Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are described for efficient harvesting of fruit or nuts. A two-piece harvester is disclosed that mitigates damage to fruits or nuts deposited on the ground after harvesting from the tree. The two-piece harvester may include a shaker configured to shake a tree and cause the fruits or nuts to fall and a receiver configured to collect the fallen fruits or nuts and deposit the fruits or nuts on the ground or in bins. The shaker and the receiver may each include cabs that are configured to be positioned in a plurality of different positions. The shaker may include a wheel that is extendible between a retract position and an extended position. The receiver may include chute that is configured to deposit the fruits or nuts in different locations based on the direction of travel of the receiver.

Abstract: A produce catcher is provided that includes a support frame having a support member, a first extending arm and a second extending arm. The first extending arm is substantially parallel to and extendible from the support member, and the second extending arm is substantially parallel to and extendible from the support member. The first extending arm extends in a direction substantially opposite from the extension of the first extending member. A first tarp pole pivotally attaches to the first extending member and a second tarp pole is affixed to the support member. A third tarp pole pivotally attaches to the second extending member, and a fourth tarp pole is also affixed to the support member. The second tarp pole and the fourth tarp pole are spaced apart from one another at a distance sufficient to allow the positioning of a trunk of a tree between the second tarp pole and the fourth tarp pole. A first tarp is adapted to be suspended between the first tarp pole and the second tarp pole.

Abstract: A system for injecting a fluid spray into a wind machine-generated airstream is provided. The system includes a wind machine that is rotatably mounted upon a central tower. The wind machine is a conventional type, generating the air stream by the rotation of a propeller. The air stream can be directed toward a target, such as an orchard, vineyard or crop for cooling, humidifying, heating or the dispersal of agricultural chemicals. The present invention can be utilized for dust control. A nozzle array is mounted proximate to and preferably onto the wind machine, downstream of the air flow. The nozzle array includes at least a nozzle wand with a base end and a nozzle end. The base end attaches to the wind machine and each nozzle end has a nozzle. The nozzle injects the fluid into the air stream, behind and away from the rear of the wind machine. A rotatable manifold distributes the fluid to the nozzle array through the fluid outlet. The manifold is ring shaped and circumferentially mounted on the central tower.

Abstract: A heater apparatus for a wind machine and particularly for heating a wind stream generated by the wind machine, the wind machine rotatably mounted upon a central tower. The generated air stream can be directed toward a target such as an orchard, vineyard or crop. The wind machine rotates upon a pinion attached to the wind machine. The pinion rotates within a housing, and the housing is immovably mounted to the central tower. The housing includes a pinion cavity, which receives the pinion. The pinion is rotatable within the housing, and the pinion is co-rotatable with the wind machine about a common axis of rotation upon the central tower. A manifold is formed within the pinion cavity, between the pinion and the housing and is further bounded by an upper seal and a lower seal. A fuel is receivable into the manifold, the fuel conducted into the manifold through a housing port. The housing port penetrates through the housing and is open to the manifold. The housing port conducts the fuel into the manifold.

Abstract: A tree shaker pad for each of the clamping jaws of a nut or fruit tree shaker. The tree shaker pad includes a hollow pillow of cylindrical or oval shaped cross-sectional configuration of resilient material with the pillow being substantially filled with a plurality of resilient members having void area or interstices therebetween. The pillow is provided with a water or other liquid coolant inlet at one end and a water or liquid coolant outlet adjacent the other end of circulation of water or liquid coolant through the pillow when the jaws of the tree shaker are in unclamped relation to the tree trunk. The resilient members, preferably rubber balls, are compressed when the jaws are in clamping relation to a tree trunk and will maintain a degree of flexibility and elasticity to provide better conformity of the pad with the tree trunk when the jaws are in clamped position.

Abstract: An oscillating blower that includes an air discharge for cyclically impinging high velocity air onto and into the canopy of a fruit or nut tree thereby providing a novel method for shaking the limbs of a tree and create the same shaking action as a tree shaker by oscillating the blower at a selected proper frequency. The oscillating blower not only shakes the limbs to remove the nuts or fruit but also dislodges the nuts or fruits by blowing them off the supporting stems. The oscillating blower also removes residual fruit or nuts that were not harvested during the normal harvesting operation such as when a conventional tree shaker is used for dislodging the fruit or nuts from the tree. The residual fruit or nuts left on the tree by a tree shaker frequently become infested with worms or other pests that may infest the fruit or nut tree and adversely affect the crop produced during the next growing season.

Abstract: A cooling and lubricating system incorporated into the jaws of a shaking head of a nut tree shaker in which water or a mixture of water and a lubricant is pumped from a supply reservoir through a control valve assembly into a supply line connected with a manifold bolted between the slings which support the shaker pad in each jaw for discharging water or a mixture of water and lubricant between the slings and onto the pad for cooling the slings and pads and lubricating the slings.

Abstract: A shaking head is slidably mounted on a carriage which extends perpendicular to a boom connected to a tractor. The shaking head is reciprocally mounted on the carriage so as to move towards and away from trees located along the side of the tractor. The carriage is secured to a hollow sleeve which is rotatably and removably mounted on a rod projecting from the boom section.

Abstract: A system is provided for introducing fluids into a wind stream. Such fluids may be used to cool the orchard during the late summer and early fall, to aid in prevention of frost damage during the spring, or to distribute agricultural chemicals. This invention ensures that the fluid is introduced into the wind stream in the most efficient manner, thus ensuring economical use of fluids and minimizing any detrimental environmental effects of their use. The fluid introduced into the wind stream is of such a fine character that the fluid is broken up into a mist which will carry over a great distance, such as a fog.