Abstract: The preferred apparatus is in the form of a service lift for holding a machine such as a walk-behind lawnmower during servicing and repair thereof. The lift includes a main support movable upwardly and downwardly on a column, a subsupport adapted to be rotated to and held in various angular positions relative to the main support, and side-by-side tubes on the subsupport for telescopically receiving bars for supporting the mower or other machine during servicing. The supporting bars extend in opposite directions from the side-by-side tubes and may be laterally adjusted relative to the tubes to match the width of the machine being serviced. Supporting bars for other types of machines may be inserted into the tubes, and the main support and the subsupport may be vice-mounted rather than column-mounted.

Abstract: A lift for raising vehicles such as garden tractors to a position facilitating servicing of the underside of the vehicle. The lift includes a vertically movable carriage having two cantilevered lift forks which may be adjusted along the carriage to accommodate the longitudinal wheelbase of the vehicle. Each lift fork carries two cups for cradling and supporting the wheels of the vehicle, the cups being adjustable along the forks to conform to the transverse wheelbase of the vehicle. The cups extend away from the forks to allow free access to crucial components of the vehicle and may be reversed on the forks to accommodate relative small variations in longitudinal wheelbases. Safety latches catch the carriage and stop free falling thereof in the event the lift actuator fails. The lift forks are of an extremely strong but relatively lightweight construction. The lift also includes various accessories for facilitating servicing of the vehicle.

Abstract: A heavy duty industrial or agricultural hinge for pivotally interconnecting two members, the hinge including a rod adapted to extend through interleaved ears affixed to the members. In order to establish adequate lateral clearance at the hinge joint, each ear is formed with a half round-half rectangular configuration which serves to automatically space the bearing portion of the ear a proper distance away from the hinged member. An arcuate insert is fixed within the ear and coacts with the half round portion of the ear to form a generally cylindrical bearing portion for the hinge rod.

Abstract: A machine for shaking Christmas trees to remove loose needles therefrom. The machine includes a frustoconical holder for receiving the trunk of the tree and adapted to be orbited by a power-rotated shaft in order to shake the tree. A flexible belt is connected between the holder and the housing of the machine in order to prevent the holder from spinning about its own axis as it orbits. The holder is inclined upwardly from horizontal to facilitate loading of the tree into the holder, to reduce the effort required to retain the tree in the holder during shaking and to avoid burying of the machine with needles. A guard shields the holder to help protect against injury and also serves as a cradle to support the tree prior to loading of the tree into the holder. The machine may be converted for driving by the power take-off of a tractor or for driving by an electric motor.

Abstract: A mechanism for connecting a trailing wheel to an implement, incorporates a spring arm which will absorb shock. The tension on the spring is adjustable.

Abstract: The low-profile, lightweight tiller of compact, uncluttered design is adapted to be rigidly mounted upon the rear, powered lifting links of a garden tractor so as to be raised and lowered by the latter between transport and ground-working positions. Driving power for the transverse rotor of the tiller is obtained by a direct drive connection with the power takeoff shaft of the tractor. A right angle gearbox located inside the open bottom housing for the rotor is supported by the rotor shaft itself and has an upwardly and forwardly directed input shaft that connects directly with a telescoping, universal joint drive line connection with the power takeoff shaft.

Abstract: A material handling assembly has a frame for attachment to the three point hitch of a tractor. A laterally swingable boom extends rearwardly from the frame and has an upright shaft at its rear end rotatable about an upright axis for suspending a reversible scraper blade whose angularity may be varied as the shaft is rotated. The blade is releasably attached to and tiltable relative to the shaft. All four functions of raising and lowering the frame, swinging the boom, varying the angularity of the blade and tilting the blade are hydraulically controlled. A special four bar linkage coupled with the shaft provides for wide blade angularity adjustment. A fluid bypass arrangement interconnects the swing and angularity functions to accommodate for excessive loads which may be encountered when the attitude of the blade is to be varied in accordance with desired grading operations.