Abstract: A corn header includes a plurality of harvesting units to separate corn ears from corn stalks. Each harvesting unit has a deck plate assembly, and an actuator assembly to adjust a width of a stalk receiving channel by adjusting a position of at least a deck plate of the deck plate assembly. A kernel sensor can generate a signal representative of the presence of kernels detached from the ears during the separation of the corn ears from the corn stalks by the harvesting units and a control unit to receive the signal from the kernel sensor and generate an actuator control signal for controlling the actuator assemblies of the plurality of harvesting units, thereby controlling the width of the stalk receiving channels of the harvesting units.

Abstract: A rotary crop processing unit for a combine is shown having a generally cylindrical rotor within a frusto-conical housing. The rotor is arranged in the housing with a generally constant gap between the rotor and the bottom of the housing along the housing length and with an increasing gap between the rotor and the top of the housing in the crop flow direction.

Abstract: A semi-submersible machine moves on rotatable endless belt tracks over diverse surfaces and has two tools on articulated booms for remediation of roadside drainage ditches, retention ponds and other shallow water bodies. One tool is a cutter bar for cutting vegetation at a plurality of angles and positions above or under water, and the other tool is a rotatable pair of opposing clawlike jaws for raking or scouring soil above or under water to restore percolation performance, and to remove loosened vegetative matter without removing soil and water. The vehicle is submersible to a depth of forty inches, and can traverse a slope of thirty degrees while its tilting control platform remains above water and level, thereby maintaining stability of the vehicle.

Abstract: A remotely controlled mower which can be easily converted to an edger, a trimmer and a blower with replaceable kits. The mower is battery powered with two drive motors (16A & B) having gear reducing means to provide rotational energy for propulsion and steering which enables the mower to turn with unlimited angles. Cutting devices for mowing, edging, trimming and blowing device are molded integrally with assemblies for easier attachment. The multiple holes on the assemblies provide a simple way to change cutting heights. Angle drives (54A & B) are used to convert the rotating directions for trimming, edging and mowing. The mower produces no air pollution with low operating noise. The combination of various functions in one remotely controllable mower not only makes lawn maintenance tasks easier but saves homeowners money to purchase and to service different equipments with less space required for storage.

Abstract: A grass cutting device suitable for automatic and unattended operation, comprisesat least one drive wheel;a power unit operatively coupled to said drive wheel to propel said device;a cutter mechanism to cut grass over which said device passes andobstacle detection means capable of detecting an obstacle in the path of said device and being operably linked to said power unit to cause said device to retreat and turn away from said obstacle.The grass cutting device preferably further comprisesmechanical long grass detection means arranged to detect long grass in the path of said device.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an unattended lawn mowing system in which multiple solar powered self propelled, random motion lawn mowers are used singly or in combination to mow a pre-defined lawn area. The mowing zone is defined as a region of grass bounded by naturally occurring or man made obstacles of infinite variation including, but not limited to, high grass, flowers, trees, fences and lawn edging. Each mowing unit is a solar powered, self-propelled, random motion lawn mower which comprises a frame with a set of drive and coaster wheels on the frame. A set of batteries and battery powered electric motors are mounted on said frame with output means from the motors to power drive wheels and a cutting mechanism on the frame. Photovoltaic panels are mounted on said frame to receive solar rays and convert them into electrical power to charge the batteries with means for controlling the orientation of the solar panels so as to face the direction of greatest solar intensity.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for a windrow inverter having a crop pick-up mechanism operable to elevate a windrow of crop material from the ground onto a transversely moveable draper conveyor is disclosed wherein the draper conveyor is rotatably driven by a hydraulic motor operable to rotate the draper conveyor in opposing lateral directions. The crop pick-up mechanism is driven by a ground drive mechanism. A power transfer device including a movable power transfer gear provides the option of interconnecting the drive mechanisms for the draper conveyor and the crop pick-up mechanism upon disconnection of one of the drive mechanisms. A second movable transfer gear provides another option of mechanically driving the operation of the draper conveyor, in either lateral direction. A wing draper attachment mounted on the frame of the windrow inverter is drivingly coupled to the draper conveyor for rotatable operation therewith.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting vegetation such as tree branches is disclosed, which includes a vehicle, a first boom attached to the vehicle, a second boom attached to the first boom, and a cutter attached to the second boom. A first piston and cylinder is attached between the vehicle and the first boom, a second piston and cylinder is attached between the first boom and the second boom, and a third piston and cylinder is attached between the second boom and the cutter. A first engine is mounted on the vehicle and operatively connected to the pistons and cylinders, and a second engine is also mounted on the vehicle and is operatively connected to only power the cutter.

Abstract: An apparatus wherein a self-propelled tractor mounts a support plate, a spool, and a reversing motor mounted to the spool to effectively extend and retract a cable wound about the spool. The cable is directed forwardly to a mounting plate positioned rearwardly and coextensively of a rear edge of an associated lawn mower housing to permit extension and retraction of a lawn mower about an incline of an associated slope in use of the lawn mower. A modification of the invention includes a plurality of spools, each including a reversible motor mounted in association with each respective spool to permit steering of each spool by selective relative rotation of each spool.

Abstract: A powered ditch router for clearing the overgrowth from road side drainage ditches is disclosed. The router includes a power shaft, a plurality of discs attached to the shaft for rotation therewith, and a number of cutting teeth are spaced about the periphery and sides of the discs for cutting the overgrowth. The router is mountable to a tractor for operation through a ditch. The overgrowth, when cut, can be deposited along side one edge of the ditch for subsequent pickup and disposal.

Abstract: A harvester especially adapted for removing ears of sweet corn from stalks which are severed and enter the harvester, rather than being ejected by the snapping rolls of a primary ear stripping mechanism of the harvester, uses stalk engaging belts which bring the severed stalks into stalk ejecting rolls. Ahead of the rolls are stripping rods which engage the ears at their shanks and peel the ears off the stalks as the stalks are pulled outwardly out of the harvester by the ejecting rolls.

Abstract: A workhead for mounting on a boom (15) attached to a tractor. The workhead has a supporting housing (20) which provides mountings for attachment to the boom (24, 26), forward and rearward supporting rollers (21 and 23 resp.) both disposed on a horizontal axis transverse to the line of forward motion of the head, an outer roller (22) on a horizontal axis at an angle to the other rollers and a horizontally rotating shaft (35) with a plurality of blades (36, 37) operable to function as a mower, slasher or rotary hoe. The blades are mounted to be freely rotatable in one angular direction but are locked (65) against rotation in the other.

Abstract: A mounting structure for supporting a power module at least partially outboard of the wheels of a tractor comprising a subframe detachably mounted on the tractor frame between its front and rear wheels and extending transversely outwardly from the tractor toward the module and terminating inboard of the outer sides of the tractor wheels. The subframe has vertical aligned and vertical spaced horizontal ledges thereon. A complementary subframe is fixed to the module outboard of the tractor wheels and has vertically aligned transversely extending horizontal platforms that are vertically spaced on the order of the vertical spacing of the ledges. The ledges and the platforms are in transverse overlap position with respect to each other. Vertically aligned vertical sockets are provided on the module subframe and matching vertically aligned pins are provided on the tractor subframe and the module subframe may swing about a vertical axis of when the pins are inserted into the sockets.

Abstract: This specification discloses a cutting head and mounting assembly for adjustably supporting the cutting head on a mower. The mounting assembly for the head permits easy adjustment of the height of the head above the ground, its horizontal angle with respect to the frame of the mower, and the inclination of the head from a horizontal to a vertical orientation or any angle of inclination therebetween. At the end of the head opposite its cutting flail members, there is a quick detach joint which allows, either an electric motor to be mounted and energized through a switch by electrical power available aboard the mower, or alternatively allows a cable drive to be mounted which drives the head from a friction drive mechanism taking power from the mower engine shaft, the friction drive being selectively engageable by means of a Bowden control cable. A guard to deflect cuttings away from the operation is mounted on the cutting head.

Abstract: A mowing apparatus to cut various kinds of vegetation is disclosed, comprising a floating work head mounted at the working end of an articulated hydraulic arm. The work head has a horizontal rotating element operatively connected to a power source and carrying at both its opposite ends a pivotally-secured cutting blade. The work head is formed with a semi-circular front upper edge and two laterally-spaced forwardly-extending projections, the latter defining, along with the sides of the front upper edge, a V-shape indent. The projections channel the growth to be cut towards the indents, as does the upper edge. The arc of the cutting blades is forward of the front upper edge.

Abstract: A boom assembly (B) is pivotally connected at one end with a prime mower (A) and at a second end with a mowing apparatus (C). An orientation control (D) controls the orientation of the mowing apparatus relative to the boom assembly such that the mowing apparatus can mow vegetation on vertical, sloping, or level areas with the boom positioned with varying degrees of extension. The orientation control (D) includes a hydraulic cylinder (60) which is pivotally connected at one end with the boom assembly and at its other end with a linkage assembly (62). The linkage assembly includes a first link (64) which is pivotally connected with the boom assembly and a second link (68) which is pivotally connected with the mowing apparatus and the first link. The linkage assembly converts the longitudinal extensive and contractive movement of the hydraulic cylinder into substantially 180.degree. of relative rotational movement between the mowing apparatus and the boom assembly.

Abstract: A lawn mower comprises a steering frame pivotally connected to an engine unit which is attached to a mower unit comprising a cutter deck and a cutter assembly. The center of gravity of the engine, transmission, battery and fuel tank is disposed to the rear of the drive wheel axis to counterbalance the weight of the mower unit. The steering frame is pivotally attached to the engine platform at a distance from the drive wheel axis which is a small fraction of the distance between this axis and the cutter deck front castor wheels. The engine and cutter units may be tilted about the drive wheel axis by a cable which extends from the steering frame at an angle of approximately 90 degrees to a radial line extending from the drive wheel axis.

Abstract: A combine (11) is provided with a feed reverser mechanism (81) to drive a pair of feeder conveyors (23, 24) and a header conveyor auger (46) in reverse when the operator detects a jammed condition in the feeder conveyors or auger. The reversing mechanism (81) includes a hydraulic drive motor (92), a wrap spring clutch (93) and a hydraulic actuator (142), which automatically increases the tension on a drive belt (68) when the conveyors (23, 24) and auger (46) are driven in a reverse direction by the hydraulic motor (92). A pump relief valve (191) prevents delivery of excessive torque to the conveyors (23, 24) and auger (46) during a feed reversing operation.

Abstract: A mounting assembly for supporting a side-mounted implement such as a mower attachment or the like upon a tractor includes a central mounting beam extending longitudinally beneath the tractor with front and rear saddles connecting the beam with the front housing and rear tractor axle, a support arm assembly interconnecting the implement with a central portion of the beam so that the weight of the implement or reaction forces from the support arm assembly and implement are transferred directly to the front housing and rear axle of the tractor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a combination of a frame, a mount, and a boom, wherein the boom retains a workpiece, such as a mower, about its free end and is rotationally attached to a pivotal mount at its other end. The pivotal mount or rocker arm is attached to the frame and permits the boom and workpiece to be centered over the frame for transport. The entire assembly preferably is mounted on the back bed area of a truck or tractor.

Abstract: A "short turn" vehicle having front and rear, centerline mounted, power driven, steerable wheels, and a pair of outrigger stabilizing wheels that are mounted on a rigid frame which is restrained against all but vertical movement relative to the frame. The vehicle is capable of zero radius turns under full load. The vehicle is ideally suited as a conveyance of rotary mowers since the vehicle's wheels "guard" the rotary mowing unit and three preferred arrangements thereof are shown and described.

Abstract: A crop harvesting vehicle including a self-propelled chassis and a crop harvesting header coupled on the chassis. The header includes a variety of crop handling elements such as a cutter, a reel, a crop-consolidating conveyor, and conditioning rolls which cooperate in a hay windrowing operation. The chassis includes drive wheels driveable from an engine on the chassis through a hydrostatic drive system including two pumps and two motors hydraulically interconnected. The crop handling elements on the header are drivable through a third pump hydraulically connected to a motor on the header. The three pumps are mounted on the chassis with the rotary input drives thereof successively interconnected in coaxial alignment enabling the pumps to be simultaneously driven through a direct common input from the vehicle engine.

Abstract: A mowing attachment for a tractor includes a horizontally and vertically swinging telescopic boom for positioning the cutter assembly. The horizontal swinging movement is controlled by a hydraulic circuit which includes a piston and cylinder unit and a pressure relief circuit for allowing relative movement between the piston and cylinder when the cutter strikes an obstruction.

Abstract: An electric motor-powered linkage is provided for raising and lowering an implement mounted on a lawn and garden tractor. The energization of the motor and preselection of the position to which it is desired that the motor move the implement is accomplished through means of a control system including a pair of side-by-side arms pivotally mounted for swinging movement about a common axis. On one arm is mounted first and second normally open control switches forming part of a control circuit connected to a motor-reversing power circuit, and on the other arm is mounted a cam forming part of a follow-up linkage. To selectively actuate the motor to drive in forward and reverse, the arm on which the control switches are mounted is selectively manually swung in opposite first and second directions to cause the first and second switches to be respectively actuated to closed positions by first and second arcuate surfaces of the cam.