Abstract: A tilt angle control system has first and second sensors for sensing the position of the rod end portion of first and second lift jacks. A controller calculates an actual tilt angle of an implement connected to the rod end portions of the lift jacks based on a difference in the amount of extension relative to a baseline. A display device displays the actual and desired tilt angles. The controller compares the actual tilt angle to a desired tilt angle and actuates a fluid operated system to move one of the first and second jacks in response to a difference between the desired and actual tilt angles. An inclinometer sensed angle of the machine relative to a horizontal plane is added to the actual tilt angle to correct the actual tilt angle of the implement. The tilt angle control system is particularly suited for use on a bulldozer.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for rotary extraction of weeds and other vegetation by hand or by using a power driver. The apparatus includes a hollow guide tube (20) in which a shaft (16) is slidably disposed. An extraction head having a plurality of pointed rods (12) or prongs (62) is coupled to shaft (16), and can be extended or retracted by movement of shaft (16) within the guide tube (20). The rods (12) or prongs (62) are extended and inserted into the soil over the vegetation to be removed. Rotation of the apparatus winds the vegetation and its root around the rods (12) or prongs (62) and removes it from the soil. The vegetation is then ejected from the apparatus by retracting the rods (12) or prongs (62) and, if necessary, sliding the vegetation off of the tapered sleeve (30).

Abstract: A railroad maintenance device distributes, regulates and reclaims ballast along a railway road bed. The device includes one or more hopper cars for transporting and depositing ballast, a regulating car including a track regulator, a shoulder regulator, and an extensible plow arm for reclaiming ballast deposited at a distance from the shoulder of the road bed. The hopper cars include radio controlled gates for the remote control of ballast depositing operations, and a computer controlled system for optimizing the distribution of ballast according to predetermined parameters. A bucket elevator is located rearwardly of the track regulator for lifting excess ballast from the road bed, and a belt conveyor transports the lifted ballast to a hopper car.

Abstract: A device for working the ground comprising a frame and a plurality of discs. Each disc is rotatably mounted on a shaft which is provided on the free end of a pivotable standing shaft. In order to prevent jamming of the discs by earth thrown up by adjacent discs, each standing shaft is placed on the concave side of its associated disc. The shafts are inclined relative to the ground, thus providing an improved working of the ground. The spacing between adjacent discs is adjustable as is the orientation of the discs.

Abstract: A gardening utility machine having a counter-rotation twin shaft system can perform multiple types of work required for gardening (tilting, soil removal, weeding, racking and shredding of leaves), snow/ice removal and for power de-thatching and mowing of lawn grass. This can be done by exchanging attachments on the counter-rotating twin shafts: if tines are installed on the twin shafts, soil tilling, weeding can be done; if auger blades with or without digging bits are in place instead, the machine can simultaneously till and remove soil or can remove ice/snow, or rack and shred leaves; if the front shaft is installed with a spiked roller and the rear shaft, a shearing reel, then the machine can power de-thatch and mow grass at the same time, and, additional grass clipping mulching ability can be performed if a fan blower equipped with a mulching fan blade and a retractable bedknife is in place.

Abstract: A portable draft bar is demountably attached to a horizontally disposed surface of an earth-working implement that is adjustably disposed on an earthmoving vehicle by providing an elongated draft bar that is adapted at its rear end to be driveably attached to the rear portion of a horizontally-disposable surface of an earth-working implement, such as a front end loader, and which is slidably disposed in a clamp adapted to be clamped to a forward portion of the work surface so as to provide three-dimensional stability and connection of the draft bar to the vehicle for use as, for example, in moving trailers and the like.

Abstract: An active harrow comprises a rotatable cylindrical body on the outer surface of which is mounted a plurality of tines which project outwardly for engaging the ground. The rotatable body is carried in a yoke and supported from a tool bar in a manner which allows the axis of the rotatable body to be adjusted relative to the tool bar. The tines are inclined so that they lie in axial planes but inclined relative to the radial plane of an angle in order of 20.degree. to 30.degree.. Each tine includes a main body portion and an end portion which is cranked. This orientation of the tines provides an effective harrowing action but prevents accumulation of trash.