Abstract: A counter-rotating twin shaft gardening system is provided herein. The gardening system includes a drive shaft operably coupled to first and second shafts for driving the first shaft in the first direction and the second shaft in the second direction. A first ground manipulation device is attached to the first shaft. A second ground manipulation device is attached to the second shaft. The first and second ground manipulation devices including a plurality of teeth and a plurality of long arms. The plurality arms extend further outward from a planar portion than the plurality of teeth. A release system is disposed within the drive shaft to reduce or reverse the rotation of the first and second shafts when debris is disposed between the first and second ground manipulation devices. The release system is formed from a first portion and a second portion of the drive shaft.

Abstract: A high-efficiency cutting system for an autonomous mower provides a multiple blade tip cutting radius for a cleaner cut, and more complete mow. The system includes a spinning blade disk provided within a housing including a vertical standoff. The blade disk includes a first pair of cutting blades located between the center of the blade disk and the circumference of the blade disk, and a second pair of cutting blades located radially inward from the first pair of cutting blades. The cutting blades extend downward and away from the blade disk at an angle.

Abstract: A chopper assembly for a crop residue distribution system of an agricultural combine may include a rotor shaft extending lengthwise along a rotational axis between a first end and a second end. The chopper assembly may also include a plurality of flail blades pivotally coupled to the rotor shaft. Each flail blade may be configured to pivot relative to the rotor shaft about a pivot axis, with the flail blades being spaced apart axially from one another between the first and second ends of the rotor shaft. In addition, the chopper assembly may include a plurality of spring tines coupled to the rotor shaft, with the spring tines being spaced apart from one another between the first and second ends of the rotor shaft.

Abstract: A hand-held tilling device for powered hand-held tilling of substrate includes a support that is hollow. A drive assembly is coupled to a top end of the support. The drive assembly is configured for grasping in a hand of a user. A tillage assembly is coupled to a bottom end of the support. The tillage assembly is drivingly coupled to the drive assembly. The drive assembly is positioned on the support for grasping in the hand of the user. The drive assembly is positioned to motivate the tillage assembly to till a substrate selected by the user.

Abstract: A fall arrest apparatus including a force damping subsystem having a damper, a brake release mechanism connected to the force damping subsystem and arranged to trigger when a force having a sufficient magnitude is transmitted to the brake release mechanism, and a brake mechanism including an energy storage device arranged to deploy at least one anchor when the brake release mechanism is triggered. The force is provided by a falling object to the force damping subsystem and the force damping subsystem is arranged to decelerate the falling object after the brake release mechanism is triggered.

Abstract: A self-cleaning, energy efficient blade assembly for use on lawn maintenance equipment and devices is provided. The blade assembly includes a shell and plurality of blades releasably attachable to the shell, wherein the shell is generally bowl-shaped. The blade assembly may also include a stabilizer ring that is positioned immediately adjacent to the shell for added structural rigidity and strength.

Abstract: A vehicle-powered sweeper/edger for sidewalks can edge either both sides of a sidewalk or only one side or curbs, track the edge path automatically, sweep and clean the sidewalk, and apply herbicide, and requires a single operator.

Abstract: Resynchronization of folders shared among multiple client devices over a network is provided. Metadata and hash values stored on the client device are moved from a metadata database to a resynchronization database, and the data in the metadata database is deleted. Metadata is created for locally stored synchronized files. For each file, the created metadata is compared to the metadata stored in the resynchronization database. If the metadata matches, hash values are retrieved from the resynchronization database and stored with the created metadata in the metadata database. If the metadata does not match, hashes for the file are created and stored with the created metadata in the metadata database. A synchronization operation may be performed which consists of comparing the files stored on the client to the synchronized versions on a host server and updating or adding files that are not present or not up to date.

Abstract: A system for automated control of a machine having a ground engaging work implement includes an implement load sensor system. A controller determines a change in terrain based at least in part upon a change in the load on the ground engaging work implement. If the change in terrain exceeds a threshold, the controller generates an alert command signal. A method is also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a machine configured so that its ground speed is at least in part dependent on the measured force that is applied to an attachment attached thereto. The present disclosure also provides an attachment for a machine that is configured to provide feedback to the machine it is configured to be attached to, wherein the feedback is representative of the force applied to the attachment. The present disclosure also provides a method of automatically controlling the ground speed of a machine based on feedback measured in an attachment attached to the machine.

Abstract: The invention relates to a soil-working implement (1, 2) for subsoiling (22), having a series of carrying arms (25), of which each is mounted by way of a first region, in particular a first end region, on an implement frame (20) or an implement chassis such that it can be pivoted up and down about a first pivot axis (26), having a crankshaft (34) with at least one crankshaft journal (38), having in each case at least one cutting tool articulation device (30) for articulating a cutting tool (32) on a second region, in particular a second end region, of each carrying arm (25), and having at least one crank connecting device (29) per carrying arm (25), this device connecting the cutting tool articulation device (30) to the at least one crankshaft journal (38) of the crankshaft (34) for the purpose of driving the up and down movement guided by the carrying arm (25).

Abstract: Driving worm provided on a transmission shaft, driven worm wheel provided on a cultivating shaft, main shaft portion of the transmission shaft and clutch are collectively accommodated in a transmission casing, which includes first and second bearings for preventing the clutch and driving gear from being displaced toward each other. The main shaft portion is screw-coupled to the clutch and a direction in which the screw-coupling between the main shaft portion and the clutch is tightened corresponds to only one rotational direction of an engine. The casing has a single opening for inserting therein the worm and worm wheel, and the opening is closed with a lid that also functions to prevent the worm from coming off the casing.

Abstract: A turf aerator is provided with two separate shafts, each having a plurality of tines mounted thereon for aerating the turf. Each shaft is selectively connected to an output shaft of a motor mounted on the frame of the aerator by two separate drive trains, each having a clutch arrangement therein. A pair of control levers are mounted on a handle assembly for operating the clutches in each drive train. Thus either or both of the tine carrying shafts may be rotated to facilitate a turning operation of the aerator or facilitating the operation of the aerator while traversing a sloping surface.

Abstract: The invention is the combination of a motor powered garden tiller connected to a separate motor driven chassis which includes a seat for an operator to control the tiller. The speed of the tiller is controlled by and through the articulated coupler between the tiller and the chassis.

Abstract: A steering clutch assembly attached between an axle and a wheel of a rear-tined rotary tiller allows the implement to be steered. The clutch assembly comprises three coaxial tubular elements, the inboard-most of which is affixed to one of the driven shafts and the outboard-most of which is affixed to a stub axle projecting from a wheel. The inboard and outboard tubular members are connected at a joint that allows the outboard member to freely rotate about the axis of the shaft. An intermediate tubular member rotates with the inboard tubular member and is translated between and engaged and a disengaged position. In the engaged limiting position a portion of the intermediate tubular member bears on a portion of the outboard tubular member and rotationally locks those two tubular members together so that the outboard tubular member is prohibited from rotating with respect to the inboard tubular member.

Abstract: A multiple purpose agricultural power tool is provided which consists of a removable cover to fit over an open top of a housing, a wheel assembly which is rotatable and mounted to the housing, so that it can travel along the ground and a pair of legs affixed to a rearward bottom edge of the housing for stabilizing the housing when not traveling along the ground. A power source is carried within the housing for producing rotary motion and a mechanism is carried within the housing for converting the rotary motion to a reciprocating motion. A shank coupled to the converting mechanism extends downwardly at an angle from a front wall of the housing. A detachable implement is coupled to the shank for performing a garden task on the ground. The power tool is also provision to supply power to alternative connectable auxiliary power implement.

Abstract: A rotary mixer is disclosed with automatic distribution of the drive torque at each end, wherein the power transmission at each end of the rotor is provided by at least one chain driving a pinion coaxial with the rotor, a torque limiter being interposed between the latter and said pinion and each of the two torque limiters being set to the same torque limit value such that the sum of the two values is slightly greater than the nominal drive torque of the rotor.

Abstract: The soil working machine, especially a circular spike harrow, includes a support housing (2) which extends perpendicular to the running direction (1), several soil working tools (3) disposed next to one another at the support housing (2), tool supports (4) asociated with each of the soil working tools (3), a driveshaft (6) connected to the tool support (4) and rotatably mounted in the support housing (2), and a rotational drive for the tool supports (4). The rotational drive has a gear wheel transmission (10) disposed in the support housing (2), the gear wheel transmission (10) having one gear wheel (11) for each tool support (4), the gear wheel (11) being rotatably mounted on a hub body (12) which is affixed on the drivehsaft (6) in a non-rotating fashion. The gear wheel (11) is coupled to the hub body (12) by a catching device (14, 25) which is under a spring pretension and which can be temporarily released in case of overload.

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: Tilling apparatus disclosed has a rotor shaft with axially spaced multiple tine and hub assemblies having hoe portions of adjacent tines overlapping one another. The apparatus is constructed as a central section and has wing sections pivotally connected to the central section. A first pivot axis for each wing section is the same horizontal plane as the rotor shaft. A first link connects at its lower end to the wing section at the first pivot axis and at its upper end to the central section at a second pivot axis. A thrust link driven by a two-way cylinder moves the wing section about the first pivot axis and then about the second pivot axis. Each tine hub is made in two half-bodies supporting two tines at 90 degrees, with a recess to turn adjacent hubs 30 degrees to one another. Each tine has a bevel on the outer side and a smooth hard surface on the inner side.

Abstract: A vertical engine type cultivator of the type that has an internal combustion engine on an upper side, a wheel shaft on a lower side and an operational handle on a rear side. The engine is formed such that the engine main body thereof is provided with a vertically directional crankshaft extending downwards through an oil case. A frame casing on the lower side of the oil case and a clutch mechanism interposed between the crankshaft and an output shaft disposed below the crankshaft is contained in the frame casing. An operational member for the clutch mechanism is provided on the oil case side.

Abstract: A soil cultivating implement has a frame portion of inverted channel-shaped cross-section with downwardly directed limbs each of which has an inwardly bent-over lip at its lower free end. A row of contra-rotating soil working members are carried by corresponding substantially vertical shafts. A power-operated drive transmission to the soil working members comprises the aforesaid vertical shafts, axially aligned, substantially horizontal shafts and intermeshing bevel pinions. In order to facilitate assembly as well as quick and simple replacement of any soil working member and/or transmission part that may become seriously worn, broken or damaged during operation, the transmission is made up of a plurality of successively neighboring gear casings any one of which can be individually removed, together with the corresponding soil working member and replaced by a similar unit.

Abstract: An implement mounts a plurality of working members through couplings, each coupling having a first member that can turn relative to a second member, upon overload. A shear pin normally prevents relative turning between the two members until overload and the pin is mounted on a holder that is releaseably connected to the coupling. The pin is in severable portions, one portion being sheared upon each overload and the remainder of the pin being automatically advanced to re-establish operative connection between the members when the latter are again in operative alignment.

Abstract: An implement is connectable to the lifting hitch of a tractor and at least one rotary tool is driven to rotate about an upwardly extending axis. The tool or a trestle frame has an overload connection that allows the tool or frame to pivot to an inoperative position upon overload. The tool can be a blade on a carrier part that is pivoted to a support part on a spoke and a shear pin interconnected to prevent such pivoting unless tripped by overload. The parts can have a discharge arrangement that ejects the sheared pin portion from a recess in one part. Upon adjustment of the tool, the pin remainder can effect reconnection. In another embodiment, the trestle frame is coupled to a three point hitch and the implement can be tripped through a pivot connection, including a strut made up of two shaft parts, one of which holds a shear pin and the other receives a pin portion near the junction of the parts. The pin element normally prevents relative pivoting of the implement relative to the tractor connection.

Abstract: A safety coupling between a driving coupling and a driven coupling has a shear pin operative connection that shears upon overload, allowing relative movement between the two couplings. The shear pin is urged to establish a second operative connection after limited relative movement between the couplings. In each operative connection, respective stops retain the pin against further displacement. In one application, soil working rotors are rotated by shafts coupled to tool supports. One or more of the driving shafts can be connected to its driven support through a shear pin. A flange on the shaft has an opening that houses the lower part of the pin and the tool support has a bore that houses an upper pin part. Upon shear, the flange turns and a spring urges the remainder of the upper pin part downwardly, whereupon a recess in the flange engages that part and a second operative connection is established.

Abstract: A cultivating machine (FIG. 1) having a frame (1) for mounting of the machine on a tractor, and having arms (34) on which angle drives (6) for the cultivating tools (26) are mounted, resiliently joined thereto by way of arms (29) and connectors (33, 35, 36). A transverse shaft (7), by way of bevel gears, drives the tool holders (24) for rotation of the tools (26). The transverse shaft directly drives output shafts to which the tool holders are connected.

Abstract: A soil cultivating machine has a row of tined rotors on an elongated frame portion that extends transverse to the direction of travel. An elongated soil crumbling member is pivoted to the frame portion at the front of that portion and settable to level the ground and provide support for the machine. A second elongated crumbling member is linked at the rear of the frame portion for free pivoting responsive to ground irregularities to further crumble the soil worked by the tined rotors. Both crumbling members have parallelogram linkage connections so that the relative positions of the crumbling members to the frame portion can vary without those members tilting. The bottoms of the crumbling members can be corrugated plates or other configured elements designed to bear on the ground and be self cleaning. Also, the rotors can have resilient or freely rotatable mountings to allow for the displacement of tines when meeting obstacles.

Abstract: A cultivator implement has an elongated central frame portion that supports a row of rotatable soil working members and a gear box with an imput connectable to a p.t.o. The gear box houses a driving shaft that extends horizontally transverse to the direction of travel and parallel to the frame portion. The driving shaft has a first pinion at one end that is engaged by the imput and a second smaller pinion is journalled in the side wall opposite the first pinion. The second pinion has an outer socket and a bore that receives the driving shaft. The outer end of the driving shaft has a socket that interconnects with the pinion's outer socket through lugs bolted together by a breakable bolt. The second pinion directly engages a third pinion that is on a shaft of one of the soil working members to drive same. If one of the soil working members jams, the bolt breaks and the driving shaft rotates relative to the second pinion.

Abstract: A cultivator has groups of soil working members positioned in a row that extends transverse to the direction of travel. Each group includes a plurality of tined soil working members and a drive system that rotates each group as well as the individual soil working members of each group. The drive system is connectable to the p.t.o. of a tractor and comprises an elongated drive shaft that is geared to the central shaft of each group and a sun pinion of each central shaft is meshed with planet pinions on the shafts about which the soil working members rotate. The pinion gears of each group are housed in a circular disc-shaped casing so that the entire casing of each group rotates about its central shaft during operation. A forward coupling member is attached to the frame for connection to the tractor and a rear support roller provides support to regulate the working depths of the soil working members.

Abstract: A harrow attachment has side-by-side rotary soil-working members mounted on upright axes journalled in a frame. A delivery mechanism with an elongated hopper and agitators and/or other feeding mechanisms can be connected to be rotatable and driven by the power take off of the prime mover or transmission connections from a rotary roller pivotably secured on arms to the frame to trail the working members. The working members are rotors with tines or earth working portions formed by a single metal sheet material which has been bent over to form two downwardly extending blades with lower parts that are inclined rearwardly. The blades are twisted so that leading cutting edges work overlapping paths and a horizontal portion of the rotors is secured by breakable bolts to upright shafts.

Abstract: An improved cutting and drive structure is disclosed that is particularly useful in conjunction with tilling apparatus for sod seeding purposes. The structure includes a tillage blade or cutter wheel mounted for rotation by a drive structure that includes a rotatable drive shaft. The cutter wheel has a thin disc-like body portion and a periphery with a plurality of teeth thereon, with different teeth being offset in opposite directions from the plane of the body portion. The offset teeth which in a preferred embodiment have hard-facing on the cutting surface, have a specific configuration to allow the cutting wheel to produce a furrow in ground contacted by the wheel, with the furrow being wider than the body portion of the wheel due to the offset teeth, and this results in reduced soil compaction at the bottom of the furrow, as well as loose dirt therein to provide cover for seed deposited in the furrow.

Abstract: A cultivator or harrow has an elongated frame and a row of rotatable soil working members pivoted to the frame for independent displacement when an obstacle is contacted. Each soil working member can be tined support having an upwardly extending shaft drivenly connected to a common drive shaft or gear train. Pivotable connections between the frame and the upwardly extending shafts permit deflective movements of each member as a unit with respect to a hollow beam of the frame. The connections can be housings and/or spring biased tie parts with bearings or bracket-support pivot connections or cranks that enable the soil working members to move about at least one axis relative to the frame beam. Also, the upwardly extending shafts can be connected to the driving means by universal joints or resilient couplings. Each soil working member is biased by springs or normally assumes a central equilibrium position.

Abstract: The motor grader drawbar assembly has a blade mounted on a circle gear and a drive gear selectively rotates the circle gear and the blade via a pinion gear engaged with the circle gear and mounted on a rotatable shaft. A slip clutch is interposed between the drive gear and the shaft to allow relative movement therebetween when a preselected torque is exceeded, as when the blade hits an obstruction. A pressure plate overlies the slip clutch and may be adjusted to change the preselected torque required.