Abstract: A stabilizing suspension system is provided for vehicles carrying telescopic booms or aerial work platforms having a fixed axle and a oscillating axle. Hydraulic cylinders are connected to each end of the oscillating axle, each cylinder being capable of extending and retracting. An off level sensor senses the angle of tilt of the chassis in both left and right directions and, when a predetermined threshold of tilt has been detected, the hydraulic cylinder on the downhill side of the chassis is locked against retracting, but is free to move in the downhill direction to allow the downhill wheel to remain in contact with the ground.

Abstract: An automatic leveling system for a four-wheel vehicle system having outrigger assemblies at each of the four corners of the vehicle chassis and in which each outrigger assembly has an outrigger pad and a hydraulic cylinder for moving the pad downwardly and upwardly relative to the ground. The leveling system includes a low-pressure high-flow source of hydraulic fluid which is connected for one-way flow into the head ends of all four of the cylinders to lower all pads to the ground and then maintain them in contact with the ground. A level sensor senses the relative levelness of the right front and left rear corners of the vehicle and high-pressure low-flow hydraulic fluid is connected to the head end of the cylinder at the lower of those two corners to raise that corner of the vehicle relative to the ground.

Abstract: A mobile aerial lift platform vehicle of the type having an upstanding pedestal and an elevating assembly mounted on the pedestal to raise and lower the work platform while maintaining the center of gravity of the platform within the base area defined by the wheels of the vehicle. The improvement is that the pedestal is pivotally mounted to the chassis of the vehicle for pivotal movement about a first axis extending fore and aft of the chassis and about a second axis extending from side to side of the chassis. Two hydraulic rams for provided, each of which will pivot the pedestal about one only of the axes, so that the pedestal may be leveled even through the vehicle is on unlevel ground.

Abstract: A grape harvesting picking head is provided having a pair of C-shaped arms which are each independently pivotally suspended at their upper ends. A reaction mass which forms the drive system carries a pair of cranks which drive a pair of connecting rods which are connected to each of the C-shaped arms. The cranks have a large throw relative to the length of the connecting rods, so that relative motion occurs between the shaker rails carried at the lower ends of the C-shaped arms, the relative motion causing a "snapping" action to help harvest the grapes. The distance between shaker rails is automatically adjusted "on the fly," the adjustment being facilitated by two halves of the picking head being free to articulate about a central axis and providing a hydraulic cylinder between these two sections of the picking head which balances the weight of the two sections and allows the two sections to float relative to each other as the machine moves down the row of plants.

Abstract: A pedestal scaffold type having a base member, a telescopic mast mounted vertically on the base member and a work cage mounted in cantilever manner from the upper end of the mast. The majority of the nested tubular mast sections are of rectangular cross-section and are formed of thin-walled sheet aluminum with rounded corners and vertical stiffening ribs on each side thereof extending the height thereof. Plastic slide blocks at the inner corners of the upper end and at the outer corners of the lower end of the mast section distribute the forces between the sections to relatively large areas of the aluminum sheet which forms the mast sections.

Abstract: A picking head for a mechanical grape harvester, the picking head having an oscillatable frame and a pair of opposed shaker rails supported on and below the picking head frame. Two sets of longitudinally spaced counterweights are mounted on the picking head frame for rotation about vertical axes, each set including upper and lower eccentric weights. The weights are rotated so that the longitudinal forces cancel out and the transverse forces are additive. The rotative forces of the upper and lower weights in each set are 180.degree. out of phase with each other and related to each other in magnitude so as to minimize the amount of transverse reactive force transmitted from the picking head to the main frame of the harvester. A link suspension enables the center of oscillation of the picking head to be below the picking head frame.

Abstract: A wire retaining clip has a mid-portion extending across the back of a vineyard post and forwardly extending arms with helical turns on the ends thereof. The retaining clip is engaged with a tensioned, horizontal trellis wire so that the trellis wire is bent sharply rearwardly of the front edges of the post and is locked into the turns of the clip. The retaining clip prevents the trellis wire from pulling away from the front of the post, prevents movement of the post along the length of the trellis wire and utilizes the tension of the trellis wire to restrain twisting of the post. An installing tool provides for easy installation of the retaining clips.

Abstract: A mechanical grape harvester for trellis-supported grape vines having relatively rigid shaker members for engaging and shaking the rigid trunk structure of the vine and having relatively flexible striker rods for striking against the limber portions of the vine growth trained along the trellis wire. The shaker members and striker rods are both operated at minimal speeds to reduce leaf removal and plant damage.

Abstract: A generally rectangular frame having a vertical support column at each corner thereof mounted for vertical movement relative to the frame. Four hydraulic rams, all of the same diameter and one for each support columns, are used are used to connect the frame to the columns, with the two rams at one end causng raising or lowering of the frames by contraction or extension of the rams while corresponding movement of the other end of the frame is caused by opposite movement of the rams thereat. A hydraulic control system selectively: raises or lowers the frame relative to all four columns, raises or lowers the frame relative to one side only of the frame, or or raises one side of the frame while lowering the other. Additionally, the system allows the columns at one end of the frame to move freely, in equal and opposite directions relative to the frames.

Abstract: A pivotal striker rod picking device carried by a row harvesting machine, the picking device having opposed striker rod holders each pivoting about a vertical axis, one on each side of the centerline of the machine, the striker rod holders each having horizontal striker rods mounted thereon. A cyclically operable drive means is connected to each striker rod holder to oscillate each of the striker rods horizontally through a constant amount of arcuate stroke, inwardly towards and outwardly away from the machine centerline. The force of each striker rod against an object in its path of inward movement is sensed and used to shift the striker rod stroke horizontally relative to the machine centerline. A first control shifts the strokes in the same direction to maintain an equal amount of striker rod force on both sides of an object which is off-center relative to the machine.

Abstract: The harvesting of grapes from vines grown on a horizontal trellis-supported wire wherein the wire and fruit-bearing portions of the vine which are secured to the wire are directly held and uniformly shaken along the length of the wire with no shaking energy being directly imparted to the vine trunks or to the foliage canopy over the fruit-bearing portions of the vines and with minimal disturbance of the canopy.

Abstract: A suspension and support system for shaker elements of a mechanical harvester wherein a generally horizontal shaker element support is suspended from the frame of the machine by a pair of generally vertical links pivotally connected at their lower and upper ends respectively to the shaker element support and frame, the links being of unequal length so that the unequal swinging movement of the links relative to the frame will result in a solely horizontal movement of the shaker element which is mounted on the end of the horizontal support member. The pivot connections have no relatively moving, interengaged surfaces so as to prevent sticking of such connections in the event juice accumulates thereon.

Abstract: In a mechanical harvesting machine having horizontal striker rods, each of which is secured at one end to a vertical oscillating shaft, the improvement whereby the rod tips which strike the vine are inclined outwardly from the rod, away from the longitudinal centerline of the machine, thereby enabling the vertical shafts to be widely spaced to increase the angle of the rods to the centerline so that the striking contact of the rods on the vines is predominantly by the inclined tips rather than by the sides of the rods. The rods are resilient and the tips are weighted so that the tips will flex in and out of the vine when the shafts are oscillated to deliver a series of localized impulses to the fruit on the vine.