Abstract: An agricultural tractor having two longitudinally aligned back wheels on each side receiving an endless track of the "caterpillar" type and steerable front wheels which are controlled automatically by a predetermined line of travel whereby the tractor is maintained within margins equidistant from the line of travel defining a path which it is desired the tractor follow to perform agricultural operations such as plowing. The tractors's actual track is monitored and compared with the desired line of travel by programmed steering operating to correct deviations. A single gyroscope which has its axis of rotation parallel to the earth's axis of rotation stabilizes a platform, keeping it perfectly horizontal for two accelerometers, one aligned with the tractor's longitudinal center line and the other at right angles thereto. The accelerometers monitor accelerations by the tractor to establish its position relative to its starting point and to its deviations from the line of travel.

Abstract: A toy kitchen play center device is disclosed which includes, in a unitary structure, a simulated stove, cooking range, kitchen sink, cabinet/refrigerator, telephone, kitchen canopy and ventilation unit, and further includes a folding table which is pivotably connected to one side of the stove and pivotable between an upright and raised position into a folded position parallel to the side of the stove. The kitchen play center has an upright wall panel structure which serves to support the canopy at one end, the canopy being carried at the other end by a vertical upright such that the canopy extends over the stove top. The toy kitchen play center is particularly designed to be compact in form to facilitate storage and shipping thereof.

Abstract: A hydraulic control arrangement for actuating a lifting mechanism of an agricultural machine has a hydraulic motor arranged to lift and lower at least one member of a lifting mechanism, a hydraulic pressure medium source, a directional control valve arranged to control the hydraulic motor, a structural element having a bending elasticity arranged so that forces transmitted from the lifting mechanism member in a machine housing are at least partially transmitted via the structural element and the latter is bent, and a hydromechanical transformer having two parts movable relative to one another and a hydraulic control circuit for controlling the directional control valve and arranged so that bending of the structural element is used by the transformer as an adjusting member, wherein the structural element is directly formed as these parts movable relative to one another and influencing in a pressure medium streams through the transformer, and the parts include a first part which is hollow, has bending elasticit

Abstract: The machine is coupled to a standard tractor, and normally slides over the ground on a skid plate as the vehicle moves forward. A film roll is supported on the machine in a position to be unwound, and the film is progressively deposited on the ground behind the skid plate. Groove-forming structure under the skid plate are disposed centrally inward from the edges of the film roll, and following wheels depress the edges of the film into the groove. Scraper plates then move earth into the grooves, entrapping the edges of the film.

Abstract: The normally horizontal frame of a wheeled farm implement, such as used for tillage purposes, has a center section at the ends of which are hinged a pair of wing sections that are fully foldable into overlying, substantially parallel relationship to the center section through use of hydraulic cylinder assemblies. At each hinge a pair of links, pivotally connected to corresponding hinge straps, have a common pivotal connection at their upper ends with the piston rod of the cylinder. A pintle-receiving slot, strategically located in the wing section hinge strap not only permits limited rise and fall of the wing section over uneven terrain but causes smooth swinging movements of the wing sections to and from their folded conditions. Entirely eliminated is free falling of the wing sections because of constant control by the hydraulic assemblies made possible by abutment at all times of the spring-loaded pintles against one end of the slots.

Abstract: This plow is unique, in that it is pulled manually, and is designed for garden use. Primarily, it consists of an aluminum frame with a pair of handle grips on one end, and the other end includes a plow blade attached to the center of the frame. It further includes a pair of runners, which support the frame on the ground surface. In one embodiment of the plow, when it is not being manually operated, the plow may be pulled in the opposite direction by a toy vehicle operated by a child.

Abstract: A tractor guidance apparatus includes a laterally adjustable sight equipped with a reverse pendulum whereby an upright pivotal sight needle is moved in the same transverse direction as the depending pendulum in response to pivotal movement of the pendulum.

Abstract: An apparatus of the type designed to drill a plurality of equidistantly spaced bores of differing diameters in a lawn. The bores of smaller diameters are intended to aerate the lawn to provide holes into which seeds, water, and fertilizer can be deposited. Bores of larger diameters are intended to receive plugs of grass. The apparatus has the general appearance of a conventional lawnmower, having a planar in configuration base member and an insulated handle pivotally attached thereto. A linkage is provided to raise and lower the base member responsive to repositioning of the handle member. The drill bits are provided with welded ridges or heat treated flanges and are connected in driven relation to a motor mounted upwardly of the base member by a pulley and belt arrangement that differs depending upon the number of drill bits provided for a specific embodiment of the invention.

Abstract: A hinge connection for a wheel supporting, segmented cross shaft of a winged implement permits the wing to be folded to a transport position in any raised or lowered position of the implement. The hinge connection includes a pin carried by a laterally outer end of the main frame segment of the cross shaft which cooperates with a pair of slots in legs extending from the adjacent end of a wing frame segment of the cross shaft.

Abstract: An adjustable cultivator tool holder for attachment to, and use with a multi-row cultivator system, is disclosed. An elongated tool bar is attached to a tractor and carries a plurality of adjustable cultivator tool holders. Each such tool holder, in turn, supports cultivating tools such as plows. The spacing of the plows, with respect to each other, in response to crop row spacing, is accomplished by sliding tool carrying collars or sleeves along frame arms which carry the sleeves. These sleeves can be secured in a desired position by the use of quick change pins or the like. Each tool carrying sleeve and its tool can be completely removed from the tool holder and moved to another frame arm, if desired, to maximize tool wear. A number of different cultivator tools can be secured to the adjustable cultivator tool holder in accordance with the disclosed invention.

Abstract: A combination implement for agricultural cultivation has a main frame liftably connectable with a pulling or dragging machine and supporting a cultivating device, and an auxiliary frame carrying a crumbler roller which supports the combination implement during cultivation and is adjustable relative to the main frame, wherein a supporting member is provided between the main frame and the auxiliary frame and has a play so that the main frame with the cultivating device arranged thereon can be upwardly deflected relative to the auxiliary frame or the crumbler roller during the cultivation.

Abstract: An aquatic exercise device for use in a swimming pool or the like comprising a substantially rectangular, flat rigid fluid resistance member having an adjustable substantially U-shaped hand gripping member disposed in fixed spaced relation relative to the surface of the substantially rectangular flat rigid fluid resistance member by a pair of substantially parallel interconnecting members and a wrist guide including a flat rigid stability member extending in a coplanar relation relative to the substantially rectangular flat rigid fluid resistance member to engage the user's wrist and a substantially J-shaped axial alignment member extending from one longitudinal edge of flat rigid stability member to receive the user's wrist such that the user grasps the adjustable substantially U-shaped hand gripping member while placing his wrist within the substantially J-shaped axial alignment member whereby the user moves the aquatic exercise device through the water to create a significant resistance on the substantiall

Abstract: A hitch control system includes a position control lever coupled to a transducer which produces desired position signals, a draft force sensor and a hitch position sensor. A push-button switch is mounted in the control lever housing. A signal processor stores selected values of the sensed draft force in response to actuation of the push-button switch. The signal processor generates position error signals from the desired position and sensed position signals, and generates a load error signal from the sensed draft force and the stored selected draft force values. The hitch is controlled as a function of these errors.

Abstract: A plow beam 4 is coupled to a tractor chassis 1 by a three-point linkage having a top link 9 and two bottom links 3. The top link 9 is a double acting control ram 23 which has hydraulic couplings 26,28,25 and 27 which cross-couple the control ram 23 to a double acting sensor ram 21 so that expansion of one ram produces contraction of the other. The sensor ram 21 is coupled between a pivot 17 at the head of the lift rod 18 of a conventional lift mechanism for the plow, and a pivot 22 on the tractor chassis. Movement of the lift rod 18 due to height variation of the plow beam 4 actuates the sensor ram 21 to vary the length of the top link 9, so as to vary the pitch attitude of the plow. Good land profile following is achieved by a high rate of change of pitch at normal working depth. A lower rate of change is achieved as the plow is raised out of work.

Abstract: A vibrating earth ripping machine which includes a main frame and a vibrating frame which is pivotally connected to the main frame by a pair of movable thrust absorbing arms. The vibrating frame extends beyond the main frame rear end, and is secured to a transversely extending tool bar having a plurality of downwardly projecting ripper tines detachably secured thereto. A mass is rotatably mounted on the tool bar for eccentric mass distribution during rotation about a horizontal axis. A resilient vibration damping system is mounted between the main frame and vibrating frame to damp vibratory movement imparted to the vibrating frame by the rotating mass.

Abstract: A turf conditioning apparatus includes a supporting bar suitably attached to a commercial tractor-mower and a netting suspended from it so as to engage the ground surface immediately after the tractor-mower. A chain or like weighted member is attached to and extends across the width of the netting to insure engagement of the remaining rearward portion of the netting with the ground. Conventional operation of the tractor-mower causes the netting to be dragged across the ground surface and thereby condition same.

Abstract: The machine is attached to a standard tractor, and has a pair of sweeping rotors driven by an hydraulic system. The rotors are mounted on a pair of booms, respectively, pivotally connected to a structure carried by the tractor so that the booms can be swung laterally to selected positions determining the width of the path of operation. The weight of the rotors, and of the rear portions of the booms, is carried on skid discs forming part of each rotor.

Abstract: A figurine having a form retaining shape. The figurine comprises a body portion and a head portion connected with the body portion. The body portion comprises (i) a tubular outer covering, (ii) a fill material substantially filling the tubular outer covering, and (iii) a piece of elastic extending along at least a part of the tubular outer covering. The piece of elastic is in a partially tensioned state resulting from being fixedly secured under a state of high tension to at least two points spaced apart along the length of the tubular covering and then being allowed to relax to a partially tensioned state and being held in the partially tensioned state by the tubular outer covering. The piece of elastic allows the body portion to be manually deformed against that bias. The piece of elastic returns the body portion to the predetermined shape when the deforming forces are removed.

Abstract: A conventional non-electrical draft/position responsive hitch control system is modified to respond to an electrical control signal derived from sensed engine droop and wheel slip.

Abstract: A rearwardly folding wing-back implement has a V-shaped frame configuration comprising two wing sections having the apex of the V-shape located at a pivot point where the wing sections are joined. A towing linkage minimizes the pulling forces being applied to the wing sections other than those pulling forces applied in the direction of movement of the implement. The implement may be pivoted rearwardly about the pivot point when transport is desired.