Abstract: A modular crawler-track unit for a forest machine has an engine, a chassis with a pivot bearing and a crawler-track frame. A sleeve shaft is attached to the crawler-track frame to support the crawler-track frame on the pivot bearing. A drive wheel is mounted in bearings in the crawler-track frame inside a circulation of a crawler mat. A support is arranged in the crawler-track frame inside the circulation to support a part of the crawler mat against the ground. A drive shaft is mounted in bearings in the crawler-track frame coaxially with the sleeve shaft to transmit power to the crawler-track unit. A shaft mounted in bearings on the crawler-track frame pivots the drive wheel to the crawler-track frame at a distance from the drive shaft. A power-transmission is fitted between the shaft and the drive shaft to transmit power from the drive shaft to the drive wheel.

Abstract: A carriage assembly for a ground engaging implement is provided. The carriage assembly includes a carriage, a ground engaging implement, and a cylinder. The ground engaging implement is pivotally connected to the carriage. The ground engaging implement has a longitudinal face. The cylinder is connected to the carriage and includes a cylinder housing, a compressible medium, and a rod. The compressible medium is contained within the cylinder housing. The rod extends outward from the cylinder housing. The rod has a piston portion at one end and an engagement surface at another end. The engagement surface is positioned at a contactable distance from the longitudinal face of the ground engaging implement.

Abstract: An attachment assembly for use with a vehicle includes an arm support assembly and an attachment interface assembly pivotally mounted to the arm support assembly. The attachment interface assembly includes an interface plate configured to accept a work attachment. The attachment interface assembly and interface plate pivots under the influence of respective lift and tilt actuators. The attachment interface assembly is removable from the arm support assembly, and the actuators are pivotable into stowed positions, upon removing a pin that attaches the lift actuator piston rod to the attachment interface assembly, a pin that attaches the tilt actuator piston rod to the interface plate, and a pin that pivotally attaches the attachment interface assembly to the arm support assembly. The pins may be used to secure the actuators in the stowed positions, and an additional clip may be used to secure one or both of the actuators in the stowed position.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and apparatus for distributing particulate matter over a surface by spreading. The apparatus for distributing particulate matter over a surface is adapted to be fitted to a prime mover. The apparatus includes a mounting frame for attaching the apparatus to the prime mover, at least one grading blade carried by the mounting frame and mounted moveable laterally sideways relative to the prime mover and an actuator to controllably move the grading blade to move the grading blade substantially sideways relative to the prime mover. The lateral sideways movement of the apparatus relative to prime mover enables particulate matter to be moved independent of the direction of travel of the prime mover.

Abstract: A box scraper attachment is provided for mounting on the boom arms of a skid-steer vehicle or the like. The box scraper attachment includes a main frame having castor wheel assemblies mounted at the forward end thereof. A box scraper is selectively vertically movably secured to the main frame and is selectively pivotally movably secured to the main frame.

Abstract: A leveling system designed for use with a vehicle having a reversing assembly including a table, an A-frame and a swivel member. The reversing assembly may be rotatably mounted to the vehicle with a lifting mechanism designed to elevate the reversing assembly for transportation when not in use. The leveling system is rotatably mounted to the A-frame and stabilized with parallel bars which function to achieve leveling of the assembly. Two chains of equal length are fixed to opposite ends of the leveling system, each at an equal distance outward from the center of the system and each connected at its other end to the lifting member of the vehicle. The chains aid in the lifting and leveling of the system.

Abstract: A hitch for hitching a plow to a vehicle is disclosed. The hitch includes a vehicle portion and a plow portion. The vehicle portion includes a mounting member having a substantially planar face. The plow can be pivotally mounted to the plow portion of the hitch. The plow portion of the hitch can be removably mounted to the vehicle portion of the hitch. The plow portion can include a pair of clamping members with one clamping member being movable with respect to the other clamping member. The plow portion can also include a lift assembly for moving the plow between a plowing position and an elevated position.

Abstract: A grader attachment for a skid steer vehicle. The grader attachment is attachable to the front end of the skid steer vehicle. The grader attachment includes a mounting plate at the rear of the grader attachment for removably attaching the grader attachment to the lift mechanism of the skid steer vehicle. The grader attachment further includes a frame with a plurality of frame members extending longitudinally from the mounting plate in parallel spaced relation for accepting at least three grading blades attached to and extending downwardly from the frame members. The grading blades include a first blade located at the front end of the grader attachment, the first blade angled inwardly from right to left to output a windrow from the left end of the first blade. A second blade is located behind the first blade and positioned to accept the windrow from the first blade, the second blade angled inwardly from left to right to produce a windrow on the right end of the second blade.

Abstract: An apparatus for mounting a dozer blade for vertical and angular movement relative to a frame of a wheeled implement. The mounting apparatus a mounting mechanism which allows the dozer blade to be mounted close to the wheels to either end of the implement and which permits angular movement of the blade about a generally vertical axis and vertical movement of the dozer blade about a generally horizontal axis. The mounting apparatus further includes a linearly distendable driver which extends laterally across the frame of the implement and a linkage mechanism which improves angling moments and maximizes the driving force imparted to the blade upon extension of the driver. The linearly distendable driver and linkage mechanism operate in combination and in a closely confined area adjacent to the implement frame for effecting extended angular movement of the dozer blade.

Abstract: Blade mechanisms being operated along the ground have a tendency to draft into the ground unless some positive form of control is provided to prohibit the downdrafting of the blade. In the subject arrangement, a blade and linkage mechanism is provided for stopping a blade from drafting downward with respect to the ground. The linkage mechanism includes a tilt arm attached between a work vehicle and a top portion of the blade and a push arm attached between the work vehicle and a bottom portion of the blade. The tilt arm is movable relative to the vehicle through an arc which if extended intersects the push arm between its pivot connections. When the blade drafts downward, the different orientations of the tilt arm and the push arm corrects the downdraft due to the rear of a skid plate attached thereto being tilted with respect to the ground. The changing orientation of the skid plate with respect to the ground causes the front of the blade to raise with respect to the ground.

Abstract: A snow plow assembly adapted for mounting on a vehicle. The snowplow assembly includes a conventional blade mounted on the front of the vehicle and powered with conventional hydraulic systems. The snow plow assembly also includes a blade mounted on the rear of the vehicle which may be raised or lowered and maintained in a selected position by hydraulic ram and which may be tilted in pitch. Diverter switches permit the vehicle operator to selectively use a single control for either changing the angle of the front plow in a horizontal plane or either for raising or lowering the rear blade or for tilting the pitch of the rear blade. Thus, the snow plow assembly can readily be adapted and retrofitted on vehicles possessing conventional front blades. A method of using the snow plow assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: An implement coupler hitch for a mini-tractor having a dump bed and actuating ram for conversion to an implement lift, such as a three-point lift for agricultural implements. The mini-tractor may have a power take-off on a platform for portage of a tank for crop-spraying.

Abstract: The invention comprises a scraper assembly, and a method of forming same, for mounting forwardly of a padfoot-type, earth-compactor drum for scraping earth, mud and clay accretion from between rows of the padfeet, as well as for scraping the same from the faces of the padfeet, and in an embodiment thereof, the assembly comprises an array of longitudinally disposed and parallel rows of teeth arranged with diverging angles therebetween for efficiently cleaning the padfeet in both rotatable directions of the drum. The teeth are secured firmly to an I-beam which extends across the front of the drum, and a mounting assembly, for a fluid-pressure cylinder, is fixed to the I-beam to control a dozer blade.