Abstract: A bucket tool comprising an edge 7 secured to the lower part of a bucket in a lateral direction, tooth-mounting fittings 8 secured to the edge 7 with an interval between the fittings in the lateral direction, excavation teeth 9 attachably/detachably mounted in the tooth-mounting fittings 8 and protruding forward beyond the edge 7, a ground-leveling plate 10 having a lateral width equal to the lateral width of the lower part of the bucket, and coupling fittings 11 secured to the upper surface of the ground-leveling plate 10 at an interval nearly equal to the interval between the tooth-mounting fittings 8 and capable of being detachably attached to the ends of the excavation teeth 9. Upon attaching or detaching the coupling fittings 11 secured to the upper surface of the ground-leveling plate 10 to, or from, the ends of the excavation teeth 9, the ground-leveling plate 10 can be easily attached to, or detached from, excavation teeth of a bucket for excavation.

Abstract: A device is secured to the deck of a multi-blade rotary mower at a location forwardly of the blades in relation to the direction the mower moves as vegetation in being cut. The device deflects the grass laterally into the cutting paths of the rotating blades.

Abstract: A weed trimmer transportation system is provided including an upper portion having a rigid substantially linear tube including a top end adapted for being coupled to a post of a weed trimmer. Also included is an intermediate portion having a pair of legs each having an inboard end coupled to a bottom end of the upper portion for defining a generally inverted V-shaped configuration. Next provided is a lower portion including an axle coupled to bottom ends of the legs of the intermediate portion and having a pair of wheels mounted thereon.

Abstract: A mowing apparatus with multiple articulating cutting decks includes a pair of side cutting decks attached to a center cutting deck. The side decks are pivotally attached to the center deck and pivot about axes which lie in the planes defined by rotation of the respective cutting blades. The cutting blades are driven by pulleys and belts. Proper tension in each side drive belt is maintained during pivoting of the corresponding side deck by an assembly comprising a pair of idler pulleys rotatably mounted on a pivotally attached pulley arm which is biased in the direction which increases tension on the belt.

Abstract: A two-row cane harvester 10 simultaneously harvests two rows of sugar cane in a green tropical cane field. A pair of topper mechanisms 54 top the cane stalks while base cutters 80 base cut the cane. Base cut cane is received base first into the harvester intake. The cane is cleaned in a whole stalk condition with a cleaning mechanism 92 that includes a plurality of rotating tines 100 moving in a direction to engage and force the cane leaves toward a base of the cane stalk, thereby efficiently stripping the cane leaves. An extractor blower 106 removes the leaves from the rotating tines and the cleaned cane. A stalk cutter mechanism 120, 122 may be adjusted to cut the cleaned cane stalks into selected billet lengths. Cane is preferably fed into the cutter mechanism at a speed greater than the ground speed of the harvester moving through the field. Another blower or fan may be used to remove remaining leaves from the billets.

Abstract: A machine for distributing ballast in a track bed comprises a machine frame supported on the track by undercarriages for mobility in an operating direction, a ballast plow adjustably mounted on the machine frame for distributing the ballast in the track bed, drives for adjusting the ballast plow relative to the machine frame, a contactless sensor arranged ahead of the ballast plow in the operating direction for detecting an existing track bed profile extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction, a position indicator for indicating a change in the position of the ballast plow relative to the machine frame, and a control for the drives comprising a memory storing a desired track bed profile.

Abstract: A gang mower for garden tractors includes a frame, a hitch and either three, five or seven reel-type mower units attached to the frame. The frame is attached below the forward wheel axis of each mower unit. In action, the frame leverages the forward drive wheels downward to turn the mower blades when the frame is pulled forward by a garden tractor.

Abstract: A durable rake specifically designed for grooming playing fields, such as baseball diamonds. The rake may be used to scarify, compact and smooth infield playing surfaces, such as base lines, pitcher's mounds and home plate areas. The rake includes a rigid, elongated grooming member having a flat bottom surface and opposed first and second longitudinal edges. At least the first longitudinal edge is bevelled. A plurality of T-shaped grooming tines are spaced along the length of the second longitudinal edge and project outwardly therefrom. The tines located at end portions of the grooming member project for a shorter distance than the remaining tines to prevent snagging. An elongated handle is securable to a top surface of the grooming member.

Abstract: A swivel flange seal joint assembly which includes a tube having an integral, enlarged ferrule and swivel flange is described. The ferrule is enlarged and includes oversized fastener openings configured to allow circumferential alignment between the swivel flange and openings in a mating surface. The assembly also includes a gasket having openings, and the gasket is positioned between the ferrule and the mating surface so that a seal is formed between when the fasteners which extend through the flange, ferrule, gasket and mating surface openings are tightened.

Abstract: A triangularly shaped frame having truncated and flattened vertices serves as a structural load-bearing member for an attachment to a yard tending device, such as a gas powered yard trimmer or leaf blower. A pair of support and maneuvering wheels is affixed to the frame. Affixed centrally to the frame, and rising generally vertically therefrom, is the first end portion of a lawn tending device support bar. At its first end portion, the support bar is of generally straight configuration. This straight portion serves to hold the lawn tending device at a sufficient elevation with respect to the ground. The straight portion of the support bar smoothly transitions to generally declining compound arcuate spanning portion. The spanning portion smoothly transitions to a generally declining straight second end portion. The second end is formed such that it comprises a cradle or channel running centrally and axially according to the length of the second end portion.

Abstract: An impeller blade for the rotor of an axial flow combine harvester is shaped such that an outer blade portion has a shape of the blade portion defining an inclined edge which joins a forward blade edge lying in a radial plane of the rotor at a first position spaced outwardly from the hub of the rotor and joins the outer blade edge at a second position spaced rearwardly of the first position, the inclined edge having at least a part thereof which is substantially straight and parallel to an inner blade edge so as to be inclined at an angle to the outer blade edge and extend outwardly and rearwardly from the first position to the second position such that the radial distance of the second position from the axis is greater than that of the first position. This reduces the length of the forward edge to 50% to 75% of its conventional length and acts to overcome a long standing feeding problem of this type of rotor in some crops.

Abstract: A crop harvesting header includes a wide cutter for severing crop across a relatively large cutting width, and framework defining a discharge opening spaced rearwardly from the cutter. The discharge opening has a width that is less than the cutting width such that crop severed laterally outboard of the discharge opening by the cutter must be conveyed inwardly before passing through the opening. At least one laterally extending, rotatable auger is located between the cutter and discharge opening for converging severed crop centrally from the areas located laterally outboard of the discharge opening and to project the crop through the opening when rotated. The header includes an auger support for rotatably supporting the auger between its opposite ends on the header framework so that the auger is capable of spanning the long distance corresponding to the large cutting width defined by the sickle bar.

Abstract: A bedknife adjustment device includes a double legged bracket which supports a threaded rod, and a compression spring abuts one leg of the bracket for removing play from the linkage at both ends of the threaded rod. A nut positioned between the legs of the bracket can be tightened on the threaded rod for further compressing the compression spring to thereby remove the force of the spring from the linkage to allow the linkage to be easily swung out to a service position.

Abstract: A rear discharge mower unit (50) with a mower housing (55) defining grass clippings flow paths for directing grass clippings rearward. The mower unit includes a power transmission mechanism for rotating a center blade (58) and a second side blade (60) in one direction and a first side blade (59) in the other direction, a center baffle (63) extending around a rotational axis of the center blade and defining a center flow path (69a) for feeding grass clippings to a grass clippings outlet (66), a first side baffle (64) extending around a rotational axis of the first side blade (59) and defining a first side flow path (69b) for feeding grass clippings to the grass clippings outlet (66), and a second side baffle (65) extending around a rotational axis of the second side blade (60) and defining a second side flow path (69c) for feeding grass clippings to the center flow path (69a).

Abstract: A snow broom (10) includes a scraper element (12) and multiple sweeping elements (26, 36) positioned on opposite sides thereof. The scraper element (12) is in the preferred form of a sheet of relatively stiff plastic and includes serrations (22) formed on its lower edge (16). The lower edge (16) of the scraper element (12) is divided into a plurality of tines by cuts (24) extending from the lower edge (16). The inner sweeping elements (26) positioned adjacent to and on opposite sides of the scraper element (12) are formed from a sheet of foamed plastic of a flexibility to conform to the surface being swept and having a lower edge (30) parallel to and spaced slightly above the lower edge (16) of the scraper element (12). The outer sweeping elements (36) are formed from a sheet of extruded plastic to which snow does not have an affinity to stick. In addition to providing a sweeping function, the outer sweeping elements (36) provide protection and stiffening for the inner sweeping elements (26).

Abstract: A grain sweeper mechanism having an auger supported in cantilevered fashion in front of a drive mechanism having a pair of wheels. A weight stack carried by the drive mechanism counterbalances the weight of the auger such that generally all weight is borne by the front drive wheel of the drive mechanism. The front drive wheel is operatively coupled with the outer end portion of the auger for receiving rotational power therefrom. An opening in a shroud of the auger extends generally the entire length of the auger. The drive mechanism is coupled with the auger shroud by way of an attaching mechanism which includes a slide member, channel member, threaded member and nut which allows vertical adjustment of the auger while hindering lateral movement of the drive mechanism with respect to the auger.

Abstract: An air deflector assembly with an adjustable louver for use with a snow plow mounted on a vehicle is provided. The deflector assembly includes a base mounted to the plow, an air scoop detachably mounted on the base and a louver located at the rear of the air scoop. The louver is pivotally secured to the air scoop to deflect the wind onto the vehicle's radiator. A mounting arrangement is also provided to detachably mount the air deflector assembly with the snow plow. The mounting arrangement allows the air scoop and louver to be quickly mounted on and removed from the snow plow.

Abstract: An attachment for a landscaping trimmer for use in precise trimming and edging of landscaped areas. The attachment has bores through an elongated body member which are adjacent to the free end of the body member and perpendicular to its axis. Pre-cut pieces of trimming line are secured through the bores by at least one screw positioned against the portions of the pre-cut pieces which are centrally located within the body member. Integral with the body member and on Its free end, the present invention may have a spacer for lawn cutting, or pointed bits with various surface configurations to perform functions including, but not limited to, "drilling out" weeds and unwanted grass in and around planters, flower pots and flower boxes, as well as tearing out unwanted roots near the surface of the soil.

Abstract: A non-row-sensitive forage harvesting header for attachment to a mobile frame carrying a chopper has a pair of rotatable cutting discs for severing stalks as the frame moves across a field. Positioned above the cutting discs are a pair of drum-shaped transfer devices rotatable in opposite directions about upright axes coaxial with the rotational axes of the respective cutting discs for gathering severed stalks to a central location between the devices. A pair of endless gripping elements extend about respective ones of the transfer devices and present opposed rearwardly moveable runs extending between the central location and the chopper when the header is attached to the frame. The opposed runs of the gripping elements are operable to cooperatively grip each gathered stalk therebetween while moving the stalk rearwardly from the central location to the chopper.

Abstract: A detachable broom head is provided for quick and easy attachment to a lawn and garden rake. The broom head is adapted to be removably mounted on the rake such that a dual purpose lawn and garden tool is created. In one orientation the tool functions as an ordinary lawn and garden rake. In a second orientation the tool functions as a broom. Therefore, it is possible to use a single lawn and garden tool for tasks that require both raking and brooming. Additionally, the broom head may be attached to the rake so that the bristles of the broom do not interfere with the normal operation of the rake. In one embodiment, a pair of attachment clips are provided on the broom head to grip the rake frame. In another embodiment, a coupler is provided to attach the broom head to the rake.