bladed rotor is travelled closely over the materials so as to flick them into a carrier bin, a conveyor chute or the like. The rotor blades are of pliant sheet material each fixed by one longitudinal edge to a rotor shaft so as to be able to extend radially from the shaft, under centrifugal force, when the shaft is rapidly rotated; the back or trailing faces of the distal edge marginal portions of the blades are eccentrically weighted so that, upon rotation, the margins are centrifugally induced to incline angularly in the direction of blade rotation so to exercise a spooning or up-scooping action on the matters to be picked up.

Abstract: A quickly detachable mounting link and its accompanying flail blades from sleeve lug mounts on a rotor drum. The link is U-shaped and has axially aligned oppositely disposed extensions at the upper end of the U. The depending portion of the U link is adapted to loosely carry the flail blades. One of the extensions is longer than the other and carries a coil spring therearound. The oppositely disposed extensions are adapted to slidably engage spaced apart, axially aligned sleeve lug mounts on the rotor drum. The coil spring in its normal extension keeps the mounting link in its sleeve mounts on the rotor drum. Quick detachment is accomplished by sliding the mounting link in a direction to compress the coil spring and effect removal of the short extension from its sleeve lug mount, whereupon the entire link may be removed from the rotor and the flail blades slid off the link over its short extension.

Abstract: A tractor drawn and powered impeller mower-conditioner includes a transverse disk type cutter bar. An impeller rotor with free swinging flails is mounted above and slightly to the rear of the cutter bar with its axis of rotation parallel to the cutter bar. A transversely extending concave conditioning plate conforms closely to the forward upper quadrant of the rotor. A hood covers the rotor and conditioning plate and includes a forward portion which serves in part as safety shielding and a rearwardly extending crop deflecting and windrow forming portion. The rotor is disposed and rotated so that the flails intercept cut material delivered rearwardly by the cutter bar and carry it inside the hood up and over the rotor through the confined space or conditioning zone between the rotor flails and the conditioning plate and discharge it rearwardly. In its passage through the conditioning zone, the crop material is bruised or conditioned in such a way that its rate of drying in the window is accelerated.

Abstract: A flail-type mowing rotor, spinning about a horizontal axis transverse to its path of travel, has specially configured, swingable cutters that provide finish-cut quality notwithstanding design features that minimize the number of cutters required on the rotor, allow them to be fabricated from stamped, relatively light-gauge metal, and promote quick and easy removal and replacement of cutters as may be necessary or desirable. Each of the cutters comprises a pair of back-to-back, generally L-shaped blades having a medially disposed, obliquely oriented offsetting portion that locates the transverse cutting edge in offset relationship to the plane of the flat mounting portion of the blade. Thus, when the blades are disposed back-to-back on the rotor, the transverse cutting edge formed by the two cooperating blades is interrupted at its midpoint to present a gap through which uncut grass may pass as the rotor spins, thereby wiping the cutter clean and eliminating grass wrap.

Abstract: A snow thrower machine and in particular an associated endless screw propeller unit which is adapted to strike or bite an encountered layer or crust of ice to break it into pieces of blowable sizes. This endless screw propeller unit includes an helicoidal blade wound around a transverse axis and having a limited number of teeth circumferentially spaced along the outer edge of the blade. The latter has outer edge portions radially diminishing toward and up to the teeth respectively, and leading the latter relative to the direction of rotation of the propeller blade whereby the leading edge of each tooth is adapted to strike and bite the ice to break it into pieces. The teeth do not protrude from the outer peripheral edge and from the leading face of the blade so as not to damage road pavement and not to impede the axial flow of snow and ice pieces towards the impeller of the machine.

Abstract: A cutter unit for a mowing machine comprises a transverse shaft provided with successive pairs of thread portions of inverted pitch which are connected with each other in the center of the pair by a radial edge facing forwardly with respect to the direction of rotation of the shaft. Each pair cooperates with lateral cutters against which the threads urge the grass. The unit further includes longitudinal fingers carried by the non-rotating portion of the unit between the successive pairs of guide the grass blades towards the thread portions. The junctions of the successive pairs form depressions which eject the grass upwardly and rearwardly. This action is facilitated by transverse deflector blades disposed somewhat rearwardly of the shaft and close to the upper periphery of the thread portions.

Abstract: The flail device comprises a rotatable drum, a series of circumferentially spaced channels extending lengthwise of the drum, support means in each channels, a rod received in each support means, and flexible flails attached to each support means at longitudinally spaced intervals thereon; each flail consists of a length of chain links and the rod in each support means passes through the end link of the flails which are extendible under centrifugal force when the drum is rotating.

Abstract: A flail type shredder for farm crops employing an elongated frame which is adapted to be mounted at the front end thereof on the three point hitch of a conventional farm tractor and which travels along the terrain supported by a pair of wheels mounted at the rear end of the frame which are adjustable with respect to the terrain to adjust the distance between the terrain and the frame. The chopper has a central elongated flail type crop severing unit mounted on and below the frame at the rear thereof and two elongated wing flail type crop severing units extending outwardly from opposite sides of the frame. The two wing units have housings open at the bottom and provided with a top, and each of these units is mounted on one of the side rails of the frame by a hinge located at the top of the unit, and each of the wing units is provided with a rotatable wheel adjustably mounted at the rear thereof to determine the distance between the terrain and each of the wing units separately.

Abstract: In a mower of the cross-flow blower type the rotor of the blower has a plurality of sections with predetermined blades of at least two adjacent sections of opposite helix angle and having cutting edges which overlap in the axial direction and are angularly spaced about the rotor axis in the overlap region, thereby producing counteracting axial components of air velocity. Preferably at least one blade in each section is shorter than the rotor length and advantgeously all blades in a section are shorter, with ends angularly spaced from and overlapping the ends of the blades of adjacent sections. Preferably each section has blades of opposite helix angle to produce counteracting components of air velocity in each section. Advantgeously each section of the rotor is formed of an integral sheet bent to form end supports and a pair of blades of opposite helix angle. The blades are preferably of the hook type with the leading edges of the hooks serrated.

Abstract: A rotor for crop handling machines has a plurality of double-pivoted, radially-extending arms and structure on the segments of each arm to position the segments such that any radially inwardly directed impact force, such as from stones and other obstructions, causes immediate buckling of the arm about its pivot points instead of fracturing the segments or bending their mounting pins. In one embodiment, each arm is provided with a positive stop between the segments that holds them in a pre-buckled condition such that the tip of the outer segment, with respect to the direction of rotation of the rotor, trails the common plane containing the pivotal axes of the double-pivoted arm. In a second embodiment the individual segments are constructed such that their centers of gravity are laterally offset, with respect to one another, causing the desired trailing relationship of the tip of the outer segment.

Abstract: A knife or flail attachment for the use on flail type harvesters that enables quick and easy changes of the flails and/or the flail attachment. The attachment having bolts for coupling each one or two knives or flails, each bolt passes diametrically through the shaft and has a threaded end portion, at least one end of said bolt carrying a hook, the end of which engages in a recess formed at the periphery of the shaft.

Abstract: A dredging apparatus having an improved dredging head in which the suction pump and drive motors for the same are mounted adjacent the clean-out and cutting augers for increased pumping efficiency. The augers include a cooperating plurality of cutting teeth mounted peripherally on the flighting of the auger and extending spirally along the same to provide for a continual shearing cutting surface in a line parallel to the rotational shaft of the augers for more efficient cutting of the fibrous materials.

Abstract: The following disclosure sets forth a non-marking lawn mower in which a cutter cylinder carrying multiple disc blower cutters in a centrifugal blower structure is supported in parallel spaced relation to a rearward roller structure which carries the mower. The drive motor rotates the cylinder at a cutter speed greater than 6,000 feet per minute. At least one forward adjusting roller can be positioned to determine the height of cut effected by the cutter cylinder.