Abstract: A cane harvester including a support member and a basecutter assembly carried by the support member. The basecutter assembly has at least one rotating basecutter and a plurality of blades coupled thereto. The plurality of blades are not sharp.

Abstract: A large capacity, self-propelled walk-behind power tool, such as a lawn mower, employs gear-operated transmissions for independently driving each drive wheel. Control handles are connected to idler pulley levers and brake levers to control the movement of the driving wheels. A constant input rate to the control handles results in a variable output rate to the idler pulley levers and the brake levers.

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: A handle for an outdoor power equipment unit, such as a lawn mower, includes a control system for allowing the user to manually vary the ground speed of the mower provided by a self propel system. The control system includes a handle grip on the handle that slides up and down relative to a lower portion of the handle. As the handle grip slides down, the ground speed increases. As the handle grip slides up, the ground speed decreases. A grab member can be used to allow the operator to have leverage in pushing the handle grip down.

Abstract: A mowing apparatus with multiple articulating cutting decks includes a pair of side cutting decks attached to a center cutting deck. The side decks are pivotally attached to the center deck and pivot about axes which lie in the planes defined by rotation of the respective cutting blades. The cutting blades are driven by pulleys and belts. Proper tension in each side drive belt is maintained during pivoting of the corresponding side deck by an assembly comprising a pair of idler pulleys rotatably mounted on a pivotally attached pulley arm which is biased in the direction which increases tension on the belt.

Abstract: A bag-full indicator mechanism is provided for use on a mower that has a mower deck with cutting blades, a bag for collecting cut vegetation, and a chute communicating the mower deck with the bag. The bag-full indicator mechanism includes a vacuum actuator, vacuum means for providing a vacuum to the vacuum actuator, and sensing means for sensing that the bag is full. Preferably the vacuum means is the intake manifold of the mower engine. The bag-full indicator mechanism also includes activating means for activating the vacuum actuator and includes a switching means and a pivotable lever. Finally, indicating means is used for indicating that the bag is full and preferably includes a shutoff means for stopping the rotation of the cutting blades.

Abstract: A disc mower incorporates a modular disc cutterbar. The drive mechanism for the mower utilizes a V-belt drive apparatus that requires proper tensioning which is accomplished through a spring tensioning mechanism that includes an indicator to visually determine when the proper tension has been applied. The indicator includes a bracket positioned adjacent the spring and has a length substantially equal to the length of the spring required for exerting the proper spring force for tensioning the drive belt.

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: A control system for controlling an associated device includes a vacuum actuator, connecting means for operatively connecting the vacuum actuator to the associated device, vacuum means for providing a vacuum to the vacuum actuator, and activating means for selectively electrically activating the vacuum actuator. To engage an associated PTO shaft, an operator switches an electric switch opening a control valve and activating a vacuum actuator. Next a clutch arm is pivoted causing a brake arm to take a PTO pulley out of braking engagement and forcing an idler pulley into operative engagement with a PTO belt. This connects the PTO pulley with a drive pulley thereby rotating the PTO shaft. When the PTO is to be disengaged, the brake arm is effective to stop the motion of the implement driven by the PTO, and to stop the implement within a very short time.

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: 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 blade drive clutch and brake for a lawn mower including an engine having a drive shaft extending downwardly therefrom and which has a drive sheave thereon. A clutch arm is movably mounted below and rearwardly of the engine drive shaft sheave and supports a vertically disposed, rotatable jackshaft thereon. An upper sheave is mounted on the upper end of the jackshaft and is connected to the engine drive shaft sheave by an upper belt. A lower sheave is mounted on the lower end of the jackshaft and has a drive belt extending therearound which is connected to the sheaves on the cutting blades located in the mower deck. A lever is connected to the clutch arm for moving the clutch arm between engaged and disengaged positions. When the clutch arm is in its disengaged position, the blade drive belt pulls the clutch arm and jackshaft forwardly so that the upper belt is in a non-driving position.

Abstract: A tracked agricultural combine vehicle for harvesting, hulling and sorting grain includes a grain working section driven via a tension roller clutch controlled power transmission belt and further including 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; vehicle speed is controlled by a single input means which controls the speed of both tracks.

Abstract: A belt drive tensioning device for a walk-behind mower having a power source, a transmission and shiftable between forward, neutral and reverse modes, right and left drive pulley's driven by the transmission, right and left drive belts driven by the drive pulleys, right and left ground engaging wheels driven by the drive belts, right and left idler pulleys shiftable into engagement against the drive belts for selectively placing drive tension in the drive belts, right and left biasing means for applying a force to the idler pulleys to bias the idler pulleys into engagement with the drive belts and place drive tension in said drive belts, right and left rods operatively coupled with the idler pulleys for shifting the idler pulleys toward and away from engagement with the drive belts, right and left pivotable levers coupled with the rods, the levers being independently engagable by the operator for pulling the respective rod and shifting the respective idler pulley in a direction away from engagement with the d

Abstract: A mower suitable for cutting high grass, brush, and like growth. The mower has a plurality primary cutting elements disposed ahead of a secondary cutting element. The primary cutting elements is that which first contacts growth, cutting this growth to a predetermined height. The secondary cutting element follows the primary cutting element, contacting the cut growth and cutting the same to a final, predetermined height less than that obtained by the first cut. The primary cutting elements are preferably unencumbered by a hood or guard, but preferably are partially encircled or surrounded at the front and sides by a bumper. The bumper prevents the mower from attempting to run over or cut rigid, immovable objects, such as trees, curbs, large stones, and the like. The primary and secondary cutting elements may be a singular element or plural elements arranged abreast of one another. The cutting elements may be rigid blades or flexible members, such as stranded metal, synthetic resin cords, or chains.

Abstract: An automatic tensioner to be used with a drive train of a self-propelled mower for drivingly connecting a ground wheel to the mower transmission, wherein the tensioner includes tensioning mechanism, which may be constructed as a spring biased idler arm having an idler member rotatably mounted thereon, to apply a tensioning force against the flexible element of the drive. The tensioner further includes an anti-slackening assembly having an elongated takeup rod being pivotally coupled with the idler arm at one end thereof so that the takeup rod moves generally with the idler arm, as the arm moves in a tensioning direction and opposed slackening direction. The anti-slackening assembly also includes a swingable control tab having an aperture receiving the other end of the takeup rod.

Abstract: A lawn mower including a cutting blade brake and clutch which discourages blade engagement after a predetermined level of blade brake wear, damage, or improper adjustment is encountered. Also provided is an improved idler pulley system providing an improved "serpentine" belt path therebetween.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved lawnmowing and edging apparatus wherein a generally conventional gasoline powered push mower or walk-behind mower is provided with an edger mounted on the front of the deck of the mower slightly outside of the track of one of the front wheels, the edger having a high speed rotating blade which lies in a vertical plane and which can be raised to an inoperative position or lowered to an operative position. The edger is provided with a very simple belt and pulley drive which causes the edger to be powered only in its lowered position and which derives its motive power from a power-take-off extending outward from the lawnmower engine substantially at right angles to the direction of travel of the mower. The power-take-off shaft is thereby substantially parallel to the shaft of the edger and a simple trouble free and safe power drive mechanism can be provided for the edger.

Abstract: An auxiliary blade apparatus for connecting to a lawn mower having an engine, a mower blade, a mower deck over the mower blade having side edges, a mower drive shaft extending from the mower blade to a mower blade drive element drivably connected to the engine, the auxiliary blade apparatus includes an auxiliary blade support structure pivotally connected to the lawn mower, to pivot upward to permit the mower to pass through a narrow gate in a yard fence, and downward to extend the width of the cutting area of the mower to widen the path the mower can cut, and an auxiliary blade fastened to an auxiliary drive shaft extending through the auxiliary blade support structure and fastened to an auxiliary drive element connected to the mower blade drive element. The auxiliary blade support structure preferably includes an auxiliary deck pivotally joined to one of the mower deck side edges.

Abstract: An edger having a main frame, at least one front wheel fastened in the front portion of the main frame, two rear wheels fastened in the rear portion of the main frame, a rotary blade disposed in the front portion of either side of the main frame and capable of conducting edging, an engine mounted on the main frame and a driving device for operating the rotary blade with the engine, the edger comprising: a supporting arm for supporting the rear wheel positioned opposite to the rotary blade in such a manner that the position of the rear wheel positioned opposite to the rotary blade can be vertically adjusted with respect to the main frame; and a positioning mechanism for positioning the vertical position of the rear wheel disposed between the main frame and the supporting arm.

Abstract: A belt drive mechanism for transmitting power from a vehicle's power source to a mower deck vertically shiftably coupled with the vehicle, and having a primary belt driven by an output sheave coupled with the vehicle power source, a double pulley jacksheave driven by the primary belt, and a secondary belt driven by the jacksheave and operatively engaged with mower deck sheaves which drive mower blades within the mower deck. A support member extends between the mower deck and the vehicle for supporting the jacksheave, the support member being pivotal with respect to both the mower deck and the vehicle for shifting the position of the jacksheave to a position vertically between the output sheive and the mower deck sheaves as the mower deck shifts vertically. The jacksheave pivots with the support member to assume a tilted position when the mower deck is shifted vertically.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a lawn mower which includes two coupling members pivotable about a single axis. The coupling members are connected to a drive mechanism and a braking mechanism for the lawn mower. The members are coupled so that a forward pushing force applied by the operator actuates forward driving movement of the lawn mower and a pulling force actuates the braking mechanism when the drive mechanism is placed in a forward gear.

Abstract: An agricultural combine such as used in the harvesting of crops includes oscillating or fixed forward tandem drive wheels which are coupled to the combine's support frame, or undercarriage, to provide a smooth ride over rough fields and a more uniform crop cutting height above the soil. The combine also includes a body typically housing a diesel engine, operator controls such as in an enclosed cab, a grain and residue separating system, a grain storage bin, and an auger of off-loading the harvested grain. The combine body, which also typically has an array of row crop heads disposed on a forward portion thereof, is disposed on and coupled to the support frame in a slidable manner permitting the body to move forward to distribute the weight primarily over the tandem drive wheels for improved traction for operating in muddy fields and to accommodate larger grain loads.

Abstract: A linear spacing device has first and second elongated components, which may be telescoping hollow tubes, each having linear surfaces engaging each other in sliding relationship. Each component has spaced holes disposed at regular linear intervals along its length. The intervals between the holes through the second component are different than the intervals between the holes through said first component. A pin or similar means is insertable through selected aligned holes through the first and second components to secure them in a selected orientation. Thus the overall length of the spacer can be adjusted in small increments substantially less than the diameter of the holes. The device further includes an extendable linear actuator engageable with a surface of each of the components to extend the overall length of the spacer. The actuator is removable from the device after the components are secured together.

Abstract: A mower apparatus includes multiple mowing sections each having a separate mower and each being interconnected with adjacent sections by hinge mechanisms. The mower sections are driven by a motor through a single endless belt reeved to be driven by the motor and to drive each of the mowers of the sections. The belt is configured in a unique manner such that as the belt crosses between adjacent hinged sections, the belt is run substantially parallel and in close proximity to the pivot axes of the hinge such that when the sections are pivoted relative to one another the belt does not substantially slacken or tighten.

Abstract: A motorized lawn mowing machine has a generally horizontal deck with an engine releasably mounted thereon. A vertical drive shaft driven by the engine protrudes through an opening in the deck to mount a grass cutter blade thereon below the deck. A releasably mounted adaptor plate is mounted on the deck between the engine and deck, the plate having an opening for passing the shaft and having radially extending extension arm mechanism with parallel arms projecting radially at a sidewisely forward angle. The plate houses a first pulley fixed to rotate with the shaft at the level of the arms. The arm mechanism slideably supports a vertical flail assembly having an upper second pulley in alignment with the first pulley. An endless belt drive member is trained around the pulleys, and manipulatable mechanism is connected to slide the vertical flail device on the arm mechanism to engage and tauten the endless member to rotate the flail assembly.

Abstract: An edger having a driving device for operating a rotary blade, the driving device including a driving pulley; a pulley to be driven; a driving belt arranged between the two pulleys; a swing arm having the center of its swinging motion at a position different from the center of rotation of the driving pulley; a rod slidably supported by the swing arm and supporting the pulley to be driven; a spring for urging the rod in a direction in which the distance between the shafts of the two pulleys is elongated; a drive-side pulley cover and a driven-side pulley cover.

Abstract: An improved mower cutting deck (30) includes a main deck section (38), pivotal wing deck sections (40), and belt drive system (80) with electric clutch/brake units (131, 132) connected therebetween which allow constant belt tension to be maintained while minimizing belt wear and related maintenance. If desired, breakaway assemblies (150) may also be connected between the deck sections (38, 40). Shroud and baffle arrangements (162) are also provided for better grass dispersion.

Abstract: A power lawn mower is provided with a trimmer attachment pivotally attached to the mower deck and positioned adjacent a side edge of the deck to trim those areas not accessible to the mower blade. When a fixed obstacle such as a fencepost or tree is encountered, the attachment is rotated on a pivotal support arm against the force of a spring to a position adjacent the rear edge of the mower deck. When the obstacle has been passed, the force of the spring returns the trimmer to the side edge of the mower deck. The trimmer attachment is operated by a drive belt driven from the lawn mower engine and the trimmer attachment support arm includes a pair of overlapping telescoping members and a spring contained in one of the telescoping members to apply an outward force on the other telescoping member resulting in a positive tension being applied to the drive belt. The trimmer attachment may be retracted to the rear edge of the mower deck by operation of a lever mechanism and a link attached to the support arm.

Abstract: A walk-behind power driven lawn mower having a transverse handlebar rearwardly of the mower, a pair of hand operated control levers located forwardly of and adjacent to the handlebar and extending generally parallel thereto for establishing the drive and applying the brakes to a pair of driven wheels of the lawn mower. A park brake lever is mounted between said control levers for simultaneously applying the brakes to the driven wheels through a connection between the park brake lever and the control levers. A releasable latch mechanism releasably holds the park brake lever in the braking position. Another control lever in the form of a bail is mounted to be pivoted rearwardly relative to the handlebar for engaging idler pulleys when the transmission is shifted to provide reverse movement. Each drive to the wheels includes a drive pulley and belt and another idler pulley for engaging the belt to establish drive when the transmission is shifted for forward movement.

Abstract: A safety system for a lawn mower having an engine, a propelling transmission line for transmitting drive from the engine to drive wheels, and a PTO transmission line for transmitting drive from the engine to a grass cutting unit. An engine start is allowed when the propelling transmission line is inoperative. The engine is stopped when the propelling transmission line is operative and a driver is in a non-driving state. A steering section includes an arch-like steering handle, and an auxiliary handle having a shape substantially corresponding to the steering handle and pivotable from an upper position projecting above the steering handle and a lower position depressed below the steering handle. The driver is determined to be in the driving state when the auxiliary handle is in an intermediate position adjacent the steering handle.

Abstract: A powered vegetation cutting deck adapted to be pulled by a tow vehicle which has a cylindrical deck housing with a solid top supported at its rear by a wheeled carriage. The deck has a skirt that completely surrounds flattened cutting blades under the deck so that the discharge of cut vegetation is vertical and downward with even distribution so that there are no wind rows produced. An internal combustion engine is mounted on the deck to power the cutting blades. Power is transmitted to the blades through a special pulley and a "v" belt system that features a clutch construction that allows the disconnection of the power path by a special idler and lever system. In the event of wheel or carriage damage, rear ground contact runners or skids secured to the deck enable the mower to be readily towed to a service area with the rear carriage moved to a stowed position. The skids also establish a minimum cutting height.

Abstract: A motorized lawn mowing machine supported on wheels has a generally horizontal deck with a spindle mounted grass cutter blade below the deck which is rotatable in a generally horizontal cutting plane to cut grass as the machine moves in a forward path of travel. A drive spindle driven by the lawn mower engine protrudes above the deck and mounts a first pulley. Mounted on the deck for swinging movement between an extended operative position in which it extends forwardly and sidewisely angularly from said deck and a vertically raised inboard inoperative position is an auxiliary support having a vertically disposed spindle near its front end with a second pulley thereon. A rotary trimmer disc with flailing cords is mounted on the spindle to rotate in a horizontal plane.

Abstract: A mower control linkage having a double ended dead man control lever, left and right steering control levers, and a linkage interconnecting said levers with left and right transmission mechanisms. The linkage has swingable left and right are members that adjust the transmission mechanisms between braked, clutch disengaged and driven modes. The arm members arm connected to the dead man control lever via a lost motion coupling and are each linked with respective steering control levers. As the dead man control lever is depressed, both arm members are placed in a driven mode, and either steering control lever can then be depressed to shift the respective arm member to its braked mode to execute a turn about that wheel.

Abstract: A mower having a belt tensioner that includes a belt engaging primary pulley swingably supported by a primary arm. A rod coupled to the arm carries a spring that acts to push the pulley into engagement with the belt. The rod acts to pull the pulley away from the belt to release the tension in the belt for removal of the belt. A handle attached to the rod is turned by the operator to positively swing the pulley away from the belt. The handle may also be gripped by the operator's hand to lift that portion of the deck during operation to avoid gouging irregular ground conditions or striking obstructions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an edger with a belt braking device, including a belt driving device and a cutter blade, which are arranged at the side of an edger vehicle. A bearing housing portion of the cutter blade is provided for forward and rearward movement, a belt cover for covering the whole driving belt is fixed to the edger vehicle, and a belt braking device is arranged between the front end of the belt cover and the front driven pulley, whereby performing ON-OFF operation of a clutch and engagement/ disengagement of a brake simultaneously is enabled. In this way, the fixed belt cover can be compact and the operation for changing of working conditions can be simplified.

Abstract: There is disclosed a gait type mower constructed such that a mowing unit is mounted on a front part of a vehicle, driving wheels are provided at a rear part thereof, and handles are installed backwards. An engine and a variable speed gear interlocking therewith are loaded on the vehicle. The power is imparted from output shafts of the gear via belt transmission mechanisms to the driving wheels. An improved mower is arranged such that: the engine is placed in front of the axle, while the variable speed gear is placed behind the axle; the output shafts are positioned substantially upwardly of the axle in front of the gear; and the belt transmission mechanisms are disposed in the up-and-down directions.

Abstract: A bidirectional freewheeling clutch assembly (50) and a self-propelled walk-behind lawn mower (10) including same are disclosed. Lawn mower (10) preferably includes a prime mover (18) which can be selectively coupled to a gear box (34). The output shaft (44) of gear box (34) extends to a pair of clutch assemblies (50) which selectively apply torque to a pair of gear driven wheels (16). Each clutch assembly (50) includes as its basic components a key (68) and a friction disk (66). Key (68) has a wedge portion (74) which rocks within an axial first keyway (62), and a tang portion (76) which is received within a tang relief (84) in friction disk (66). When shaft (44) is rotated friction disk (66) frictionally engages the housing (12) of mower (10) and applies a drag force to the tang portion (76) of key (74) to cause it to cock and positively engage a pinion (46) which engages a gear (48) attached to drive wheel (16).

Abstract: Sprockets of a toothed belt drive for a double sickle harvesting header are carefully aligned relative to each other and to the toothed belt so that the belt can be twisted about its longitudinal axis during advancement along a closed loop path of travel in order to translate rotary motion about a first axis to rotary motion about a second axis which is inclined relative to the first axis. The toothed belt has semicylindrical teeth, and two idler pulleys contact a return portion of the belt to insure that the same are maintained in parallelism with grooves formed in sprockets of the mechanism in order to avoid imposition of side thrusts on the belt or undue wear on the teeth. The toothed belt reciprocates both sickles of the harvesting header in synchronous, timed fashion along directions opposite to each other so that vibrations which would otherwise be established by non-synchronous movement of the sickles are significantly dampened.

Abstract: A transmission for a multi-blade mower has a belt trained around a driving pulley and successively around driven pulleys for the blades. For driving, an idler pulley of a tensioner engages a portion of the belt that is "downstream" from the last driven pulley and "upstream" from the first one. When the tensioner idler is disengaged from the belt for slippage of the driving pulley relative to it, blade braking is effected by opposing stationary and movable brake members mounted at opposite sides of the belt at a normally straight stretch of it that is "downstream" from the tensioner and driving pulley and "upstream" from the first driven pulley, the movable brake member then cooperating with the stationary one to clampwise engage the belt and confine it in a groove in one of those members. Manual shifting of an actuator towards an "on" position tensions a spring that engages the tensioner with the belt, and such tension, through a toggle connection, tends to maintain the actuator in that position.

Abstract: A lawn edger device is disclosed having a motor and a cutter blade supported by a platform and a handle mounted hand control for varying the depth of the cutter blade relative the ground. The platform includes a first and a second end, the first end being supported by a first set of ground engaging wheels. A first arm is pivotally connected to the second end of the platform. The distal end of the first arm rotatably supports a second set of the ground engaging wheels. A connecting arm is secured to the first arm and includes a toothed portion which cooperates with a locking plate rigidly connected to the platform. The toothed portion cooperates with the locking plate to variably adjust the longitudinal disposition of the connection arm relative the locking plate.

Abstract: A door operator mechanism which has a motive power source and drive and a manual drive for use with a manual source of power. A mechanism is included which by the simple expedient of pulling a chain or cable disconnects the power source and associated driver and connects the manual drive for use of a manual source of power. Release of the cable causes the reverse.

Abstract: A self-propelled lawn mower (2) has an engine (4), transmission (8), two drive wheels (10) and a rearwardly and upwardly extending handle (18). A pivotable and rotatable control bar (20) is mounted on handle (18). The pivotable and rotatable bar (20) provides individual or simultaneous engagement of drive wheels for ground traction, gradual or zero radius turns, and braking. Thus a single control bar (20) provides a multitude of functions.

Abstract: A combination rotary mower and edger having a control lever on the handle, a flexible cable connected to the lever, and edger operating parts connected to the cable including a pivotal arm for raising and lowering the edger blade, an idler pulley for belt tightening to provide power to the edger blade, and a belt brake that is released to permit powering of the edger blade.

Abstract: A belt-type power transfer assembly for driving the separating mechanism of a rotary combine harvester is disclosed wherein the assembly includes spaced apart driving and driven pulleys, an endless flexible belt interengaged between the pulleys to transfer rotational power therebetween and spring-loaded tensioning means operably engaged with the flexible belt to take up the slack thereof and to maintain proper tension therein when transferring rotational power. Stop means are associated with the spring-loaded tensioning means for restricting biasing movement thereof in the direction of the flexible belt, causing the tensioning means to act as fixedly positioned tensioning means after an initial belt tensioning movement thereof. The power transfer assembly according to the invention may be used to drive the separating mechanism of a rotary combine harvester.

Abstract: A lawnmower attachment comprises a bearing assembly pivotally mounted on a lawnmower housing, and having a shaft driven from a power take-off of the lawnmower. The shaft can have an edge-cutting blade attached thereto, or the edge-cutting blade can be removed and replaced by a grinding wheel, so that the attachment can be used to sharpen the lawnmower blades or other blades. Pivotal movement of the bearing assembly connects or disconnects the shaft with the power take-off, and such movement is controlled by a hand lever on the lawnmower handle. The hand lever has a latch for releasably retaining the attachment in inoperative position.

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: A lawn mower in conjunction with a small tractor, and including a main mower deck disposed forwardly of the tractor and a pair of laterally extending wing mower decks disposed at respectively opposite sides of the tractor, all of the decks carrying mower blades, and a single power source operable to drive all of the blades of all of the decks. The wing decks may each be raised to an inoperative position closely adjacent the sides of the tractor, and in so doing the power drive to the blades of that wing is disconnected, so that the mower may be used with only the main deck in operation if so desired.

Abstract: A linkage system riding mower have an operator station located lever positionable between a first and second position corresponding respectively to a disengaged and engaged state of an attached mower deck. The linkage system cooperated with an interlock switch which shut down the vehicle engine should the vehicle operator disembark the vehicle while the mower deck is engaged.

Abstract: The mower is equipped with a pulley and a stationary belt which rapidly stops rotation of the shaft carrying the cutting blades. When this braking system is functioning, the belt and pulley system connecting the engine with a drive pulley mounted on the same shaft is disconnected. When the braking system is released, the pulley system between the engine and the drive pulley is connected.