Abstract: An implement tine for attachment to an implement crossbar having a bracket for mounting to an implement crossbar, with the bracket having a web for engaging an implement tooth and the implement tooth having a hook located on one end to extend around the web in the bracket to provide a mechanical connection between the bracket and tooth with a resilient mount encompassing the mechanical connection of the tooth and the bracket to provide a resilient implement tine.

Abstract: A snap-away auxiliary tine for harvester reels. The tine is attached to its supporting shaft by a split cylinder which partially encloses a shaft fitting. Rounded axial grooves in the inside of the split cylinder interlock with splines on the shaft fitting and prevent normal rotation of the tine. Extreme force on the tine, such as that when the tine hits a hard object, causes the split cylinder to spread slightly, disengage the grooves and rotate on the shaft, thus preventing tine breakage. Manual rotation repositions the tine.

Abstract: A crop engaging rotor for conveying and/or conditioning or otherwise treating crop comprises support members 12 and a plurality of outwardly extending crop engaging elements 11. Each crop engaging element 11 is made of stiff resilient synthetic plastics material and forms two outwardly extending arms 21 and 22 generally in a V-shape. The element 11 is secured to a flange 14 or 14A of a transverse mounting bar 12 which forms part of the rotor. The arms 21 and 22 are yieldable to move rearwardly under excess load conditions by a rocking movement about the bolt 23. The element 11 is prevented from rotating about the bolt 23 by abutment of the leading edge surfaces of the arms 21 and 22 against the inner surface of the upstanding portion 14A of the member 12, by abutment of the base of the element 11 against the base flange 14 of the member 12.

Abstract: In a haymaking machine, at least two drums; a flexible skirt on the lower part of each drum; spaced collectors on the periphery of each drum and means for raising cut hay or fodder plants into a zone located between the drums so as to bring the hay or plants in contact with the collectors.

Abstract: A metal tine assembly interchangeable with plastic tines on a transverse tubular bat having a teardrop cross-sectional configuration. Each tine includes a wound coil and upper shank clamped to the rear wall of a bat by an overlying bracket. The bracket has a lower opening that bears against the sides of the coil and an elongated recess with a side wall that bears against the tine shank to stabilize the tine on the bat. The assembly is held in place by a single mounting screw and expandable grommet.

Abstract: A spring tooth harrow for land treatment has an improved spring tooth and an improved tooth attachment clip; the tooth has a tine, a helical coil spring, and a mounting lug having an inboard leg, a semi-circular medial leg and a straight outboard leg, the legs are co-planar and have a divergent angle between them; the clip is L-shaped and has a first leg with a rear shoulder and a fastener aperture and a second leg with a taper divergent towards the first leg; the clip second leg goes in between the lug inboard and outboard ends and biases the tooth into proper position, the second leg also absorbs a significant part of the lateral loads upon the tooth, and applies these loads directly to a structure of the harrow.

Abstract: A device adapted to temporarily replace the standard cutting blade of a rotary power mower enables the thus modified power mower to function in a manner to rake debris from a lawn. The raking effect can be achieved at low rotational speed of the mower. The device is comprised of an elongated support plate which mounts upon the lower extremity of the mower's vertically disposed drive shaft, and two rake arms adjustably attachable to the extremities of the support plate to provide an overall length of the device equal to the cutting blade it replaces. The rake arms are provided with a series of resilient fingers angled away from the support plate and terminating in a line diagonal to the center longitudinal axis of said support plate.

Abstract: A rake for working crop lying on the ground having a pair of rotary rake wheels rotatably driven by gear boxes mounted at the ends of the frame beam. The first rake wheel is fixed to the frame beam, while the second rake wheel is mounted on a pivotable arm. The second rake wheel is so designed that it can be attached in two working positions. In the first position the rake wheels are transversely aligned to the direction of travel and driven in opposite directions so that the crop is direct between them. In the other position the rake wheels are located obliquely one behind the other and driven in the same direction so as to direct the crop to one side of the rake.

Abstract: A lawn working implement having rigid teeth which is towed behind a small tractor or other such apparatus to thatch, sow or work a lawn. The implement is compact and highly maneuverable, yet applies pressure to its rigid tines to work the lawn effectively and efficiently. Swivel mounted wheels allow the implement to follow the tractor directly in its path so that confined areas of yards may be reached. The height of the tines above ground may be adjusted by varying the setting at which the wheels are attached to the frame, and their pressure against the ground may be adjusted by adding bricks, cement or other heavy material to a cavity in the implement. The implement has a hitch for attaching a sweeper or lawn vacuum to be towed behind it.

Abstract: A crop engaging device for conveying and/or treating crop comprises a support means and a plurality of outwardly extending crop engaging elements. The support means may comprise a rotor with the crop engaging elements extending outwardly from the rotor center, or a stationary supporting plate with outwardly extending elements which protrude into a flow of crop driven by other means. An array of crop engaging elements is attached to a transverse support bar which is substantially transverse to the principal direction of crop flow. All the elements in the array are inclined at the same angle to the transverse support bar. Elements of succeeding bars may be inclined in opposite directions to each other or inclined in the same direction. The device finds use in crop conditioning apparatus, crop pick-up and conveying apparatus, particularly where an alignment effect is required, and grain threshing apparatus.

Abstract: A plastic tine comprising a solid molded body adapted for mounting on a harvester crop pickup reel bat and having a finger portion of predetermined length extending from the tip of the bat at least half the length of the finger portion being of constant thickness in the front to rear flexure direction and of greater width than thickness for more than half the finger length, the finger width decreasing progressively from the edge of the bat to the tip of the finger, whereby the upper portion of the finger will flex in the fore-and-aft direction but not sideways except under extreme load, and will be resistant to breakage, distortion or taking a set.

Abstract: In apparatus for picking up and conveying cut crop, a conveying rotor is mounted on a mobile frame which is moved over the ground, and is rotated in a manner such as to pick up previously cut crop lying on the ground and to convey the crop upwardly and rearwardly over the rotor and along a passage of the mobile frame. The rotor is a brush-like structure having a multiplicity of stiff, resilient, elongate elements which are yieldable in response to engagement with the crop but are sufficiently stiff to penetrate at least part of a stream of crop conveyed by the rotor. The elements pick-up and convey crop by an action including relative movement between the conveying elements and the crop engaged thereby. The elements are arranged in tufts of element supported and protected at the base by a sleeve, and the tufts are spaced apart in the direction of the rotor axis. In other arrangements the elements may be arranged with individual elements spaced apart in the direction of the rotor.

Abstract: A crop engaging rotor for conveying and/or conditioning crop comprises support members and a plurality of outwardly extending crop engaging elements. Each crop engaging element comprises an elongate strip of stiff resilient synthetic plastics material folded to form two outwardly extending arms generally in a V-shape. The folded strip is secured to a first flange of a channel-section transverse mounting bar which forms part of the rotor. The arms of the conditioning element protrude through openings in the support member which provide guide surfaces and, which maintain the folded strip in the V configuration against the outward bias of the arms. The arms are yieldable to move rearwardly under excess load conditions by a rocking movement about the bolt and by sliding movement of the arms along the guide surfaces.

Abstract: A flexible endless conveyor for a harvester pickup apron comprises a number of side-by-side belts having a plurality of integrally molded elastomer cleats raised from the surface of each belt, oriented in a plurality of rows across the width of each belt. Each cleat has a bore therethrough with an axis parallel to the base of the belt and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the belt. Crop gathering tines are mounted on each cleat by fitting an aperture in tine body over each cleat and inserting a rod through both a bore in the tine body and the bore in the cleat. The conveyor is useful in a crop gathering machines such as combines and balers.

Abstract: An apparatus for sweeping and thatching turf including a rotatable sweeper brush assembly having spring type thatching members. The spring thatching members may be easily secured to or removed from the sweeper brush assembly which permits the operator considerable flexibility in installing and removing them without dismantling the brush assembly. The number of spring thatching members used may be conveniently varied for providing the desired thatching action. The construction provides for cooperation between the spring members and the brush assembly for preventing rotation of the spring members without complicated mounting structure for the spring members. Further, the combination of spring thatching members and sweeper brushes provides an improved cleaning action for the turf.

Abstract: A hay rake tooth assembly comprising an elastomeric body secured to a mounting bracket, an elongated rake tine having one end embedded in said elastomeric body. The end embedded in said elastomeric body having a bent around portion which provides an elastomeric linking member in said body. The bent around portion extending in substantially a circular arc of at least 270.degree.. The elastomeric body having a cross-sectional configuration as viewed in a plane parallel to the primary direction of deflection such that there is provided more elastomeric material on the side of the body which is placed in tension as opposed to the side which is placed in compression during deflection.

Abstract: A hay rake tine assembly is disclosed in which the tines are attached to a mounting plate by an elastomeric body which buckles upon the application of excessive force to the tines. The buckling decreases the spring rate of the body and avoids excessive tension and compression forces, which may result in failure of the metal-rubber bonds. The body also includes a clearance for the deflection of the tine. The assembly also includes an engagement between the tine and the mounting plates so that the tine will not drop in the event of rubber failure.

Abstract: An elongated trailer-type vehicle is provided for pulling behind a prime mover such as a lawn tractor. The vehicle includes an elongated frame having vertically adjustable hitch structure at its forward end for releasable hitching behind a lawn tractor and downwardly extendible and upwardly retractable ground engaging support wheels for decreasing and increasing, respectively, the elevation of the frame above the ground surface upon which the wheels rest. The frame additionally includes front and rear depending spring tine assemblies forward and rearward of the wheels and the tine assemblies each include a plurality of depending tines spaced transversely of the frame.

Abstract: An improved rotor comb construction (and method of assembly) for a power lawn rake has a plurality of spring tines axially stacked along a tubular rotor shaft. Each of the tines has a retention coil portion and a working coil portion spaced therefrom. The retention coil portion frictionally engages the outer surface of the rotor shaft. The working coil portion has a radially-extending ground-engaging element. A radially-inturned end of the retention coil portion is received in a respective radial hole in the shaft, thereby keying the tines to the shaft for conjoint rotation. Each hole in the rotor shaft is displaced circumferentially from its adjacent hole, preferably by an angle .theta. which equals 360 degrees divided by the number of holes. With this construction, the holes and hence the spring tines are arranged in a substantially uniform helical formation about the axis of the rotor shaft.

Abstract: A spider arm journal and bat section connecting means for harvester reel pick-up bats which permits a limited amount of axial, angular and transverse flexure between the bat sections and the journal shaft to which the bat sections are mounted, the said means comprising a bat retainer assembly onto which the end of a bat is fastened and into which an end of the journal shaft is received with sliding fit engagement, and a connecting link integral with and normal to the journal connected adjacent its outer end with an attachment plate comprising the end of said assembly adjacent the journal.

Abstract: The tine includes a base and a tine extending therefrom and is mounted to the belt by a single bolt extending through the belt and base. A rib is formed on the underside of the base which engages the surface of the belt and enables the tine to be positioned at an angle to the plane of the belt and to be held by the rib which prevents it from turning. The tines may be made from plastic, metal or metal covered with plastic or rubber. The flexibility of the belt and the tine reduce the possibility of the tine assembly from picking up rocks and it can be used on such implements as pick-up reels, on combine harvesters, balers, windrow turners, side delivery rakes, and the like.

Abstract: A harrow mounted on an earthworking tool works the soil adjacent the tool. The harrow has a clamp assembly mounted on the body of a spring earthworking tool. A pair of coil springs are mounted on the clamp assembly. Each coil spring is connected to a downwardly directed earthworking tine.

Abstract: A thatching tool for a rotary lawn mower is provided. The tool includes a rotatable supporting bar to be rotated by a motor of the mower with the bar having thatching teeth mounted at both ends. Each of the thatching teeth includes a horizontal coil portion having an attaching portion at one end and a ground-engaging portion of tooth member at the other end. The tooth member extends at an angle of 130.degree.-160.degree., and preferably 140.degree.-150.degree., to the direction of rotation. The end of the tooth member is bent downwardly substantially perpendicular to the ground, with the length of the bent portion being from one-tenth to one-third, and preferably one-sixth to one-fourth, of the overall length of the tooth member, including the bent portion. This configuration provides greater resiliency for the tooth and prevents undue digging into the ground.

Abstract: A combine tooth is attached to a combine belt by means of a bolt having an enlarged, substantially planar head. The base portion of the tooth has a recess carrying a friction plate. The belt is tightly clamped between the bolt head and the friction plate.

Abstract: A grain pickup for use with combines in harvesting windrowed crops is formed of a cylinder with a plurality of cylindrical, interlocking tooth modules located thereon, each of the modules having a plurality of pickup teeth extending radially outwardly therefrom.

Abstract: A mulcher that includes a longitudinal member having one end adapted for connection to a mobile power source, a beam member extending transversely of the connecting member and connected thereto and also having a downwardly opening channel configuration, a generally curved bar located in the channel configuration, a mounting structure for connecting the curved bar to the beam member and a spring tooth structure having a pair of spaced axially aligned coil portions and an intervening connector portion pivotally mounted on the curved bar with a tooth portion extending downwardly from the endmost convolutions of the coil portions. The connector portion engaging the mounting structure when the mulcher is towed and the tooth portions engage the soil with the coil portions winding up on the curved bar. The connector portion moving away from the mounting structure until the tooth portions contact the channel when the mulcher is backed up with the tooth portions in the soil.

Abstract: A thatch rake consisting of a frame carrying a multiplicity of downwardly projecting spring teeth dragging the ground and supporting the frame, said teeth being biased forwardly and downwardly but sprung rearwardly by forward motion of the frame, each tooth having a stop member intermediate its ends engageable with the frame after partial springing thereof to reduce its effective length so that portion between the stop and its free end, so as to increase its effective stiffness, and being so supported as to provide a pronounced downward movement thereof if allowed by ground contour to recover forwardly, so as to be enabled to follow uneven ground contours accurately, all of the teeth being connected loosely to allow only limited relative forward and rearward movement thereof, so as to prevent possible bouncing or "leapfrogging" movements of the rake.

Abstract: A tractor hitch mounted combination stone rake and ground conditioning machine including a frame and rotary member having mounted thereon a plurality of resilient tines in combination with a means for raising and lowering the rotary member with respect to the ground to allow a penetration of said resilient tines into the ground from about 1/8 of an inch to 3 inches to provide a resilient stone raking and ground preparing action which removes small stones, sticks and other materials that would otherwise interfere with a finished landscape for planting of lawn seed or other crop. The novel combination stone rake and ground conditioning machine not only removes stones at or near the surface of the ground, but also breaks up and aerates the soil while removing weeds and other plant growth that might otherwise interfere with planting operations.

Abstract: A mulch loosening rake consisting of a frame carrying a multiplicity of downwardly projecting spring teeth dragging the ground, said teeth being biased forwardly and downwardly but sprung rearwardly by forward motion of the frame, each tooth having a stop member intermediate its ends engageable with the frame after partial springing thereof to reduce its effective length to the portion between the stop and its free end, so as to increase its effective stiffness, and being so supported as to provide a pronounced downward movement thereof if allowed by ground contour to recover forwardly, so as to be enabled to follow the ground contour accurately.

Abstract: A flexible endless conveyor for a combine harvester comprises a number of side-by-side elastomeric belts having a plurality of molded cleats on the surface of the belt, aligned in rows orthogonal with respect to the length of the belt, and interspaced by openings in the base of the belt between adjacent cleats of a row. Crop gathering tines are mounted in the openings and are carried by a rod positioned within bores molded into the cleats on an axis in line with the row of cleats across the width of the belt.

Abstract: The individual tine is oval in cross section adjacent the base and gradually changes to a circular cross section at the distal end thereof. It is held in a flexible insert by means of lugs on each side adjacent the base and can be turned so that the wider portion of the oval faces the direction of travel whereupon the tine flexes readily or, the tine can be turned at right angles to the direction of travel thus presenting a much stiffer tine. The first position may be used upon relatively light crops and the second position upon relatively heavy crops.

Abstract: A turf thatcher having a mobile frame including a shaft on which a plurality of springs are mounted and extend down to the turf for dragging through the turf and removing the thatch therefrom. A pawl is movably mounted on the frame and is in a dragging position when the thatcher moves forward and engages the turf and raises the entire frame when the thatcher moves rearward to thus lift the thatching members off the turf in that rearward direction of movement.

Abstract: A tine for an agricultural implement such as a haymaker is made of tubular material such as spring steel through which extends a flexible core such as a steel wire cable which is anchored to the tine ends by local indentations at each tine end.

Abstract: A spring tine assembly for agricultural machines has prongs extending from a coil spring in a direction substantially perpendicular to the coil axis. An elastic retainer bridging the prongs or crop-engaging tines forms a passage for each of the prongs and is depressed thereagainst by clamping means, e.g. bolts. The assembly is useful for agricultural machines and, more particularly, for haymaking machines.

Abstract: Diametrically opposed, outwardly projecting elements of a rotor have rubber pads clamped between the same and the hub of the rotor by one or more fasteners common to both elements. The fasteners can shift axially through the hub in response to deflection of one of the elements counter to the direction of rotation of the rotor so that such deflection causes compression not only of the pad associated with the element encountering the deflecting force, but the pad of the opposite element as well.

Abstract: A raking machine has preferably two rake heads that are rotatable about upwardly extending axes. Each rake head has an outer circumference defined by a generally circular flexible wall with raking means supported on the circumference of the wall. The wall can have stiffening members to reinforce the wall and to hold tines or tine groups that can be pivotally mounted adjacent the lower portion of the wall. Also, the wall can be supported from a central hub by flexible spokes or chains. Alternatively, the wall can be foldable to an accordian configuration and hold crop within the folds which are controlled by a link chain and track with a driven sprocket member. The flexible wall is controlled to deposit crop at the desired place during rotation of the head or heads and crop guide members can be positioned with respect to the head or heads to arrange the crop in swaths.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment there is provided combine tooth having a tooth shaft and at the base of the shaft having a unitary continuous flange extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, with a distal portion of the shaft extending substantially angularly laterally from an intermediate bend point, and there is additionally provided for combination with the tooth a combine belt-mountable base strip for mounting on top of the combine belt fixedly, the base strip having at each of opposite ends thereof a through aperture, one aperture at each of opposite ends, the holes each of hole diameter receivable of the tooth shaft and the structure of the base strip defining continuous with each hole a narrowed slot extending rearwardly having a slot width slightly less than the diameter of the tooth shaft through which slot the tooth shaft is pressable into the hole continuous therewith, and the underface of the base strip including spaced-apart ridges, there being a separate set of the spaced-apart rid

Abstract: A hay rake tooth assembly comprising an elastomeric body secured to a mounting bracket, an elongated rake tine having one end embedded in said elastomeric body. The end embedded in said elastomeric body having a bent around portion which provides an elastomeric linking member in said body. The bent around portion extending in substantially a circular arc of at least 270.degree.. The elastomeric body having a cross-sectional configuration as viewed in a plane parallel to the primary direction of deflection such that there is provided more elastomeric material on the side of the body which is placed in tension as opposed to the side which is placed in compression during deflection.

Abstract: A dethatching unit is mounted for attachment to the front end of a self-propelled lawn mower, for example, so that the dethatching unit is pushed by the lawn mower and thatches the ground prior to mowing thereof. The dethatching unit includes a frame having a caster wheel at its forward end and arms at its rear end for attaching to the mower. The wheel and the arms cooperate so that tines, which are mounted in two rows on the frame, do not carry any of the weight of the unit so that the bottom tip of each of the tines is slightly spaced from the ground in its rest position. Each of the tines in each of the rows is offset from each of the tines in the other row. Forward motion of the dethatching unit causes the bottom tip of each of the tines to deflect rearwardly and downwardly as it comes in contact with grass. In their deflected positions, the bottom tips of the tines contact the thatch layer to tear it loose from the soil and ultimately flip the thatched material to fall on the ground.