Abstract: A product-on-demand delivery system applies an agricultural product, such as seed, to a field. The system includes a frame that mounts a main hopper, a splitter fitting, a primary product hose, a secondary product hose, a primary application unit and a secondary application unit. The main hopper has an air nozzle wherein an air stream through the air nozzle entrains product within the air stream and delivers the air/product to the primary outlet hose. The splitter fitting has a splitter inlet flow-connected to the primary product hose and two splitter outlets flow-connected to the application units. The secondary application unit is coupled to the primary product supply hose by the secondary product hose connected at an outlet branch. The outlet branch is connected at an angle such that a product flow velocity vector in the primary product supply hose at the outlet branch is at an obtuse angle to a flow velocity vector of product flowing through the outlet branch.

Abstract: For a compact tractor, a composite molded plastic floor and fender structure is supported on a chassis of the vehicle. The floor and fender structure includes a foot supporting region, a seat supporting region and two fenders all formed of a composite RIM plastic material. The unitary floor and fender structure simplifies manufacture of the tractor as well as providing a lightweight, durable structure.

Abstract: A method of classifying slices or a portion cut from a food product according to an optical image of the slice. After a slice is removed from a food product loaf the slice is passed into an image field of a digital image receiving device. A control generates a pixel-by-pixel image data of the slice using input from the digital image receiving device. The control calculates a surface area of the slice from the data, and a fat content of the slice on a pixel-by-pixel basis. The fat content data is compared to at least one predetermined limit and the slice is classified accordingly.

Abstract: A product-on-demand delivery system for agricultural product overcomes the problem of over pressuring near application units in order to achieve sufficient pressure to feed further application units. The invention provides two or more main hoppers, each hopper pressurized to a different level by a fan that charges the air nozzles on the hoppers. The near row application units have product delivery hoses that are coupled to a first hopper. The far row application units have longer product delivery hoses that are coupled to a second hopper. The fan charging the second hopper is configured to pressurize the second hopper to a higher pressure than the pressure of the first hopper. The invention provides separate product-on-demand delivery systems to better control the product flow to the row application units on the machine. A product-on-demand delivery system is also provided that can dispense two different products from two main hoppers operated at different pressures.

Abstract: A rotor for a permanent magnet motor includes a rotor body and a plurality of permanent magnets carried by the rotor body. The rotor body has an outside rotor surface with a plurality of dovetail slots formed on the outside rotor surface. Each magnet is fit within one of the slots, protruding outward of the outside rotor surface in a radial direction. According to another embodiment, a rotor is provided having a rotor body that carries a plurality of magnets on its outside surface, and end caps that are fastened respectively to longitudinal ends of the rotor body. The end caps each have a angled rim surfaces that overhangs an end portion of the outer magnet surface of each of the magnets to retain the magnets onto the rotor body. The angled rim surfaces and the magnets can be configured such that by drawing the end caps tightly against the rotor body by use of fasteners, the magnets are wedged down onto the rotor body by the angled rim surfaces.

Abstract: A trailer-mounted crane apparatus includes a trailer supported from a ground surface on at least two wheels. A hydraulically operated crane arm is mounted to the trailer and is extendable outwardly. A crane hydraulic power unit is mounted to the trailer and supplies pressurized hydraulic fluid to the crane arm. A vibrational sheet piling driver can be supported by the crane arm. A vibrational hydraulic power unit for supplying power to the driver is mounted on the trailer. A control panel for the crane hydraulic power unit and the vibrational driver hydraulic power unit, and an associated operator's seat, are also mounted on the trailer. The crane apparatus includes wide tires for reducing the surface pressure under the apparatus. This allows the apparatus to be transported across and used on delicate surfaces such as golf course greens and other groomed surfaces.

Abstract: A tilt steering wheel mechanism for an agricultural tractor or like implement includes a steering shaft support and a tilt coupling mounted on the shaft support for relative pivotal movement. A rotatable steering shaft, and associated steering wheel, are joined to the tilt coupling for pivotal movement therewith, with a collar-like tilt latch fitted to the tilt coupling for maintaining the steering wheel in any of a plurality of selected angular dispositions. Convenient and efficient operation of the tilt mechanism is facilitated by the provision of a generally U-shaped latch release which is positioned in close proximity to the steering wheel so as to facilitate single-handed grasping of the steering wheel and operation of the latch release. The latch release includes a pair of cam surfaces which cooperate with a pair of cam followers provided on the tilt latch for selectively latching and unlatching the tilt mechanism.

Abstract: A cultivator for aerating a ground surface. The cultivator has a support frame moveable relative to the ground surface and a follower first pivotally connected to the support frame by a first pair of spaced link arms. The link arms have two pairs of equidistantly spaced pivot points for linear movement of the follower in a first direction away from the support frame. A tool support member is pivotally connected to the follower by a second pair of spaced link arms. The second link arms have two pairs of equidistantly spaced pivot points for linear movement of a cultivating tool in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. A driver effects cyclic movement of the tool support member in the second direction and movement of the follower in said first direction at a substantially constant rate during at least a selected portion of the cyclic movement corresponding to ground engagement of the cultivating tool.

Abstract: The invention provides an electric motor drive for a reel mower. The drive includes an electric motor, a casing, an endless traction member and a secondary output shaft. Preferably the electric motor is a brush-less permanent magnet type electric motor. The electric motor includes a rotor, a stator, and a motor housing that carries the rotor and stator, the rotor having a rotor output shaft extending from the housing. The casing is mounted to the motor housing. The endless traction member is engaged to the rotor output shaft to be circulated by rotation of the rotor output shaft. The secondary output shaft is engaged by the endless traction member to be rotated by circulation of the endless traction member. The secondary output shaft extends from inside the casing to outside the casing to be operatively connected to the reel to rotate the reel.

Abstract: A control system selectively operates an agitator within a main hopper or bulk tank for a product-on-demand delivery system. A differential pressure switch is used to control operation of the agitator. The differential pressure switch measures the pressure difference between the pressurized air pressure upstream of the tank and tank air pressure to determine when the system is not delivering adequate product to the application units, based on the high air flow rate in the system. When the sensor signals that the system is not delivering adequate product, the system automatically starts the agitator, and conversely when the sensor signals that the system is delivering adequate product, the system automatically stops the agitator.

Abstract: The invention provides a slicing and conveying system that includes a slicing blade that cuts slices from a loaf, and an output conveyor located below the slicing blade for receiving the slices in a draft. A control system automatically adjusts a lateral movement of the output conveyor to form a laterally shingled draft of a consistent width in response to a sensed lateral dimension of the loaf being sliced. The control system includes a displacement sensor carried by a laterally adjustable guide assembly adjacent to the slicing blade. The displacement sensor is signal-connected to a control. The control is signal-connected to the output conveyor to control the lateral movement of the output conveyor according to the lateral dimension of the loaf sensed by the displacement sensor. As an additional aspect, the slices can be shingled in the longitudinal direction to form a two dimensional footprint.

Abstract: A neutral start switch arrangement is provided for a work vehicle having a motor driving a hydrostatic pump, the hydrostatic pump driving a hydraulic motor which drives a wheel. The hydrostatic pump typically has an input control shaft, the rotation of which moves the hydrostatic pump from the neutral position to the forward or reverse drive position. A selectively rotatable control arm is fixed to the input control shaft. A first arm is mounted for rotation about the input control shaft axis. A second arm is mounted for rotation about the input control shaft axis. The control arm and the first and second arms are configured for the control arm to be rotated from a neutral drive position to rotate the first arm in a forward drive rotary direction or the second arm in a second rotary direction corresponding to the reverse drive. A first leg extends from the first arm and a second leg extends from the second arm, and a spring is stretched between the first and second legs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming molded food products having an outer first component and an inner second component is provided. The apparatus includes a pressurized supply of first component and a pressurized supply of second component. A mold housing extends along a first direction. A first end portion and a second end portion are arranged to be movable along the first direction within the mold housing and to be separated by a pre-selected distance along the first direction. An injector tube is in fluid communication with the supply of pressurized second component. The first and second end portions are arranged to be contained within the mold housing in a fill position to form a mold cavity within the mold housing around the injector tube. The mold cavity has an inlet in fluid communication with the supply of pressurized first component when in the fill position to receive first component to form a shell having an inside void.

Abstract: A bumper assembly for a utility vehicle includes both front bumper structure for protecting the front of the vehicle, and skid plate structure to protect lower components of the vehicle from road or terrain hazards, as an integrated part. The bumper assembly includes a protective front structure extending substantially vertically in front of a front end of the vehicle hood, e.g., in front of the radiator of the utility vehicle. The bumper assembly also includes a protective bottom structure extending substantially horizontally beneath the chassis of the utility vehicle. The bumper assembly includes a front plate useful for locating attachments to the vehicle. An implement attachment arrangement includes an elongated structure pivotally connected at a rear of a chassis of the utility vehicle. The elongated structure is connected at a front end thereof to the bumper assembly via a hydraulic cylinder in order to make vertically adjustable the elevation of the front end of the elongated structure.

Abstract: A three point hitch for a cart-type utility vehicle wherein the utility vehicle comprises a vehicle frame that includes an axle housing and an upper frame cross member. The three point hitch comprises a pair of spaced apart lower draft links, each pivotally mounted to the axle housing and extending rearward, the lower draft links having connection features at free ends thereof for connecting to an implement. A beam extends in a lateral direction parallel to the upper frame cross member. A rockshaft extends parallel to the beam and is pivotally connected to the beam. A lift bracket is fixedly connected to the rockshaft. Two upper links are fixedly connected to the rockshaft and extend rearward, the upper links located above the lower draft links. Two vertical links connect the upper links and the lower draft links. Endplates are fixedly connected to the beam and are connected to the vehicle frame by pins that also are used to pivotally connect a cargo box or platform to the frame.

Abstract: A hinge assembly is provided for hinging a hood on a utility vehicle body so as to enable the hood to open upwardly and backwardly from the front end of the utility vehicle. A bracket made from steel is secured adhesively to an underside of the hood, which is made from a polymeric material, near a back end of the hood. A double-rocker, four-link mechanism includes a lower, fixed link, an upper, coupler link, a comparatively longer, front rocker link, and a comparatively shorter, back rocker link. The front, back, and coupler links are displaceable so that the upper end of the back link is movable toward and away from the lower end of the front link. An extensible-retractable spring connected between the rocker links baises the upper end of the back link toward the lower end of the front link.

Abstract: In a vehicle, such as a lawn and garden tractor, having an engine that drives a hydrostatic transmission and having forward and reverse pedals that control the hydrostatic transmission, an operator-actuated transmission locking mechanism locks the forward and reverse pedals in a neutral position. The vehicle includes a parking brake that has a manually set portion to cause engagement of the parking brake. The transmission locking mechanism is mechanically connected to the manually set portion such that the manually set portion and the transmission locking mechanism are actuated together.

Abstract: A system, suitable for high-speed operation, by which raw product (45), such as a slab of meat, can be accurately processed, such as by slicing into segments of desired weight, comprises a product profiling apparatus (15). The product profiling apparats (15) meassures the profile of the physical process. The product profiling apparatus (15) includes line lasers (75, 85) for directing a line of light across the upper and lower surfaces of the product (45) and visual image cameras (80, 90) directed toward the profile surface to capture, at fixed increments, the product profile. The product may also be weighed and the product density determined from the overall profile measurements. A controller (150) receives this data, and instructs the physical process accordingly.

Abstract: An improved stopping mechanism is provided for a conveyor that accepts one or more streams of product input and converts the one or more streams to a format that is suitable for automatic loading to a subsequent machine, wherein a stack of slices must be temporarily stopped on the conveyor while moving. The stopping mechanism includes a lower stop having a lower stack-engaging portion and a lift portion, the lift portion selectively actuatable to elevate the lower stack-engaging portion to engage a bottom surface of the stack and to lift the stack above the conveying surface. The stopping mechanism further includes an upper stop having an upper stack-engaging portion and a lowering portion, the lowering portion selectively actuatable to lower the upper stack-engaging portion to engage an upper surface of the stack.

Abstract: In a tractor having a frame, a grille has a hollow frame fastened to a front portion of the frame of the tractor, so as to protect a radiator of the tractor. Two brackets are provided, each of which is mounted to the front portion of the frame of the tractor and each of which projects frontwardly from the frame of the tractor, through an aperture in a lower portion of the frame of the grille. A guard is provided, which is fastened to the brackets, in front of the grille, so as to protect the grille. The hollow frame of the grille is fastened to the front portion of the frame of the tractor only at the lower portion of the frame of the grille. The hollow frame of the grille is molded, as by rotational molding, from a polymeric material, for which cross-linked polyethylene is preferred. The brackets and the guard are made of steel.