Abstract: A method and an apparatus are disclosed for the harvesting of corn or other granular fruits, particularly embodied as a front-mounted unit for a reaper, in which the plant stems are drawn through a picking aperture and a separation of the fruit from the plant is characterized in that the plant is grasped only on one side and is drawn through the picking aperture.

Abstract: A round hay baler includes a forward pick-up assembly and hold down tines for gathering and introducing a layer of material into the baler. The hold down assembly includes fluid discharge tines extending from a hollow manifold connected to a reservoir that contains preservatives, nutrients or biological inhibitors, for example, which are added to the inside of the layer forming the round hay bale.

Abstract: A mobile agricultural harvester has a crop header connected to the harvester main frame for vertical swinging movement by a pair of pivot collars held against a pair of upright posts by releasable fasteners.

Abstract: An attachment to a conventional rake having a grasping head pivotally attached to a link which is pivotally attached to the rake head such that an operable clamp is formed, the grasping head being operated by a lever attached to the rake's handle. The pivotal link separates the upper portions of the two heads such that the capacity of the "grasp" is greater than that of conventional rakes with grasping apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a control system for automatically controlling the height of a header on a combine. The combine header includes a cutter bar which is adapted to float upwardly and downwardly in response to variations in the terrain. A linkage interconnects the cutter bar with a movable cam and a microswitch so that the microswitch is actuated in response to upward and downward movement of the cutter bar. The microswitch is connected to solenoids within a hydraulic valve and the hydraulic valve is connected in the hydraulic system with the hydraulic cylinder for raising and lowering the header. When the cutter bar lifts upwardly the microswitches are moved to a condition wherein they cause the valve to actuate the hydraulic cylinder for lifting the header. Similarly when the cutter bar moves downwardly the hydraulic cylinder is actuated to lower the header. When the cutter bar is in a neutral position, the hydraulic cylinder remains motionless.

Abstract: An improved crop divider assembly (14) for crop harvesting equipment is disclosed. A preferred embodiment of the invention is a combine attachment (12) for operative engagement with a combine (10). The combine attachment (12) includes a plurality of crop divider assemblies (14) that form a plurality of slots which guide the crop into the combine (10) as the combine (10) progresses through the field. The widths of crop divider assemblies (14) are adjustable, thereby making the widths of the slots adjustable. Each of the crop divider assemblies (14) also preferably includes a hingedly-connected snout (16). Each snout (16) is vertically adjustable to permit adjustment of the minimum included angle (31) formed by a pan longitudinal axis (30) and snout longitudinal axis (32). Each snout preferably includes a shoe (18) at its forward end, the shoes (18) upwardly deflecting the snouts (16) if uneven soil, for example, is encountered during the forward progression of the combine (10).

Abstract: Cane-berry harvesting apparatus transportable relative to a generally vertically disposed row of vines. Beaters are pivotally mounted on a harvester frame for swinging in arcs toward and away from a vine-receiving zone disposed within the frame. A reciprocating driver, mounted for selectable position adjustment on the frame, is connected to the beater for reciprocatively swinging the latter in a known arc in the zone. Means are included for selectively adjusting the position of the drive means relative to the frame in a manner varying the position of the beater arc within the zone. Opposing sets of beaters may be disposed in the vine-receiving zone for reciprocating in arcs which are disposed in mirror-image relationship relative to the vertical plane of the vine-receiving zone. These beaters are adjustable by adjusting the driver relative to the frame for adjusting the distance between the corresponding opposing arcs.

Abstract: A control lever assembly for a self-propelled lawn mower including a first control lever for selectively connecting and disconnecting a first clutch operatively coupled between a prime mover and wheels, a second control lever for selectively connecting and disconnecting a second clutch operatively coupled between the prime mover and a grass-cutting blade, and an engagement element mounted on the second control lever and engageable with the first control lever to cause the second control lever to be moved in a direction to connect the second clutch when the first control lever is moved in a direction to connect the first clutch. The control lever assembly also includes a mechanism for moving the engagement element between an operative position in which the engagement element is engageable with the first control lever and an inoperative position in which the engagement element is held out of engagement with the first control lever.

Abstract: Corn shelling apparatus having a supporting frame and a receiving hopper mounted on its upper part, beneath the hopper there being at least one shelling unit made up of an inner drum and an outer counter-drum, the drum being fitted inside the counter-drum, and having a fan and chute for removing the impurities, the stripped corn cobs, and the kernels. The drum is cylindrical, the counter-drum is frusto-conical and has its larger diameter turned upwardly toward the receiving hopper; the axes of the drum and counter-drum are vertical, and the peripheral surfaces of the drum and counter-drum are made of rods. The rods of the drum are disposed parallel and skewed with respect to vertical axial sections of the drum, and the rods of the counter-drum are disposed along the generant of a cone. The apparatus has an inclined kernel-collecting plane member enveloping the counter-drum upon the supporting frame of the apparatus.

Abstract: A device for mowing crop comprising a cutting member to be rotated about an upwardly extending rotary axis and supporting at least one upwardly extending pin located near the outer circumference of the cutting member, said pin being guarded in the cutting member with the aid of a pin-engaging end of a spring, while a cutting knife is freely rotatable about said pin whereby the end of the spring engaging the pin is slidably arranged in a recess in the pin, whereas the end of the spring remote from the pin is guarded against shifting transversely of the longititudinal axis of the pin with the aid of parts of the cutting member at least partly surrounding the end concerned and being loosely in engagement with the spring.

Abstract: An item of jewelry such as a cuff link which is provided with a self-locking holder in order to provide absolute security and assurance that the holder will not permit the item of jewelry to come loose and fall. The self-locking holder for an item of jewelry comprising: a U-shaped stem for holding the item of jewelry; a pin extending across the opening between the side members of the stem; a slidably and rotatably locking member mounted on the pin; and a spring for biasing the locking member toward one side member for locking the locking member in place.

Abstract: An improved rotary, power lawn mower sharpener is disclosed which includes a base member having a lever pivotally mounted thereon for horizontal motion and having a handle for actuating the lever. The sharpener further includes a wedge having a horizontal, planar, bottom surface for sliding engagement with the upper surface of the base, and having an inclined, planar, upper surface, the wedge connected by means of a link element to the lever, the lever acting to displace the wedge in a horizontal direction. A tray member is pivotally mounted by means of a horizontal pivot, the tray having a planar, bottom surface adapted for sliding engagement with the inclined, upper surface of the wedge when the wedge is moved horizontally by the lever. A grinding stone is mounted in the tray, having an upper, planar grinding surface which is raised when the wedge moves inwardly beneath the tray and which is lowered when the wedge is moved outwardly from beneath the tray.

Abstract: A row crop harvester guidance system control circuit comprises a control valve for actuating a hydraulic cylinder connected to the tongue of a pull type harvester responsive either to first and second row crop sensing units mounted on opposite sides of a crop receiving passageway of the harvester or to a manual override switch. The row crop sensing units operate respectively a pair of sensor switches connected in circuit with the control valve. To prevent simultaneous generation of signals by both of the sensor switches, a pair of relays are connected in circuit with the sensor switches and the control valve. The manual override switch is connected in circuit with the relays and generates a control signal for operation of the hydraulic cylinder. The control signal has priority over any contradictory signal generated automatically by either of the sensor switches.

Abstract: An axial flow combine harvester is disclosed wherein the threshing rotors are provided with segmented rasp bars staggered around the circumference of the rotors and spiralled with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotors. Each rasp bar segment is circumferentially offset approximately 60 degrees relative to each other to spread the threshing forces around the circumference of the threshing rotor, minimizing variations in threshing forces and increasing the life of related components.

Abstract: A leaf and lawn debris lift and bagger apparatus comprising a wheeled container having a debris scooper assembly pivotally secured to the outer periphery thereof, the scooper assembly being movable between a collapsed storage position against the outer periphery of the container to a scooping position adjacent the surface of the lawn or the like wherein debris has accumulated. The debris may be swept into the interior of the extended scooper assembly, and the scooper assembly may be pivoted to a discharge position whereby the debris contained therein may fall by gravity into the interior of the container.

Abstract: A boom assembly (B) is pivotally connected at one end with a prime mower (A) and at a second end with a mowing apparatus (C). An orientation control (D) controls the orientation of the mowing apparatus relative to the boom assembly such that the mowing apparatus can mow vegetation on vertical, sloping, or level areas with the boom positioned with varying degrees of extension. The orientation control (D) includes a hydraulic cylinder (60) which is pivotally connected at one end with the boom assembly and at its other end with a linkage assembly (62). The linkage assembly includes a first link (64) which is pivotally connected with the boom assembly and a second link (68) which is pivotally connected with the mowing apparatus and the first link. The linkage assembly converts the longitudinal extensive and contractive movement of the hydraulic cylinder into substantially 180.degree. of relative rotational movement between the mowing apparatus and the boom assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus primarily adapted for removing cranberries from vines in a flooded bog bed includes a self-propelled, wheeled chassis and at least a pair of forwardly mounted, transversely extending reel assemblies. Each reel assembly includes a support frame having a base portion and a pair of arms. A reel is rotatably supported on the arms of the support frame. The reel includes an elongated shaft and a plurality of spaced discs interconnected by rods. A trunnion drive motor is secured to one of the arms and is directly coupled to the shaft to rotate the reel during harvesting operations. The base portion of the frame is pivotally secured to a spindle support arm at a free end thereof. The opposite end of the spindle support arm is pivoted to the wheeled chassis. The reels may pivot about an axis transverse to the base portion of the frame and move vertically to conform to the bog bed.

Abstract: Apparatus is presented for slicing a large round bale into two or more parts prior to discharge from the baler. Slicing is accomplished by inserting a knife blade into the bale-forming chamber during or subsequent to the tying-off event while the bale rotates. The cutting means is inserted into the sidewalls of the baler and into the baling chamber. As the bale is rotated, the cutting means cuts the bale. Typically, a ring and core are formed. The preferred configurations of the core are cylinders or conical structures.

Abstract: An automatic control varies the ground speed of a combine due to changing field conditions, based on engine speed and combine feeder conveyor load variables.

Abstract: A safe has a generally cylindrical chamber having at one end an access opening in which a closure can be located. Peripheral grooves around the closure and the access opening are aligned when the closure is in position. A sliding bolt in the closure can displace a ring which is captive in one of the grooves to an eccentric position relative to the opening, in which position the ring engages both of the grooves around approximately half of their peripheries to lock the closure in the opening.