Abstract: An apparatus includes a tongue, a pivotable beam linked to the tongue, a cylinder configured to move the pivotable beam from an operating position to a transport position, which is narrower than the operating position, and a latchable member connected to the pivotable beam. A locking assembly includes first and second dogs which can receive the latchable member. The second dog can move relative to the first dog from an open position to a closed position in response to movement of the latchable member such that movement of the latchable member out of the second dog opening is blocked by the first dog while the second dog is in the closed position. The apparatus includes a locking member that moves in response to movement of the cylinder from an unlocked to a locked position to lock the dogs in the closed position.

Abstract: A rake apparatus includes a tongue with a hitch, front rake arm positioners each pivotally connected to a forward portion of the tongue assembly, rear rake arm positioners pivotally connected to a rear portion of the tongue assembly, and rake arm assemblies including a rake arm assembly front end and a rake arm assembly back end. The rake arm assemblies are pivotally connected to one of the front rake arm positioners and one of the rear rake arm positioners. Distances between the rake arm assembly front ends and the tongue are greater when the rake arm assemblies are in an operating position than when they are in a traveling position. The rake arm assembly back end of each of the rake arm assemblies is positioned farther in the forward direction when the rake arm assemblies are in the operating position than when the rake arm assemblies are in the traveling position.

Abstract: A conveyor assembly including a first conveyor frame configured to move along a path relative to a mounting frame and including a conveyor belt. The conveyor assembly further includes a second conveyor frame, connected to the first conveyor frame via a pivot, and configured to automatically rotate to change an angle between the first conveyor frame and the second conveyor frame in response to movement of the first conveyor frame relative to the mounting frame.

Abstract: A carted hay rake is disclosed for raking cut crops into a windrow. The hay rake can include a wheeled cart, rake arms, and tine rake wheels. The rake arms are attached to a rake arm pivot, and can be extendable to a horizontal working position and retractable to a transport position. A positioning arm is utilized to change the angle of the rake arm between the working and transport position. An assist spring can help neutralize the weight of the rake arm while in the working position. The assist spring can be positioned horizontally.

Abstract: A vertical feed mixer apparatus has a container for the reception of feed. The container includes a floor, a wall extending away from the floor such that the wall is disposed above the floor. The wall has a top opening disposed remotely from the floor to define an enclosure for feed received through the top opening. The container has a discharge opening in the wall adjacent to the floor. There is at least one auger disposed within the enclosure. The auger includes an auger core with an axis of rotation extending substantially vertically through the floor. The auger has a helical flighting secured to and disposed around the auger core. The auger has at least one swept kicker secured to the auger core or flighting, disposed adjacent to the floor, and configured to discharge the feed through the discharge opening.

Abstract: A knife assembly includes a knife plate with a leading edge, and a cutting element cemented to the leading edge via a brazing process. The knife plate is heat-treated after the cutting element is cemented to the leading edge so as to form a heat-treatment area on the leading edge. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing a knife assembly including, forming a leading edge on a side of a knife plate, forming a slot in the leading edge, inserting, into the slot, an insert, brazing the insert to the knife plate after the insert is inserted into the slot, and heat-treating at least a portion of the knife plate after the brazing.

Abstract: A carted hay rake is disclosed for raking cut crops into a windrow. The hay rake can include a wheeled cart, rake arms, and tine rake wheels. The rake arms are attached to a rake arm pivot, and can be extendable to a horizontal working position and retractable to a transport position. A positioning arm is utilized to change the angle of the rake arm between the working and transport position. An assist spring can help neutralize the weight of the rake arm while in the working position. The assist spring can be positioned horizontally.

Abstract: A mixing apparatus is disclosed for mixing and discharging livestock feed. The mixer includes a container for the reception of feed, with a floor and a wall extending away from the floor such that substantially all of the wall is disposed above the floor. The wall and floor define an enclosure for the feed received through the top opening. An auger is disposed within the enclosure, and the auger has an axis of rotation extending substantially vertically through the floor. The wall also includes a first side and a second side positioned on opposing sides of the enclosure, each of the sides being disposed at dissimilar angles relative to the floor. An undercarriage includes a hitch which is offset from the centerline of the floor in the direction of travel.

Abstract: A soft start clutch system and method of implementing a soft start clutch system including a soft start clutch configured to drivingly connect to a machinery drive input to an engine transmission, including a transmission PTO attached to the transmission and drivingly connected to the soft start clutch, and a control circuit configured to engage the soft start clutch at a first rate and configured to disengage the soft start clutch at a second rate which is different than the first rate.

Abstract: A mixing apparatus is disclosed for mixing and discharging livestock feed. The mixer includes a container for the reception of feed, with a floor, and a wall extending away from the floor such that substantially all of the wall is disposed above the floor. The wall and floor define an enclosure for the feed received through the top opening. An auger is disposed within the enclosure, and the auger has an axis of rotation extending substantially vertically through the floor. The auger also includes an upper core which is not concentric with the axis of rotation, so that the flighting and attached knives are closer to the enclosure during one portion of the auger rotation.

Abstract: A vertical mixer is disclosed for mixing feed materials and the like. The apparatus includes at least two augers which rotate around two respective vertical axes. The augers are dissimilar relative to each other, providing an improved mixing performance. The dissimilarity can include, but is not limited to, direction of rotation and size.

Abstract: A mixing apparatus is disclosed for mixing and discharging livestock feed. The mixer includes a container for the reception of feed, with a floor, and a wall extending away from the floor such that substantially all of the wall is disposed above the floor. The wall and floor define an enclosure for the feed received through the top opening. An auger is disposed within the enclosure, and the auger has an axis of rotation extending substantially vertically through the floor. The auger also includes an upper core which is not concentric with the axis of rotation, so that the flighting and attached knives are closer to the enclosure during one portion of the auger rotation.

Abstract: A vertical mixer is disclosed for mixing feed materials and the like. The apparatus includes at least two augers which rotate around two respective vertical axes. The augers are dissimilar relative to each other, providing an improved mixing performance. The dissimilarity can include, but is not limited to, direction of rotation and size.

Abstract: A mixing apparatus is disclosed for mixing and discharging livestock feed. The mixer includes a container for the reception of feed, with a floor and a wall extending away from the floor such that substantially all of the wall is disposed above the floor. The wall and floor define an enclosure for the feed received through the top opening. An auger is disposed within the enclosure, and the auger has an axis of rotation extending substantially vertically through the floor. The wall also includes a first side and a second side positioned on opposing sides of the enclosure, each of the sides being disposed at dissimilar angles relative to the floor. An undercarriage includes a hitch which is offset from the centerline of the floor in the direction of travel.

Abstract: An auger for vertical mixers includes a forward angled leading edge. The leading edge includes an inner portion, which may or may not be aligned with a radial line extending from the axis of rotation of the auger. The leading edge also includes an outer portion adjacent to the inner portion, which is angled forward of the radial line and extends forward of the inner portion.

Abstract: A vertical mixer is disclosed for mixing feed materials and the like. The apparatus includes at least two augers which rotate around two respective vertical axes. The augers are dissimilar relative to each other, providing an improved mixing performance. The dissimilarity can include, but is not limited to, direction of rotation and size.

Abstract: A vertical mixer is disclosed for mixing feed materials and the like. The apparatus includes at least two augers which rotate around two respective vertical axes. The augers are dissimilar relative to each other, providing an improved mixing performance. The dissimilarity can include, but is not limited to, direction of rotation and size.

Abstract: An auger for vertical mixers includes a forward angled leading edge. The leading edge includes an inner portion, which may or may not be aligned with a radial line extending from the axis of rotation of the auger. The leading edge also includes an outer portion adjacent to the inner portion, which is angled forward of the radial line and extends forward of the inner portion.

Abstract: A mixer apparatus for mixing materials such as feed is disclosed. The apparatus includes a container for the reception therein of the materials. The container has a base and a wall extending away from the base, the wall defining an opening disposed remote from the base for the reception therethrough of the materials. The arrangement is such that the base and the wall define therebetween an enclosure for the materials received through the opening. An auger is rotatably disposed within the enclosure, the auger having an axis of rotation extending through the base. A driven wheel is drivingly connected to the auger, the driven wheel being disposed on an opposite side of the base relative to the auger. A drive connected to a main source of power, the drive being drivingly connected to the driven wheel so that when the drive rotates, the auger is rotated within the enclosure for mixing the materials.