Abstract: A control arrangement for a lawn and garden vehicle having a manually movable member provided for controlling the speed of operation of the tractor and a speed setting arrangement for permitting the operator to manually set a speed control at a minimum constant speed while also permitting the operator to move the manually movable member to temporarily increase the speed of the vehicle. The speed setting arrangement is connected to the lawn tractor brake to cause disengagement of the speed setting apparatus when the brake is applied.

Abstract: A control assembly for use in controlling the operation of a hydrostatic transmission of a lawn and garden vehicle. The control assembly is selectively adjustable such that it can be set precisely at the neutral position of the transmission. The control assembly also provides means for causing the transmission to positively return to its neutral position after operation in either the forward or reverse driving modes.

Abstract: A snowblower is disclosed having an engine, a friction disc rotatably driven by the engine, the friction disc including a friction surface and being rotatable about a first axis, a driven disc rotatable about an axis transverse to said first axis, the driven disc including a peripheral edge engageable with the friction surface, and being drivingly connected to the snowblower wheels for driving the wheels when the driven disc is driven by the friction disc. The snowblower also includes controls for controlling driving connection of the engine and an auger and for controlling driving connection of the engine and the wheels, the controls causing engagement of the auger drive before engagement of the traction drive and disengagement of the traction drive before disengagement of the auger drive.

Abstract: A rear tined tiller having a guiding handle which is readily adjustable vertically and laterally and wherein adjustment of the guiding handle position may be controlled by a handle position control lever attached to the free end of the guiding handle and readily accessible to the operator. The guiding handle is also supported for pivotal movement through a 180.degree. arc about a vertical pivot axis for storage and transport of the machine. The handle position control lever is also connected to the traction drive and the tine drive mechanisms to interrupt power to both the drive wheels and the tiller tines during adjustment of the guiding handle position.

Abstract: A grass collection cart having an access door and a closed bottom portion receives the airborne grass clippings discharged by a rotary cutting blade assembly. Auxiliary walls on the access door define an air discharge passage having an intake end spaced from the closed bottom portion of the cart and communicating with the interior of the cart when the access door is in its closed position. The discharge passage also has an outlet end opening near the ground. The incoming flow of airborne grass clippings entering the interior of the cart is directed toward the closed bottom portion and away from the intake end of the discharge passage so that the incoming flow of air will be deflected by the closed bottom portion toward the intake end of the discharge passage. The grass clippings consequently settle from the air stream and into the closed bottom portion, and the outgoing flow of air is expelled from the cart through the discharge passage near ground level.

Abstract: A rear tined tiller having a guiding handle which is readily adjustable vertically and laterally and wherein adjustment of the guiding handle position may be controlled by a handle position control lever attached to the free end of the guiding handle and readily accessible to the operator. The guiding handle is also supported for pivotal movement through a 180.degree. arc about a vertical pivot axis for storage and transport of the machine. The handle position control lever is also connected to the traction drive and the tine drive mechanisms to interrupt power to both the drive wheels and the tiller tines during adjustment of the guiding handle position.

Abstract: A lawn tractor including a fuel tank constructed to permit tipping of at least 30.degree. with respect to the horizontal without spilling of gasoline from the tank. The fuel tank includes a bottom wall, side walls and a top wall, the top wall supporting a central filling stem. The top wall and side walls define a pair of air entrapment cavities at the periphery of the fuel tank and located above the base of the filling neck. When the fuel tank is level and filled, air is trapped in the entrapment cavities. If the tank is subsequently tipped, air is permitted to escape from one of the cavities into the filling neck and fuel will flow into that cavity thereby preventing the fuel in the filling neck from being spilled.

Abstract: A snowblower includes an auger having a generally horizontal auger cylinder and at least a pair of spaced apart planar elastomeric auger flights surrounding the auger cylinder. The auger flights extend outwardly from the surface of the auger cylinder and from opposite ends of the cylinder toward each other. The auger also includes an impeller blade extending radially from the auger cylinder surface and having opposite ends, one of the impeller blade ends being connected to one of the auger flights and the other of the impeller blade ends being connected to the other of the auger flights. The auger further includes an auger frame rotatable about a longitudinal axis, and the auger frame includes two frame halves secured together at a parting plane including the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A vertical crankshaft engine is the power source of a snowblower. Two horizontal drive belts extend from a double pulley arrangement on the engine crankshaft. One drive belt extends to the vertical input shaft of the traction gear case to power the snowblower wheels. The other belt extends to the vertical input shaft of a right angle gearbox at one axial end of the collector assembly to transmit rotary motion to the collector assembly. A horizontally pivotal idler pulley selectively tensions the belt providing the motive power for the collector assembly and a clutch assembly is associated with the traction axle assembly to selectively power the snowblower wheels.The right angle gearbox housing is made in two complementary pieces which are held together by a type of snap ring and when assembled is bolted to one end of the housing of the collector assembly.

Abstract: A horizontal extension of a tiller frame supports the engine, gear box, and tine assembly of a tiller. The tiller frame has a portion which defines the tiller handle and includes a one-piece, forked end which provides the horizontal extension and, in addition, provides a generally vertical extension which supports the tiller wheels. At its forked end the tiller frame is generally delta-shaped having a broad, web-like portion extending between and integral with the horizontal and vertical frame extensions and arranged in a vertical plane.

Abstract: A folding tiller handle is made in two pieces connected for limited relative longitudinal and pivotal movement, one piece being a permanent part of the basic tiller assembly. A belt tightening idler sheave is associated with a belt drive which provides the motive forde for rotating the tiller tine assembly. A control, which includes two separable rigid rod members, moves the idler sheave into and out of tightening engagement with the drive belt. The rods are joined through a connection which imparts rotary motion from one rod to the other and which also permits relative longitudinal movement therebetween to separate the rods. The rods are associated with respective pieces of the tiller handle so that when the handle is separated or folded, the control connection to the tightening sheave through the rods is interrupted and the drive belt cannot be tightened to establish the tiller drive.

Abstract: A discharge guide is mounted on the same base as the snowblower engine. A rotatable flange assembly surrounds an outlet tube in the collector housing and a drive engagement between the rotatable flange assembly and the discharge guide transmits rotary motion therebetween. A flexible cord extends from a control assembly in the snowblower handle along the snowblower frame to the rotatable flange assembly to afford control over turning movement of the discharge guide.

Abstract: A rotary tiller tine assembly in which a main shift has an end key and a shaft extension has at one end an end socket coupled to the main shaft key and at its other end a socket which receives a plug key with which outboard tines are interlockingly engaged.

Abstract: A quick release clamping assembly for connecting two components at least one of which has an arcuate shaped clamping surface. The assembly consists of a stem projecting from one of the components through the other component and a clamping nut mounted on the stem. The clamping nut is rotatable with respect to the stem between the clamping-in position in which it clamps the two components together in the released position in which one component is movable with respect to the other about the stem. The clamping nut has an underside directed towards the clamping surface of the first component. The underside of the clamping nut is formed to provide a clamping surface of a concave curvature corresponding to the convex curvature of the clamping surface of the first component and a release recess angularly disposed with respect to the clamping surface and extending inwardly with respect to the nut above the clamping surface of the clamping nut.