Abstract: A debris gathering and pickup tool for use in gathering, grasping, lifting, and disposing of debris present upon a ground surface of a selected area. The gathering and pickup tool includes a gathering portion and a grasping portion. The gathering portion includes a flattened gathering head, an elongated handle, and a coupling arrangement for coupling the gathering head to the elongated handle at a pre-selected downward angle. Similarly, the grasping portion may include a flattened grasping member, a user operated grasping sleeve, and a second coupling arrangement establishing a downward angle between the grasping member and the grasping sleeve. The gathering portion is further structured for being slidably coupled to the gathering portion, such that the user may selectively move the grasping portion between a retracted position and a grasping position, as needed for cleanup activities.

Abstract: For transportability, wide machinery such as disk and cycle-bar mowers are often detached from the tractor on which they are used, and loaded onto a truck or trailer. A new method is to make these wide machines retractable such that their width is no wider than allowed for transport on public roads, yet extendable to increase the efficiency of the time and horsepower used to accomplish the intended task, such as mowing. To permit the extension and retraction of a machine such as a mower, a tool-bar is mounted parallel to the tractor's axles. It is stationary with respect to the tractor. A sliding tool-bar is mounted next to and parallel with the stationary tool-bar. A hydraulic cylinder, affixed to the stationary tool bar and the sliding tool-bar, causes the sliding tool-bar to slide in a direction parallel with the stationary tool-bar. The machine is affixed to the sliding tool-bar, so it can be extended and retracted with the sliding toolbar.

Abstract: An agricultural harvesting machine is includes a first gathering element (14) adapted to be driven by a first drive mechanism (161) so as to gather crop and to feed the crop in a direction substantially opposite to a direction of motion of the harvesting machine. A second gathering element (16) is adapted to receive the crop from the first gathering element (14) and is further adapted to be driven so as to transfer the crop in a direction substantially transverse to the direction of motion. Intake elements (20, 21, 26, 27) are adapted to receive the crop from the second gathering element (16). The second gathering element (16) and intake elements (20, 21, 26, 27) are adapted to be driven at related rates. The first gathering element (14) is driveable at a rate independent from a driven rate of the second gathering element (16) and the intake elements (20, 21, 26, 27).

Abstract: An adjustable baffle assembly that can be moveably coupled to a front flow control baffle of a lawnmower cutting deck. The adjustable baffle assembly includes a first wall that is securable to the front flow control baffle in at least a first position and a second position. In some embodiments, the adjustable baffle also includes at least one flange that extends generally rearwardly from a bottom edge of the first wall into a generally triangularly shaped space defined between adjacent cutting circles.

Abstract: Providing a longitudinal U-shaped rake head attached to a pole by a connector. The rake head, in relation to the pole, has multiple upwardly curved fingers spaced apart by a groove. Each finger has a split end with a slot separating pointed ends of each finger. The rake head is pulled towards a person holding the pole along a screen surface imbedded with pine needles. The pulling motion removes the pine needles from the screen and impales them on the rake head.

Abstract: A tree cutting attachment for a skid loader or other types of self-propelled work vehicles to be used at construction and landscaping sites. The device is used to cut down brush and trees of up to 8-10 inches in diameter. The tree cutting attachment is made up of a motor driven rotor assembly which is journaled within the frame of the attachment. The rotor assembly comprises a cage-like mounting system having pockets in which tempered steel blades, approximately 6 inches in width are bolted in a side-by-side relation. Two rows of blades are mounted 180 degrees apart proximate the periphery of a rotor comprised of a series of parallel, generally circular plates that are welded to longitudinally extending rods. The knife blade elements are bolted to the blade holders with the non-sharpened end of the blade elements abutting a flat steel bar that forms part of the cage.

Abstract: Systems and methods for harvesting fresh produce using a produce harvesting apparatus wherein the method includes trimming the fresh produce and placing the trimmed produce into a container. The container is placed onto a transport device located on the produce harvesting apparatus. The container is then transported on the transport device to a wash station and it is washed at the wash station. The container may be shaken during transport after the wash station.

Abstract: A self-propelled forage harvester includes an overload clutch inserted into the driveline of a crop conveying element of crop pick-up arrangement of the harvesting machine. The overload clutch generates acoustic and/or mechanical vibrations when a defined torque is exceeded, and a knock sensor is provided for sensing when the overload clutch is operating in an overloaded condition. The knock sensor sends a signal to a control arrangement including a signal processor which recognizes a vibration pattern representative of an overload, and in response to such a pattern, sends a control signal for shutting off the drive to various driven components of the harvester.

Abstract: A position control for a crop pickup device which is mounted for vertical movement relative to an agricultural harvester. A measuring device is provided for determining the distance from the crop pickup device to the ground, wherein the position of the crop pickup device relative to the ground is adjustable by one control device as a function of the measured ground distance. The distance to the ground is determined by the measuring device at two points spaced from each other in the direction of travel. As a result, advantageously the inclination of the ground can be determined and used for optimized control of ground simulation of the crop pickup device. Additionally, the cutting angle can be adapted automatically to the slope of the ground, to avoid crop losses and impede damage to the grain header.

Abstract: A lawn mower comprises an articulating mowing deck and a caster wheel assembly for supporting and facilitating travel of the mowing deck. The articulating mowing deck includes an inboard deck portion and an outboard deck wing portion. The inboard deck portion and outboard deck wing portion each have at least one cutting blade. The outboard deck wing portion is pivotally attached to the inboard deck portion in a manner so that the outboard deck wing portion is pivotable about a horizontally disposed deck wing pivot axis. The axis extends generally from a forward portion of the articulating mowing deck toward a rear portion of the articulating mowing deck. The outboard deck wing portion is pivotable about the axis between a cutting position and a transport position. When the outboard deck wing portion is in its cutting position, an outboard cutting blade rotates in a plane that is generally parallel to terrain over which the outboard deck wing portion travels.

Abstract: A cutting implement which includes a baffle for directing the flow of air and vegetation caused by the rotation of cutting blades of the implement. The baffle serves to intercept the flows of air and vegetation of adjacent chambers to accelerate the discharge of cut material. Further, the baffle directs cut material above the cutting plane of the blade to permit the blade to raise and cut vegetation in its path when that vegetation has previously been matted down by at least one of the tires on the tractor on which it is carried.

Abstract: A delineator pole (10) and a mower attachment (100) for turning the delineator pole is described. The delineator pole includes a top portion (10A), a center portion (10C) and a bottom portion (10B) and is intended to be rotatably mounted in the ground (50) adjacent a road. The mower attachment is mounted on the mowing vehicle (150). The mowing attachment includes a bracket (102) and a bumper (110) connected to the bracket by first, second and third connector rods (104, 106 and 108). The connector rods are flexible and resilient such that when the bumper contacts the delineator pole to rotate the delineator pole, the connector rods flex to enable the bumper to turn the delineator pole.

Abstract: A floating harvesting header apparatus comprises a float pan pivotally attached at a front end thereof to the header at a front attachment location in proximity to the crop intake. The float pan extends rearward under the header and a pan actuator is attached to the float pan to selectively move the float pan up and down and maintain the float pan in a selected vertical position relative to the header such that the header can slide along the ground on the float pan. The header can float up and down independently with only a portion of the header's weight carried on the float pan. The float pan curves down from the front and then curves upward towards the rear such that when the rear end of the float pan is raised the crop intake moves lower and the contact area between the float pan and the ground moves toward the crop intake.

Abstract: A lawn mower includes a grass discharge passage extending rearward from a housing 11. A grass receptacle is removably mounted to the discharge passage via a receptacle mounted portion. A shutter is provided at a passage opening of the grass discharge passage facing the housing. The shutter is rotatably provided within the housing to adjust the degree of opening of the passage opening. The lawn mower is switched between a bagging mode, a mulching mode and an intermediate mode by the opening control with the shutter.

Abstract: A mechanism for attaching a harvesting assembly to a combine having a multicoupler which connects hydraulic lines on the combine with hydraulic lines on the harvesting assembly as two halves of the multicoupler are brought together, and a latching mechanism which mechanically couples the harvesting assembly to the combine, the latching mechanism being operatively connected with the multicoupler to shift between latched and unlatched modes as the multicoupler is shifted between connected and unconnected modes.

Abstract: A distribution device for straw chopper comprising a guide arrangement, a motor for the positioning the guide arrangement and a control arrangement for controlling the motor. At least one position input device is coupled to the control arrangement. The control arrangement can be operated selectively in a first operating mode and a second operating mode. The first operating mode is activated by the actuation of the position input device for a time interval less than a predetermined threshold value, and the second operating mode is activated by the actuation of the position input device for a time interval greater than the predetermined threshold value. In the first operating mode the guide arrangement is brought into a predetermined position and in the second operating mode the guide arrangement is moved as long as the position input device is actuated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selectively harvesting multiple components of a plant material. A grain component is separated from the plant material such as by processing the plant material through a primary threshing and separating mechanism. At least one additional component of the plant material is selectively harvested such as by subjecting the plant material to a secondary threshing and separating mechanism. For example, the stems of a plant material may be broken at a location adjacent one or more nodes thereof with the nodes and the internodal stem portions being subsequently separated for harvesting. The at least one additional component (e.g., the internodal stems) may then be consolidated and packaged for subsequent use or processing. The harvesting of the grain and of the at least one additional component may occur within a single harvesting machine, for example, during a single pass over a crop field.

Abstract: An all-electric riding greens mower includes a frame which is supported for movement upon a plurality of ground engaging wheels and upon which are supported a modularly interchangeable power source and a plurality of reel lawn mowers. An electric motor provides driving torque to enable movement of the mower between and over golf course greens or other surfaces to be mowed, electric motors provide driving torque for each of the reel lawn mowers. The interchangeable power source provides electrical energy for driving the electric motors, including the primary mover and the electrical motors for the reel type lawn mowers. The modularly interchangeable power sources may comprise a bank of batteries, a motor/generator set, a fuel cell, or a combination of these. The power source may be easily exchanged in the field for another, freshly charged power source. Exchange occurs using either a fixed change stand or a mobile change stand.

Abstract: Harvesting machine reaping systems with crop lifters have a bed plate (1) with projecting reaping fingers (2). A support bar (5) has a first end (8) and a second end (9). The first end (8) attaches on the bed plate (1). The second end (9) of the support bar (5) is connected to a grain lifter (10). A holder (11) is attached on the support bar (5) between the first end (8) and the second end (9). A retainer, for example a pin (17) and pairs of bores, are arranged on the holder (11). The bores are distanced to the support bar (5). The pin (17) is insertable into the bores of one of the pairs of bores. The holder (11), together with the retainer (17), are arranged to form a free motion gap. Thus, the support bar can approach the reaping finger (2) or its tip (16). The support bar (5) is rigidly formed, with respect to flexure, in the area between the second end (9) and the holder (11). The support bar (5) is elastically formed, with respect to flexure, in the area between the holder (11) and the first end (8).

Abstract: A kit for modifying the bat drive assembly of a combine having a header ahead of a crop feed auger, the header having a cutter bar at its leading edge, and a bat reel assembly comprising a reel and a plurality of bats that rotate above and in front of the header and cutter bar to move crop into the cutter bar and cut crop into the auger. The existing bat drive assembly is removed and replaced with a bat drive assembly which rotates each of the bats from the essentially vertical at rest position up to 360 degrees in a clockwise rotation and up to 360 degrees in a counterclockwise rotation at any position of the bat reel to control each individual bat to clean the bats of cut crop and to give each bat clean crop entry and clean crop exit as desired.