Abstract: A round baler has a pickup header that is wider than the baling chamber and its inlet so that over-width windrows can be picked up by the machine in spite of its relatively narrower chamber. In order to reduce the width of the crop stream for introduction into the chamber, the machine is provided with a pair of laterally spaced apart, axially aligned, transverse stub augers that engage opposite outboard margins of the stream and converge them inwardly toward the main body of the flow. At the point where the outboard materials are discharged into the central body of the stream, a stuffer mechanism takes control of the stream and charges the materials up into the baling chamber. The augers are driven in such a direction that their front portions rotate down and under the auger shafts so that the outboard crop materials are likewise fed down and under the augers as they are converged toward the center.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for constructing bottom pads, or bench pads, as well as for padding a pipeline during construction. To pad the bottom of a pipeline, a padder is removably attached to one end of a conventional excavator or other base machine or vehicle, whereby a portion of the padder is inserted in the backfill and extracts padding material of a maximum predetermined size.

Abstract: A control system is used with an associated mower having a cutting blade, a drive shaft for rotating the cutting blade, first and second drive wheels, and a power train for driving the first and second drive wheels. The control system has an electric clutch for selectively coupling the cutting blade to the drive shaft, first and second handles for independently driving the first and second drive wheels, first and second switches selectively switchable between first and second positions, a relay for electrically connecting the first and second switches to the electric clutch and control rods for mechanically connecting the first and second handles to the first and second switches. First and second handles are placeable into reverse positions. This causing first and second bell cranks to rotate about a control shaft which lifts first and second control rods. When the control rods are lifted, first and second switches are switched and power is disconnected to the electric clutch.

Abstract: An arrangement is provided for leveling the blade housing of a mower. The housing is suspended from the underside of a vehicle frame by pairs of connecting links pivotally connected to the housing and the frame. A pair of fixed plates, secured to opposite sides of the housing, are joined by pivotal connections to respective adjusting plates. The associated pairs of fixed and adjusting plates are provided with overlying slots which receive respective pins provided with locking structure which are selectively operable to lock the respective fixed and adjusting against movement relative to one another. At least one of the pins also extends through an aperture in a lift link. An operator-controlled lift lever is joined to a lift pin which passes through a slot in said lift link whereby actuation of the lift lever causes the housing to be raised or lowered.

Abstract: A control system for a rope bucket, the rope bucket being designed for the hoisting and transfer of materials and adapted to be suspended from a hoist trolley transferable along an essentially horizontal travel path. The control system includes a hoist mechanism for hoisting the rope bucket, and a close mechanism for closing and opening the scoops of the rope bucket, and also for hoisting and lowering the rope bucket. The hoist mechanism includes two separate mechanisms, and similarly the close mechanism includes two separate mechanisms which also form the transfer mechanism of the hoist trolley.

Abstract: An easy grip tool (10) comprising a implement head (12). An elongated rigid handle (14) has upper and lower offset handgrips (16), (18) formed therein. A structure (20) is for attaching a bottom end of the elongated rigid handle (14) to a top end of the implement head (12) in a removable manner. The elongated rigid handle (14) can be adjusted to the implement head (12), so that a left handed and a right handed person (22) can grip the upper and lower offset handgrips (16), (18) to comfortably sweep the implement head (12) along the ground (24). In a second embodiment being an easy grip tool (10a), the elongated rigid handle (14) is substituted with an elongated rigid handle (14a) having a ninety degree offset portion (54) formed near a bottom end. The elongated rigid handle (14a) can be adjusted to the implement head (12), so that the left handed and a right handed person (22), can grip the elongated rigid handle (14a) to comfortably sweep the implement head (12) along the ground (24).

Abstract: The present invention entails a pull-type tobacco harvester having a mainframe, a tongue projecting from the mainframe, a defoliating unit mounted on the mainframe, and a conveyor assembly disposed adjacent the defoliating unit for conveying defoliated tobacco leaves from the defoliator unit upwardly and rearwardly to where the defoliated leaves are dumped into a trailing trailer. Disposed on one side of the mainframe is a single wheel while mounted to the opposite side of the mainframe is a pair of tandem wheels. The pair of tandem wheels are disposed so as to generally track behind a tractor that pulls the tobacco harvester through the field. In addition, the defoliator unit mounted on the harvester is a knife-type defoliator that comprises a series of bars that include knife elements thereon for cutting leaves from stalks of tobacco passing through the defoliator unit.

Abstract: A harvester (10) includes a separator (22) to help separate unwanted plant material from a crop. Separator (22) includes a series of paddles (46) which are rotated in unison by a drive system (50). The crop, which will often comprise a vine or tree crop, and which will ideally comprise raisins (14), falls between rotating paddles (46). Plant materials, such as cane (60), is transported by the tops of the rotating paddles from over cane separator (22).

Abstract: This method provides various high-power-ratio snow removal devices which clear paths narrower than the motor vehicles. We use small, light, low-priced, yet also safe, durable devices to clear the narrow swaths. High power ratios result from applying motor vehicle horsepower to small snow removal devices similar to those found on lawn tractors. Such devices may comprise moldboard plows (FIGS. 3, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16), snow throwers (FIGS. 7 and 13), or combinations of both types (FIG. 12 and 17). Quick-connect and quick-release fittings (FIGS. 3A, 3B, 6, 8, 9A, 9B, 14) position each device for temporary propulsion by a vehicle. The connectors allow quick conversion of the family car to a plowing machine, and when plowing is done, quick re-conversion. A moldboard plow of about half the car's width (FIG. 3) is our preferred embodiment. The mini-moldboard (FIG. 10) is least expensive. Deepest snow can be handled by our tall, narrow moldboard (FIG. 15).

Abstract: A coupling assembly is provided which allows for a dual pressure release during impaction of an obstruction during insertion of a picking arm into a canopy of a fruit tree. A first yielding occurs when a predetermined first level of resistance is encountered. If the obstruction is cleared and the resistance pressure falls below the first level of resistance the picking arm is returned to the normal deployed position. If the resistance level continues to climb and exceeds a predetermined second level of resistance the coupling assembly releases the arm to reduce the resistance pressure previously obtained while preventing any further resistance pressure from being generated. This acts to significantly reduce the opportunity that damage will occur to either the machinery or to the fruit tree. The possibility of multiple picking members is explained.

Abstract: An agricultural machine includes a body, a connecting mechanism, an operating device for pivoting the connecting mechanism into at least two working positions, transmission elements which include at least one gearbox, and a control mechanism intended to pivot the gearbox into operating positions corresponding to the working positions of the connecting mechanism. In accordance with the invention, the control mechanism is installed, among others, between the gearbox and the operating device. This control mechanism can also include a first control cylinder installed between the connecting mechanism and the body and connected in series to a second control cylinder installed between the body and the gearbox.

Abstract: A refrigerant access manifold for a refrigerant system includes a manifold block for coupling a plurality of refrigerant system components together to allow refrigerant to flow therethrough and at least one access port in the manifold block to provide access to the refrigerant.

Abstract: A tooth attachment for earth working equipment which is configured to receive a conventional cutter bit. The tooth attachment includes a body which defines an upper end and a lower end. The upper end defines a bit holder configured to receive a conventional cutter bit and the lower end is configured to be releasably securable to the post of an implement of earth working equipment such as dragline equipment, a backhoe, a bulldozer, a grader or the like.

Abstract: The in-line baler has its crop pickup, baling chamber and compacting plunger all located on the same fore-and-aft axis as viewed in top plan, but the tongue of the baler can be selectively swung by a hydraulic cylinder from a centered position to an offset position so that the baler may be correspondingly operated either directly behind the towing vehicle or off to one side as desired by the operator. To compensate for an otherwise excessive weight transfer onto the outboard ground wheel when the baler is shifted to the offset location, the onboard internal combustion engine and other drive apparatus for the operating components of the baler are all located off to one side of the center line of the machine, i.e., toward the inboard ground wheel. The pivot point for the tongue is located forwardly of the transverse axis of the ground wheels and slightly to the inboard side of the central axis of the baler, between the pickup and the overhead baling chamber.

Abstract: A bucket arrangement for an earthworking machine is provided with a cutting edge plate which is bowed outwardly and has a serrated leading edge such that a center tooth assembly is disposed in a plane of engagement with the soil ahead of and below the plane of engagement of a pair of side tooth assemblies. Thus, the center tooth makes penetrating engagement with the soil prior to the side teeth, providing the bucket arrangement with greater penetrating ability. The ability of the bucket to cut or slice through the soil is also enhanced by the serrated portions of the cutting edge plate.

Abstract: A swivelable quick connect assembly for use with tubular conduits is disclosed as comprising a housing having an axial bore for receiving one end of the conduit, an elastomeric ring-like seal disposed in the bore for providing a fluid-tight seal between confronting portions of the conduit and the housing, an annular bushing disposed in the bore for positioning the seal and for guiding the one end of the conduit into nesting relationship with the bore, and a retainer detachably secured to the housing and cooperable with an annular projection on the conduit for securing the conduit in its operative position within the bore, the retainer having resilient deformable portions which are adapted to snap over the locking wall upon insertion of the conduit into the housing bore.

Abstract: A hoisting assembly for use with a dragline bucket that includes a compensator for generally stabilizing the attitude of the bucket. The compensator is operably coupled to the lift, hoist and dump lines. The connector for the lift line(s) defines a fulcrum about which the compensator turns during use. As the tension in the dump line increases relative to the tension of the hoist lines, the compensator turns about the fulcrum to lift the hoist lines and shift the sheave supporting the dump line forward. As the tension in the dump line decreases relative to the tension of the hoist lines, the compensator turns about the fulcrum in the opposite direction to lower the lift lines and shift the sheave supporting the dump line rearward.

Abstract: An apparatus for simultaneously topping and precisely applying sucker control chemicals to tobacco plants and for related uses wherein the apparatus comprises a housing wherein the front and bottom of the housing are open. A blower is positioned in the top of the apparatus for creating a downwardly directed air stream to facilitate decapitating the tobacco plants by a mechanical cutter positioned in the bottom of the apparatus as the tobacco plants pass therebeneath. A pair of spaced-apart rotating belts are located beneath the mechanical cutter and define a pathway from the front to the back of the housing and act to gather tobacco plants at the front and guide the tobacco plants through the housing. A spray manifold is provided for applying sucker control chemicals downwardly in a confined pattern onto decapitated tobacco plants as they pass from the mechanical cutter and beneath the spray manifold.

Abstract: An attachment for a rotary lawn mower or a riding mower having a blower assembly located in an elevated position for effectively vacuuming and collecting debris generated by the operation of the mower. The debris discharged from the mower chute is drawn upwardly through a transfer tube and, via the blower assembly, is directed into a collection storage container. The blower assembly is operatively powered via an extended shaft from the drive system of the mower blade or a drive shaft extending from the top of the mower's engine. The collection container is mounted on the housing of the mower, the handle of the mower, or on a platform to the rear of the mower. A lid covers the open top of the container, and includes a perforated portion that allows air to escape from the container. A side door is provided in the container, to assist in removing the debris or a plastic trash bag used to hold the debris, from the container.

Abstract: Retrievable window cutting apparatus and method include a whipstock assembly 160 and anchor assembly 10. Whipstock assembly 160 and anchor assembly 10 contract radially inwardly to pass through tubing string T and then expand radially outwardly to operate in casing C. Upper and lower independently moveable slips 24 and 26 engage casing C. Whipstock assembly 160 includes hinge assembly 170 that can be set for operation with a milling assembly 270. Cooperation between shear members in setting tool WSS, working string adaptor 180, hinge assembly 170, and anchor assembly 10 provide for keeping whipstock assembly 160 and anchor assembly 10 in a contracted position for passing downwardly through tubing T, expansion in casing C, and subsequent retrieval through tubing T.