Abstract: A tillage implement has a main frame provided with ground-engaging wheels that support the main frame at a selected height above the ground. Tillage shanks may be provided on the main frame and, if so, have their depth of penetration into the ground determined by the selected height of the main frame. Gangs of freely rotatable circular blades are carried on the main frame for both fore-and-aft angle adjustment relative to the main frame about respective upright pivot axes and up-and-down depth adjustment relative to the main frame about respective horizontal pivot axes. Such angle and/or depth adjustments can be carried out on-the-go from the tractor seat and without raising or lowering the main frame such that if tillage shanks are provided on the main frame, the working depth of the tillage shanks can remain unchanged as the gangs are adjusted.

Abstract: Systems for mounting a plurality of agricultural tools on a transverse support bar and a method for operating an agricultural implement having a transverse support bar are disclosed. The systems include a lateral positioning structure that can attach to the transverse support bar and a detachable base that can be releasably coupled to the lateral positioning structure.

Abstract: The seed distribution tower of an air seeder has a distribution head that splits a single, primary stream of conveying air and seeds into a plurality of secondary streams for delivery to openers that deposit the seeds into the ground as the seeder advances. The outlets through which the secondary streams exit the head are constructed as modules that can be individually installed and replaced without disassembling the entire head. Shut-off valves and/or flow sensors may or may not be incorporated into certain or all of the modules to provide optimum user flexibility.

Abstract: A cultivation air seeder has an ornamental facing around three sides of its large, metallic bulk seed hopper to enhance the appearance of the hopper and provide environmental protection for sensitive mechanical, electronic and hydraulic components. A front section of one facing panel on each side of the machine is hinged about a generally upright axis to allow the panel section to be opened and closed like a door for operator access to the components behind it. The facing can be stylishly molded from a synthetic resinous material or other non-metallic substance to facilitate manufacture and is disposed to conceal unsightly weld lines and other imperfections on the exterior surface of the hopper.

Abstract: An agricultural seeding implement has a seed hopper that is weighed continuously during field operations as the seed volume in the hopper progressively diminishes. The weight information is used to perform ongoing control functions on the implement. One embodiment uses the weight information to reduce the down pressure on compaction wheels of a wing section of the machine as a function of the diminishing weight of the hopper on the main section.

Abstract: When the operator of a cultivation air seeder shifts the tractor valve to raise the cultivators and openers from the ground as the seeder prepares to turn around at the end of a field, the operating and control system of the seeder causes the cultivators to be raised first, followed in sequence by the trailing openers. The seed meter turns off as soon as the cultivators leave their lowered position, but the blower stays on so that seeds in the conduits downstream from the meter continue to be delivered to and deposited into the ground by the openers until the cultivators reach their raised position, whereupon the openers are raised. Depending upon the particular seeding mode selected by the operator, the cultivators and openers either lower simultaneously as the operator shifts the tractor valve to the lowering position when starting down the next pass, or the cultivators are lowered first, followed in sequence by the openers.

Abstract: The seed distribution tower of an air seeder splits a single, primary stream of conveying air and seeds into a plurality of secondary streams for delivery to openers that deposit the seeds into the ground as the seeder advances. As seeds enter the head of the tower in an upward vertical direction through an inlet at the bottom of the head, they are scattered 360° in a horizontal direction by an inverted, overhead distribution cone. The inlet through which the seeds enter the distribution head has an eased configuration to reduce turbulence and promote laminar flow within the head during the dramatic transition from vertical to horizontal movement. Sensitive components such as tram line valves, solenoid actuators, and blockage sensors are protectively housed within the interior of the distribution head to avoid exposure to hostile environmental elements.

Abstract: A steerable agricultural implement configured to be coupled to a tractor by a multi-point hitch system that restrains side-to-side articulation between the tractor and the implement. The agricultural implement includes a steering controller that receives a positional attribute from a steering system of the tractor and controls a degree of pivot of a wheel assembly of the agricultural implement based on the positional attribute of the tractor steering system. The wheel assembly is configured with a steering actuator that is operable to pivot a portion of the wheel assembly without transmitting force beyond the wheel assembly, abutment stops to define maximum degrees of pivot of the portion of the wheel assembly and relieve the steering actuator without transmitting force beyond the wheel assembly, and a quick release free-wheel mechanism to enable a disconnected or “free wheel” operation of the wheel assembly independent of the steering actuator.

Abstract: A zero-turn mower comprising a zero-turn mower frame, a front axle coupled to the zero-turn mower frame, first and second caster wheel assemblies, and first and second front shock assemblies. The front shock assemblies rotatably and telescopically couple the caster wheel assemblies to the front axle, thereby providing vertical shock absorption. The front axle may be a floating axle that is pivotably coupled to the mower frame and/or the shock assemblies may define an internal spring-receiving chamber that is substantially isolated from the external environment. Such a zero-turn mower may provide a smoother ride and may require less maintenance and repair than conventional zero-turn mowers.

Abstract: A seed furrow closing wheel has a generally dish-shaped body defined by a central portion and a notched outer flange portion that circumscribes the central portion and projects obliquely outwardly from the plane thereof. The notched flange portion is configured to present a series of circumferentially spaced, non-radial, obliquely projecting teeth that function to fragment and squeeze together opposite sidewalls of the seed furrow when a pair of the wheels are rolled along opposite sides of the furrow outboard of the furrow itself, crumbling the sidewalls and covering the seeds.

Abstract: The parking brakes at the drive wheels of a zero turning radius mower are automatically set when a pair of drive levers used for determining speed, steering and forward or reverse travel are placed in their neutral positions and swung outwardly to widespread, operator dismount positions. When the drive levers are widespread, switches associated with a control circuit are opened, allowing air cylinders to immediately exhaust pressurized air so that tension springs may actuate the brake assemblies to set the brakes. When the drive levers are returned to their operating modes and the ignition is turned on, the control switches are closed, energizing the control circuit to pressurize the air cylinders and release the brakes against the bias of the tension springs.

Abstract: The spike wheels of the harrow are arranged in gangs to rotate about a common axis during ground engagement. Each wheel has a plurality of spikes that project outwardly from a cylindrical hub having a pair of opposite ends. Projections at one end of the hub are matingly received within notches in the opposite end of the hub of the next adjacent wheel so that the wheels are interlocked for rotation in unison. The projections on each hub are offset angularly from the notches by a certain amount so that adjacent wheels are correspondingly rotatively offset from one another. The outermost tips of the spikes of each wheel are inturned to a certain extent so as to render each wheel generally concavo-convex, with the concave sides of the wheels leading as the machine is pulled through the field. Front gangs of the wheels are disposed in a certain oblique attitude with respect to the path of travel of the machine, while rear gangs are disposed in opposite oblique attitudes.

Abstract: A zero turning radius mower is provided with twin operating levers that are manipulated by the driver to control steering, speed and forward or reverse direction of the mower. When the two drive levers are in the neutral mode, they may be swung outwardly to widespread positions to facilitate operator dismount. If both drive levers are spread apart, a park lever may be operated by the driver to position blocking bars into the path of the levers to prevent their return from the widespread positions. Once the engine is shut off, it can only be restarted when the mower is in its park mode with the park lever engaged.

Abstract: Each opener of a seed planting machine may be essentially tool-free equipped with a selected one of two or more types of interchangeable singulating meters. Each type of meter is mounted on its own adapter plate to present a module that has quick-attach mounting projections arranged and configured in an identical manner to all other modules. The projections fit into mating slots on an upright member of the opener, and the upper projection of each pair is in the nature of a downturned hook that facilitates hanging the module on the opener while also retaining it against fore-and-aft displacement. A stabilizing clip at the rear of the module securely receives the lower, rear edge of the adapter plate, and an over-center toggle latch securely retains the plate within the stabilizing clip to complete the solid yet readily removable attachment of the meter to the opener. A chain drive assembly for the meter is permanently installed on the opener so as to not be removed therefrom during interchanging of the meters.

Abstract: A standardized receiver for bulk materials containers such as seeds for the quick and efficient loading of seed into a planter with bulk handling capability. Delivery mechanism associated with the receiver is disposed to accept materials discharged from the container after it has been placed on the planter frame and to transport such materials to the opener rows. A manifold of the mechanism is fitted with output pipe fixtures for the discharge of the seed to individual rows via flexible hose. The inlet of the manifold is on the top surface of the structure and aligned with the slidegate opening of the shipping container. Air pressure is created within the manifold by a fan assembly. Airflow exiting the manifold carries seed through the pipe fittings, into the hoses and on to the planter rows. The receiver mounts to the planter frame above the mechanism. The receiver conforms to the general dimensions of the bottom of a shipping container.

Abstract: A multiple section, front-folding implement has gauge wheel assemblies located on the front side of laterally extending beams of the sections during field operations. As the wing sections are folded forwardly to prepare the machine for transport, the gauge wheel assemblies are simultaneously swung around to the ends of the beams into outboard positions so that they extend generally forwardly from the beams when the beams are fully folded. Thus, instead of taking up space between the folded beams, the gauge wheel assemblies are moved into clearance positions that enable the wing sections to be folded more closely together, reducing the overall roading width of the machine when folded.

Abstract: A subsoil applicator has an upright shank provided with a leading soil-slicing edge and a pair of opposite sides. At the bottom of the shank, a pair of soil lifting wings are provided, presenting a pair of outermost wing edges that diverge rearwardly from the lowermost and forwardmost point of the shank to the rear extremity of the applicator. The wings are generally relatively thin and flat except for a thickened portion across their rear extremity making an upright, rearwardly facing rear wall. A pair of laterally spaced discharge outlets are located in the rear wall and communicate with an internal tubular passage within the shank for delivering substance down into the soil behind the wall as the applicator advances through the soil. The discharge outlets are located in undercut portions of the rear wall, while top, upwardly facing surfaces of the thickened portion are convexly curved to improve soil flow and provide extra protection against premature wear for the internal substance passageways.

Abstract: Seeding apparatus has an opener mounted on the main frame in such a manner that the driven sprocket of a seed metering device on the opener moves slightly toward and away from the axis of the drive sprocket on the main frame as the opener moves up and down relative to the frame during changes in ground contour. To prevent the driving tight stretch of the drive chain between the drive sprocket and driven sprocket from undergoing significant length change during such movement of the opener relative to the frame, the tight stretch is trained around intermediate guide structure in such a manner that the different portions of the tight stretch thus defined all stay substantially constant in length at all times. An arrangement for use with a parallel linkage mounting of the opener has guides on the main frame and the opener that keep the chain portion spanning the frame and opener substantially parallel to the links of the linkage and of substantially the same length as such links.

Abstract: A tree saw attachment (10) for use with a loader vehicle includes a base frame (11), a generally V-shaped blade assembly (12), a brush guard (13), and a tweezer arm assembly (14). A swingable tweezer arm (29) of the tweezer arm assembly is movable using a hydraulic cylinder (33) to grasp objects against an upper surface of the base frame or the blade assembly. The brush guard and tweezer arm assembly are removable from the base frame as a single unit to facilitate shipping and assembly. A sprayer assembly (90) is positioned within the base frame for applying a herbicide to tree stumps cut by the V-shaped blade assembly. The blade assembly can be a single integral blade (42), or can be formed of right and left blades (70, 71) with intermeshing projections (73, 74) secured to a rib member (36) along a centerline of the blade assembly.