Abstract: A ground-engaging shoe assembly is provided for a power mower in which a mower blade is rotated in an upright shaft. The ground-engaging shoe includes a hub support assembly which is secured to the mower housing of the power mower. A ground-engaging shoe assembly is secured to a bearing housing which is located at the lower end of a hollow rotatable shaft, the ground-engaging shoe assembly including a bearing within which the hollow shaft rotates, whereby the ground-engaging shoe assembly is stationary. The bearing housing is adapted selectively to accept different ground-engaging shoes. An adjusting bolt extends through the hollow shaft and is secured at its lower end to the bearing housing An upper tower housing is adapted to transfer loading weight through the adjusting bolt to the bearings. The adjusting bolt is vertically-adjustably-secured at its upper end with respect to the upper tower housing by means of a locking-type nut.

Abstract: A gang-type rotary lawn mower including a frame supported by wheels for movement over the ground, a power source which is mounted on the frame and which drives at least two of the wheels, an operator's seat mounted on the frame, a steering system enabling the operator to steer the lawn mower, at least two side-by-side front rotary cutting deck assemblies mounted on the frame, the front deck assemblies defining a gap between adjacent front deck assemblies, and at least one rear rotary cutting deck assembly mounted on the frame behind the front deck assemblies, each rear deck assembly being aligned with a respective gap between adjacent front deck assemblies, each of the front and rear deck assemblies including a single-spindle mulching deck defining a downwardly opening space, a single spindle mounted for rotation about a generally vertical axis within the space, and at least one cutting blade mounted on the spindle for rotation therewith.

Abstract: A mowing apparatus with multiple articulating cutting decks includes a support for the cutting blades which is pivotally attached at one end to the mower and is carried by a rocker arm at the other end. The rocker arm is rotatably attached to the support and has wheels at the front and back ends for supporting the rocker arm on the ground. The vertical position of the wheels relative to the rocker arm is variable.

Abstract: An engine mounting structure is provided for use with a turf care machine such as a greens mower. Single cylinder engines, such as are used on greens mowers and similar turf care cutting machines, generate significant vibration. Greens mowers and which are used for finish cutting lose cut quality and precision with excessive vibration. To reduce vibration, an improved mounting structure includes resilient mounts to support the rear portion of the engine on the machine frame. To avoid belt misalignment between the engine drive pulley and the driven pulley powering the cutting reel, which can occur when resiliently mounting an engine, the forward portion of the engine is rigidly secured to the machine frame.

Abstract: A mechanism for absorbing impacts encountered by a mower deck coupled with a vehicle, including an arm operatively coupled with the vehicle, a longitudinally extending first tube member coupled with the arm and defining a generally linear axis which extends rearwardly and inwardly toward the vehicle, a second tube member operatively coupled with the mower deck, the first tube being slideably received within the second tube for allowing the second tube to shift linearly along the axis as the mower deck encounters frontal impact loads, a compression spring positioned within the tubes for biasing the second tube and mower deck forwardly with respect to the first tube, and the second tube member is allowed to pivot with respect to the first tube member for allowing the mower deck to pivot from side to side to follow undulating ground contours.

Abstract: A riding mower is provided with a first frame element pivotably connected near a forward end to a second frame element and connected at a rearward end to the second frame element by spring means. The connecting members provide a suspension system for the mower in order to decouple the vertical movement of the first frame element from the second frame element and thereby soften the ride. A pivot bar located near the forward end of the first frame element is pivotably received at its ends near opposite side walls of the second frame element. The suspension system includes two springs which operate in the vertical gap between first and second frame elements at the rear of the apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention provides variable force traction enhance systems for vehicles. The systems include one or more hydraulic cylinders connected to an implement and fluidly connected to one or more hydrostatic transmissions. The hydraulic cylinders actuate the implement in response to changes in the hydraulic fluid pressures in the hydrostatic transmissions. The actuated implement automatically shifts weight to vehicle drive wheels to improve traction and automatically prevents a rear end of the vehicle from bucking.

Abstract: A self-propelled windrower is provided with a platform including a reel which sweeps crop to be cut over a sickle cutterbar and into the nip of a pair of counter-rotating center-feed augers that, in turn, deliver the crop to the nip of a pair of counter-rotating conditioner rolls; and these driven components may be reversed to disgorge slugs of crop. The reversible drive includes a hydraulic pump carried by the traction unit and coupled to a motor carried by the platform. The hydraulic motor on the platform is coupled to power a main gear box which distributes power to the driven components of the platform. Operation of the pump is electro-hydraulically controlled with a single switch being operable to effect forward operation of the platform drive train, and with a second switch being designed to be moved and held in place to effect and maintain the drive train in reverse.

Abstract: A cutting device includes a cutting mechanism, a hitching structure designed to be connected to a motor vehicle, a support beam joined to the hitching structure and to the cutting mechanism and a traction device. The traction device is comprised of at least one draw-spring designed to lighten the cutting mechanism during operation and a control device designed to void the action of the at least one draw-spring when the cutting device is placed. The control device has, among other things, a rod at one of the ends to which the at least one draw-spring is attached. The control device is comprised of a cylinder which has the rod, a body, a piston which separates the body into first and second chambers, and a fluid circuit which has a device which allows the fluid to enter the first chamber located on the side of the at least one draw-spring when the latter must be tightened, and allows the fluid to leave the first chamber when the at least one draw-spring must be relaxed.

Abstract: An electronic control system for controlling the position of a combine harvesting head operable over a surface is disclosed herein. The position is controlled based upon the force or pressure at which the surface is supporting the implement. In particular, a hydraulic positioning assembly positions the head relative to the combine based upon control signals produced by a digital control circuit. The digital control circuit monitors digital signals representative of the force at which the surface is supporting the head, and compares these signals with digital setpoint data associated with a desired support force. Based upon the comparison, the control circuit produces control signals for causing the positioning assembly to raise or lower the harvesting head relative to the surface.

Abstract: An electronic control system for controlling the position of a combine harvesting head operable over a surface is disclosed herein. The position is normally controlled based upon the monitored position of the head. However, the position is controlled based upon the force or pressure at which the surface is supporting the implement if this force exceeds a predetermined limit. Thus, the system provides for float control override of position control. In particular, a hydraulic positioning assembly positions the head relative to the combine based upon control signals produced by a digital control circuit. The digital control circuit monitors digital signals representative of the head position and the force at which the surface is supporting the head, and compares these signals with digital setpoint data.

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 mobile mower apparatus comprises a mower boom which is pivotally connected to a mobile vehicle for lateral extension therefrom. A mower frame is suspended from the boom. The mower frame has two frame sections which are connected to each other to allow the frame sections to pivot relative to each other about a generally horizontal pivot axis. A mower blade is mounted on each of the frame sections for relative pivotal motion corresponding to the motion of the frame sections. A hydraulic cylinder is connected to the mower frame to allow a human operator to control the relative angular positions of the first and second frame sections while mowing. The mower blades defining cutting lines which approximately intersect the pivot axis.

Abstract: A mowing machine has a frame with driving wheels, which are adjustable in height, and a yoke carrying a cutter beam. The yoke is suspended from the frame such that it can move up and down with respect to the frame, and the cutter beam is swingably journalled on the yoke. The yoke and the beam are balanced by an upwardly directed spring force. Minor elevations on the ground make the cutter beam swing upwardly so that it is just the weight of the cutter beam itself which is accelerated.

Abstract: In a reaping machine (11) having one or more rotatably drivable mowing units (12) which are provided with working implements, the mowing units (12) being held on a support frame (13) held with the tractor, the mowing units (12) are pivotally supported on the support frame (13) for easy moving adaptation of the working implements to the surface of the ground in the immediate working region by means of one or more compensating means (A2). Furthermore, the pivot axes (M) of the compensating means (A2) are arranged extending in the travelling direction and/or transversely thereof and/or inclined substantially in the vertical plane or intersect each other or the compensating means consist of a ball joint. In addition, the compensating means (A2) is configured in such a manner that at least one pivot axis (M) extending transversely of the travelling direction lies in the vicinity of the surface of the ground (10).

Abstract: The present invention describes an air-floated apparatus comprising a wheel-less housing having a skirt extending around a lower edge thereof and having an air-inlet opening in an upper portion thereof, the housing further including a discharge port. The apparatus includes a motor having a rotatable shaft. An impeller is mounted on the shaft for generating pressurized air in the hosuing to float the housing above a support surface. The apparatus also includes a cutting blade mounted on said shaft for generating grass clippings. According to the invention, a substantially u-shaped centrifuge raceway is provided for receiving the grass clippings and transporting the grass clippings to the discharge port. A plurality of struts are provided for supporting the centrifuge raceway in a spaced relationship with respect to an inner wall of the housing to create an air pressure channel for the pressurized air between the inner wall and the centrifuge raceway.

Abstract: An agricultural machine comprises a frame which is adapted to be hooked to a drive tractor and carries at least one rotor equipped with work tools controlled by a central cam to move products such as hay which are on the ground. The rotor is connected to the frame by a pin which is positioned substantially perpendicular to the direction of advance of the machine and comprises a central support pin on which carrying wheels are connected. The agricultural machine further comprises an actuating mechanism positioned between the frame and the rotor of the machine which acts on the rotor to pivot the rotor around its hinge pin. With this arrangement, a partial load transfer from the front wheels onto the rear wheels or wheels can be obtained and the agricultural machine can adapt to the unevenness of the ground as well as clear all obstacles.

Abstract: A hover-type lawn mower being provided with a cover which fits over the shroud or housing for the rotatable blade. The cover is provided with openings so that the air flow therethrough forms an air cushion and also transports cut grass and leaves to a collecting area in the cover. The cover is further provided with releasable fastening means to the shroud, so that the cover can be removed when it is desired to empty the collected cut grass and leaves therein.

Abstract: A carburetor air cleaner for an air cushion supported lawn mover provides a cyclone dust separator with carburetor air input from the vortex. The air is drawn through the separator by suction from the lawn mower air impeller which produces the air cushion.

Abstract: An air cushion lawn mower has a rotary grass cutting blade and a fan driven by a motor. A hood encloses the cutting blade and the fan and includes a generally vertical wall portion which is part cylindrical and which extends over an arc of 270.degree. about the axis of rotation of the blade and close to the path of rotation of the tips of the blade. The hood has an outwardly directed peripheral lip spaced outwardly of, and in a generally horizontal direction from, the lower extremity of the vertical wall portion. An outlet for cut grass is located in a position in relation to the vertical wall portion such that the cut grass is ejected through the outlet into a grass collecting container. The lowest surface of the peripheral lip is preferably in a horizontal plane which is below the lower extremity of the vertical wall portion.

Abstract: A lawnmower comprises a generally dome-shaped plenum chamber for supporting a motor or engine, a cutter and an air-impeller mounted for rotation within the said chamber, an air intake positioned centrally in the roof of said chamber above said impeller such that, in use, the impeller produces a cushion of air in the chamber bounded by a vortiginous air curtain, a peripheral flange extending outwardly from the bottom edge of said chamber in a direction substantially parallel to the ground, and means associated with said flange for partially trapping the turbulent air escaping from the said chamber beneath said flange whereby the rate of air loss from the said cushion is substantially reduced.