Abstract: The novel lawn mower has a blade which comprises an elongated body, capable of rotating about a substantially perpendicular axis to the ground, provided, at the operative edges thereof, with cutting members for cutting grass and, at the opposite edges with respect to said cutting members, with unsharpened lugs capable of directing the cut grass into the collection container and chopping the cut grass, immediately after the grass has been cut.

Abstract: The invention comprises an improved lawn mowing machine with a forward mounted mower deck including a plurality of rotary cutters. The blades or cutters rotate in opposite direction on opposite sides of the deck to bring the grass clippings to a deck mounted central vacuum. The mower blades are driven by a belt drive to eliminate expensive drive shafts and gearboxes. Applicant's 45.degree. twist belt drive geometry provides increased life to the belt over prior art 90.degree. twist belt drive geometries.The mower deck includes novel side mower wings. A combined clutch and brake mechanism disengages the drive belt to the wing blade spindle and simultaneously brings the blade to a stop within one second when the wing is raised beyond its cutting range. The wing deck is attached to the mower central deck by a depressed hinge substantially close to the elevation of the mower blades.

Abstract: A rotary lawn mower blade mounted on a blade carrier by diametrically spaced bolts is further retained against release from the drive shaft by a retainer fixed on the drive shaft and having a shank extending through a central opening in the blade and having an enlarged head to obstruct separation of the blade from the retainer. Preferably, the blade opening is larger than the shank and the retainer head is in the form of a transverse bar, narrower than such opening, so that the blade can be removed by manipulation in one direction to an eccentric position, then tilted to disengage it from one end of the bar, and then moved in the opposite direction to disengage it from the other end of the bar.

Abstract: A self-propelled sugar cane harvester has a picking and comminuting device, an inclined conveyor, a discharge conveyor transversely inclined conveyor, a pressure fan located in the region of an outlet end of the inclined conveyor to direct an air stream through a comminuted sugar cane stream, and an additional suction fan arranged to provide for a uniform air stream in the region of transition between the inclined conveyor and the discharge conveyor and in an inlet region of a discharge hood.

Abstract: An animal identification and feeding apparatus having a plurality of tags, one suspended from each animal, each tag having a plurality of pockets into which either permanent magnets or non-magnetic filler strips are press fit to form a code. The code is detected by a plurality of spaced reed switches having field modifying magnets interposed between the reed switches. The tag magnets and the field modifying magnets are polarized along an axis of magnetization which is perpendicular to their interfacing surfaces and they are aligned with repelling poles facing each other.

Abstract: A safety-release pet collar to prevent animals from possibly choking in the event that the collar inadvertently becomes caught on a branch, twig, stump, fence post or the like. The collar comprises a two-piece band intended to encircle a pet's neck in the usual manner and to be fastened by a conventional buckle arrangement. The band has a second pair of separable ends which are held together by a releasable connector, such as cooperable loop and hook strips. The second pair of ends have loops through which a leash or clasp can be passed, to lock the ends together and prevent separation of the connector strips. When the pet is on the leash, strain on the connector strips is relieved and the pet cannot normally pull the connection loose. However, when the leash or clasp is removed and the collar remains in place, the Velcro connector strips can separate under force if it inadvertently becomes caught on or entangled in branches, etc.

Abstract: A mowing implement essentially comprising a housing extending transversely of the direction of movement of the mowing implement, a plurality of mowing members rotatably journalled on said housing and a drive assembly arranged within said housing for driving the mowing members and formed by a sequence of gears including both driving gears connected with the moving members and at least four coupling gears drivingly interconnecting each adjacent pair of driving gears. All of the gears are small and are arranged in line so that the housing is narrow. The housing is made very rigid by fixedly interconnecting the top and bottom walls together by structure which supports the bearings for the coupling gears. The assembly is economical so that it can be replaced as a unit rather than being repaired.

Abstract: A vacuum apparatus which may be supported by a tractor-lawn mower combination and which includes a collection bin and a vacuum producing impeller driven by a hydraulic motor for collecting grass clippings, leaves and similar refuse is presented herein. The impeller and hydraulic motor are located within the collection bin and provided with ducts to channel exhaust air through the bottom of the bin to muffle operational noise and increase the efficiency of the system.

Abstract: An insecticide dispenser attachable to the ear of an animal has a ball shaped body accommodating insecticide. The body has a slit providing a mouth that can be opened allowing access to the inside of the body. A connector having a pin secures the body to the ear. Annular resilient members surround the pin adjacent opposite sides of the ear minimize snagging of the dispenser on objects.

Abstract: A selfl-propelled, vibration-free harvester has a threshing device including a threshing drum and a threshing basket associated therewith, a separating device located downstream of the threshing device as considered in a transportation direction and including a plurality of separating drums spaced from one another in the transportation direction and a plurality of separating elements associated with a respective ones of the separating drums, a supporting element arranged to support the separating elements, a wall, and mounting elements arranged to mount the supporting element on the wall and formed as a displacing device which positively lockingly lifts and lowers the supporting elements.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for harvesting seed bearing cones from a tree, the apparatus having a retrieving structure and holding structure to define a collecting enclosure therebetween to receive cone bearing material with structure to unload the collecting enclosure. The apparatus has a guide to encircle the tree to ensure generally axial movement, and separating structure adjacent an upper portion thereof which separates cone containing material from the tree resulting from upwards movement of the apparatus. In one embodiment the separating structure has a plurality of recesses to receive the tree trunk, the recesses being provided with knives which cut the branches when the trunk enters the recess and the device is moved upwardly up the trunk. Alternatively, the separating structure has recesses to receive branches and is provided with rake means to rake the cones from the branches.

Abstract: An animal feeder, for example, a cat feeder is disclosed. The cat feeder includes a top which defines a plurality of spaced feed positions. A cover, having a feeding opening, overlies the top. The feeding opening is indexed sequentially with respect to the successive feed positions. A pair of tension springs are wound and rotate the cover upon release by a time actuated solenoid.

Abstract: This invention is concerned with devices for controlling movement of small animals, of the kind commonly known as "Cat Ports". The device is activated by an operating magnet worn by the small animal, which when the animal moves to pass through the device, closes a reed switch. The reed switch is adjustably pre-biased by a positionally adjustable permanent magnet, to afford the reed switch with a desired sensitivity, and a control circuit includes a re-setting coil to return the reed switch to its open position after a predetermined time interval. The device may readily be modified to control movement of animals in either, or both directions, to and from a designated area.

Abstract: A clamp for securing at least one cable to a support comprises a channel member having an apertured base and limbs shaped at their free ends for engagement with the support, and a sub-assembly comprising a screw a saddle captive on the end of the screw remote from the screw head and positioned inside the channel member, and a nut threaded on the shank of the screw between the screw head and the saddle, the aperture in the base of the channel being large enough to permit passage of the head of the screw but not so large as to permit passage of the nut.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for harvesting a crop of the character having stalks which carry seed pods, such as the sesame plant. The apparatus includes a harvesting vehicle which mounts at its front end a header structure. The header structure includes side-by-side guide units adapted for movement along individual rows of the stalks. Each guide unit includes a pair of forwardly diverging guide members which gently guide the stalks for relative movement toward rotary cutter units disposed generally at the apex of the guide members. Horizontally extending, spaced-apart stabilizer fingers are mounted for movement along each guide unit in a path toward the cutter units for stabilizing the stalks prior to and during the time that they are cut off. Drive means is provided for controlling rearward movement of the fingers at a rate substantially equal to the rate of forward vehicle travel whereby the fingers maintain registry with the stalks up to the point at which they are cut off.

Abstract: A device to aid in the retrieval of anchors, lobster pots, fish traps and the like from the sea-bed. The device comprises connecting means to connect the device to a float, the connecting means being positioned between guide means, designed to guide a rope connected to the anchor, or like article and retaining means, through which the rope passes as it is raised and which serves to engage with an obstruction on the rope when the anchor is raised to the surface of the sea. The device may be formed integrally from a single piece of stainless steel rod.

Abstract: A rotary lawn mower blade mounted on a blade carrier by diametrically spaced bolts is further retained against release from the drive shaft by a retainer fixed on the drive shaft and having a cylindrical shank extending in bearing relation through a central opening in the blade having an enlarged head to obstruct separation of the blade from the retainer. The head includes at least one radial projection and the opening one radial extension, and the head and opening have one orientation in which the same are in registry to permit axial removal of the blade from the retainer. Preferably, the head is triangular with three truncated apexes, one of which is longer than the others and another of which may be wider than all others. The sides of the triangular blade opening lie tangent to the cylindrical retainer shank to hold the blade concentric with such shank.

Abstract: An oral cavity cleaner including a pump unit for supplying a pulsating stream of high-pressure fluid, and a toothbrush unit connected thereto via a flexible conduit. The toothbrush unit includes an actuating member responsive to the pressure of the pulsating stream of fluid to provide a reciprocatory movement, a toothbrush connected to the actuating member, a valve section brought to an open position when the movement of the actuating member has exceeded a predetermined value, and an operating member for operating the valve section. The toothbrush can be automatically given a reciprocatory movement, and the high-pressure fluid can be ejected through the toothbrush or its ejection can be stopped as desired by manipulating the operating member while the toothbrush is being moved with a reciprocatory movement.

Abstract: In a combine harvester of the type having a fan for removing chaff and the like from crop material moving from a grain pan through a plurality of sieves, an additional fan is provided for improved removal of chaff and the like as the crop material moves from rotary threshing and separating members to the grain pan.

Abstract: A windguard for use on the pick-up mechanism of a crop harvesting machine. The windguard automatically adjusts to varying sizes of windrows of crop material as the machine and its pick-up mechanism are being operated. The windguard has an unlimited number of adjustment positions for different sizes of windrows.