Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus which is adapted to be attached to conventional ground tillers such as the "Roto-Tiller" to prevent the build-up of grass and weeds around the drive shaft of the tines. The invention comprises a plurality of stationary blades mounted on the drive shaft gear box in a manner so as to cut grass and weeds before they become wound around the drive shaft.

Abstract: An agricultural machine and method for applying and securing a plastic film onto a seed bed. The machine includes a cutter that severs the plastic film at the end of a row or other area for which covering is desired, while covering the severed ends so as to anchor them to the soil.

Abstract: A three-point hitch mounted in-row tiller has a conventional three-point hitch mounted frame member with an outrigger arm pivotally mounted to the frame member in a manner that accommodates pivotal movement of the outrigger in relation to the frame member about two orthogonal axes. Pivotal movement about one of the axes causes tilting of a working tool mounted on the outrigger arm, and pivotal movement about the other axis causes vertical lifting and depth control of the working tool. Various working tool embodiments, including several with flexible teeth, and a mechanical/hydraulic sensor apparatus are also included.

Abstract: A weighted object is attached to a tether and the tether is twisted to cause the weighted object to spin and to change in vertical position. The apparatus which causes the tether to twist can also orbit through a path to cause horizontal motion of the weighted object thereby providing three-dimensional movement to the weighted object. Movable objects are provided as targets for the weighted object with points being given for producing interaction between the weighted object and the movable objects. Also, due to the resonance properties of the tether, many different sculptural forms within the harmonies can be created. By stroboscopically illuminating the tether, further visual forms can be observed. By pulsating the lights on the weight many visual effects can be produced along with altering the tether to produce special effects for film.

Abstract: An agricultural implement is provided with trailing swing arms, each of which has a trailing wheel. Each swing arm is provided with a lifting device in the form of a piston operating in a cylinder. This lifting device establishes the height at which the implement is supported relative to the ground. Each swing arm is also provided with a gas spring in the form of an upper piston operating in a cylinder to control the pressure of the implement against the ground surface despite undulations in the surface upon which the wheels engage. The lifting devices and the gas springs operate in conjunction with each other to establish substantially uniform pressure of the implement against the ground over the transverse width of the implement. A control device controls the pressures prevailing in the gas springs, which pressures may be different.

Abstract: A garden roller tool is provided having a weighted roller journaled on fork end of a ferrule at proximal end of an elongated handle. In one position the handle is tilted downwardly with the roller elevated applying pressure on an implement of the tool pushing the implement into the ground. In another position the handle is raised upwardly with roller lowered releasing pressure on the implement of the tool, raising the implement from the ground, allowing the roller to roll over the ground.

Abstract: An automotive earth moving vehicle for civil and military applications. The lade is movable with respect to the body by two independently operable sets of fluid driven actuator sets which are in intersecting spatial relationship. Each actuator set is arranged symmetrically with respect to a vertical median plane of the blade and its actuators are in parallel spatial orientation with respect to each other. One set of actuators is designed for lifting and lowering the blade while the other set is designed to bring about oscillation and tilt. The blade comprises two segments horizontally linked to each other and is thus adapted to alternate between a dozer mode and a plough mode. Wing members may be provided for attachment to the two flanks of the blade in the plough mode.The vehicle also comprises a sensor for use in the plough mode adapted to feed the blade movement control with data on the terrain.

Abstract: Impact rippers are useful in fracturing rocks, concrete, etc. which cannot be fractured by ripping alone. Operating the impactor of the impact ripper without sufficient loading applied to the ripper tip is detrimental to the life of the impact ripper. The subject control system includes a pilot operated selector valve which blocks pressurized fluid from the impactor in the absence of pilot fluid thereto and is shifted by pressurized pilot fluid to a position to direct pressurized fluid to the impactor. A pressure switch is rendered conductive when the fluid pressure generated in a hydraulic cylinder exceeds a predetermined value due to loading on the ripper tip. This actuates a solenoid valve to direct pressurized pilot fluid to the selector valve. Thus the impactor is activated only when the loading on the ripper tip is above a preselected threshold and is automatically deactivated when the loading on the ripper tip drops below the preselected threshold.

Abstract: A three point implement hitch arrangement for a tractor including a frame assembly, a pair of draft arms pivotally supported on the frame assembly intermediate their ends and lift cylinders having a cylinder portion pivotally supported on the frame assembly above the draft arms and having a rod portion pivotally connected to the draft arms, forwardly of the draft arm pivotal connections. The lift cylinders are connected in series, wherein the area of the rod end of one cylinder is equal to the area of the head end of the second cylinder, whereby the cylinders may be operated independently to tilt the implement or operated in unison to lift the implement, eliminating the requirement for a complex structural support and control.

Abstract: Previously invented restraining mitts are known to fully or partially splint or immobilize the fingers. The mitt of the present invention has a cavity sufficiently large to permit the wearer's hand to be relatively freely movable therein to the extent of flexion and full extension of the fingers for optimum comfort, at all times. The cavity of the preferred mitt is defined by a sufficiently firm and, or thick shape retaining wall made of material such as firm, thick heat mouldable foam to prevent the wearer from grasping objects beyond the mitt. The top and bottom ends of the cavity are narrowed in relation to its middle portion. The given mitt may be worn by a child, confused, psychotic, or other appropriate patient or wearer for the prevention of the use of his/her hand, in cases where there is concern that an irresponsible patient as given above, may be endangered by removing, against medical advice, necessary treatment devices such as dressings, intravenous needles, input or output tubes etc.

Abstract: A shank mounting assembly for a soil opening point permits adjustment of the spacing between a pair of mounting bolts of the assembly for permitting attachment of the assembly to farm implement shanks having bolt holes of various spacings. The assembly includes an elongated adapter having a hidden, internal cavity to which access is gained only by an elongated slot on the backside of the adapter. The cavity and slot are so dimensioned that while the bolts may move lengthwise within the slot for positioning adjustment, the enlarged heads of the bolts remain in the cavity and cannot pass through the slot. By having the cavity accessible only from the back of the adapter and by providing the front face of the adapter with a smooth, continuous, soil-engaging surface, the heads of the bolts are protectively unexposed to abrasive contact with the soil during use.

Abstract: Agricultural vehicles have heretofore lacked an adaptive implement hitch control and have correspondingly suffered from poor controllability of the hitch when the mass of the implement is varied significantly. The apparatus employs a sensor connected to and movable with the hitch such that a variable magnitude electrical signal is delivered which corresponds to the instantaneous hitch position. This signal is electronically differentiated to produce a signal indicative of actual hitch velocity. The hitch position and velocity signals are both used as feedback signals to close the control loop of the control and thereby provide an adaptive hitch velocity control.

Abstract: A blade lift and support system for a road grader is taught which is of simplified construction and improved geometry. According to one embodiment, the adjustment of the beam and associated grader blade is fully hydraulically controlled including locking of the beam in a desired position and maintaining the beam position by an hydraulic fluid lock. This preferred arrangement permits full power adjustment of the high-lift while the blade is in a lifted condition. The particular beam shape improves the position of the cylinders to effect positioning the blade for working.

Abstract: The convex upper surface of the generally triangular sweep has oppositely inclined, lateral faces that diverge from the forwardmost point of the sweep and serve to loosen and lift the soil while the outer cutting edges sever subsurface roots of weeds and other above-ground growth. Rigid, rearwardly extending flaps at the rear extremity of the sweep are disposed at such a strategic angle that although they rigidify the trailing section of the sweep and reduce wear which might otherwise occur at outer rear corners of the sweep, they avoid untoward turning and rolling of the loosened soil and severed plant materials so that moisture-retaining trash and plant residue is left intact on the ground surface.

Abstract: To avoid skidding of the driving wheels of a tractor (1) which runs on tires and which is fitted with hydraulic lifting devices (3, 4) on which are mounted working tools (35, 45) which are buried in the ground (in this case ploughs), the apparatus includes detector structure for determining the force for forward movement of the tractor, comparing that force to a reference value and producing pulses of less than one second, for alternately raising the two lifting devices (3, 4), the amplitude of the pulses being proportional to the excess of the forward movement force, up to a limit amplitude of centimeters approximately. The pulses are too short for the tools (35, 45) to lift with respect to the ground and the amplitude of the raising movement appears as squashing of the tires, which increases grip in order to overcome the excess of forward movement force.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus for fixing ball marks. The apparatus includes a pair of turf gripping elements for moving patches of turf and soil for fixing or filling in ball mark indentations on a golf green. The apparatus is preferably manually actuated through a linkage-lever mechanism for moving the turf gripping elements during a ball mark fixing operation.

Abstract: An improved operating mechanism for an air gun is disclosed which features an attenuation element interposed between the operating level and the other elements of the gun. The attenuation element may comprise a single acting gas spring, such that the operating lever is prevented from violent motion returning it to the open position upon release during the closing movement from the open to the closed position, but in which movement of the lever from the open to the closed position is not impeded by the attenuation element.

Abstract: A patient restraint device adapted to secure a victim to a temporary transport apparatus, such as a backboard or a gurney. The device incorporates one or more pairs of moveable strap members which can be adjusted depending upon the size of the victim, location of wounds and location of securing points on the backboard or gurney. The device is especially suited for construction in small (infant), medium (adult) or large (for extremely obese or extremely tall victims) sizes. The device can be color-coded so that it can be applied to the victim in a "right side up" arrangement the first time.

Abstract: A hand operated weeding device. The device is used in weeding such places as flower beds and vegetable gardens. It comprises a weed displacing structure composed of sections which have multiple functions. One section, when operated under the surface of the soil, is used as a self stabilizer of its operating depth in the soil; it crumbles the soil it passes under, the soil being around the top sections of the cut off weed roots; and it has a forward cutting edge. A second section further crumbles soil around this top part of the roots and pushes most of these root parts with attached weed tops out of the soil and pushes them all way. Weeds cut off on the surface of the ground are also pushed away.

Abstract: Two gang disc harrow units are pivotally joined near corresponding ends by a vertical axis hinge coupling. Near their opposite corresponding ends, the harrow units are connected by a collapsible toggle linkage which operates in a horizontal plane under influence of a power cylinder, whereby the harrow units can be positioned at a prescribed angle for working the soil and in parallel relationship for transport. Two transport wheels are pivotally attached to the rear harrow unit on transverse pivot axes which are parallel to the rear unit. Power cylinders interconnecting these wheels with the rear harrow unit are operable to lower and raise the wheels for lifting and lowering the rear unit. The front harrow unit has a pivotal connection with a drawbar which in turn is coupled through a draft tongue with the hitch of a towing or transport vehicle. Another power cylinder connected between the pivoted drawbar and front harrow unit is operable to lift and lower the front unit.