Abstract: A soil working machine has a working member with element blades and a scraping member that releases clods cut out by the working member so that the clods drop to the ground. Both of the members can be positively driven in the same direction about horizontal axes, but the scraping member can also be rotated by contact with the ground. Preferably, the blades are secured to support discs and extend axially of the working member. Scraping elements on arms of the scraping member project between the blades of adjacent support discs and have vanes which also extend almost axially. During rotation, the vanes are moved to intersect the paths of the blades and to remove the clods. Other forms of scraping members are described. The scraping member ensures that soil is wiped from the blades, to avoiding clogging of the working member and a consequent increased power requirement. Also, the cut clods are preferably replaced upside down by the action of the members.

Abstract: A tractor having three sets of twin pneumatic tires mounted on wheels on each side of the tractor, a track being received around three, in one embodiment and two in the other of such pneumatic tires. In each embodiment only the rearmost set of wheels is powered directly from an axle rather than via the track. The track is a belt of flexible material which in the first embodiment has a plurality of traction members secured thereto by bolts extending through the belt and secured on the inner side by a strip opposite the traction members, such strip having a V-shaped portion which is received between the twin tires to retain the track in place. Each such traction member includes a part flush to the belt through which the bolts are received, a further part extending from the first part outwardly and normally to the belt and a ground engaging part extending from the second part in a direction parallel to the belt.

Abstract: A time clock and/or computer system has a central management office with readout communication to factory work stations. Work instructions to the work stations are displayed for the foreman who prints or punches a working order. The order together with worker ID are fed to a time clock at the station before and after the job. Signals to a terminal at the station indicate delays to the foreman and management.

Abstract: An overload coupling member is used as a strut to interconnect the upper link of a tractor lift device with an implement, such as a cultivator. The member includes two portions that are moved towards one another upon overload to allow the implement to pivot upwardly on the other two links. One portion has an inner end sleeve pivoted to a further sleeve on the other portion's inner end and relative movement between the two portions is prevented by a shear pin that extends into an opening of the sleeves. Upon overload, the pin shears and the portions jack-knife until the lift raises the implement past the obstacle and the implement is then lowered. The inner opening end is normally closed by an abutment member, but when the portions are pivoted, the opening is exposed and a severed pin portion falls out. The shear pin can have a number of severable portions and be spring biased to slide in a holder and establish rigid connection between the two portions a number of times.

Abstract: A tractor having two power units supported on respective frame portions which are pivotably connected in tandem, each power unit operatively connected to its respective fore or after axle which respectively mounts four or six wheels. The frame portions supporting the power units are joined between the fore and aft axles by vertical and horizontal solid steel pivotable shafts so as to be pivotable within limits about both a vertical axis and a horizontal axis aligned with the longitudinal axis of the tractor. Hydraulic piston and cylinder units extending from the frame portion of one power unit to the other on either side of the vertical pivotable shaft provide steering from controls located in a cabin suspended by an inverted "U" structure included in the frame portion of the after power unit. Both power units are provided with large capacity fuel tanks which extend transversely above each set of wheels and have a configuration whereby they function as fenders or mudguards.

Abstract: A plow has coupling members at its forward side for connection to a multi-point hitch of a tractor. Furrow slicing members at the front form furrow slices which are elevated to furrow turning drums during operation. The furrow slices are turned about their longitudinal axes and deposited to the rear by the rotating drums. The drums are mounted on rollers and driven preferably by a hydraulic motor to rotate about upwardly and forwardly extending axes at variable speeds so that the angle through which each slice is turned can be adjusted depending on the soil condition. Projections within the drums turn the furrow slices which can be inverted and deposited to the rear. Also, an upper guide roller or auger can be located above the drums to guide and/or laterally displace the slices as they enter the drums.

Abstract: An articulated agricultural tractor of 100 horsepower or more having front and rear portions connected by an articulation joint, there being only one axle in each portion. The articulation joint is located just inside a vertical plane tangent to the rear treads of the front wheels mounted on the front axle. The engine and its casing are mounted completely forward to the front axle. Each axle carries four wheels with pneumatic tires mounted thereon, all wheels being of the same diameter. The rear portion of the tractor's body is narrow, about the same width or less as seen in plan of each of the tires. The operator's cab and seat are located directly over the rear axle where the operator can see rows just inside all of the front wheels. A three-point lifting device and towing bar extend rearwardly from the rear portion with the lower links of the lifting device or bar part extending normally outwardly relative to the body of the tractor in the vicinity of adjacent central tires.

Abstract: A haymaking machine has a substantially horizontal main frame beam with lateral carriers which are pivotable upwardly and downwardly relative to the main beam. The pivots define horizontal axes and pivoting takes place between a working position in which the beam and carriers are substantially horizontally aligned, and an inoperative transport position in which the carriers are turned upwardly relative to the frame beam through 90.degree. or more. Breakage of, or other serious damage to the drive transmission to rotary rake members of the machine is prevented by drivingly connecting a rotary shaft within the main frame beam to the rotary shaft segments housed within the carrier by double universal couplings which still allow the shaft segments to be driven when they are inclined to the main beam at 90.degree. or more. Also, the carriers mount crop guides that can be pivoted about horizontal axes and/or displaced relative to the rake members so as to function during either tedding or swath forming.

Abstract: A plow is structured to wholly or partly invert a furrow slice during operation. The furrow slice is cut loose by a leading V-shaped blade and is both compressed, and deflected laterally towards a side wall of the frame by a plurality of rotary lateral displacing rollers arranged in a row inclined to the direction of travel. The rollers are preferably of progressively increasing size towards the rear and co-operate with a soil guide surface at the rear of the plow in turning the furrow slice about an axis which extends in the direction of travel to deposit the slice substantially completely back into the furrow from which it was originally cut. In one version, the row of displacing rollers leads to a power-driven rotary soil guide unit of annular formation, the inverted furrow slice being delivered back into the furrow from which it was cut through the interior of the unit.

Abstract: A standard model truck or trailer having a rear load bearing axle with two side-by-side pneumatic tires mounted on wheels at both ends of the axle is provided. A further set of like side-by-side rear wheels with pneumatic tires are connected to the vehicle's main frame by depending carriers pivoted thereto. The rear wheels are rearwardly biased by a compression spring and may be selectively moved forwardly or rearwardly in an arc about their pivotable connection by a hydraulic piston and cylinder arrangement. An endless tread-type track can be mounted around the succeeding pairs of tires on either side. Each track has two or more parts dovetailed at the ends held together by a spring steel rod inserted in openings therethrough, each opening being defined by a polygonal tube which receives the rod whereby it cannot rotate. The rod is maintained in place by a detent member.

Abstract: A tractor of acceptable width for highway travel having a narrow body portion between the front and rear wheels, such width being less than the width of each pneumatic tire mounted on the wheels. Four side-by-side rotatably mounted tires on each axle have narrow body portions disposed centrally and closely between them, such body portions having an articulated connection about a vertical axis at the after part of the front wheels with the forward body portion extending forward from the front wheels where it mounts the engine and fuel tanks in a body part which is substantially wider than the portions to the rear thereof. The engine powers the front wheels and a power transmitting linkage connects it with the rear wheels through the front and rear body portions which, with lateral projections, house a differentials and the necessary shaft bearings.

Abstract: A tank wagon for transporting liquid material has a suction pump for drawing liquid material into the tank. Various sensing devices are used to prevent over filling so that material drawn into the tank does not reach the pump. In one form, a float valve in the vacuum conduit shuts the same and/or electrodes are positioned to sense the material level and energize a relay-operated switch that stops the engine driving the pump. Several indicators in the form of lamps or an acoustic horn are operated by short-circuiting electrodes within the tank and give a signal or indication of the liquid level within the tank. In a further embodiment, a float within the tank actuates an ammeter outside the tank to give a signal or reading of the liquid level within the tank.

Abstract: A tank wagon includes an elongated tank for transporting liquid material on a frame supported by at least one wheel set. The center line of the tank extends in an inclined direction in a forward direction. The lowermost point of the tank is in front of the wheel set with respect to the normal direction of wagon travel. The tank is composed by at least two substantially cylindrical compartments of different diameters. The compartment having the smaller diameter is rearmost and located directly above the wheel set. The two tank compartments have center lines that extend at different levels and parallel to one another. The wagon is stable in operation and its construction is such that emptying the wagon of its contents is facilitated through a tube that interconnects the lowermost points of the compartments. Preferably, the smaller diameter compartment is joined to the front compartment so that the center line of the former is substantially above that of the latter.

Abstract: Two spreading mechanisms disposed substantially completely across a rear outlet of a container-hopper having a movable deck, the spreader comprising a pair of two-part distribution members which rotate about vertical shafts which are disposed close to the edge of the deck. The upper part has four sets of resilient tines extending from angle irons spaced outwardly from the rotary shaft, the tines being bent at their ends and connected to the angle irons via coils whereby they are resiliently forced backward in their rotation through the fertilizer, usually manure, and when released resiliently spring forward whereby material engaged by the tines if flung outwardly. On the same shaft the lower part is a disc type ejector extending in substantial part under the moving deck to receive fertilizer which the tines miss. A freely rotatable guide member surrounds the shaft between the ejector and the tined portion to preclude material from winding around the shaft.

Abstract: A plow has spaced apart furrow cutters and a furrow elevating structure that loosens and raises a continuous wide furrow strip to a furrow turning device during plow travel. The turning device can be an open ended drum that is rotated or stationary. Within the drum, a worm conveyor is rotated that first engages and depresses the furrow top, but as the furrow strip passes through the drum, it is inverted and to some extent, winds around the conveyor so that the furrow strip has a cross section that resembles an inverted shallow U. The inverted and deformed strip is deposited in the furrow being formed. The conveyor is normally located about centrally of the drum interior so that the furrow strip top is first engaged by the conveyor's lower surfaces, but as the strip is urged through the drum, it is inverted and supported on top of the conveyor before being deposited to the rear. The method of cutting, inverting and depositing the deformed continuous furrow strip is claimed.

Abstract: A tractor trailer, the trailer being a cylindrical tank for transporting liquid material having a set of supporting wheels about one-quarter of its length from its rear wall. On level ground, the tank is inclined downwardly forwardly at an angle of about 3.5.degree. and has a framework extending from its front wall about midway of its height, a drawpin depending from the front of the frame for connection to the tractor being intersected by an extension of the tank's longitudinal center line. The frame supports a pressure-vacuum pump connected through a conduit to a dome at the rear of the tank for exerting pressure or creating a vacuum within the tank's interior. The tank has a central vertical baffle, extending its length and having openings at the top and bottom, and two transverse baffles which divide the tank into three parts of about equal volume also having openings at the top and the bottom. Pipes extend outboard from the tank's forward bottom which have ports.

Abstract: A tank for transporting liquid, in the composite, is constructed of three tank parts, two of which are elongated cylindrical tanks inclined downwardly to the rear at about 4.5.degree. and are spaced apart a short distance. At the rear, the two tanks connect rigidly with a further third cylindrical shorter tank also inclined to the rear, such third tank being supported by a set of wheels and having its lower side at about the center line of the two forward tanks. The third tank is connected to one of the other tanks to provide between them a common tank space. There are thus two contiguous tank spaces, one in an elongated forward tank and another in the other elongated forward tank and the rear tank.

Abstract: A roller for crumbling soil has round support plates arranged at spaced apart intervals along the axis of rotation of the roller. The plates are profiled with a saw-tooth configuration having folds and projections. Elongated elements, preferably bars, are fixed to the projections to extend generally parallel to the axis of rotation. The elements are T-shaped in cross section with the crossbar and upright of each T being connected to the peripheries of the plates leaving a space. The roller can be assembled by securing cross struts to the end plates, and passing the struts through the spaces. The intermediate plates are loosely held in position with the struts that bear on the peripheries of those plates. Thereafter, the bars can be welded or otherwise fixed to the plates' peripheries.

Abstract: A cultivating implement has a row of soil working members mounted along the length of an elongated portion of the implement frame. The members are rotatable about upwardly extending shafts that are geared to an overlying common driving shaft and an imput shaft drives the driving shaft through a change speed gear secured at one lateral side of the frame portion. The common driving shaft is located below the imput shaft and both shafts extend transverse to the direction of travel. The change speed gear includes interchangeable pinions housed within a box at the lateral side of the frame portion.

Abstract: A rotary harrow or cultivator has a frame that supports a plurality of soil working members arranged in a row that extends transverse to the direction of travel. The frame includes two linked portions and one portion is connected to a rear support roller that regulates the working depth of the implement. A dispensing mechanism, including a plurality of delivery members, is mounted on the implement and the delivery members are carried on a common support that extends transverse to the direction of travel. The common support is interconnected to the roller so that material is dropped as the roller levels the worked soil.