Abstract: A mower deck height control is provided for a riding lawn mower and which includes a control lever operatively connected to the mower deck of the mower by means of linkages and chains. The control lever is pivotally movably mounted between a pair of vertically disposed and horizontally spaced-apart plates having registering openings formed therein which are adapted to receive a pin extending therebetween to limit the downward movement of the control lever with respect to the plates so that the proper cutting height is achieved. The control lever may be also positioned in a transport position.

Abstract: A blade drive clutch and brake for a lawn mower including an engine having a drive shaft extending downwardly therefrom and which has a drive sheave thereon. A clutch arm is movably mounted below and rearwardly of the engine drive shaft sheave and supports a vertically disposed, rotatable jackshaft thereon. An upper sheave is mounted on the upper end of the jackshaft and is connected to the engine drive shaft sheave by an upper belt. A lower sheave is mounted on the lower end of the jackshaft and has a drive belt extending therearound which is connected to the sheaves on the cutting blades located in the mower deck. A lever is connected to the clutch arm for moving the clutch arm between engaged and disengaged positions. When the clutch arm is in its disengaged position, the blade drive belt pulls the clutch arm and jackshaft forwardly so that the upper belt is in a non-driving position.

Abstract: Vegetation cutting apparatus having a frontal housing deck overlies at least three rotary blade cutters arrayed leftwardly, medially, and rightwardly for simultaneously cutting a continuous transversely extending swath and centifugally discharging the cuttings through a central and rearwardly longitudinally extending cuttings chute. The vertical shaft for each horizontal rotary blade carries a sheave; a belt transmission means, emanating from a powered gearbox, drives the respective blade sheaves and also a reversing sheave, the latter ensuring that the arrayed rotary blades direct vegetation cuttings toward the central discharge chute. A novel spring-loaded device maintains constant tension upon the circuitous belt transmission means.

Abstract: Steering sulkies of the present invention are based upon the "crank/steering-rod" mechanical principle but provide profound refinements thereover. Cranking is provided at first and at second stations. At the first cranking station, preferably overlapping left-link and right-link effect simultaneous rotation of the two sulky wheels about their transversely separated vertical axes in response to towing vehicle steering; such first crank is contingently abuttable against blocking stops to prevent sulky jackknifing. The second crank, which is co-rotatable with the first crank, is connected to the rearward end of elongate steering-rod that herein intersects the frame longitudinal-axis before being terminally connected to a frontal hitch. A preferred hitch provides a convenient, reliable, and multi-directional flexural connection between a lawn-mower or other towing vehicle and the trailing self-steering sulky.

Abstract: An upright metering panel is installed on the cleaning shoe assembly of a combine which has a configuration to distribute the grain being cleaned over a substantial portion of the lateral width of the chaffer part of the shoe assembly.

Abstract: The crop material or straw discharged from the rear of a combine is spread by a pair of counterrotating spreaders which are vertically and laterally offset from one another and are operative to evenly spread the crop material over a header cut of substantial width. The speed of rotation of the spreaders can be adjusted to change the width of spread. The spreaders can also be adjusted to make them more or less aggressive in throw of discharged crop material. The bottom spreader uses a disc and blades to facilitate catching and spreading discharged material.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester has a grain bin with an oblique side wall section at one lateral side of the grain bin presenting a discharge opening, an unloading tube with an end portion pivotally mounted on the oblique side wall section for swinging movement about the axis of the discharge opening, and a linear hydraulic actuator and support structure therefor disposed in a pocket in the one lateral side of the grain bin. The cylinder and piston components of the actuator are pivotally connected, respectively, to the support structure and the unloading tube. A grain bin auger is disposed in the bottom of the grain bin, an unloading auger is disposed in the unloading tube and an inclined intermediate auger has its opposite ends connected to ends of the grain bin auger and the unloading tube auger by universal joints. An alignment adjustment joint is provided in the unloading tube to permit offsetting the effect of tolerance buildup occurring in manufacture of the unloading tube and its support structure.

Abstract: A mobile agricultural harvester has a crop header connected to the harvester main frame for vertical swinging movement by a pair of pivot collars held against a pair of upright posts by releasable fasteners.

Abstract: A self-propelled harvester or combine is provided with a bifolding panel structure at the lateral side thereof on which a bin unloader tube is swingable from an outwardly extending unloading position to a transport position alongside the panel structure. When the unloader tube is in its transport position, the lower part of the panel structure can be pivoted about its pivot connection with the upper part of the panel structure between closed and open positions, but the unloading tube in its transport position prevents opening the upper part of the panel structure. When the unloader tube is raised, the upper part can be moved from its closed to its open position.A linear air spring or actuator biasingly maintains the lower part of the panel structure in whichever of its open and closed positions it is placed, and when the upper part is swung to its open position, it is maintained in that position by the linear actuator.

Abstract: The tailings may be returned to the threshing section of the combine for re-threshing or, at the option of the operator, routed to the cleaning section without passing through the threshing section.

Abstract: A double door fan inlet screen (56, 57) on the bottom of a combine serves to screen foreign material from air flowing to a fan (46) and provide access for service personnel to an interior cavity (103) of the combine. The screen doors (56, 57) are held in their closed position by a latch mechanism (74, 79) which is releasable by operation of a rod (94) having a handle portion (97') extending to one lateral side of the combine.

Abstract: A pair of tensioning mechanisms (56, 57) for an idler drum (47) of a conveyor (28) transferring crop material from the header (21) to the processor (31) of a harvester are located entirely within the conveyor housing (22). Each tensioning mechanism (56, 57) includes an arm (66 or 67) secured by a combined pivot and lost motion connection (88, 91, 93, 96 or 89, 92, 94, 97) to the conveyor housing side walls (41, 42) and biased by a tension spring (104 or 106) disposed at its inboard side.