Abstract: A chaff spreader for attachment to a combine includes a pair of spaced circular mounting rings, each having a fan rotatably mounted therein. An elongated drive shaft extends between the fans and is connected to a belt and pulled drive system for rotating the fans. A semi-cylindrical shroud is secured between the mounting rings and partially surrounds the fans. An open side wall portion of the shroud is directed forwardly toward the sieve of the combine for inducting chaff through the fans and laterally outwardly from the combine. The belt and pulley drive system is connected to a pulley on a straw chopper section of the combine. In a second embodiment, a generator driven light is mounted on the combine, adjacent the fans to serve as a warning to indicate fan rotation. The shaft spreader collects chaff through a suction effect created by the fans and spreads chaff evenly across the width of the cut, eliminating the toxic effect to seedlings growing through a concentration of chaff residue.

Abstract: A clutch and brake apparatus for being mounted in a housing comprises first clutch having an annular shape and second clutch functioning as a brake adjacent the first clutch, the second clutch having an annular shape and being concentrically disposed with the first clutch. A pressure plate is mounted for non-rotating movement toward and away from the first and second clutches for selectively engaging at least one of the first and second clutches and for holding the pressure plate in a rotationally stationary position with respect to the housing and second clutch. Structure is provided for urging the pressure plate toward both the first and second clutches and is operable to engage the first clutch. Roller bearings are interposed between the first clutch and the pressure plate to permit relative movement between the pressure plate and the first clutch.

Abstract: An overdrive transmission for a motor vehicle has a housing with a rotatably mounted driving shaft and a rotatably mounted driven shaft. A planetary gear device is used to transmit power from the driving shaft to the driven shaft. In two of the illustrated embodiments, when the transmission is in the direct drive mode the planet gear carrier of the planet gear device is allowed to rotate and is engaged with the driven shaft by a clutch for power transmission at a 1:1 ratio, and when in the overdrive mode the planet gear carrier is prevented from rotation by another clutch and is disengaged from the driven shaft for power transmission to the driven shaft through the planetary gears of the planetary gear device at an increased gear ratio.