Abstract: A tractor is provided with a wheel slippage control to regulate the load produced by an implement. Wheel slippage is measured by pulses received from tachometers measuring the rotation of a non-driven wheel and a driven wheel. These pulses are applied to associated counters, where the total number of pulses received from each wheel is continuously counted. If the difference between the counts of the counters reaches a preset amount, a signal is applied to the control valve of a lifting device attached to the tractor, so that an implement carried by the device penetrates less deeply into the soil. After the lifting device has been energized, the counters are reset to zero to continue counting until reset again.

Abstract: A container for material such as fertilizer or seeds which delivers same to an underlying distributing device is mounted on a tractor so that the weight of the container and associated equipment is indicated to the operator of the tractor whereby the amount of material remaining in the container is specifically indicated. The weighing apparatus includes a spring, pointer and scale incorporated in the supporting structure extending from the tractor for the container and associated equipment and the pointer and scale may be interconnected to the spring and mounted on the tractor for the convenience of the operator. In one embodiment the spring is a tension spring at the top of the supporting structure and in another embodiment it is a compression spring near the bottom of the supporting structure. Instead of a spring, the weight may be indicated by hydraulic pressure in a hydraulic system for the supporting structure.

Abstract: A tank for transporting and/or spreading fluids has a conduit at its rear and an air/vacuum source for moving fluids into and out of the hopper. The conduit terminates in a rear opening which may be an outlet or inlet and has a gate valve located between the outlet and tank. A coupling linkage system mounted on the conduit near the valve is capable of articulation to position either a fluid supply connection or a fluid distributor connection on the conduit opening. The linkage system causes the valve to be sequentially opened and shut responsive to the connection of the fluid supply and the fluid distributor. In one variation, the coupling linkage is pivoted to fasten either a supply pipe or the distributor to the conduit opening by a hydraulic ram. Thereafter, pressure is increased further to articulate the linkage and open the valve. The hydraulic system may also include another piston and cylinder to operate the valve.

Abstract: A soil cultivating implement of relatively large working width mounts a transverse row of rotary soil working members and the soil working members are carried in two side-by-side groups by corresponding substantially axially aligned hollow frame portions. Each soil working member is rotatable about an upwardly extending axis and directly connected to a power take-off of a prime mower. In order to enable the implement to tow a separate implement, a rear coupling structure is provided that includes rearwardly directed arms that are prevented from becoming bent, broken or otherwise damaged during use, and particularly during inoperative transport. The two frame portions are foldable upwardly and inwardly towards one another about pivots by hydraulic rams and a forward frame beam mounts a coupling trestle on a central beam portion. A carrying structure having rear coupling points is releasably interconnected to the trestle and secured in a relatively fixed position.

Abstract: A soil working implement has a row of soil working tools that displace soil rearwardly and laterally. A side-plate is pivoted to each side of the implement frame and positioned adjacent the outer ends of the row to arrest the lateral movement of the soil. An elongated supporting roller is located to the rear of the row to support the implement and further work the soil. Each side-plate has a lower rim that rides along the ground and a guide element is attached to the rear of the side-plate to extend inwardly towards an outer roller end. The element is preferably a blade that is inclined to displace soil arrested by the side-plate and prevent ridging. The blade can be integral or attached to the rim.

Abstract: A soil cultivating implement comprising soil working members having tines, the members being arranged in a row that extends transverse to the direction of travel. A ground roller is freely rotatable and positioned to the rear of the row of soil working members. In order for the roller to support the implement on the ground and regulate the maximum depth of penetration of the soil working members into the ground, the roller has crowns or assemblies of projections which comprise substantially radial portions and outer end portions which are bent over laterally in opposite directions by significant angles and also rearwardly with respect to the direction of normal roller rotation. In addition, they are widened towards the end in the direction of their rotational movement. Scraping members are positioned between the successive assemblies or crowns of projections and the roller may have a central tubular shaft or carrier of a different diameter.

Abstract: A soil cultivating machine such as a plow comprises a share followed by a soil guide which is in the form of a moldboard made up of power driven rotary guide elements. The elements are elongated and are all driven from a common shaft which can include a change-speed device to enable the rotary speed of the elements to be changed. The form of the guide can be altered by adjusting the relative angularities of the elements and the elements can be rotated at different speeds. The elements preferably extend less horizontally from front to rear where they are substantially vertical. An overhead frame beam interconnects the rear of the guide to a pivot on a trestle coupling. Also, the rear of the machine can be supported by a furrow wheel and a ground wheel on one side of the trestle supports the front of the machine.

Abstract: An agricultural device for spreading granular or powdery material or both, particularly fertilizer, which has at least one distribution member that rotates about a vertical axis. A hopper has a dosing member which is disposed over the distribution member at its axis for feeding material to be spread around such axis whereby it is thrown from the distribution member by centrifugal force. At least one screen plate for deflecting the material so thrown is spaced outwardly from the circumference of the distribution member and is entirely located on one side of a plane which passes through the axis of the distribution member and is disposed at a right angle to the intended direction of operative travel of the device. The screening plate deflects the material impinging thereon vertically downwardly whereby the desired uniform characteristics are achieved in the distribution pattern of the material being spread.

Abstract: A soil cultivating machine has a frame portion extending transversely of the intended direction of operative travel and a row of cultivating members on that portion are rotatable about upwardly extending shafts. Behind the cultivating members there is a ground-engaging support roller pivotally connected with the frame portion by means of supporting arms. A mechanism, including a screw spindle or an hydraulic ram is provided for adjusting the roller in a direction of height to vary the working level and a locking device for fixing the roller against pivotal movement relative to the frame portion is also included. The locking device includes two parts that can be clamped against one another with relatively co-operating toothings interengaged. A resilient device on a rod of the mechanism is provided to allow relative movement between the co-operating toothings at the time of clamping the parts together.

Abstract: A haymaking machine has a substantially horizontal main frame beam with lateral carriers which are pivotable upwardly and downwardly relative to the main beam. The pivots define horizontal axes and pivoting takes place between a working position in which the beam and carriers are substantially horizontally aligned, and an inoperative transport position in which the carriers are turned upwardly relative to the frame beam through 90.degree. or more. Breakage of, or other serious damage to the drive transmission to rotary rake members of the machine is prevented by drivingly connecting a rotary shaft within the main frame beam to the rotary shaft segments housed within the carrier by double universal couplings which still allow the shaft segments to be driven when they are inclined to the main beam at 90.degree. or more. Also, the carriers mount crop guides that can be pivoted about horizontal axes and/or displaced relative to the rake members so as to function during either tedding or swath forming.

Abstract: A cultivating implement has an elongated frame portion that mounts a row of rotors that rotate about upwardly extending axes. At the lateral sides of the frame portion, screening plates are positioned to arrest the lateral displacement of soil being worked. Each screen is substantially vertical with its front part being linked to an overlying frame structure and rear roller that supports the frame portion. Parallelogram links arranged one above the other interconnect each plate with a support part of the structure. The links extend forwardly from the plate from pivot connections to further pivot connections. The connections define horizontal transverse axes that allow the plate to move up and down as it rides along the ground. The front connections are resilient members that allow some lateral deflection of the plate. The plate has an upper, rear bent over portion that allows entry of a supporting roller arm to a pivot connection to the supporting frame structure.

Abstract: A haymaking machine has at least one rake member, preferably two members, with tine groups that are rotatable about an upwardly directed axis. Adhesion of hay and/or other crop to the tine groups is greatly reduced, as compared with conventional constructions, by arranging fastening spoke ends between the helical coils of each tine group. A spring-loaded setting device is arranged to co-operate with a retaining bracket of each tine group to retain the tines, and corresponding tine carrier portions, in either a position suitable for swath formation or a position suitable for tedding operation. Each spoke end is substantially rigidly clamped between the corresponding turnably mounted coils of the tine groups and the spokes extend directly away from their connections between the coils towards the axis of rotation of the rake member. Guides at the rear of the machine assist to deposit the crop in swaths or the guides can be set to ted the crop.

Abstract: A tractor has an engine, a torque converter, a lifting device for attachment to an implement such as a plow, the torque converter being controlled automatically whereby if an engine-driven ground wheel starts slipping, the torque converter reduces the tractor's speed. Engine speed and the implement's depth of penetration are also automatically controlled in dependence on the retarding force caused by the implement. In another embodiment, a power take-off shaft is automatically disengaged if the retarding force becomes excessive.

Abstract: A soil cultivating implement has a row of tined soil working members extending transverse to the direction of travel. An implement-supporting and soil-working cage-formation ground roller is arranged behind said soil working members to be rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis. The roller has a plurality of relatively spaced apart carrier discs fixedly interconnected by a plurality of tubular elongate elements that are wound helically around the axis of rotation of the roller. When light and/or dry soil is to be cultivated, it is desirable that additional elongate elements should be placed in the skeletal cylindrically curved ground-engaging surface of the roller. A chosen number of auxiliary elongate elements can be arranged between the fixed elongate elements quickly and these elements are easily detachable and re-connectable.

Abstract: A soil compacting roller comprises a cylinder rotatably mounted between the lower ends of substantially vertical limbs of two side supports. The cylinder is surrounded by a plurality of larger diameter rings which extend in relatively spaced apart, side-by-side relationship along the length of the cylinder. The roller also includes an internal tubular or rod supporting member spaced above the cylinder so that the rings are rotatable about that member and the cylinder entirely independently of one another. Guide members extend between the successively neighboring rings to keep them in position axially of the cylinder and to assist in dislodging adhering mud from the interiors and exteriors of the rings. The guide members can be in the form of pivotally mounted strips, spring steel rods, annular flanges carried at regular intervals along the cylinder, pairs of lugs carried by the supporting member or rotatably mounted circumferentially toothed discs which extend between the successive rings.

Abstract: A raking machine has at least one circular tined rake member that is rotatable about an upwardly and forwardly inclined axis of rotation. The tines are pivotably mounted on the outer perimeter of the rake member to turn about horizontal pivot axes. Preferably, the diameter of the rake member is defined by the path described by the tips of the tines in operation and is 2 to 3.3 meters. During operation, the tines, viewed in plan are directed outwardly from the perimeter and rearwardly with respect to the direction of rotation so that with travelling speeds over the ground between 6 and 12 kms/hour and when the member is driven at a speed of rotation of 80 rev/min., the tine at the front of the rake member at any moment extends at an angle of about 45.degree. to 90.degree.

Abstract: A device for displacing crop lying on the ground such as a side-delivery rake or tedder, has a frame supporting a row of ground-driven rake wheels each of which is movable up and down with respect to the frame. The device can be coupled to a tractor by a fastening structure that includes a frame portion passed through a central hole in one rake wheel. The frame portion connects the beam carrying the rake wheels, to a drawbar of the frame portion. By passing the frame portion through the rake wheel, the fastening structure can be of minimal dimensions reducing the damaging effect of forces applied to the fastening structure during use of the device. The rake wheels are similar to one another except the wheel with a central hole. The hole is surrounded by a circular hub rotatably mounted on fixed rollers on a structure connected to the frame.

Abstract: An agricultural machine has at least one movable tool, such as a cultivating rotor, mower or raking member, spreader disc, or other driven member such as a tractor wheel or freely rotatable roller, which parts are interrupted in movement by a protective mechanism. The mechanism can be a pawl device associated with an overload coupling in the drive train that is actuated by a mechanical or electrical monitor to overload the device. The monitor can be a pivoted cover that partly overlies a rear roller or space adjacent same with projections that intercept the roller or a trip bar with contacts that opens or closes a circuit in a system that interrupts the drive to the moving parts responsive to contact with an external object. In another variation, the circuit can have sensors such as infrared or photoelectric cells to detect the presence or lack of presence of a human operator and these sensors can be placed in a tractor cab.

Abstract: An overload coupling includes two portions that are relatively rotatable about a common axis upon overload. During operation, the driving portion turns the driven portion through one or more shear pins that are closely fitted in the same or a respective cutting element. In one version, the two portions have aligned sleeves that hold a common shear pin. The sleeves and pins can be readily exchanged for those able to transmit greater or lesser torque. Also, there can be two or more pins held in the aligned sleeves and offset from the sleeves' center line for adjustment. In another version, one portion can mount groups of pins, one of which fits into a recess between two cylindrical cutting elements. The elements have different sized cavities to closely bear on one pin until shear. After shear, the driving portion r.p.m. is reduced or stopped until another pin or portion is urged into the recess. Different sized pins can be used and each element rotated to expose the correct cavity.

Abstract: A spreader suitable for spreading granular and/or powdery materials, such as seeds or fertilizer, comprises a distributor which has an upturned rim. The distributor can be driven in rotation or reciprocated about an axis which is inclined rearwardly from top to bottom at different speeds by means of a change-speed means. Frame members are orientated to prevent the least obstruction to material ejected past them by the distributor. A downwardly inclined deflector prevents material from impinging against a vehicle to which the spreader is hitched. The constructional features of the spreader contribute to an even distribution of material about the axis, regardless of the type of material being spread.