Abstract: A mower including support for an operator in a standing position during use thereof. Specifically, the mower includes a support against which an operator may lean when operating the mower in the standing position. Additionally, the support includes a portion capable of being straddled and then sat upon by the operator. This capability allows the operator to relieve at least some of the pressure applied to his/her body during extended periods of standing on the platform.

Abstract: A combined digger and compost compacting assembly comprises a digger unit and a compacting unit. The digger unit has a drive shaft which includes a plurality of outwardly extending digger tines for digging into the compost in a mushroom bed as the assembly is moved longitudinally from one end of the bed to the opposite of the bed. The compacting unit includes at least one roller for compacting the compost after the digging tines have dug through the compost. The digger unit and the compacting unit are detachably mounted together for joint movement during the compost treating operation. The units can be separated from each other and moved independently of each other to a different mushroom bed after the compost treating operation has been completed.

Abstract: A method of modulating a boom assembly to perform in a linear manner. The boom assembly includes a boom and a stick. The method comprising the steps of sending at least one lever signal to a control device indicative of operator desired direction and desired velocity of the boom and the stick, calibrating the lever signals to provide a boom command signal and a stick command signal, applying an algorithm-to-the boom command signal and the stick command signal, which the algorithm uses command signal mapping, and providing a modulating factor to the control device as a result of the algorithm.

Abstract: A pair of conditioning rolls is disclosed that comprise one steel and one rubber/urethane roll. The steel roll has raised ribs formed thereon or attached thereto in a spiral configuration, while the rubber/urethane roll contains grooves therein that intermesh with the raised ribs during operation to grip the crop material. The smooth areas of the rolls crush the crop stems. Alternative embodiments of the grooves provide the ability to work within a wide range of crops, including crops that have heretofore proven difficult to condition.

Abstract: A greensmower having a cutting reel and a traction member and an independent electric circuit and motor for driving each. A handle is attached to the reel for mower guidance by an operator in a walk-behind position. Separate electric controls are connected to each motor for separate speeds for each motor and thereby control the clip rate of the mowing. There are low battery power read-outs and automatic shutoffs. Provision is made for traction powering of the mower even when the reel motor is not operating because of low battery power. A lift-out battery pack is shiftably mounted on the mower for producing the desired force of the mower on the ground.

Abstract: Disclosed is a stamp for forming a tactile-detectable warning surface in moldable concrete or asphalt and method for employing same. The stamp consists of a mold member having truncated dome shaped indentations distributed therein in a warning pattern, each indentation optionally having an air hole located centrally therein, and, form rails distributed between indentations on the lower surface of the mold member and projecting downward there from, so as to force an even and consistent distribution of the moldable material into the indentations when the form rails are worked downward into the surface of the moldable material to form truncated domes. The stamp may further comprise one or more handles and upper rails distributed on the upper surface of the mold member.

Abstract: In an agricultural combine, a latch mechanism for attaching a grate to the crop processing unit. The latch mechanism comprises a support bar on the crop processing unit, a support receptacle on the grate, a latch handle, and a latch retainer. The support receptacle envelopes the support bar the when the grate is attached to the crop processing unit, with the latch handle and latch retainer cooperating to hold the support receptacle against the support bar.

Abstract: A grass trimming device with dual linehead spool hubs is provided. The grass trimming device is adapted to simultaneously trim grass at both a substantially horizontal plane and a substantially vertical plane. The device includes actuation switches which also allow linehead spool hubs to be used in an independent manner.

Abstract: A method for controlling a transfer device (2) mounted pivotally on a harvesting machine (1) so that it can be pivoted about both a vertical axis (3) and a horizontal axis (4) is described. In this method the transfer device is automatically swung from an actual position (A) about the vertical axis (3) into another position above a supporting member (11) for the transfer device (2) mounted on the harvesting machine (1). The transfer device (2) is then automatically lowered into a street travel position on the supporting member (11) within an event-controlled street travel positioning procedure. Moreover a suitable apparatus for controlling the transfer device (2) is also described.

Abstract: A long-stick mower which includes a base, a fixed shear, a mobile shear, a driver, a linkage, an extension spring and an extension control rod. The base is connected to the lower end of the extension rod. The top of the driver is pivoted to the base and drawn toward the base by the extension spring. The linkage is pivoted to the top of the mobile shear at one end and to the drive at the other end. The extension spring is hooked to the bottom of the base to draw the drive. The extension control rod is inserted to the base. When the top of the extension control rod is pressed down, the driver has its caster to hold against the ground and the driver spreads up backward to draw the linkage to move backward to pull the mobile shear. When the extension control rod is pulled up, the driver is drawn back to push the linkage to move forward while pushing the mobile shear to spread up to complete an easy cycle of cutting.

Abstract: A deflector for a discharge outlet of a tailings conveyor of a harvesting machine for providing tailings dispersal over a sieve of a cleaning system or other location on the harvesting machine, without significantly interfering with crop material flow from a threshing system of the combine and while also preventing entry of crop material from the threshing system into the conveyor outlet.

Abstract: A drip berm for mounting onto a drip mat includes one or more inner berm members and one or more cooperating outer berm members. Each inner berm member is mountable contiguously around the circumferential edges of the drip mat. Each outer berm member is mountable along an inner edge of the outer berm member contiguously along or around an outer edge of, or perimeter of a frame formed by the inner berm member or members. Each inner berm member includes at least one clamp member for mounting onto the circumferential edges of the drip mat. Each clamp member includes a pair of jaws for mounting inwardly of the circumferential edges of the drip mat. The jaws are pivotable about a clam-shell hinge so as to, in a closed position, engage and clamp the circumferential edges of the drip mat between the pair of jaws, and so as to, in an open position, release the circumferential edges of the drip mat from between the pair of jaws.

Abstract: A dual power path drive and method for controllably decelerating the rotor or rotors of an agricultural combine in reduced time, without causing undesirable wear, shock and energy transfer to other aspects of the power system of the combine. The drive and method use a planetary gear arrangement having an output connected to the rotor or rotors, an input connected to an output of a first power source or path which can be a fluid power source such as a fluid motor of a hydro-static drive or a variable speed electrical motor, the first power source or path being controllable within speed limits thereof for decelerating the rotor from several operating states.

Abstract: A gardening rake includes a grip, extended poles and rake head, of which the extended poles are provided at one end of the grip. The rake heads are mounted at the end of the extended poles and constructed of several spaced talons. The talons of rake heads are designed with a T-shape. Based upon this modified structure, the double-headed rake heads can grab or rake off foreign materials via the clamping devices, thus offering an ease-of-use.

Abstract: A lightweight, adjustable snowplow, able to be lifted, carried, and manipulated by one person (adult or teenager) of normal strength, designed to remove new-fallen or otherwise soft snow or slush. It has a minimum number of parts. A plurality of struts attaches the plow to any kind of towing vehicle, providing horizontal stability. No brackets, hitches, or lifting devices are needed on the towing vehicle.

Abstract: An agricultural combine for harvesting, threshing and separating an agricultural crop includes a processing assembly. A conveying mechanism moves harvested crop material to the crop processing assembly. A rotating member feeds crop material from the conveying mechanism to the processing assembly. An airflow diverter is transversely positioned adjacent the rotating member to divert a potion of the airflow from the conveying mechanism into the crop processing assembly independent of the crop flow path.

Abstract: A vehicle-carried Tree-Trunk Shaker (TTS) for harvesting tree fruit is configured to prevent the transmission of vibrations from a vibration generator (4) to the TTS and to the vehicle, and for optimal shaking efficiently. Currently, TTSs are allowed to shake multi-directionally and chaotically, convey destructive vibrations to the TTS and to the vehicle, and have low harvesting efficiency. The remedy consists of shaking the trunk only in perpendicular to a pair of jaws (6, 8) clamping the trunk (T), with a unidirectional linear vibration generator vibrating transversally to the trunk. A beam (16) is configured to support the clamping jaws and the vibration generator to form a rigid structure restricted to swivel about a vertical pivot shaft (42) coupled to the vehicle. Thereby there is allowed but a single lateral degree of freedom of motion. Possibly, two vertical pivot shafts (42, 48) are used to that end.

Abstract: A stationary board adapted to be set up in a medial strip between traffic lanes to block lights of oncoming vehicles in the medial strip and facilitate identification of the medial strip in nighttime driving or riding. This stationary board comprises a pair of plate members each composed of a molded component made of a transparent plastic material, and the plate members are coupled with one another at the respective marginal edges thereof to form an integrated assembly having a hollow space therein. Each of the plate members is formed with irregularities in its inner surface facing the hollow space of the assembly. A top member molded of a plastic material is attached to the top portion of the assembly in a fitting manner. The plastic material of the top member contains a luminous pigment capable of absorbing, storing and emitting light.

Abstract: A crop chopper arrangement generally comprises a discharge apparatus having an inlet adapted to receive chopped crop from a crop chopper for an agricultural machine. The arrangement further includes a row of guide vanes positioned substantially transversely to a longitudinal axis of the agricultural machine and adapted to spread out a flow of the chopped crop from the discharge apparatus in a direction substantially rearwards to a direction of travel of the agricultural machine. One or more of the guide vanes has a shape or configuration that is adapted to impart a predetermined deviation to at least a portion of a flow of chopped crop passing through said discharge apparatus. The shape or configuration of each guide vane is dependent on its transverse position in the row. This arrangement makes it possible to realize an even distribution of the chopped crop over the full width of the harvester header.

Abstract: A rotary impeller for a tailings conveyor of an agricultural combine, for threshing tailings and propelling the tailings through a portion of the conveyor, including a mounting portion mountable to a rotatable member for rotation in a predetermined rotational direction about a rotational axis, a plurality of blades extending generally radially outwardly from the mounting portion, each of the blades including a surface facing in the rotational direction including a radially outermost threshing portion for threshing the tailings and propelling the tailings in the rotational direction through the portion of the conveyor, and a tailings deflecting portion disposed between the threshing portion and the mounting portion, the tailings deflecting portion having a convex shape for deflecting and directing tailings contacted thereby during the rotation in a radially outward direction into a rotational path of the threshing portion so as to be threshed thereby and accelerated through the conveyor.