Abstract: Apparatus for destroying fire ants includes a rotatable ant bed destruction member and apparatus for rotating such destruction member into an ant bed; a fluid delivery assembly is provided for delivering water, ambient or at extremely hot temperatures; or other fluid, to the rotatable destruction member to drown and otherwise kill the ants while the rotatable destruction member destroys the ant bed. The method of this invention is practiced by simultaneously moving the ant bed destruction member into the bed and delivering a stream of fluid into the ant bed sufficient to co-act with the destruction member to destroy the ant bed.

Abstract: Interchangeable lawn dethatcher means for a rotary cultivator with removably affixed cultivating tines. The lawn dethatcher means includes a first rigid member and second rigid member each removably affixed to the rotary cultivator in place of the cultivating tines, and a plurality of rigid dethatchment tines removeably affixed in helical array to the first and second rigid members in mirror image relationship, respectively, each dethatchment tine being received through the rigid members and arrestingly clamped at the midpoint of the tine and each tine having a bent portion at each of its ends disposed in the direction opposite the intended direction of tine rotation. The lawn dethatcher means are supported at their outermost points from the rotary cultivator by independently rotatable utility wheels sized to permit the ends of the dethatchment tines to extent below the point of contact of the wheels with the lawn and thereby into contact with lawn thatch.

Abstract: An improved rotary cultivator includes a prime mover, a gear box and rotary driven tines. An engine mount casing is located between the prime mover and the gear box and is employed in securing such components together in an operative unitary fashion.

Abstract: An agricultural machine has two power transmission lines, one of which includes a disk type frictional stepless change speed apparatus and the other of which includes a belt transmission apparatus. The disk type frictional stepless change speed apparatus comprises a drive disk formed integrally with a split pulley of the belt transmission apparatus, a driven disk in pressure contact with and receiving power from the drive disk, a driven shaft slidably carrying the driven disk, and stays for supporting the driven shaft, the stays being oscillatable about an axis parallel to the driven shaft to permit the driven disk to be released from pressure contact with the drive disk. The agricultural machine further includes a mechanism for sliding the driven disk to effect speed changing.

Abstract: An agricultural implement with one or more pairs of knives which are eccentrically mounted on rotary knife holders and extend from the underside of a housing which can be pulled or pushed by hand or by an engine. The knives of each pair orbit in the same direction and cooperate as the blades of shears to loosen and comminute the ground. The holders are driven by a motor and the cutting edges of the knives constitute helices extending counter to the direction of orbital movement of the respective knives.

Abstract: A tine assembly for use with a rotary tiller comprising a selectively rotatable tine shaft and a plurality of pivotally mounted tines. The tines each include stop surfaces associated with an innermost end of the tine whereby the tine pivots to one position when the tine shaft is rotated in a clockwise direction and automatically pivots to a second position when the tine shaft is rotated in a counterclockwise direction. The angle of pivot between the two positions is such that the leading edge of the ground engaging portion of the tine sweeps a larger radius than the following portion of the tine when the tine shaft is rotated in either the clockwise or counterclockwise directions.

Abstract: The support wheels and drag stake of a motor driven cultivating device are connected to the main frame of the device by independent mounting brackets at a location rearward of the tines. The support wheels and drag bar are interconnected by a sliding collar-bar which is rigidly attached to the axle of the wheels, thereby allowing for the simultaneous pivoting of drag stake and support wheels between a forward transport position, wherein the drag stake is in an inactive elevated position, and a rearward working position, wherein the drag stake is disposed at an angle off of the vertical for engaging the earth and retarding the forward progress of the device.

Abstract: An athletic field line cutter (10) has a chassis (12) including a plurality of wheels (98-104) for locomotion across the ground. A cutter head assembly (18) is mounted on the chassis (12) and includes a plurality of cutter blades (92) mounted on a rotating axle (30). Axle (30) is mounted parallel to the ground. An engine (14) is connected to axle (30) for supplying power to the axle (30) and the cutter blades (92). An operator station (60) at which an operator (90) directs the apparatus over the ground is in line with the cutter head assembly (18) and the line of travel of the apparatus (10). Rotating axle (30) has a section (126) which is polygonal in shape, and cutter blades (92) have central polygonal holes that closely fit over this polygonal shape. Blades (92) are angularly fixed with respect to each other.

Abstract: A hand propelled device for lightly cultivating and mulching soil and typically for use in the home garden. The device includes a frame, a motor, and a hub assembly connected to the motor and also mounted to the frame. The hub assembly includes a shaft, a pair of hubs spaced apart on the shaft, and a plurality of beater wires pivotally mounted to each hub at radially spaced points near its outer circumference. The cultivator is supported by a single wheel mounted for free rotation between the hubs.

Abstract: A versatile cultivator is provided wherein to a transmission mechanism for transmitting the power of an engine to a cultivating mechanism is operatively connected a power take-off shaft which projects from a lower front portion of a transmission housing accommodating therein the transmission mechanism, and wherein a running wheel unit is removably attached to the lower front portion of the transmission housing, the wheel unit having running wheels rotatably mounted on lateral sides of the front end thereof while being provided with an interlocking mechanism for linking the running wheels to the power take-off shaft. The cultivator can either be used as a rototiller or as a rotary cultivator, simply by mounting or dismounting the running wheel unit.

Abstract: A fulcrum assembly for a tiller of the type having auger shafts usable in a horizontal or vertical disposition provides a fulcrum point between the handle bars and the auger shafts, so that during operation by moving the tiller handle down an operator can change the downward motion of the auger shafts to an upward motion, thereby enabling the retrieval of the auger shafts from the soil after vertical augering.

Abstract: A ground-working machine is proposed for hoeing, tilling or similar, with two motor-driven, rotating power take-off shafts, mounted crosswise to the direction of travel. The power take-off shafts carry the tools. In order to ensure a high performance, the bearing points of the power take-off shafts are laterally offset from each other in the direction of travel. In a further model of execution, the power take-off shafts each sit in a transmission block, which transmission block is coupled to the motor. To change the distance between both power take-off shafts in the direction of travel, the transmission blocks can swivel in relation to each other.

Abstract: A tine assembly for a tiller, comprising a plate (12 or 20) mounted on a rotative shaft (11) and a plurality of tines (13 or 21) connected by a pivotal connection (14 or 22) to the plate so as to swing outwardly of the plate to engage the soil upon rotation of the plate, and limiting means comprising bolts (15 or 24) in arcuate slots (13D or 23) whereby the tines are angled or positioned for proper soil working action depending on the rotative direction of the plate with the shaft.

Abstract: A lightweight hand propelled power rake having a motor driven rotatable rake wheel providing a plurality of radially extending prongs arranged in a plurality of sets, with the prongs of each set projecting through a sole plate. The device includes a method of adjusting the sole plate along the length of each set of prongs so as to determine the depth of penetration of such prongs.

Abstract: A plant protective fender for use with earth working machines such as rototillers comprises, in one embodiment for use with machines having rear-mounted tines, a support member fixedly attached at a selectable distance from the frame of the machine and a pair of guard members depending from the support member. The guard members extend from the support member to the housing of the earth working members of the machine, and are attached to the housing at a fixed selectable height. In another embodiment for use with machines having front-mounted tines, the guard members are attached at a fixed selectable point to an attachment member rotatably inserted into the tine shaft and extended forwardly the tines and rearwardly to attachment brackets for attachment to the machine depth gauge.

Abstract: A walk-behind garden tiller having a pair of ground wheels and a row of soil penetrating and pulverizing tines both powered from a single engine through a power transmission. The transmission includes a tilling drive mode in which the tines and drive wheels are simultaneously driven, a non-tilling reverse ground wheel drive mode, a non-tilling machine transport drive mode, and a neutral drive mode, all controlled by a single, simple push-pull lever which is adapted to automatically disengage power transmission to the tines when the tiller is operated in either the reverse, transport, or neutral drive modes.

Abstract: A machine for working soil, and arranged to have a predetermined direction of movement, includes a soil-working implement adapted to be driven over the soil, and to execute oscillations in a direction at an angle to the predetermined direction, and a soil-leveling tool connected to the soil-working implement.

Abstract: An engine, through a suitable transmission, drives the traction wheels of a garden tiller in a forward direction. The engine also drives the tine shaft and tines through another transmission and a differential. The second transmission contains a gear arrangement by which the tine shaft may be rotated in the same direction as the traction wheels at one time, and in an opposite direction at another time, a neutral position also being provided. The second transmission includes a splined shaft which drivingly engages a gear which is slidable thereon. An output gear is provided in this second transmission and it may be drivingly connected to the slidable gear for rotation in a given direction by means of a plurality of pins carried on the output gear and received within appropriate holes provided in the slidable gear.Right and left cluster gears are mounted on a common shaft.

Abstract: A removable transport wheel assembly for a ground penetrating machine such as a roto tiller for providing removable wheels for movement of the machine from place to place and loading and unloading. The machine has a transverse power driven shaft carrying earth working implements and having tubular transverse ends. Pin assemblies have shanks that pass diametrically through the transverse ends of the shaft. A pair of wheels are provided each having a stub axle with a diameter to be slip fitted in a transverse end of the shaft, and with an enlarged shoulder to engage the transverse end of the shaft to limit axle movement of the axle into the shaft. Each stub axle has a slot which engages the shank of the pin assembly. At the inner end of the slot is a groove which provides a seat for the shank of the pin assembly to releasably fasten the wheels to the shaft of the machine for transport from place to place. The wheels are readily removed for using the machine in an earth working function.

Abstract: Longitudinally extending main and motor and drive frames are provided with the frames supported from each other for relative angular displacement about a horizontal central axis extending longitudinally of the frames and about an upstanding axis spaced centrally intermediate the opposite ends of the frames. The motor and drive frame include motor driven ground engageable drive structure and the main frame includes support structure for supporting a depending earthworking tool. Adjustment structure is provided for releasably retaining the main and motor and drive frames in adjusted angularly displaced positions relative to each other about both the horizontal and upstanding axes and the motor and drive frame includes rear elevated hand grip structure angularly displaceable with the motor and drive frame relative to the main frame.

Abstract: A walk-behind garden tiller having power driven ground wheels and a single shaft of tines which are driven at relatively high speed in a direction counter to that of the drive wheels such that during tilling the tines cut upwardly through the untilled soil at the working face, resulting in improved power efficiency and easier control of the tiller when operating in adverse soil conditions. For cutting and breaking long vegetation that is carried upwardly by the counter-rotating tines and for guiding such vegetation under the tine shaft so that it does not become entangled about the tine shaft or otherwise clog or impede operation of the tiller, a sloughing device is mounted transversally to and forwardly of the tine shaft. In one embodiment, the sloughing device is a plate disposed in a vertical plane on the longitudinal axis of the machine, and in another embodiment the sloughing device is a rotary disc.

Abstract: A walk-behind garden tiller having power driven ground wheels and a single row of tines which are driven at relatively high speed in a direction counter to that of the drive wheels, whereby the tines cut upwardly through the untilled soil at the working face with less power and in the event of contacting an obstruction tend to move the machine in a rearward direction be reason of reactive forces acting upon the machine through the tines. A drag shield is pivotably mounted rearwardly of the machine for dragging along and smoothing the soil after it is tilled and for providing a protective barrier between the operator and a rear exposure to the power driven tines.

Abstract: A rear tined tiller having a guiding handle which is readily adjustable vertically and laterally and wherein adjustment of the guiding handle position may be controlled by a handle position control lever attached to the free end of the guiding handle and readily accessible to the operator. The guiding handle is also supported for pivotal movement through a 180.degree. arc about a vertical pivot axis for storage and transport of the machine. The handle position control lever is also connected to the traction drive and the tine drive mechanisms to interrupt power to both the drive wheels and the tiller tines during adjustment of the guiding handle position.

Abstract: A walk-behind garden tiller having power driven ground wheels and a single row of tines which are driven at relatively high speed in a direction counter to that of the drive wheels such that during tilling the tines cut upwardly through the untilled soil at the working face with each pass of the tines penetrating and severing a relatively thin uniform layer of soil, resulting in improved power efficiency and easier control of the tiller when operating in adverse soil conditions. A tine shield overlies the tines for confining flying and turbulent soil during tilling to the immediate area about the tines. The tine shield has a forward extension which defines an extended cavity in front of the tines within which a quantity of partially tilled soil directed upwardly and forwardly by the counter-rotating tines can accumulate for re-working and more thorough pulverization by the tines as the machine proceeds along its forward movement.

Abstract: An improved rototiller having angulated tines which include a first tooth fixed to one portion of the tine and a second tooth fixed to a second portion of the tine angularly disposed in relation to the first portion of the tine.

Abstract: The specification discloses an improved garden tiller which, in addition to having power driven rotating tines on the front of the tiller transverse to the direction of travel, has a pair of free wheeling cultivator cylinders mounted to a stationary axle between the normal rear support wheels of the cultivator. The rear wheels can either be manually or power driven, and the forward motion of the machine turns the cylinders, on which radially extending vanes are mounted, to lift up the soil as they roll, and then release it, leaving little furrows in the soil which are good for planting and also keep the soil from drifting in the wind.

Abstract: A ground working implement is provided wherein a motor driven auger is positioned beneath and partially enclosed by a truncated V-shaped plowshare. The auger contributes to the forward movement of the implement. The space between the auger and the plowshare causes clods of soil to be uniformly broken. Mechanical features are provided, in association with a frame structure, to guide the implement, to adjust the height of the auger, and to control the operation of a motor or engine.

Abstract: A handle bar for a power operated machine has two operating positions in inverted relation to one another. A forward and reverse drive control is mounted on the handle bar for movement in each handle bar position from a neutral position toward and away from an operator into reverse and forward operative positions respectively for actuating a power transmission to effect machine movement in corresponding reverse and forward directions.

Abstract: A motor powered lawn edger is converted to a lawn cultivator, a snow blower, or an ice chipper by removal of the lawn edging blade and its housing, and substitution therefor of a cultivating, blowing or chipping blade and an appropriate housing.

Abstract: A garden implement utilizing the shell of a drum motor as an essential constituent part of the garden implement. Non-rotating shafts of the drum motor are carried by prongs of a frame. The shell of the drum motor constitutes a roller forming a garden implement, or carries working tools for working soil.

Abstract: A mechanical dead-man type control for the snow blower auger and wheels but without killing the engine.

Abstract: A rotary tiller blade for mounting along with other similar blades, on a driven tiller shaft in a rotary tiller machine, which blade is configured and arranged to provide two cutting teeth per blade which enables a faster, smoother running and more thorough ground breaking action than any other tiller blade design.

Abstract: A rear tined tiller having a guiding handle which is readily adjustable vertically and laterally and wherein adjustment of the guiding handle position may be controlled by a handle position control lever attached to the free end of the guiding handle and readily accessible to the operator. The guiding handle is also supported for pivotal movement through a 180.degree. arc about a vertical pivot axis for storage and transport of the machine. The handle position control lever is also connected to the traction drive and the tine drive mechanisms to interrupt power to both the drive wheels and the tiller tines during adjustment of the guiding handle position.

Abstract: A drive assembly is disclosed which incorporates two power take-off assemblies between an input and output drive for an earthworking machine. The power take-off assemblies each have a clutch operable independently of the other clutch for drivingly connecting the input and output drives for rotating tines of the machine in opposite directions. A drive select mechanism is selectively movable between two different operating positions wherein the clutches of the power assemblies are respectively and alternatively actuated to establish the desired drive connection between the input and output drives.

Abstract: A "dead man" control mechanism for controlling the propel and tiller drive of a walk-behind rotary tiller includes a flexible control element which extends between and has opposite ends looped about respective Z-shaped crank portions of a control rod and of a belt drive idler pulley arm. When the control rod is operator-held in a drive-engage position, wherein a grip portion of the control rod is gripped together with a grip portion of a handle of the tiller, the control element is tensioned such as to hold an idler pulley, carried by the idler arm, in slack-removing engagement with a slack run of a belt trained about drive and driven pulleys. Upon the operator releasing the grip portion of the control rod, the latter gravitates to a drive-disengage position wherein the control element is slackened such as to permit the idler pulley to move to permit the slack run of the drive belt to slacken to the extent that torque is no longer transferred between the drive and driven pulleys.

Abstract: A self powered, handlebar operated, earth cultivating machine having a worm gear engine drive and a transversely extending, soil engaging rotating tine wheel is provided with a pair of ground engaging traction wheels spaced therebehind and a sprocket and chair drive train coupled between the tine wheel and each of the traction wheels for driving the latter to selectively propel or brake the machine in accordance with the traction created by the tine wheel with the tilled soil. The worm gear and chain drive train cooperate to lock the traction wheels into a constant driving relationship with the tine wheel in a manner to automatically compensate both for excessive forward thrust produced by the latter in hard soil and for insufficient thrust created thereby in soft soil whereby to eliminate lurching and stalling of the machine and achieve especially smooth, consistent tilling operation.

Abstract: A lawn cultivating machine comprising two parallel cutter shafts which are onnected together by a transmission gear and are rotatable about their axes, and on each of which shafts a plurality of cutters are arranged at spaced intervals from each other, the cutters of one shaft being displaced relative to the cutters of the other shaft, in which the speeds of the cutter shafts are in a certain transmission ratio and the directions of rotation of both cutter shafts are identical.

Abstract: A drum attachment for conventional tillers that expands the possible uses for such tillers. A pair of drums may be detachably mounted to a tiller shaft in place of conventional tiller blades, each drum being attached to the shaft by one or more pins held by spring keeper keys passing through an interior sleeve of the drum and the shaft. Spider assemblies space the exterior surface of the drum from the sleeve while still allowing access to the pins from the exterior of the drum. On the surface of the drum a number of radially outwardly extending teeth are provided, the teeth being arranged in spiral courses and in circumferential rows. The teeth preferably are cylinders about one and one-half inch long and half-inch in diameter. The invention is useful for tilling, cultipacking, dethatching, seedbed preparation, and aeration.

Abstract: An apparatus for aerating lawns or the like which features a novel construction wherein the tines include a rotating drilling action with a forward and downward motion to effectively aerate the turf as well as impart a forward walking type action to the apparatus as a whole. Further, the individual tines include a pressure limiting construction to prevent damage to the tines in addition to eliminating damage to sidewalks or other hard surfaces which may inadvertently be contacted during use.

Abstract: This tines assembly is for attachment to a drive shaft and includes a front shaft portion, a rear shaft portion connected between the front shaft portion and the drive shaft, and front and rear tines mounted in removable relation to the rear shaft portion. The front tines, front shaft and rear shaft are connected and located by a pin, and the rear tines, rear shaft and drive shaft are connected and located by a pin.

Abstract: This cultivator includes a base, which is carried by a pair of ground wheels, and a motor mounted to the base above a pair of auger assemblies. The motor shaft extends rearwardly of the base and the auger assemblies include elongate shafts rotatively mounted within sleeves attached to the base. The motor shaft and the auger shafts are connected at their rear ends by a chain and sprocket drive assembly which provides counter-rotational motion in the two auger shafts. The forward ends of the auger shafts are each provided with a screw and spaced radial tines of progressively increasing length.

Abstract: A pin for holding a rotary tiller tine hub in place on a shaft is, in turn, held in place by a wire clip having a straight intermediate section extending parallel to the shaft and received in a transverse hole extending through the pin adjacent an end thereof, the intermediate section extending perpendicular to and joining a straight end section and an arcuate section which embraces and extends about the hub.

Abstract: A cordless earth tiller has a housing mounted upon wheels and including a handle for guiding and controlling the tiller and tilting the same in a fore-and-aft direction. A power driven crankshaft disposed forwardly of the wheels carries a plurality of arms which depend from crankpins of the crankshaft and are provided at their lower ends with tines. Links are pivotally connected at one end to the arms and at the other end to an axle of the wheels whereby rotation of the crankshaft causes a tilling or cultivating motion of the tines. The tines sequentially impinge upon the ground in a substantially vertical direction and proceed through the ground at a rearward inclination to draw the tiller through the ground in response to rotation of the crankshaft. Modifications comprise the use of harrowing disks as wheels and the substitution of ice chipping tools for the tines, etc.

Abstract: A cultivating machine having a body, at least one wheel supporting the body during normal use, and one or more soil-working blades. The blade(s) may be either serrated or generally V-shaped so that it can penetrate the soil and loosen it. The blade(s) is preferably rounded, so that it loosens the soil and pulls weeds out by the roots rather than cutting the tops of the weeds off and leaving the bottoms of the weeds in the ground to regrow, and the blade or at least one of the blades preferably projects laterally beyond the body of the cultivator on at least one side so that the cultivator may be used to loosen the soil and to pull out weeds underneath overhanging leaves of desirable plants without damaging the desirable plants by contact with moving parts of the cultivator. A motor may be mounted on the body and operatively connected to either or both of the wheel and the blades.

Abstract: A machine for laying reinforcing mesh for concrete comprises a pair of spaced front wheels and a pair of power driven rear wheels. Several different forms of devices are provided for lifting the roll of reinforcing mesh and positioning it between the front wheels. From that position the wire is unrolled from the top of the roll and passes back under the rear wheels, thereby backbending the mesh as it is unrolled. In other embodiments not employing the front wheels, a pusher in front of the power driven wheels pushes the roll ahead of it along the ground as the latter wheels move along the mesh. In such embodiments hooks are provided on the pusher for engaging the roll in a manner such that, before unrolling, the roll may be lifted and transported to the desired location for unrolling. The safety hook is provided to the rear of the wheels to prevent the trailing edge of the non-backbended mesh from the roll from springing into the operator as the wheels move off that trailing edge.

Abstract: A horizontal extension of a tiller frame supports the engine, gear box, and tine assembly of a tiller. The tiller frame has a portion which defines the tiller handle and includes a one-piece, forked end which provides the horizontal extension and, in addition, provides a generally vertical extension which supports the tiller wheels. At its forked end the tiller frame is generally delta-shaped having a broad, web-like portion extending between and integral with the horizontal and vertical frame extensions and arranged in a vertical plane.

Abstract: A folding tiller handle is made in two pieces connected for limited relative longitudinal and pivotal movement, one piece being a permanent part of the basic tiller assembly. A belt tightening idler sheave is associated with a belt drive which provides the motive forde for rotating the tiller tine assembly. A control, which includes two separable rigid rod members, moves the idler sheave into and out of tightening engagement with the drive belt. The rods are joined through a connection which imparts rotary motion from one rod to the other and which also permits relative longitudinal movement therebetween to separate the rods. The rods are associated with respective pieces of the tiller handle so that when the handle is separated or folded, the control connection to the tightening sheave through the rods is interrupted and the drive belt cannot be tightened to establish the tiller drive.

Abstract: A rotary tiller tine assembly in which a main shift has an end key and a shaft extension has at one end an end socket coupled to the main shaft key and at its other end a socket which receives a plug key with which outboard tines are interlockingly engaged.

Abstract: A tooth affixed to the outward end of each tine of a roto tiller, the tooth being made of carbide steel, so as to be very durable, the tooth projecting forwardly at an angle ahead of the tine radius, attachment of the tooth being accomplished either by a metal clamp removably secured to the tine, or else by directly welding the tooth to the tine.

Abstract: A folding tiller handle is made in two pieces connected for limited relative longitudinal and pivotal movement, one piece being a permanent part of the basic tiller assembly. A belt tightening idler sheave is associated with a belt drive which provides the motive force for rotating the tiller tine assembly. A control, which includes two separable rigid rod members, moves the idler sheave into and out of tightening engagement with the drive belt. The rods are joined through a connection which imparts rotary motion from one rod to the other and which also permits relative longitudinal movement therebetween to separate the rods. The rods are associated with respective pieces of the tiller handle so that when the handle is separated or folded, the control connection to the tightening sheave through the rods is interrupted and the drive belt cannot be tightened to establish the tiller drive.