Abstract: Broadly, one aspect of the present invention is an articulated combine having increased on-board grain storage capacity (e.g., 1,200 bushels) and which is composed of a forward unit having an operator's cab, an engine, a grain harvesting assembly, a grain transfer assembly, and being devoid of an on-board grain bin; and a rearward unit jointedly attached to the forward section and having, steerable and powered wheels, an on-board grain bin for receiving grain from the forward section grain transfer assembly, and a grain off-loading assembly. The grain transfer assembly, joint, and grain off-loading assembly and controls, form other aspects of the present invention.

Abstract: A rotary lawn mower adapted to separately power an auxiliary apparatus includes a platform, front and rear wheels attached to and supporting the platform, a cutting blade, an engine connected to the platform and a converter mechanism connected with the engine for separately transferring power from the engine to the cutting blade and to the auxiliary apparatus. The converter mechanism includes a frame connected to the engine and dual coupling device for coupling the engine with the cutting blade and for separately coupling the engine with the auxiliary apparatus. When the dual coupling device is in a first position, the engine shaft is coupled to drive the cutting blade for movement thereof and is not positioned for coupling with the auxiliary apparatus for movement thereof. When the dual coupling device is in a second position, the engine shaft is coupled with the auxiliary apparatus for movement thereof and is not positioned for coupling with the cutting blade for movement thereof.

Abstract: A blade brake assembly is provided for use with a lawn mower having a self-propelled power deck with a pair of drive wheels and a mower deck supporting at least a mower blade driven by the power deck. In order to change the cutting height, the mower deck is pivotable with respect to the power deck. The blade brake assembly includes an actuator mounted to the power deck and shiftable in response to a brake command by an operator, a band brake operatively coupled to the mower blade, a center pivot mounted on the mower deck and fixed with respect thereto, and a pivot lever pivotally mounted on the center pivot and having a first end pivotally connected to an end of the actuator. Furthermore, a link member is pivotally connected at one end thereof to a second end of the pivot lever, opposite the first end, wherein the center pivot is intermediate the two ends of the pivot lever, and wherein the link member is connected at the second end thereof to the band brake.

Abstract: An improved bail is provided for use on a lawn mower. The bail includes a pivot stop member that is integral with the bail and which is positioned within a first hollow portion of a first leg of a control handle attached to the lawn mower. To stop the bail from pivoting in a first direction, the bail is released by the operator. A second end of a pivot stop member then comes into contact with the inside surface of the hollow portion of the first leg. This stops the bail from pivoting.

Abstract: The invention is a self-propelled drivewheel steering power mower which can be operated in a standing or sitting position, including a pair of variable flow hydrostatic pumps with tiltable swash plates, each of which drives one of a pair of drivewheels. A vertically mounted steering shaft is rotatably supported on the mower for rotation about an axis concentric with said shaft; and a T-shaped steering handle bar is rotatably journaled to the end of said steering shaft for twisting about an axis concentric with said handle bar.

Abstract: A self-propelled vehicle is provided with a main speed control lever and a brake for preventing rotation of drive wheels. When an operator places the main speed control lever in a stop position, the vehicle's transmission in shifted to a neutral or near-neutral position and the brake is engaged.

Abstract: A power transmitting structure for a mid-mount mower having a mower unit disposed in a middle region of a vehicle body. The power transmitting structure includes an engine disposed adjacent front wheels, axle shafts for rotating drive wheels, a stepless transmission operatively connected to the axle shafts, and a power branching device. The power branching device includes a branch input shaft connected to the engine through an engine power transmitting device extending longitudinally of the vehicle body, a first branch output operatively connected to the stepless transmission, and a second branch output operatively connected to the mower unit. The first branch output is a pulley connected to an input pulley of the stepless transmission through a belt to transmit power to the input pulley. The power branching device is disposed independently of and spaced from the stepless transmission. The mower unit is suspended below the engine power transmitting device between the engine and the power branching device.

Abstract: A vehicle having a hydrostatic transmission is provided with a main speed control lever for governing the vehicle's maximum forward speed and an independently adjustable tracking control mechanism for coordinating output of left and right hydraulic wheel motors.

Abstract: A lawn mower is powered by two vertical shaft engines mounted on the chassis and equispaced about the longitudinal axis of the chassis. A vertical drive shaft is rotatably mounted on the longitudinal axis of the chassis. The outputs of both vertical shaft engines are transmitted through belts and pulleys to the vertical drive shaft, which is rotated by the combined outputs of both vertical shaft engines. Other pulleys are secured to the vertical drive shaft and connected through belting to pulleys which rotate grass-cutting blades and to pulleys which operate motors turning the driving wheels to propel the lawn mower.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for quickly adjusting a dual hydraulically powered, wheel-steered lawn mower to achieve straight line travel when steered to the straight ahead position. Right and left hydraulic pump controls interconnect the speed control of the mower to right and left hydraulic pumps which are fluidly connected to right and left hydraulic motors which drive right and left drive wheels on the mower. The left hydraulic pump control is length adjustable and is maintained in a set position by a pair of jam nuts. The right hydraulic pump control also includes a length adjustable rod, but the same is length adjustable through the use of an adjustment knob which may be quickly adjusted while the mower is moving. The output of the right hydraulic pump may be adjusted by means of the right hydraulic pump control so that the output of the right hydraulic pump may be varied with respect to the left hydraulic pump so that the mower will move ahead in a straight line manner.

Abstract: A single belt drive system for a grounds care device using two transmission power units to provide directional drive to the wheels. The single belt arrangement allows the vehicle to have two identical transmission power units due to the asymmetric design.

Abstract: A transmission for a self-propelled walking lawn mower is disclosed, the transmission comprising:i) a casing;ii) input and output shafts supported by the casing, the output shaft driving ground engaging wheels of the mower and the input shaft receiving drive force from an engine of the mower wherein the input shaft extends substantially perpendicular to the output shaft and is located almost directly above the output shaft;iii) a drive gear secured on the input shaft;iv) a driven gear rotatably mounted on the output shaft and meshing with the drive gear; andv) a clutch for transmitting the rotation of the driven gear to the output shaft.

Abstract: A mechanical system for a controlling a reversible pump in a walk-behind turf care machine having a hydrostatic drive and operator speed and traction controls. The pump includes a rotatable trunion shaft connected to the traction control for controlling hydrostatic pump displacement and direction. A rotatable lever structure fits over the trunion shaft and includes a rotary sleeve, an arm and roller. A control bracket, including a V-shaped contact portion having opposed surfaces for engaging the roller, is operatively connected to the speed and traction controls and to the turf machine frame about a pivot point. Operator manipulation of the control bracket via the speed and traction controls causes a rotatable engagement between the control bracket and the roller, which in turn sets the maximum forward/reverse speeds and direction of the hydrostatic drive. When the traction control is neutral, a spring arrangement is provided for urging of the hydrostatic pump into its neutral position.

Abstract: A tracked agricultural combine vehicle for harvesting, hulling and sorting grain includes integrated control means for left and right side propulsion track assemblies wherein individual track steering commands in the form of differential track speed control are derived from a common steering wheel input and vehicle speed is controlled by a single input means which controls the speed of both tracks.

Abstract: An improved hydraulic drive system is provided for a vehicle having a plurality of ground engaging wheels which are each individually driven by a hydraulic motor to provide all wheel drive. The ground engaging wheels include a first pair of such wheels at or adjacent a first end of the vehicle and at least one other such wheel at or adjacent a second end of the vehicle. The hydraulic drive system includes a hydraulic flow circuit that connects the hydraulic motors for the wheel(s) at the second end of the vehicle in series to each other, to the fluid source, and to the drive motors for the wheels at the first end of the frame, which latter drive motors are connected in parallel to each other. Such a vehicle will provide superior traction ability as at least one wheel on each end of the vehicle must slip to bring the vehicle to a halt.

Abstract: A lawn mower is provided having improved steering controls, namely a "trim" feature which may be adjusted while the mower is in a forward speed setting. Further provided is a park lock feature which locks the speed controls of the mower. Finally, a neutral latch feature is provided which becomes engaged when the left and right steering controls of the mower are simultaneously position in either a neutral or a reverse position.

Abstract: A dual action cable control apparatus (20) includes a mounting bracket (22), a first Bowden cable assembly (24), a second Bowden cable assembly (26), an elongated lever (28), and a rotatable spool (30) mounted upon one end of the lever. Spool (30) is coupled with cable assembly (24) for shifting the cable to actuate a lawn mower transmission linkage concomitant with rotation of the spool. Lever (28) is operably coupled with cable (26) for actuation of a lawn mower drive engagement control linkage concomitant with rocking of the lever. Detent assembly (34) is provided for retaining spool (30) at selected rotational positions representing lawn mower transmission settings.

Abstract: A walk behind lawn mower operating system. The system comprises a handlebar onto which control bails with ends are pivotally attached, with the control bails being operatively connected to propulsion and blade brake systems, respectively. The control bails are arranged on the handlebar such that they pivot away from the handlebar in opposite directions. The control bails' cross-sectional dimensions are essentially identical. Each of the control bail's movement is limited by a bail pivot stop. Each bail pivot stop is removably attached to a control bail end so that it pivots with the control bail and restricts the pivoting movement by impinging upon the handlebar with an integrally formed stop. In the preferred embodiment, where the control bails pivot away from the handlebar in opposite directions, the control bail stops are located at either side of the handlebar.

Abstract: 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 a wing draper attachment mounted on the frame of the windrow inverter on the opposing side of the transverse cross conveyor from the discharge chute. The wing extension is moveable between a raised transport position and a lowered operating position and is latched into the selected position by a latching mechanism. A hydraulic system is provided to operatively drive the draper for the wing extension and the cross conveyor in opposing directions to permit the windrow inverter to be utilized to discharge windrows of crop material to either selected side of the windrow inverter. The drive mechanism utilizes a selective combination of a mechanical ground drive and a hydraulic drive to power the operation of the pick-up mechanism, cross conveyor and wing attachment.

Abstract: A lawn mower has a hydraulic motor mounted on each drive wheel and each motor is independently driven by a separate pump. Each pump includes a control lever for regulating fluid pressure and flow direction so that each wheel may be driven independently in the forward and reverse directions and at varying speeds. The control levers are independently connected to two speed control levers mounted on the mower's hand grips. A speed control index is mounted on each hand grip for releasably maintaining the speed control levers in a plurality of forward speed positions so that it is not necessary for the operator to exert hand pressure on the control levers in order to maintain a desired forward speed. A neutral control assembly returns the pump control levers to a neutral position when the control levers are moved into neutral.

Abstract: A powereed riding tractor lawn mower suited to uneven terrain has four fluid motor powered driven wheels and includes a frame comprising front and rear frame sections connected for pivoting about a first axis between the sections and normal to the ground plane. The rear frame section is in turn made up of forward and rearward portions, the rearward portion of which pivots about a second axis which intersects and is perpendicular to the first axis enabling the rear wheels to pivot about both axis. Sterring is accomplished by a steering mechanism which changes the angular relation of the frame sections.

Abstract: The present walk-behind, self-propelled motor has two hydraulic motors whose rotors are directly connected to the hubs of respective drive wheels on opposite sides of the mower deck toward the rear. These motors are driven by respective pumps, each of which has its direction and rate of fluid displacement controlled by a handle mechanism on the upper end of a corresponding fixed handle extending up from the deck at the rear. Each handle mechanism has a pivoted handle coating with a locking lever to set the corresponding pump in neutral, forward or reverse. An internal combustion engine drives both pumps as well as cutting blades located below the mower deck toward the front. Vertically pivoted wheels are located in front of the mower deck.

Abstract: An adapter for use with sunflower head combines or corn harvesters in which the stalks are cut from the ground and ride upon closed-bottom channels from which they pass between rollers to be deposited in a swath on the ground while the corn and sunflower heads are separated by strippers cooperating with conveyors displacing the stalks along the channels.

Abstract: A draper header attachable to a base tractor unit to harvest standing crop material and create a windrow by using draper conveyors to consolidate the severed crop material is disclosed wherein the draper header includes three draper sections, two of which are transversely shiftable to vary the location of a crop discharge opening. The third draper section is fixed along the right side of the header and is rotatable to convey severed crop material inwardly away from the header sidesheet to displace the windrow away from any uncut crop material when the crop discharge opening is adjacent thereto. Although the shiftable draper sections are rotatably driven by hydraulic motors, the fixed draper section is mechanically driven from a transverse drive shaft forming a part of the drive mechanism to the reciprocating cutterbar having a pair of counter-reciprocating sickles.

Abstract: In a drive system for the threshing cylinder of a combine harvester, a conventional infinitely variable V-belt drive, is combined with a two-speed final drive assembly. In the final drive assembly, an epicyclic gear train is housed within the body of a driven sheave journaled on the cylinder shaft. For a direct drive mode, the sheave is coupled to the shaft by way of a flange mounted non-rotatably on the shaft. A sun gear of the gear train is controllable externally of the sheave body and may be non-rotatably secured relative to the combine body for a cylinder speed reducing mode. The combine cylinder speed is therefore infinitely variable within, selectively, either an upper range or a lower range.

Abstract: A snowblower is disclosed having an engine, a friction disc rotatably driven by the engine, the friction disc including a friction surface and being rotatable about a first axis, a driven disc rotatable about an axis transverse to said first axis, the driven disc including a peripheral edge engageable with the friction surface, and being drivingly connected to the snowblower wheels for driving the wheels when the driven disc is driven by the friction disc. The snowblower also includes controls for controlling driving connection of the engine and an auger and for controlling driving connection of the engine and the wheels, the controls causing engagement of the auger drive before engagement of the traction drive and disengagement of the traction drive before disengagement of the auger drive.