Abstract: One or more replaceable cutting blade tips and a central mounting bar comprise a blade assembly. Each of the replaceable cutting blade tips can be selectively attached to the central mounting bar without the use of tools. During typical operation, the replaceable cutting blade tips snugly fit relative to the central mounting bar and little, if any, relative pivoting therebetween is evident. However, some relative pivoting can occur when exceptional loads are encountered by the replaceable cutting blade tips such as when an obstacle such as a rock is encountered. In such an instance, a tearable "zipper" is provided which allows the blade tip to "tear" its way through the zipper while pivoting, thus advantageously providing a means for dissipating energy. Also provided is a "family of bars" concept which reduces inventory, reduces tooling expenses, and facilitates efficient and correspondingly low cost blade tips due to the volumes possible.

Abstract: A lawn mower is provided having improved steering controls, namely a "trim" feature which may be adjusted while the mower is in a forward speed setting. Further provided is a park lock feature which locks the speed controls of the mower. Finally, a neutral latch feature is provided which becomes engaged when the left and fight steering controls of the mower are simultaneously position in either a neutral or a reverse position.

Abstract: A close-trim discharge deflector for a lawn mower is disclosed. The deflector is pivotable both horizontally and vertically at its leading edge using a T-shaped swivel. The shaft of the T provides one hinge pin and the cross piece incorporates the other. A single spring attached between the mower deck and the deflector biases the deflector in a horizontal and extended position. During mowing, objects that contact the deflector either swing it back or up out of the way. Also, the deflector may be swung up out of the way of a bagger attachment. In addition, the deflector may be latched back to take up less storage space.

Abstract: A bagger attachment for grass mowers provides a powered auger having an inlet adjacent to the mower deck discharge opening and an outlet adjacent to the upper ends of bags mounted on hoop-like supports. The auger is shaped to produce a dense column of clippings and the like which densely fill first the bag adjacent to the auger discharge and subsequently the bag remote from the auger discharge. Air entrained with the clippings is exhausted before the columns are discharged, the upper ends of the bags are open and accessible to the mower operator so that he can observe the filling thereof and also insert stones and the like. The mower deck is provided with a raised wall portion and a baffle arranged to create optimum flow of the clippings into the auger. The upper side of the auger tube is provided with a hinged cover permitting access to the auger. Such cover is shaped to resist rotation of the clippings and improve auger efficiency.

Abstract: The forage receiving container box of a crop transporting vehicle is tiltable between a stowed position and a tilted operating position, and includes an unloading elevator spout that is shiftable by a position-control mechanism between stowed and extended positions simultaneously with the shifting of the container box from its stowed to tilted position. Tilting of the container box is accomplished by a first piston and cylinder assembly, and the motion imparted by the first piston and cylinder assembly is transmitted to the elevator by a normally retracted, second piston and cylinder assembly acting in the nature of a rigid link. Additionally, the second piston and cylinder assembly may be extended independently of the first assembly for lowering of the elevator independently of the position of the crop container box.

Abstract: The rectangular forage receiving box or hopper of a crop transporting vehicle is stowed in a compacted, generally upright and squared-up position for over-the-road travel, yet may be rotated into a tilted more spacious and functional position for field operations. When in its field operating position, the bottom of the box is inclined upwardly and outwardly toward an unfolded spout along which crop materials can be conveyed to unload the contents of the box on-the-go into a moving truck pulled alongside of the vehicle and beneath the overhanging spout. The conveyor may be selectively deactivated when the truck is filled and until the next empty truck is moved into position, during which intermediate time the harvesting operations may continue and materials may be temporarily accumulated within the box.

Abstract: The forage receiving container box of a crop transporting vehicle has a shiftable top that may be closed down to compact the box for over-the-road travel without exceeding applicable roading height and width restrictions and may be projected up when the box is prepared for field operations whereby to expand the holding capacity of the box. When the box is rotated from its over-the-road position to its field-operating position, an unloading spout may be swung down from one lateral side of the box to come into alignment with the upwardly and outwardly inclined floor of the box whereby a conveyor extending along the floor and the spout may be utilized to unload the box on-the-go into a truck or trailer pulled alongside the moving box. Projecting up the top of the box or closing it down is coordinated with moving the box between its field-operating and over-the-road positions, particularly with respect to swinging of the unloading spout between its stowed and operating positions.

Abstract: The cylinder supports a series of knives at its outer periphery which extend generally parallel to the axis of rotation of the cylinder, spanning a plurality of supporting bulkheads that are provided with special mounting assemblies which adjustably attach the knives thereto. The knives are positioned in such a way that in order to adjust the radial position of a cutting edge, the knives are adjustably shifted either inwardly or outwardly in a direction that is normal to the plane of the knives being adjusted. As a result of a degree of inherent flexibility of the knives, certain of the attaching points may be adjustably positioned more inwardly or outwardly than others by causing the knives to flex appropriately at the needed locations. Each attaching or mounting assembly includes a pair of threadably interengaged components, one of which shifts inwardly and outwardly upon rotation of the other so as to correspondingly position the proximal knife portion after a clamping bolt has been sufficiently released.

Abstract: Actuation of a valve is prevented under certain circumstances wherein an axially reciprocable stem connected to the valve has shoulders thereon, which shoulders are selectively engageable by shiftable blocking bars.

Abstract: The shearbar of a forage chopper, positioned in such a way that direct access thereto for adjustment purposes is obstructed by other adjacent structures and mechanisms, is provided with an adjuster which may be manipulated at a point remote from the shearbar itself under conditions providing free, uninhibited access to the adjuster. A cam in the nature of a wedge is shifted infinitely along a path of travel that causes responsive shifting of the shearbar assembly along a path of travel extending toward and away from the chopper when a setscrew is released to permit such shifting on the part of the assembly.

Abstract: A multilayer, free-standing stack of bales is built from the bottom up in a machine that forms each successive layer and then raises the layer directly overhead to retaining structure that supports the layer, as well as any others above it, at a high enough elevation to avoid interference with the formation of the next layer therebelow. After the stack has been completely built by raising successive layers up to the retaining structure, the stack may be discharged out of the machine while still in an upright condition and at any selected one of a number of vertical positions, e.g., onto the ground or onto the bed of an awaiting tractor-trailer.

Abstract: A three-bale load is accumulated on the trailer as bales issue from the rear of the baler, whereupon the accumulated bales may be dumped all at the same location or singly as may be desired. Successive bales issuing from the baler arrive at a central platform from which they are alternately distributed to laterally disposed side platforms in an automated procedure. Once a side platform receives its bale, lockout mechanism prevents the transfer device from presenting the side platform with another bale until such time as the previous bale has been dumped. Once a bale has been dumped from a platform, the transfer device is automatically actuated, if indeed the next bale is ready to be transferred, for loading of the next bale onto the awaiting side platform.

Abstract: A three-bale load is accumulated on the trailer as bales issue from the rear of the baler, whereupon the accumulated bales may be dumped all at the same location or singly as may be desired. Successive bales issuing from the baler arrive at a central platform from which they are alternately distributed to laterally disposed side platforms in an automated procedure. Once a side platform receives its bale, lockout mechanism prevents the transfer device from presenting the side platform with another bale until such time as the previous bale has been dumped. Once a bale has been dumped from a platform, the transfer device is automatically actuated, if indeed the next bale is ready to be transferred, for loading of the next bale onto the awaiting side platform.