Abstract: A stalk and chaff distribution arrangement in an agricultural harvesting machine having a chopping device arranged in a discharge region of the machine includes first and second blowers arranged adjacent to each other in the discharge region and each blower having a rotary shaft, a crop inlet opening, and a crop outlet opening; a crop dividing plate associated with the first and second blowers, the crop dividing plate having an apex and first and second diverging arms, said apex arranged in the direction opposite a crop flow from the chopping device to the blowers; and a first adjustable partial casing moveably associated the first blower and adjoining the first diverging arm, said first adjustable partial casing arranged circumferentially with the first blower; whereby a direction of the crop flow from the crop outlet of the first blower is changed when the first adjustable partial casing is moved.

Abstract: The rotary beater has a number of untwisted, flat, feeding plate segments angularly disposed about its periphery. The plates are arranged in a left-hand group and a right-hand group so oriented that they converge the crop material centrally as they feed and accelerate the crop material rearwardly toward and through the inlet of an axial flow threshing rotor assembly. The feeding segments of each group are arranged in diametrically opposed sets containing at least one segment each, and the sets of one group are offset circumferentially 90° from the sets of the other group. Each segment has a hardened crop-engaging face, and the segments are all detachably bolted to the drum of the beater to facilitate removal and replacement when worn or damaged.

Abstract: A core sample retaining sleeve is provided for preventing loss of a cut core sample from the distal end of a coring bit, particularly during retraction of the coring bit to within the coring tool. Preferably, the core sample retaining sleeve is disposed concentrically within the coring bit to fit around the received core sample. The core sample retaining sleeve has one or more retaining fingers formed on the distal end of the coring bit. The retaining fingers are selectively closeable, preferably by urging the one or more retaining fingers against one or more guide members. A guide member is preferably provided as a stationary ridge on the inner, distal surface of the coring bit. The core sample is contained and protected within the closed retaining sleeve.

Abstract: A dual power path drive for rotatably driving a threshing rotor of an agricultural combine. The drive includes a planetary gear arrangement having an output connected to the rotor for rotation therewith, a rotatable input connected in rotatably driven relation to a rotatable output of a rotatable power source such as a fluid motor of a hydro-static drive controllably operable for variably rotating the output of the fluid motor, and the gear arrangement including an input connectable by engagement of a device such as an engine-to-ring clutch in rotatably driven relation to a rotatable output of an engine of the combine, the clutch including faces connected in rotatably driven relation to the engine and to the ring gear for rotation therewith, respectively.

Abstract: A watercraft for reduces aquatic plant infestation by mulching or otherwise chopping plants growing on the surface of the water as the craft moves forward along a waterway. Specifically exemplified is an airboat having a hull with an intake port at the bow end of the craft whereby aquatic plant laden water enters the craft; an exhaust port whereby water and mulched aquatic plants are discharged; at least two vertically-oriented spindles having blades attached thereon, and at least one positionable and interchangeable blade assembly disposed in front of the intake port which may be raised, lowered and tilted as desired.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for engaging and disengaging the reverse operation of a feederhouse of a harvesting apparatus. The mechanism solves the problem of accurate engagement between the shift collar or driving element and the reverse gear, teeth or splines and the forward gear, teeth or splines of the feederhouse transmission. The mechanism comprises an actuator, electrically controlled, which loads or compresses a spring, wherein the spring exerts a shifting force on a shift shaft or shift fork of the gearbox which automatically moves the shift collar or driving element of the transmission into either a forward or reverse drive position when the gear, teeth of splines of the shift collar is aligned or meshed with the gear, teeth or splines of either the reverse or forward drive of the feederhouse transmission.

Abstract: A downhole drilling motor comprises a housing including an integral stabilizing configuration. The stabilizing configuration may include a number of ribs which project from the surface of the housing and run longitudinally or helically along the housing. The stabilizing configuration may be a result of the cross-sectional shape of the housing which may be substantially triangular or square such that the diameter of a circle which circumscribes the cross section of the housing is substantially the same as the diameter of the borehole within which the motor may be used.

Abstract: A lawn mower blade assembly comprises a bottom hub and a top hub, both provided with central apertures. Provided around the bottom and top hubs are a plurality of equally spaced holes. An intermediate plate is coupled between the hubs. A plurality of generally V-shaped recesses open into the periphery of the hubs. A plurality of blades are provided, each having interior and exterior portions. A hole is provided through the interior portion. The exterior portion is flexible. The interior portion is adapted to fit in the V-shaped recesses of the intermediate plate. A plurality of bolts are adapted to pass through the aligned holes of the hubs and the blades and with hex nuts adapted to receive the pivot bolts. A lock bolt, having a head and threaded end is positioned through the apertures of the cutting assembly to removably couple with the threaded aperture of the drive shaft.

Abstract: A crop residue spreader for an agricultural harvesting machine, including a housing at least partially containing a rotor rotatable about an rotational axis, the housing including at least one inlet opening for receiving a flow of crop residue from the harvesting machine and a discharge opening through which the flow will be propelled by the rotor when rotated, and a linkage arrangement movably connecting the housing containing the rotor to the agricultural machine for allowing the housing and rotor to be moved between at least one position in relation to the harvesting machine for receiving a flow of crop residue from a threshing mechanism of the machine and a flow of crop residue from a cleaning mechanism of the machine through the at least one inlet opening, at least one position for receiving a flow of crop residue from the cleaning mechanism of the harvesting machine through the at least one inlet opening while preventing a flow of crop residue from the threshing mechanism from entering the at least one

Abstract: An axial flow combine harvester having a combination impeller and rotor. The rotor has a front end and is rotatable in a specified rotational direction during normal operation of the combine harvester. The impeller comprises a front, a rear, a mount for fitting the impeller on the rotor with the rear of the impeller adjacent to the front end of the rotor, and a pair of impeller blades extending radially outwards from the mount. The impeller blades are hook-shaped when viewed from the front end of the impeller with outer ends projecting in the rotational direction of the rotor.

Abstract: A mower conditioner includes upper and lower conditioner rolls with the upper roll extending between, and being rotatably mounted to, a pair of vertically swingable arms. A linkage arrangement is coupled between the frame supporting the arms and the arms, with one part of the linkage being associated with a stop for limiting the range of movement of the upper roll toward the lower roll, and with another part of the linkage being coupled to a spring arrangement for biasing the upper roll toward the lower roll. The stop is configured as a pair of wedge-shaped members having respective inclined surfaces engaged with each other and held in an adjusted position by a nut and bolt arrangement, the range of movement of the upper roll toward the lower roll changing in response to tightening or loosening the nut on the bolt.

Abstract: A trencher includes a trencher frame mounting a chain bar in a cantilever manner with a safety guide overlying the chain bar. Both the chain bar and the safety guide are adjustable on the trencher frame between various laterally spaced positions with the safety guide being able to overlie the chain bar in the different laterally spaced positions. The chain bar comprises a mounting stub over which one end of an elongated boom may be inserted. The stub includes a central longitudinal slot for receiving bolts passing through the boom to secure the boom to the slot. The use of a longitudinal slot in the stub allows the height of the stub to be maximized relative to the height of the boom to provide a stronger and more durable mounting for the boom.

Abstract: A disabling feature used with a lawn mower, for disabling the drive wheels of a lawn mower when an obstacle is encountered. Braking, engine kill, blade stopping, and declutching is contemplated upon the tripping of a pivotable contact device which in one embodiment is configured to be tripped when contacting an object while in reverse. A directional extension flap is also provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for drilling directional wellbores using a casing string as a drill stem is taught. A retrievable bit is mounted at an end of the casing string and either a mud motor with a bent housing and/or bent sub or a rotary steerable tool is used to direct the bit to drill directionally.

Abstract: An agricultural combine is provided that estimates a hydraulic pressure of a rotor drive system based upon the speeds of the pump (or engine) and motor that drive the rotor. The pressure is estimated by generating a pump displacement control signal in a convention feedback control algorithm and using that signal together with a sensed motor speed signal and a sensed pump speed (proportional to engine speed) to estimate the hydraulic pressure.

Abstract: An apparatus for finely pulverizing lawn debris has a central drive shaft driven by a gasoline or electrical power source. Lawn debris is drawn into a sucking chamber by a fan impeller blade mounted on the central drive shaft. The fan impeller blade initiates pulverization of the debris in the suction chamber. A grinding blade is mounted for rotation on the central drive shaft below the fan impeller blade. The grinding blade carries a plurality of blade elements operative to effect additional pulverization of the initially pulverized debris. A distributing plate mounted for rotation on the central shaft has a plurality of inclined apertures therein for dispensing a high velocity stream of the pulverized debris uniformly over said lawn.

Abstract: A lawnmower with a tractor and a gang of mowers pivotally supported by the tractor for up and down motion when moving on the ground is provided. A mower support arm is pivoted on the tractor and has a pivot axis for each of the mowers, and a camming action is created by the up and down mower movement and that causes the pivot axis to move horizontally relative to the tractor to thereby avoid having the mowers move horizontally, and it maintains a constant spacing between the mowers and avoids having the mowers collide when moving up and down. Shorter length mowers can thus be used in the gang, thereby following the ground contour more closely.

Abstract: The invention concerns a snow trail grooming accessory and method for use with an operating snowmobile to groom a snow trail during operation of the snowmobile. The accessory includes at least one mounting arm, the mounting arm being mountable directly to a track suspension of the snowmobile; and a snow collector/leveler secured to the mounting arm wherein when the mounting arm is mounted to the operating snowmobile the mounting arm and the snow collector/leveler are pulled behind the snowmobile with the snow collector/leveler substantially skimming over a level portion of the snow trail and the snow collector/leveler impacting at least a portion of a snow mound, a snow mogul or a snow displacement in the snow trail.

Abstract: An agricultural combine is provided with a controller that estimates a hydraulic pressure of a rotor drive system based upon the speeds of the pump (or engine) and motor that drive the rotor. The pressure is estimated by generating a pump displacement control signal in a convention feedback control algorithm and using that signal together with a sensed motor speed signal and a sensed pump speed (proportional to engine speed) to estimate the hydraulic pressure.

Abstract: A hand-held wand is disclosed for exposing buried objects such as utility lines or the like. The wand comprises an elongated, hollow tube having upper and lower ends with first and second water supply conduits being positioned adjacent the exterior surface of the tube. The lower end of the first water supply conduit has a digging nozzle mounted thereon. The lower end of the second water supply conduit extends upwardly into the lower end of the tube to create a vacuum or suction within the lower end of the hollow tube to remove muddy water from the hole being dug. A two-way valve is connected to the upper ends of the first and second water supply lines for alternately delivering water to the water supply conduits. The intake side of the two-way valve is in fluid communication with a source of high pressure water. The upper end of the hollow tube has a mud take-off hose connected thereto which may be utilized to convey the muddy water to a location remote from the hole being dug or to a container.