Abstract: A hitch system for attaching an agricultural implement to a towing vehicle, includes a side mount hitch having a pair of longitudinally spaced and upwardly oriented hitch balls connected to a side of the towing vehicle and a pair of longitudinally spaced hitch arms pivotally connected to an adjacent side of the implement. Each hitch arm carries a hitch coupler adapted to engage a respective one of the hitch balls proximate its distal end. The hitch arms are moveable between a raised transport position and a lowered working position wherein the couplers engage the hitch balls. The hitch system may also include a towing hitch for connecting the implement behind the towing vehicle during transport.

Abstract: A sod harvester includes a sod cut-off system driven by a hydraulic actuator controlled by a processor in response to signals from a ground speed sensor to cut a strip of sod to a desired length. The controller also operating to control the speed of conveyors used to roll the sod into a roll. The sensor measures the rotations of a ground wheel and produces a signal which is used by a processor on the harvester to determine the distance traveled by the harvester. A control valve assembly and a high pressure hydraulic fluid accumulator provide for rapid extension of the actuators to produce a rapid downward cutting action of the cutting blades. A hydraulic motor connected in driving relationship to an outer rear wheel of the harvester provides power thereto to overcome the tendency of the tractor to drift to that side.

Abstract: An automatic net and tube feeding system for a sod harvester having a conveyor upon which rolls of sod are formed includes a net feeder comprising a supply roll from which net is dispensed, a pair of feed rollers positioned to engage a portion of the net therebetween and a motor selectively operable to turn one of the feed rollers to eject a length of net onto the conveyor. Also included in the system is a net cutter having a cutting blade pivotally mounted parallel to the feed rollers and a stop bar for locking the supply roll. The system further includes a tube feeder for dispensing core tubes around which the sod rolls are formed, the tube feeder comprising a rack having a discharge opening and a tube dispenser selectively controlling the release of individual core tubes through the discharge opening and onto the conveyor.

Abstract: A sod harvesting apparatus including a cutting unit and a sod stacking unit and which is selectively configurable to harvest sod in the form of slabs, small rolls or large rolls. The cutting unit includes at least one sod cutting blade for cutting a strip of sod from the ground, a sod cut-off mechanism which is selectively engageable to cut a strip of sod across its length at set intervals and a conveyor assembly for conveying the cut strips of sod away from said cutting blade. Roller supports, upon which a roller is removably securable are secured to the cutting unit on opposite sides of the conveyor assembly for use in forming large rolls of sod. A small roll roller attachment is removably securable to the cutting unit to extend across the conveyor assembly for flipping a leading edge of a strip of sod onto itself as it is conveyed up the conveyor assembly and causing the sod to roll upon itself for forming small rolls.

Abstract: A sod cutting device having a pair of sod cutting blades offset such that their interior ends are aligned in the direction of cutting. Two strips of sod may thus be cut simultaneously with minimal waste. The two cutting blades are connected to inidividual cutter frames which are pivotably connected to respective lateral ends of a pivot frame. The pivot frame is in turn pivotably mounted at its center to a main frame of the device. This allows each cutter frame to follow the contours of the land and thus improves cutting depth consistency. The cut sod is conveyed up a first conveyor to a second conveyor which is mounted behind the first conveyor. A netting is introduced between the two conveyors under the sod such that the sod, together with the netting thereunder, travels up the second conveyor. The sod and netting are then rolled about a mandrel with the netting supporting the delicate sod. When a sod roll of sufficient size has been formed, the second conveyor is pivoted downwardly about its forward end.

Abstract: A grader attachment for tractors includes a support designed to be secured to the frame of the tractor intermediate the front and rear wheels and projecting laterally from the tractor. An arm is pivotally coupled intermediate its ends to the support for swinging through a vertical arc. A tiltable mounting head pivotally secures a grading blade to the outermost end of the arm and the components of the attachment are arranged so that the arm and components carried thereby can be swung to a near vertical position for clearing obstacles such as may be encountered in landscaping operations.

Abstract: A sod cutting device having a pair of sod cutting blades offset such that their interior ends are aligned in the direction of cutting. Two strips of sod may thus be cut simultaneously with minimal waste. The two cutting blades are connected to individual cutter frames which are pivotably connected to respective lateral ends of a pivot frame. The pivot frame is in turn pivotably mounted at its center to a main frame of the device. This allows each cutter frame to follow the contours of the land and thus improves cutting depth consistency. The cut sod is conveyed up a first conveyor to a second conveyor which is mounted behind the first conveyor. A netting is introduced between the two conveyors under the sod such that the sod, together with the netting thereunder, travels up the second conveyor. The sod and netting are then rolled about a mandrel with the netting supporting the delicate sod. When a sod roll of sufficient size has been formed, the second conveyor is pivoted downwardly about its forward end.