Abstract: Parallelogram linkage apparatus for slidably shifting stripper plates in a corn head of a corn harvesting machine to widen or narrow the gap between opposed plates in a row harvester. Each slidable stripper plate has a parallelogram linkage which slidably connects the plate to a supporting frame. The linkage includes two bell cranks pivotably mounted in spaced apart relationship on the frame and connected by an interconnecting arm and having an actuation shaft extending upward from a lobe of each bell crank to engage motion-transforming members at the stripper plate for transforming the arcuate motion of the bell cranks into linear motion of the stripper plate. The upper ends of the actuation shafts are guided in guide elements at the stripper plate elongated in the direction parallel to an edge of the stripper plate.

Abstract: A receiving table for harvesters has a central part mountable on a harvester, two side parts connected with the central part and having an upper main support and a lower main support, a rear wall and a bottom wall mounted on the main supports, a plurality of transverse supports connected with the lower main support and connecting the side parts with the central part at separating and connecting points as well as with the transverse supports, and a plurality of connecting flanges arranged on the rear wall and connecting the upper and the lower main supports with one another.

Abstract: A fresh market sweet corn harvester for removing ears of corn from corn stalks. The harvester is configured to be mounted to a drive chassis for over-the-ground travel and includes a lower frame with one or more cutters for cutting lower portions of the corn stalks at a cut height above the ground. Hydraulic cylinders extending between the lower frame and the chassis are actuated from within the chassis operator compartment to raise and lower the lower frame and adjust the cut height. An upper frame is pivotally mounted with respect to the lower frame, One or more gathering mechanisms and one or more stripping mechanisms are mounted to the upper frame. The gathering mechanisms engage upper portions of the cut corn stalks and pull the stalks through the harvester. The stripping mechanisms remove ears of corn from the stalks as they are pulled through the harvester by the gathering mechanisms.

Abstract: A cutting and transporting mechanism for stalk harvesting products comprises at least one cutting disc, at least transporting disc arranged coaxially relative to the cutting disc and provided with a plurality of transporting prongs arranged on a circumference of the transporting disc, a rotatable reamer associated with the transporting prongs at a discharge location. The rotating reamer has a rotary axis located inside a circumference of the transporting disc and is driven in a direction corresponding to a direction of rotation of the transporting disc. The cutting discs carry on their outer sides catching strips extending at a flat angle .beta. to the tangent. They transport the cut product stalks radially inwardly and are inserted in depressions of the transporting discs.

Abstract: The improved battery-powered lawnmower includes a safety key that is automatically removed when the removable battery is removed, while at the same time blocking the battery recharger receptacle. The lawnmower also includes a control circuit that shuts off the lawnmower upon the occurrence of one or more of several predetermined conditions, including low battery voltage, the encountering of heavy grass for a period of 3 seconds or more, and high motor current that may occur when the cutting blade is jammed. The cutting blade is designed to move through any debris accumulated between the blade ends and the housing sidewall without sacrificing the lift for needed cutting and mulching. The invention also includes a unique height adjustment assembly for adjusting the height of the chassis, a handle attachment that allows the handle to be positively tightened to the lawnmower chassis, and a telescoping groove for the battery's quick connect/disconnect terminals.

Abstract: An electricity driven device for rotating a rotary object to increase the rotational inertia of the rotary object. The device includes a fixed and non-rotating main shaft. A fixed element is secured with the main shaft. A rotary element is arranged so as to rotate about the fixed element at a periphery of the fixed element. A coupler is secured with the rotary object. The device also includes an electromagnetic field generating device that includes a first part and a second part. A plurality of coils and a plurality of permanent magnets are provided between the first part and the second part such that an electromagnetic field is generated therebetween when the coils are supplied with electric current, so that the first part and the second part perform relative rotation. The first part of the electromagnetic field generating device is secured on the fixed element. The second part of the electromagnetic field generating device is secured on the rotary element.

Abstract: The improved battery-powered lawnmower includes a safety key that is automatically removed when the removable battery is removed, while at the same time blocking the battery recharger receptacle. The lawnmower also includes a control circuit that shuts off the lawnmower upon the occurrence of one or more of several predetermined conditions, including low battery voltage, the encountering of heavy grass for a period of 3 seconds or more, and high motor current that may occur when the cutting blade is jammed. The cutting blade is designed to move through any debris accumulated between the blade ends and the housing sidewall without sacrificing the lift for needed cutting and mulching. The invention also includes a unique height adjustment assembly for adjusting the height of the chassis, a handle attachment that allows the handle to be positively tightened to the lawnmower chassis, and a telescoping groove for the battery's quick connect/disconnect terminals.

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 mechanism for cutting of stalks or stems of plants and/or grass-like vegetation, in an environmentally safe manner, has counter-blades arranged on a circular path and rotary blades positioned above the counter-blades. The ratio of the surface area of the counter-blades actually taking part in the cutting and the surface area of the free spaces between them, in relation to each other, is smaller than a value of one. A distance of "h" between the counter-blades and the rotary blades is a value between 0-2 mm, and the peripheral speed of the rotary blades is between 10 and 50 m/sec.

Abstract: A mowing device for stalky stem products has a cutting disc rotatable about a substantially vertical axis, and a transporting disc rotatable coaxially to the cutting disc at a distance from the latter and having a plurality of pocket-shaped recesses on its periphery for receiving stalky stem products. The cutting disc and the transporting disc are driven in opposite directions. A drive drives the cutting disc and the transporting disc in different directions. Also, the cutting disc on the upper side over its periphery can be provided with approximately gap-less elements suitable for preventing falling of stem product stalks cut by the cutting disc.

Abstract: An electric drive riding greens mower, with a frame supported plurality of ground engaging wheels, supports a battery power source, an operator station and a plurality of reel lawn mowers. An electric motor provides the driving torque for moving the mower over surfaces to be mowed. Individual electric motors provide driving torque for each of the reel lawn mowers. Electrically driven linear actuators move the reel lawn mowers between a lowered operating position in which the reel lawn mowers engage the turf being mowed and a raised non-operating or transport position. An operator oriented controls layout, which includes an operator communication panel, is provided on the mower. All electric operation provides emissionless extremely quiet operation. The mower includes an electric control system having a battery power source providing a plurality of output voltages to drive the various electric components.

Abstract: There is disclosed an electric mower, preferably of the riding type, in which microcontrollers are interposed between quadrature controllers and motors operating each of the drive wheels. The microcontrollers are programmed to provide pulse width modulated current drive control and braking. Other functions are controlled electronically to assure operations that are not harmful to the operator, the motors, the battery or the lawn being mowed.

Abstract: Cotton harvester structure including centrally located, transversely mounted engine, rear mounted water and fuel tanks, and transversely centered conveyor fan having an upper, forwardly extending outlet located just below the level of the cab floor for improved weight distribution, air hose routing and air flow. The fan rotates about a transversely extending axis parallel to the engine crankshaft axis. The crankshaft and fan are connected by a belt and sheave assembly having an electric clutch mounted on a shaft assembly and located outside of the frame. The shaft assembly provides fan support, separates the fan inlet from the clutch, reduces lubrication requirements, and enhances accessibility.

Abstract: The present invention provides for an automated supervisor switch device for maintaining an acceptable ground speed during cutting operations for a turf mower. The present invention does not interfere with the ground speed of the vehicle during cutting or non-cutting operations. In a preferred embodiment, an onboard controller and its attendant memory are provided with a predetermined maximum mowing speed. Second, the controller monitors the ground speed of the mower. Third, when the controller determines that the cutting reels are operative and the ground speed is approaching the maximum mowing speed of the mower, then operator perceptible warning is actuated to alert the operator. Fourth, if the speed exceeds the predetermined maximum mowing speed, then the controller disables the reels from mowing. In the preferred embodiment, the controller disables the reels by shutting off the hydraulic fluid flow from the hydraulic motors which rotate the cutting reels.

Abstract: There is disclosed a lawn or grass mower having a cutting mechanism (14) driven by an electric motor (10), the electric motor (10) being powered by a rechargeable lead acid battery (11), the battery (11) being protected against damage caused as a result of over discharge by control means (13), said control means (13) being able to sequentially sample battery voltage discharge levels and to determine when the sampled battery voltage discharge level has dropped below a predetermined minimum level at which point disabling means (14) is activated to prevent the mower from being used again until the battery means (11) has been recharged through a complete recharging regime.

Abstract: An outboard guard assembly includes a support tube, barrier panel attached to the support tube, and reinforcing brace attached to the barrier panel. The outboard guard assembly is mounted on each of a pair of outboard crop divider structures of an existing multi-row crop gathering header used to harvest crops planted in rows, such as corn. When installed on the outboard crop divider structures at either end of the multi-row corn header, the outboard guard assembly improves the effectiveness of the multi-row crop gathering header and reduces yield loss caused by variation in row spacing and bent and tangled corn stalks.

Abstract: The invention relates to an automatic, self-contained machine for continuously mowing grass. The machine is powered by means of photovoltaic cells (10) and can be wheeled (15) or tracked. A device comprising a microcomputer programmed by an algorithm allows to search for spots where the grass must be cut and to detect the boundaries of the surface to be mown. The obstacles (92) are detected and passed around by analysis of relative movements of an upper panel (9) comprising the photovoltaic cells (10) and a lower frame (1).

Abstract: A self-propelled, battery-powered lawn mower is provided having an onboard battery and two electric motors, a blade motor for rotating a grass cutting blade and a drive motor for propelling the lawn mower along a grass surface to be cut. The blade motor is provided with a switch for regulating the operation of the blade motor and the drive motor is provided with a speed control enabling the speed of the drive motor to be controlled independently of the speed of the blade motor.

Abstract: A rotary mower includes a housing which contacts a ground surface to be mowed, a blade mounted for rotation in the housing a motor mounted to the housing for driving the blade, and an actuator mechanism for disabling rotation of the blade when the housing is displaced a predetermined distance from the ground surface.

Abstract: A tree-trimming and phoning machine has a cutter bar (2) with a plurality of in-line-staggered rotary cutter blades (1) that are rotated by a separate hydraulic motor (12) for each one of the plurality of the rotary cutter blades. A resulting plurality of blade-turning hydraulic motors (12) are connected in series to a hydraulic-motor line 15. Hydraulic relief lines (23) are in pressure-spike-relief communication between hydraulic-motor lines (1 5) intermediate the hydraulic motors (12) and a hydraulic manifold or header (24). The cutter bar is attachable to a single side or to both sides of a hydraulic lifting means (5) such as employed for standard front-end loaders, fork lifts and other lifting means that are attachable to a vehicle (6) such as a tractor. The hydraulic lifting means is maneuverable university to select positions of trimming, pruning and cutting-load dumping.

Abstract: A harvester for root vegetables has a body, a pair of crawlers for supporting and moving the body, and an engine for driving the crawlers. A picker/conveyer device is longitudinally provided on the body and downwardly inclined for picking up root vegetables, and a stalk cutter device is provided under the picker/conveyer device at a rear portion thereof for cutting off a stalk from a root.

Abstract: An electric drive riding greens mower includes a frame member which is supported for movement upon a plurality of ground engaging wheels and upon which are supported a battery power source, an operator station and a plurality of reel lawn mowers. An electric motor provides the driving torque for moving the mower between and over golf course greens or other surfaces to be mowed. Individual electric motors provide driving torque for each of the reel lawn mowers. Electrically driven linear actuators move the reel lawn mowers between a lowered operating position in which the reel lawn mowers engage the turf being mowed and a raised non-operating or transport position. A unique swinging arm on the frame member provides for a pivoting mount for the under-center reel mowers to facilitate service. The frame member is further efficiently constructed to facilitate ergonomic operator utilization of the mower. The frame member supports and protect various electrical and mechanical components.

Abstract: The invention relates to a lawn mower driven by at least one permanently excited d.c. motor that is supplied with power from a battery on the lawn mower. In order to prevent the lawn mower from being restricted to one surface during mowing and make it easily adaptable to various surfaces and easy to handle, the battery can be quickly and easily electrically disconnected from the lawn mower, removed, and replaced by the operator.

Abstract: A mobile baler machine is combined with raking apparatus which includes two rotatable rake members which consolidate cut crop material during travel of the baler machine and present a single row of raked and consolidated cut crop material to the baler machine.

Abstract: The mowing apparatus is made up of a long, narrow cutting assembly, a boat and two booms, one on each side of the boat, attaching the cutting assembly to the boat. There is a flotation tank at each end of the cutting assembly and the forward end of each tank is pivotally attached to the aft end of a boom. The forward ends of the booms are pivotally attached to the boat at about gunwale height and well toward the bow. All the pivotal connection axes are horizontal and perpendicular to the vertical plane through the centerline of the boat, allowing the cutting assembly to be raised and lowered between the surface of the water and the bottom of the body of water. The raising and lowering are done by allowing water into the tanks to cause the cutting assembly to sink and forcing the water out of the tanks with air to raise the cutting assembly. The cutting assembly is a sawtoothed blade operating between two sawtoothed plates. The end wise oscillations of the blade are powered by a pneumatic actuator.

Abstract: A feeder assembly for a combine including a conveyor having a plurality of laterally spaced driving chains entrained about and supported by a pair of for-and-aft spaced lateral supports. An elastomeric assembly is removably fitted about and is adapted for rotation with one of the supports to define a replaceable wear surface for the support while attenuating noise generated by the feeder assembly during operation thereof.

Abstract: A corn harvesting implement for a field chopping machine has a drawing-in trough, a plurality of transporting passages supported on the drawing-in trough, the transporting passages including at least two outer transporting passages which are foldable upwardly to a transporting position for obtaining a smaller transporting width and foldable outwardly to a working position. The transporting passages also include stationary transporting passages. The transporting passages are arranged so that in the working position a predetermined distance is provided between at a part of at least one of the upwardly foldable transporting passages and at least a part of a neighboring part of the stationary transporting passages. Means for increasing the distance at least before a beginning of folding the upwardly foldable passages from the working position to the transporting position is provided.

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 suspension mechanism for a reel mower vehicle, having arm members coupled between a vehicle and a cutting unit, a lever member coupled with each arm member, and a hydraulic cylinder coupled the lever member. A hydraulic circuit actuates the cylinders for lifting the arm members and cutting units to a transport position. A variable restriction valve is provided for causing the cylinders to apply a downforce to the arm members and cutting units for securing the cutting units against the ground over irregular ground conditions, and is adjustable for varying the magnitude of the downforce.

Abstract: A crop hold down arrangement for a pick-up comprises a roll supported by means of pivot arms from the frame so as to enable the arms to pivot vertically and guide the roll in the direction of crop being fed by a tined pick-up drum to a conveyor in response to an increase in the height of a crop windrow being picked up. A chain is provided between the frame and roll-support arm to limit the downward travel of the arm so as to keep the roll from interfering with the tined pick-up drum. A spring assembly is provided for counterbalancing at least a portion of the weight of the arm and roll assembly so that the roll will easily rise over a relatively light and fluffy crop windrow.

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 lawn mower is provided having a deck which is supported by a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels above a surface when operated in a horizontal mode. A leg is affixed to a rear portion of the deck and projects outwardly therefrom. A handle assembly is affixed to the deck so as to be movable between an extended operating position and a retracted storage position. The leg cooperates with the pair of rear wheels to provide a stable support for the lawn mower enabling generally vertical storage of the lawn mower relative to the surface once the handle assembly has been moved to the retracted storage position.

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 vegetation cutter is mounted on the end of an articulated boom supported for horizontal and vertical movement on a relatively small tractor by removable frame means. The frame means includes front to rear extending left and right longitudinal side frames which are connected by a U-shaped frame extending over the motor housing of the tractor and connected at its lower end portions to the side of the frame members. A rotary vegetation cutting housing is pivotally attached to the outer end of the articulated boom by a unique linkage means permitting the housing to be pivoted about a horizontal pivot through an arc in excess of 180.degree.. A hydraulic motor on the cutter housing drives a cutter blade through a unique non-tapered cutter shaft which is held in the housing in the event of bearing seizure by unique drive means which precludes the rotating blade from dropping from the housing to create an accident hazard.

Abstract: A row crop header for an agricultural harvesting machine having a plurality of row crop dividers defining crop gathering gaps. Each divider comprises a semiconical portion and a semicyclindrical portion that are formed roto molded polyethylene. Both portions are hollow double walled self-supporting polyethylene structures. The semiconical portion and the semicylindrical portion are pivotally secured to one another so they can be jacknifed into a transport configuration. The semicylindrical portion of the divider is pivotally mounted to a transverse frame by a first mounting assembly. A second mounting assembly is mounted to outwardly extending frame portions. The second mounting assembly has an upwardly extending pin which engages an aperture in the semicylindrical portion and a supporting rail which supports the bottom of the semiconical portion. The support rail can be vertically adjusted to change the vertical position of the semiconical portion.

Abstract: A cover for use on the outer surface of a skid plate of a combine grain head comprises a plurality of side-by-side cover panels, each cover panel corresponding to a specific skid plate panel of the skid plate. The inner surface of each cover panel is configured to matingly engage the outer surface of its corresponding skid plate panel, while the outer surface of each cover panel is substantially parallel to its inner surface and has formed therein a first living hinge adjacent and parallel to the leading edge of the cover panel and a second living hinge adjacent and parallel to the trailing edge of the cover panel. The living hinges permit the angles of the leading and trailing edges to be adjusted to accommodate tolerances in the manufacture of the skid plate panels and to accommodate deformations which occur in the cover panels due to the passage of time and variations in temperature.

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 automatic lawn mower vehicle is of a tricycle construction having a forward drive-wheel assembly including a drive wheel and a drive-wheel motor, and having a trailing sulky connected at a sulky hitch end by a vertical hinge to the forward drive-wheel assembly. Steering is accomplished by a motor mounted to the drive-wheel assembly and through a gear reduction system connected to the sulky part of the vertical hinge. A plurality of grass cutters are mounted directly to the drive-wheel assembly for cutting in a horizontal plane however the vehicle may be turning. The outermost two cutters are equidistant from the drive wheel and are centered in the vertical plane of the drive-wheel axle. The grass cutting wake produced by this machine is always equally wide on both sides of any point in the path of the drive wheel, so that the predetermined drive-wheel path, e.g.

Abstract: A row crop attachment for forage harvesters includes a plurality of row crop divider units arranged side-by-side on a base frame to define a plurality of crop conveying paths. Gathering chains are arranged to pass through each crop conveying path from an entrance to an exit thereof for conveying crop material through the crop conveying paths. Rotary knives are disposed adjacent the entrance of each crop conveying path for cutting off crop material before it is conveyed rearwardly through the crop conveying paths by the gathering chains. An auger is disposed adjacent the exits of the crop conveying paths for converging crop material exiting from the crop conveying paths toward a longitudinal center line of the row crop attachment. A filler ramp is positioned underneath the auger along this longitudinal center line behind the row crop divider units to prevent accumulation of crop material near the exits of the crop conveying paths.

Abstract: A row crop attachment for forage harvesters has a plurality of row crop divider units arranged side-by-side on a base frame to define a plurality of crop conveying paths. A pair of gathering chains are arranged to pass through each of the crop conveying paths from an entrance to an exit thereof, and a pair of rotary knives are disposed adjacent the entrance of each crop conveying path. Apparatus is provided for converting each of the gathering chains between an extended profile where it is wrapped around a drive sprocket and a pair of idler sprockets with one of the idler sprockets being located forwardly of the rotary knives, and a non-extended profile wherein it is wrapped around only the drive sprocket and the other idler sprocket so that the forwardly located idler sprocket is eliminated.

Abstract: A row crop attachment for forage harvesters has a plurality of row crop divider units arranged side-by-side on a base frame to define a plurality of crop conveying paths. A pair of gathering chains are arranged to pass through each crop conveying path from an entrance to an exit thereof, and a pair of rotary knives are disposed adjacent the entrance of each crop conveying path. Each gathering chain is wrapped around a drive sprocket and a pair of idler sprockets. The drive sprockets are located near the exits of the crop conveying paths, and the idler sprockets are located near the entrances of the crop conveying paths. One idler sprocket of each pair also serves to drive one of the rotary knives while the other idler sprocket of each pair is supported in a cantilevered manner forwardly of the rotary knives.

Abstract: A mower is propelled along the ground by a tractor and the mower includes three cutting units mounted on a frame. The three cutting units are transversely mounted on the frame to cut in overlapping parallel patterns with each cutting unit being free floating on the frame such that each unit cuts at an elevation controlled by the ground immediately under the cutting unit.

Abstract: A row crop attachment for forage harvesters has a plurality of row crop divider units arranged side-by-side on a base frame to define a plurality of crop conveying paths. A pair of gathering chains are arranged to pass through each crop conveying path from entrance to an exit thereof for conveying crop material rearwardly through the crop conveying paths. Each gathering chain is wrapped around a drive sprocket and an idler sprocket. An adjustment mechanism is provided for adjusting tension in each gathering chain. The adjustment mechanism includes a shaft connected at one end with the idler sprocket, a pawl engageable with the shaft for holding the shaft in an adjusted position, and an adjusting bolt associated with the other end of the shaft for moving the shaft into the adjusted position.

Abstract: An apparatus for assisting in the conveying of a crop that has been cut. The apparatus is designed to be installed in front of a conventional pick-up normally mounted on the platform of a combine, baler or the like. Initial engagement of the downed crop is by this auxiliary pick-up. This pick-up is substantially smaller in diameter than the conventional one, it is mounted so that it can be adjusted to handle various types of crops and land conditions, it has a tooth wear adjustment, the teeth are mounted in an outward spiral from the center to throw out rocks and dirt and the teeth are extremely easy to mount.

Abstract: A check-relief valve for use in a hydraulic circuit comprises a channel through a valve body which is divided by a central annular restriction into two portions. On each side of the restrictor is provided a valve seat which cooperates with a spherical ball to close off flow in a direction toward the restriction. At the outer end of each portion of the channel is provided a perforated plate which prevents the ball from restricting flow when the ball is forced against the plate. Either the ball or the restrictor is formed of a resilient deformable material which can be deformed when the pressure in the fluid exceeds a predetermined maximum in which case the ball is forced through the restriction to the opposite portion of the channel. The check valve is used in a system of a swather for moving one of the draper assemblies longitudinally of the frame of the swather and simultaneously reversing the direction of rotation of the drive to the draper.

Abstract: A mechanism for adjusting the stalk-receiving gaps between stripper plates in a produce harvester. The mechanism is adapted for use in harvester where a number of pairs of stripper plates are utilized, and where a space is formed between adjacent pairs of stripper plates, and a stalk-receiving gap is formed between the stripper plates within each pair. The mechanism permits all stalk-receiving gaps in the harvester to be adjusted simultaneously and to the same degree. These gaps are adjusted from both sides allowing for optimum centering of the gap to engage the stalks. The mechanism comprises a reciprocating shaft disposed so as to move substantially perpendicular to the movement of the harvester. A number of rotating shafts are connected to the reciprocating shaft and these are disposed within the spaces between adjacent pairs of stripper plates. The rotating shafts are disposed substantially at right angles to the movement of the harvester.

Abstract: The blade is made of flat stock, is elongated with a series of the teeth formed along one elongated arcuate edge, the tips of the cutting teeth being disposed along a circular arc. The blade is adapted to be inserted within an elongated slit made in the cylindrical wall of the mower rotor with the teeth protruding from the rotor. The leading end of each blade is provided with an inwardly facing step adapted to rest on the cylindrical wall at the corresponding end of the slit. The trailing end of the blade has a notch to receive the rotor wall at the other end of the slit. The blade has a hole to receive a rod, extending within the rotor and carried by the latter to maintain the blade in position. Each blade has a boss protruding from a main face to prevent the blade from slipping within the rotor. The slit faces are inclined with respect to the rotational axis of the rotor, so as to maintain the blade in an inclined position, to more fully expose the successive teeth for better cutting efficiency.

Abstract: A powered mower has a cordless electric power source defined by a rechargeable battery and a solar panel. The rechargeable battery is connected to a direct current motor for driving the mower blade and drive system for the powered mower. The solar panel supplies the rechargeable battery with additional voltage and current to assist the battery in maintaining its functional operating level.

Abstract: A trapeze mount for mounting an airborne tree trimming apparatus on a helicopter or the like and operating the airborne tree trimming apparatus independently of the helicopter. The trapeze mount is designed to suspend a boom from the helicopter by means of a boom mount bar, which boom supports a plurality of circular saw blades arranged in tandem, coplanar relationship. The trapeze mount includes a pair of downwardly-extending pivot bars, the upper ends of which are pivotally attached to the helicopter fuselage and the opposite, lower ends connected by a cross-bar. A sliding collar is pivotally mounted on the cross-bar by means of a trapeze pivot joint and the sliding collar slidably engages the boom mount bar, which is pivotally attached at one end to a conventional quick-release hook mounted on the fuselage of the helicopter between the pivot bars.

Abstract: A corn harvesting apparatus is set forth wherein a shovel-like hopper includes a conveyor cylinder mounted rearwardly of the hopper for directing harvested corn to a combine storage. Rotatably mounted forwardly of the hopper is a harvesting cylinder formed with coaxially aligned rows of spikes about the periphery with a stacked series of barbed ends formed thereon. The corn ears are pierced and directed to the conveyor and are stripped from the spikes by a stripper plate formed with slots aligned circumferentially with the rows of spikes.