Abstract: An agricultural row unit adapted to be moved over soil by an agricultural planter to clear crop residue includes a residue clearing disk or brush. The row unit may include a motor to drive rotation of a crop residue disk or brush. The agriculture row unit may also include a controller configured to adjust the operating speed of the motor in response to factors internal and/or external to the agricultural row unit. The factors may include at least one of a speed of the agricultural planter along the row, a height of crop residue disk or brush the relative to a surface of the soil, a height of the crop residue disk or brush relative to a surface of the soil, amount of crop residue in the row, and a downforce pressure on the row unit.

Abstract: A turf slicer includes a gang of six slicer wheels that “walk” through the turf in response to the forward motion of the turf slicer. In the meantime, the power takeoff from the tractor vertically oscillates the slicer wheels out of phase with one another, so that every sixth wheel is being thrust downwardly to bear most of the weight of the turf slicer as the other five wheels in the gang of six are either being withdrawn upwardly or moved downwardly and do not bear much weight, so that the weight of the turf slicer is concentrated on the downwardly moving slicer wheel that is approaching bottom dead center of its movement, thereby amplifying the effective weight of the turf slicer against the turf below.

Abstract: An improved method of mounting the cutting head of a sod harvester with respect to the conveyor employs a single ball joint between the cutting head and the conveyor, and a pair of side links spaced outwardly of the conveyor and arranged to constrain the cutting head against lateral displacement with respect to the conveyor. Preferably, the links are adjustable in length to permit vertical and lateral adjustment of the cutting head with respect to the conveyor, e.g. “tracking” of the cutting head.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of arrangements at cable branchings and methods for manufacturing cable branches. One or more main conductors in the main cable are cut and released from the main cable. The cut and released main conductors are spliced with branch conductors extending from and end of a branch cable. A section of the main cable is arranged at a rail. A section of the branch cable, including the end, is also arranged at the rail. The tension reliever of the branch cable is fixed to the rail using a fixing device. A protective casing encloses the rail, the main cable section, the branch cable section, the spliced conductors and the fixing device.

Abstract: A scarifier machine has a milling drum partially enclosed in a protective sump which is suspended from the frame of the machine by a linkage assembly. The protective sump of the scarifier machine is connected to the frame of the machine by shaking members which comprise a couple of hydraulic cylinders, each presenting a body that is fixed to the frame of the machine and an extremity of a stem that is fixed to the protective sump of the milling drum.

Abstract: A scarifier machine has a milling drum partially enclosed in a protective sump which is suspended from the frame of the machine by a linkage assembly. An eccentric drive reciprocates the sump relative to the frame.

Abstract: A lawn treatment apparatus includes an open-bottomed support body having three treatment implements in the form of spiking devices or brushing/sweeping devices adapted to move through the open bottom. The support body carries a driving mechanism to drive the treatment implements with a combination of vertical and horizontal oscillations. A biasing mechanism is provided normally to hold the implement in a vertical attitude or substantially so when stationary.

Abstract: An apparatus for aerating turf including a mounting frame (11) for mounting the apparatus to the hydraulic lift system (12) of a utility tractor. A trailer support frame (13) is pivotably mounted to the mounting frame (11) so as to enable the trailer support frame (13) to tilt toward and away from engagement with the turf. A plurality of rotary hoes (39) are supported within the trailer support frame (13) along a drive shaft (41). Each rotary hoe (39) has a double row tapered roller bearing assembly (53) mounted on the drive shaft (41) at an angle tilted from the longitudinal axis (70) of the drive shaft, causing the rotary hoe to wobble from side-to-side (B, B') in response to the rotation of the drive shaft.

Abstract: An apparatus for aerating turf including a mounting frame (11) for mounting the apparatus to the hydraulic lift system (12) of a utility tractor. A trailer support frame (13) is pivotably mounted to the mounting frame (11) so as to enable the trailer support frame (13) to tilt toward and away from engagement with the turf. A plurality of rotary hoes (39) are supported within the trailer support frame (13) along a drive shaft (41). The drive shaft (41) is rotated by the power take-off (44) of the tractor, and causes the rotary hoes (39) to vibrate as the tines (58) of the rotary hoes (39) penetrate the soil so as to aerate the turf without causing compaction of the soil.

Abstract: A special cultivating machine, lawn care apparatus and process are provided to properly prepare, efficiently condition, and gently cultivate the soil, turf and lawn in a uniform manner without uprooting, ruining, or damaging existing healthy plants and grass and without substantial thatching. The special cultivating machine, lawn care apparatus and process attain excellent seed and soil contact for virtually all soil compositions, textures, and conditions, and accurately follow the contour of the ground soil, turf, or lawn, regardless of mounds, hills, valleys, irregularities, clumps, and other soil conditions. The cultivating machine and lawn care apparatus has spring biased, rearwardly facing, scratching arms (cultivation fingers) which are reciprocatingly driven by a crankshaft. The crankshaft is smoothly rotated by a chain and sprocket arrangement. Desirably, the crankshaft and scratching arms can be raised or lowered by a height adjustment assembly to vary the depth and angle of soil penetration.

Abstract: A walk-behind turf aerating apparatus includes two pairs of tine arm assemblies, each assembly having a pair of vertically reciprocating tine arms for driving coring tines into the turf. A tine arm return mechanism includes a gear box for each pair of tine arms, the lower ends of the tine arms being connected to cranks extending from the gear box to reposition the tine arms prior to ground engagement. Stops are provided to limit the tine arm travel. A spring-loaded lifting mechanism permits manual shifting of the tine arm mechanism from a lowered ground-engaging position to a raised transport position. A belt drive with clutch and reduction drive for the wheels also drives the tine arm mechanism with automatic disengagement when the wheels are in the transport position. A handle assembly is connected to the apparatus frame through a pivotal connection including vibration damping elements for minimizing transmittal of vibrations, particularly in the vertical plane, to the handle.

Abstract: A turf aerator includes a wheel-supported frame and drive means for propelling the frame across the ground at a predetermined rate. A pair of substantially vertical tine arms each having a plurality of downwardly directed turf coring tines attached to the lower end thereof are mounted on the frame for alternate penetrating engagement with the ground. A tine arm actuating mechanism produces an essentially elliptical movement of the upper end of each tine arm, the major axis of the elliptical movement being substantially vertical. A rocker mechanism indirectly connects the lower end of one tine arm with the lower end of the other tine arm such that the horizontal movement of one tine arm with respect to the frame upon engagement of that tine arm with the turf produces an equal and opposite horizontal movement of the other tine arm and vice versa. The aerator produces a substantially vertical insertion and withdrawal movement of the tines and a resultant minimal disturbance of the surrounding turf area.

Abstract: An improved vibration proof suspension type vibrating roller is disclosed which includes a rolling roller rotatably supported in a frame structure, a hydraulic motor for rotating the rolling roller and a hydraulic motor for rotating a vibration generating shaft with an eccentric mass fixedly mounted thereon. A plurality of vibration proof members made of elastic material such as rubber or the like are fixedly secured to both the sides of the frame structure on the inner surface thereof. A hydraulic motor unit including a hydraulic motor for rotating the rolling roller, a plate axle and associated components is fixedly secured to one half member of vibration proof members, while a hydraulic motor unit including a hydraulic motor for rotating the vibration generating shaft, a support plate and associated components is fixedly secured to the other half number of vibration proof members.

Abstract: A road compacting drum is equipped with a dual amplitude, rotational, vibratory mechanism. A shaft rotatably mounted on the drum supports eccentric weights. Casings secured to the shaft adjacent the weights have chambers accommodating fluent mass. The fluent mass comprise metal members, as steel balls, shot or liquid metal, that move to a first location in the chamber upon rotation of the shaft in one direction to increase the amplitude of the vibration of the shaft and drum. The fluent mass flows to a second location in the chamber in response to rotation of the shaft in a direction opposite the one direction to generally balance the shaft to reduce the amplitude of vibration of the shaft and drum.

Abstract: A tiller head for a soil tilling device including a shaft which carries a number of blades which rotate with the shaft, and a drive for causing rotation of the shaft. A housing surrounds the drive. At least one of the blades is mounted for oscillatory movement where its ends shift laterally relative to the shaft. A camming device is carried by the housing and protrudes into the plane of rotation of the blade. The blade contacts the cam upon rotation of the shaft to urge the ends of the blade sequentially under the housing, thus tilling the soil under the housing.

Abstract: A cultivating attachment mounted on a tractor is driven by the power take-off drive of the tractor to simulate the customary action of a hoe when it is manually manipulated. The desired effect is achieved by providing a pair of ground engaging rotatable cutting elements at the ends of an arm mounted on a chassis which is connected to the tractor frame. Shafts are connected to the ends of the arm and also eccentrically connected to plates which are rotated by a drive connected to the power take-off of the tractor. Movement of the eccentrics imparts an oscillating and vertical movement to the arm and the cutting elements connected thereto as the cutting elements engage the ground being cultivated.

Abstract: A machine for cultivating the soil has a main transverse beam carrying a transverse tool shaft driven to drive wobble bearings on the tool shaft, thereby to oscillate a plurality of tool holders having lever arms guided for transverse swinging movement in the beam. The tool holders mount the tines directly in tapered bores in the tool holders. The tines are secured to the tool holders by bolts threaded into the upper ends of the tines and are provided with break sections, to protect the tool holders.

Abstract: A machine for cultivating the soil has a main transverse beam carrying a transverse tool shaft, and a gear box for driving the tool shaft. The beam has a frame for attaching the machine to the conventional three-point hydraulic system of a tractor, the tractor power take-off shaft then being connected to drive the tool shaft via the gear box. To enable the machine to be constructed in various widths and to facilitate its assembly and transportation, the main beam is in two half portions interconnected by the gear box housing. Likewise the tool shaft is in half shaft portions driven by a common, hollow gear box drive shaft. The gear box itself is formed in upper and lower portions, the upper portion of which is interchangeable with a different gear ratio portion to suit different tractor power take-off speeds. The gear box drive shaft has a rearwardly projecting drive shaft portion for driving further equipment to be used in combination with the machine.

Abstract: A cultivating implement has a supporting frame and elongated tined beams, extending transverse to the direction of travel, located below the frame. Each tined beam is connected to respective eccentric mechanisms mounted on two rotatable shafts that extend in the direction of travel and the shafts are supported on frame beams. One of the shafts is connected to a driving shaft via a gear box that houses a step-up gear transmission and drives the other shaft via the beams. The tined beams are moved through circular paths out of phase with respect to one another and can mount tines that crumble soil or strip-shaped tines that cut vegetation. A supporting roller is adjustably mounted on the frame to trail the tines and further work the soil.

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: A tilling machine has a frame with a row of tines or rotatable tined soil working members in a row that extends transverse to the direction of travel. A drive is connected to rock the tines or rotate the tined members during operation. The same drive has an eccentric that links an elongated tilling member to the machine at the rear of the tines. The tilling member is pivoted to the frame and movable through a closed but non circular path by the eccentric and elongate elements of the tilling member are moved through a renoform path to both work and level ground previously worked by the tines. Adjustments to change the working levels of the tines and/or the tilling member can be made by rearranging the linkage connections to the frame.

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 soil cultivating machine has side-by-side working members mounted on upwardly extending shafts that extend slightly forward with respect to the direction of travel. Each working member includes radial arms and at the outer end of each arm a tool, such as a disc or group of tines, is journalled for free rotation about a corresponding axis of rotation that extends at an angle with respect to the axis of rotation of the working member. During operation, the tools have portions that contact the ground and cut across the soil while rotating about the tools' axes of rotation and that of the working member. Such movements assist to propel the machine forwardly.

Abstract: A rotary plough has a rotor that rotates about a horizontal axis defined by a central support. The rotor comprises three spaced apart groups of soil working tines and each group includes a row of tines mounted on arms that extend radially with respect to the support. Each row of tines is independently connected via a chain transmission to a toothed pinion on the central support so that as the entire rotor turns about the support, each row of tines is also revolved about a horizontal axis. The central support is rotated by a further sprocket and chain transmission connected to a gear box with a P.T.O connection. The central support is surrounded by a second rotatable support on which radial scrapers are mounted. The gear box is connected to rotate the entire rotor as a whole and the three groups of tines in the same direction so that the tines are moved through the soil rearwardly with respect to the normal direction of travel.