Gatherers Or Guides Patents (Class 56/119)
  • Patent number: 4977732
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1990
    Inventor: William D. Minter
  • Patent number: 4965991
    Abstract: A crop feeding system is provided for a crop gathering implement and includes a frame assembly mounted on the crop gathering implement above a transverse crop cutting mechanism thereof. A pair of wheel subassemblies are mounted on the frame assembly and each includes a generally vertical rotational axis. A drive motor is mounted on the frame assembly and is drivingly connected to one of the wheel subassemblies. The wheel subassemblies are in engagement whereby the driven wheel subassembly drive the other wheel subassembly. The wheel subassemblies are positioned for gathering crops and guiding them into the crop gathering implement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1990
    Inventor: David E. Sauder
  • Patent number: 4930295
    Abstract: A crop harvesting machine having mounting arms engageable with a tractor to effect a mounting of the harvester on the tractor is disclosed wherein the hydraulic cylinders used to raise the crop gathering header are double-acting cylinders operable to orient the mounting arms relative to the crop gathering header to facilitate engagement thereof with the tractor. These hydraulic cylinders are converted from double-acting cylinders to single-acting cylinders after the header is mounted on the tractor by disconnection of the hydraulic hose powering a downward movement of the header and the subsequent connection thereof to the return line for the hydraulically driven motor powering operation of the crop gathering header.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1990
    Assignee: Ford New Holland, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph C. Hurlburt
  • Patent number: 4926623
    Abstract: A mowing apparatus for mowing stalk-like crops independently of rows and conveying the mowed crop to a draw-in-box of a chopper, including two rotating mowing rollers with rigid entrainment fingers, the mowing rollers being arranged laterally in front of the draw-in-box of the chopper, and two rotating wipe-off-rollers provided with wipe-off-fingers and cooperating with the mowing rollers by overlapping of the tip paths of the entrainment fingers and of the wipe-off-fingers, wherein the entrainment fingers are hook-shaped and inclined forward with respect to the radial direction and the wipe-off-fingers having a greater circumference velocity than the entrainment fingers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1990
    Assignee: Karl Mengele & Sohne Maschinenfabrik und Eisengiesserei GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Josef Fiener
  • Patent number: 4901510
    Abstract: A rotary crop feed assist device mounted on a divider of a row crop harvesting header has a plurality of angularly spaced crop-engaging members projecting radially from a forwardly inclined rotational axis. The crop-engaging members are connected together at inner longitudinally-extending portions and have outer longitudinal edges which taper downwardly and inwardly toward the rotational axis. Their outer longitudinal edges sweep along a rotational path in the shape of an inverted truncated cone upon rotation of the device to impose a downward force on the crop material as it is being pulled into the discharge end of the row crop header past the feed assist device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Assignee: Ford New Holland, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. McClure, Gary L. Bich
  • Patent number: 4887418
    Abstract: A power-driven rotor is mounted on a support and its cylindrical wall is provided with helically-arranged, elongated slits in which blades or rasps are removably inserted, the rasps having a series of teeth disposed along portions of helices co-axial with the rotor and protruding from the cylindrical wall. The apparatus is more particularly used as a grass and bush mower, and in a modified embodiment also as an ice- and snow-blower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1989
    Inventor: Guy Pelletier
  • Patent number: 4882896
    Abstract: A lawn mower having a housing with a top, a bottom and a cutting chamber which is open to the bottom. A plurality of wheels are rotatably mounted to the housing and support the housing upon a ground surface while a push bar extends upwardly and outwardly from the housing to enable the housing to be maneuvered by a person utilizing the lawn mower. An electric motor has an output shaft and a long cutting element is secured to the output shaft. The electric motor is detachably secured to the housing so that, upon attachment, the cutting element is positioned within the cutting chamber of the lawn mower. An electric rechargeable battery is also attached to the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1989
    Inventor: Roy E. Wilcox
  • Patent number: 4876846
    Abstract: The mower 10 has a rearwardly positioned power unit 11 and a forwardly positioned cutter unit 12 which are pivotably connected together by pivot mount 40. Tandem pumps 24, 25 and 26 are mounted to internal combustion engine 15 and extend parallel to the pivot axis 41 and project into the space above the arc of rotation of the cutter unit 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1989
    Assignee: Kut Kwick Corporation
    Inventor: Robert M. Torras
  • Patent number: 4864805
    Abstract: A hydraulic system (30) suitable for raising, lowering, floating and locking a cutting deck (16). Hydraulic circuit (30) preferably includes a back pressure system (40) for automatically, or manually, applying a preferred back pressure to hydraulic cylinders (24) to "float" decks (16). Connected to back pressure system (40) is an actuation system (42) which can automatically or manually act on back pressure system (40) to change the back pressure depending on conditions. For example, it may be desirable to increase the back pressure when mower (10) encounters a hill to transfer more weight from the cutting unit (16) to the traction vehicle (12) of mower (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1989
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Joseph P. Hager, Charles C. Holley
  • Patent number: 4838358
    Abstract: A coupling device for connecting a wheeled agricultural implement having driven working members to a tractor includes a towing connection and a hydraulic motive power transfer with a hydraulic pump. The hydraulic pump is connected to the power take-off of the tractor and to a hose connection connected at its other end with a hydraulic motor on the implement. For pivotal coupling of a drawbar connected with the implement, the towing connection includes a towing device permanently connected with the drawbar adapted to be rigidly, but releasably connected with the ordinary towing means of the tractor, e.g. the lowermost lift arms. To improve its maneuvering ability, the towing device is provided with a linkage positioned behind the rearmost point of the tractor and pivotally connected with the drawbar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1989
    Assignee: JF-Fabriken - J. Freudendahl A/S
    Inventor: Jan Freudendahl
  • Patent number: 4815263
    Abstract: An airborne tree trimming apparatus for installation on a helicopter or the like, and operating independently of the helicopter, which apparatus includes a boom extension vertically suspended from the helicopter and a plurality of circular saw blades arranged in tandem, coplanar relationship on an operating boom which is attached to the boom extension by means of a boom pivot. The circular saw blades are designed to rotate about parallel, substantially horizontal axes which are oriented substantially at right angles to the normal direction of motion of the helicopter and are belt-driven by an internal combustion engine which is also mounted on the operating boom, above the circular saw blades. A pair of ground-located cradles not attached to the operating boom, permit the apparatus to be landed with the operating boom elevated from ground level, by maneuvering the helicopter to lay the operating boom and circular saw blades on the cradles in front of the helicopter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1989
    Inventors: Joe Hartung, William C. Cox, III
  • Patent number: 4771592
    Abstract: The invention relates to a machine which is pulled or attached to a three-point attachment on a tractor and used for the harvesting of corn or similar stalk-like crops. The machine has a cutting device and a chopping blower arranged subsequent thereto with slide-in rollers to which the crop is supplied by a cross-conveyor running transversely to the direction of travel of the tractor. The cross-conveyor is designed as a cutting and supplying device, cutting the crop at any point in the working area, holding it above the cut area and supplying it in an approximately upright or inclined position, opposite to the conveying direction, to the slide-in rollers or a chopping machine with simultaneous release.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1988
    Assignee: Maschinenfabriken Bernard Krone GmbH
    Inventors: Bernard Krone, Wilhelm Ahler
  • Patent number: 4757673
    Abstract: A tool, and method of utilization, for achieving fine vertical adjustment of a crop divider pivotally mounted on the front of a crop header. The tool includes an inverted J-shaped support member adapted for attachment to a frame member of the crop header. Rotatably secured to the support member is an elongated screw member to which is threadably mounted for axial movement an annular ring. The tool is mounted such that a coarse adjusting chain, which normally extends between the crop row divider and crop header, passes through the annular ring. By rotating the elongated screw, the ring moves axially in a direction generally perpendicular to the normal orientation of the chain to alter its effective length, causing the crop row divider to pivot about its mounting and thereby adjust its vertical position relative to the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1988
    Inventor: Charles Gayman
  • Patent number: 4742672
    Abstract: A cotton picker doffer element adjustment mechanism which continuously and automatically adjusts the elevation of the doffer elements in relationship with the picker spindles as the doffer pads wear. The doffer elements continuously gravitate downwardly to maintain contact between the doffer pads and the picker spindles. A hydraulic fluid arrangement is provided to automatically prevent upward movement of the doffer elements. A manually operable device may be provided to selectively exert additional pressure over gravity to the doffer elements or to permit gravity to be overridden. An external pressure source may be provided to supplement the downward gravitation of the doffer elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1988
    Assignee: J. I. Case Company
    Inventor: Jesse H. Orsborn
  • Patent number: 4739608
    Abstract: A front attachment of a field chopping machine for picking and transporting stalk fruits standing in a row has a plurality of stalk dividers, at least four transporting passages inclined relative to one another opposite to a travelling direction, and a transporting element provided in each of the transporting passages, wherein two outwardly located transporting passages with their transporting elements are turnable upwardly to an inoperative position each one about an axis extending in the travelling direction and are fixable in this position. The outer transporting passages are turnable about the axle provided on a supporting frame of the attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1988
    Assignee: Claas Saulgau GmbH
    Inventor: Rudolf Arnold
  • Patent number: 4729212
    Abstract: A cover for use on the outer surface of a skid plate of a combine grain head, the skid plate comprising a plurality of side-by-side skid plate panels of different widths, comprising a plurality of side-by-side cover panels, each cover panel corresponding to a specific skid plate panel and each cover panel having an outer surface, an inner surface, opposed leading and trailing edges, and a pair of opposed side edges. 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 said cover panel is substantially parallel to its inner surface. The side edges of each said cover panel are slightly inset from the side edges of its corresponding skid plate panel, whereby each cover panel is spaced apart from its adjacent cover panel to permit relative horizontal movement between adjacent cover panels and their corresponding skid plate panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1988
    Inventor: Thermon D. Rabitsch
  • Patent number: 4722174
    Abstract: A two-row sugar cane harvester utilizing a single crossing arm for conveying two rows of cane rearwardly, merging the two rows of cane and discharging the two rows of cane at laterally adjusted positions in relation to the path of travel of the harvester with the crossing arm including a laterally adjustable discharge mechanism enabling six-row heaps of sugar cane to be formed without rolling over the initial row. The crossing arm includes a unique powered sticker chain arrangement oriented in opposed relation to a non-powered roller chain for gripping and conveying the sugar cane stalks in relation to the harvester. The forward end of the harvester includes a novel arrangement of lower and upper pairs of scroll-type gathering and lifting devices and a novel cutting and shredding assembly for cutting and chopping the immature upper end portions of the sugar cane stalks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1988
    Assignee: Agronomics, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter J. Landry, Robert T. Andre
  • Patent number: 4704850
    Abstract: A crop lifting attachment for a combine head having a plurality of forwardly extended snouts includes an elongated lift bar having a foot device on the forward end for sliding movement on the ground and a rearward end adapted for connection to the snout for pivotal movement about the pivot axis of the snout. The lift bar is also connected to the front of the snout with freedom of transverse adjustment. Finally, an auxiliary lift bar is inclined upwardly and transversely from the lift bar toward the snout. Pairs of crop lifting attachments are secured to adjacent sides of adjacent snouts for defining a narrow crop receiving and lifting guide way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1987
    Inventor: Dale T. Obermeier
  • Patent number: 4703612
    Abstract: A hydraulic system for unitized raking implements having hydraulically driven left and right rake baskets positionally movable by hydraulic steering cylinders, hydraulic swing cylinders and hydraulic lift cylinders is disclosed wherein all the hydraulically actuated components on the implement can be operatively powered from a single hydraulic circuit from the prime mover. A selector valve divides the flow of fluid coming from the prime mover hydraulic system into first and second loops. The first loop directs hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic motors and lift cylinders in such a manner that whenever the hydraulic motors are operated the hydraulic lift cylinders position the rake baskets into a lowered operating position. The second loop directs hydraulic fluid to the steering and swing cylinders, the flow between which being controlled by a control valve corresponding to each of the rake baskets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1987
    Assignee: New Holland Inc.
    Inventor: Emmett G. Webster
  • Patent number: 4702062
    Abstract: Windrow shaping apparatus which is attachable to an existing rake for shaping forage windrows. The apparatus includes an attachment member for affixing the apparatus to a rake; a yoke pivotally engaging the attachment member; and a drum for engaging the forage in the windrow. The yoke and drum are supported at a desired height above ground level and at an inward angle so that the drum engages the top and side portions of the windrow to force the forage down and toward the center of the windrow. The drum includes a plurality of parallel spaced rods about the periphery of the drum to prevent excessive compacting and to prevent adherence of the forage to the drum. A second embodiment of the invention includes two drums carried by separate yokes, the drums both being inwardly inclined toward one another and obliquely placed, one in front of the other so as to overlap for simultaneous shaping of the forage on each side of the windrow without compaction between drums.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1987
    Inventor: Gerald E. Phelan
  • Patent number: 4700537
    Abstract: A crop divider of the cutting platform of a self-propelled combine harvester is loosely supported for floating and rocking movement in a vertical fore-and-aft plane, by a rearwardly extending frame member or spine of the divider being inserted into and extending through a pair of vertically slotted brackets, spaced fore-and-aft. The pivot point for the divider is thus undefined and may move back and forth between the front and rear brackets according to the operating height of the cutting platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1987
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Walter Emmert
  • Patent number: 4697404
    Abstract: A tractor mower system comprising a mower attachment and an oil reservoir and power assembly. The mower attachment has a tool bar from which a plurality of mower units are suspended. The tool bar is connectable to a three-point hitch at the front end of the tractor. Hydraulic conduit means leading from the tractor to the motors that rotate the mowers have quick disconnect couplings. The mower units are staggered with their ends overlapping to avoid unmowed paths between them. Each mower unit has a plurality of rotary blades. The hydraulic reservoir and power assembly is connected to a three-point hitch at the back of the tractor. Fluid is pumped from the reservoir to the motors of the mower units and back to the reservoir through conduits. These conduits are also connected by quick disconnect couplings. The outboard portions of the tool bar support outboard mower units and are pivotal relative to the inboard section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1987
    Assignee: Brockmeier Sod Farms
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Brockmeier, Arthur E. Brockmeier
  • Patent number: 4667763
    Abstract: A vehicle, in particular an agricultural one, for instance a combine harvester, has two axles (1, 2) drivable from two hydraulic motors (3, 4) switched in parallel, of which the one, non-steerable axle (1) is constantly drivable and the drive of the second steerable axle (2) may be connected or disconnected by means of clutch (11). In order to achieve a compact, stable and vibration-free auxiliary drive of the second steerable axle (2), the clutch (11), a planetary transmission (12) and a bevel drive pinion of an angle transmission (13) are arranged coaxially one behind the other between the associated hydraulic motor (4) and the axle (2). Due to this arrangement the hydraulic motor (4) of the second steerable axle (2) may be approximately half the size of the hydraulic motor (3) of the constantly driven axle (1). The clutch (11) and the planetary transmission (12) are combined to form a compact constructional unit (26) which is flange-connected to the axle housing ( 27) of the second, steerable axle (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1987
    Assignee: Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Siegfried Nembach
  • Patent number: 4655031
    Abstract: In a combine header having a rotatable crop reel, a hydraulic cylinder is carried on each of the reel support arms for adjusting the fore and aft position of the reel. The cylinders are serially connected and comprise a phasing circuit wherein the cylinders have paired fluid inlets and flow-restricting orifices, and the piston is positionable between the inlet and orifice of a pair in either full-strode position. A check valve is operationally associated with each orifice to prevent loss of fluid acting on the piston when being moved from either full-stroke position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1987
    Assignee: J. I. Case Company
    Inventor: Frank C. Kucera
  • Patent number: 4653256
    Abstract: A lawn mower having a cutting reel and a bedknife as its cutting elements, and with those elements being adjustable toward and away from each other for establishing cutting clearance. A hydraulic system is utilized for establishing the pre-selected clearance and for ultimately setting that clearance and maintaining it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1987
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony J. Saiia
  • Patent number: 4633657
    Abstract: A front attachment of a field chopping machine for picking and transporting stalk fruits standing in a row has a plurality of stalk dividers, at least four transporting passages inclined relative to one another opposite to a travelling direction, and a transporting element provided in each of the transporting passages, wherein two outwardly located transporting passages with their transporting elements are turnable upwardly to an inoperative position each one about an axis extending in the travelling direction and are fixable in this position. The outer transporting passages are turnable about the axle provided on a supporting frame of the attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1987
    Assignee: Claas Saulgau GmbH
    Inventor: Rudolf Arnold
  • Patent number: 4631907
    Abstract: A hydraulic lifting apparatus for harvesting machines, the apparatus having a plurality of lifting cylinders connected to the undercarriage of the harvesting machine which support a mower table so that it rests on the ground with a minimal resting weight, and also having energy storing tanks to provide different suspension of the mower table. To accomplish this a hydraulically actuatable stop valve is located in a first circuit of working lines running between a distributing slide valve and the lifting cylinders. This stop valve is actuated by a control pressure which is branched from a second circuit of working lines. The second circuit of working lines runs from the distributing slide valve over a pressure relief valve to a reservoir, and is able to be disconnected by a solenoid valve. The stop valve has a valve element with a series of bores through which the pressure set by the pressure relief valve passes through the blocked first circuit of working lines into the lifting cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1986
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Wilhelm Zirps
  • Patent number: 4630741
    Abstract: An extendible boom utilizing a rack and pinion mechanism to enable reciprocating movement of a work head such as a spray for agricultural application beneath orchard trees, the boom comprising a hollow section having a substantially rectangular cross-section containing a slot along the lower wall, running on internally disposed supporting rollers, having a rack extended therealong, mated with a driven pinion wheel to enable boom movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1986
    Inventor: Alec M. Stevens
  • Patent number: 4630430
    Abstract: An improved corn head assembly for corn picking apparatus which is provided with a plurality of forward guides forming a plurality of laterally spaced openings adapted to receive a planted corn stalk as the apparatus is driven along the length of planted rows of corn. A corn stalk distributing member is provided at the rearward portion of each of the openings to engage and deflect the corn stalks entering one of the openings laterally into engagement with a pair of ear removing rotating snapping rolls associated with stripping plates. The axis of rotation of said rolls is disposed generally laterally to the direction of travel of said apparatus. The corn ears removed by the snapping rolls and stripping plates tend to be thrown upwardly and rearwardly toward conventional collection apparatus mounted to the rear of the corn head assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1986
    Inventor: Harry D. Weeks
  • Patent number: 4607703
    Abstract: A peanuts harvester includes a truck body, plant row dividers, stalk straighteners, peanut diggers, a plant feeder, a tilted conveyer, a horizontal conveyer, a peanut stripper and a peanut collector such that the dug peanut plants are conveyed to the horizontal conveyer where the upper stalks are held by the conveyer and the lower peanuts on roots are stripped by the peanut stripper, whereby the stripped peanuts are screened, cleaned and collected into bags for efficient integrated harvesting of peanuts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1986
    Inventor: Kuo-Ming Wang
  • Patent number: 4594842
    Abstract: A machine for the mowing and chopping-up of maize or the like should be able to operate independent of the distance between rows and the direction of the rows of the material to be harvested, and should also be able to pick up in a perfect manner stalks that have been flattened. To this effect one or several rotating drawing-in and mowing devices (6, 9) are arranged in front of a chaff-blower (1) with feed rollers (3), which drawing-in and mowing devices (6, 9) each comprise several cutting points (15;56) with adjacent working widths distributed over the front operating range. The drawing-in and mowing device positioned closest to the feed rollers at the same time acts as a transfer element for the harvested material coming from the cutting points arranged further away.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1986
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Kemper GmbH
    Inventors: Norbert Wolters, Manfred Steppat, Alfred Bertling
  • Patent number: 4589250
    Abstract: Apparatus detachably mounting to the header platform of a combine in aligned relation to the sickle bar assembly for converting over to sunflower harvesting. The assembly comprises a plurality of sunflower pans attached in spaced apart, slightly elevated relation to a tubular support member that mounts to the header platform via a plurality of chainbuckle and stop members. Assembly requires only the aligning of the attachment to the header platform and the tightening of the turn buckles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1986
    Assignee: Faul Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Albert Faul, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4584825
    Abstract: An improvement for an attachment on a harvester which picks up downed corn stalks including a roller supported on a spindle disposed on lateral extremities of the harvester attachment formed from elongate cylinders having radially extending vanes on an outer face thereof, the roller spindle driven by a bevel gear system, one of the bevel gears supported on a drive shaft, the other bevel gear extending from a distal end of the spindle supported for rotatable motion about the driving axle by means of a collar attached to the driving axle, and a chain tensioning instrumentality disposed on harvesting snouts intermediate the lateral extremities including a protective shroud over a portion of the chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1986
    Inventor: Cecil G. Atkinson
  • Patent number: 4570425
    Abstract: A hydraulically operated gang mower trailer which is connectable to a tractor having a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid for actuating cylinders to raise and lower the mowers. The trailer has a tow bar assembly which permits connection to tractors at varying vertical heights. The trailer has a frame and reel mounting which minimizes the weight carried by the tractor. A stacked set of lever operated hydraulic spool valves which control the flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic cylinders for lifting and lowering the mowers can be easily moved from tractor to the trailer by disconnecting a minimum number of hydraulic hoses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1986
    Assignee: Roseman Mower Corporation
    Inventor: Jack Carr
  • Patent number: 4567717
    Abstract: A multi-row forage harvester row crop header attachment having a rearwardly disposed transversely extending consolidating auger section and a plurality of fore-and-aft crop dividers projecting forwardly from the auger section. The crop dividers define passageways for accommodating rows of crop material. Crop severing means are disposed along each passageway for cutting the crop that is guided rearwardly during operation. Gathering and feeding mechanisms disposed along the passageways engage the severed crop material and feed it rearwardly to the auger section. The auger section includes a rear wall having an outlet for discharging crop that is conveyed laterally via the auger. Crop material being guided to the auger via the outward passageways is fed from the outlet of the passageway to the auger in a path that avoids a collision and thereby obviates bunching with crop material being fed from the next adjacent inward passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1986
    Assignee: Sperry Corporation
    Inventor: Timothy J. Manton
  • Patent number: 4554781
    Abstract: There is disclosed tree trimmer apparatus for installation on a helicopter or the like including a boom hanging vertically downward from the helicopter carrying a plurality of circular saws arranged with their blades nearly adjacent over a length of at least twenty feet on the boom, which is attached to the helicopter in a manner to be constrained against rotation about a vertical axis and to have rotational movement about a horizontal axis at right angles to the normal direction of motion of said helicopter; the blades are preferably powered by a hydraulic motor with groups of five 24-inch blades being driven through belts by one hydraulic motor provided with hydraulic fluid under pressure from a pump in the helicopter. A foot at the bottom of the boom extends to the rear and permits the apparatus to be landed with the bottom of the boom on a landing surface by maneuvering the helicopter backward to lay the boom and saw blades on the ground in front of the helicopter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1985
    Assignee: Aerial Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Randall Rogers, deceased
  • Patent number: 4553379
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus are disclosed for the harvesting of corn or other granular fruits, particularly embodied as a front-mounted unit for a reaper, in which the plant stems are drawn through a picking aperture and a separation of the fruit from the plant is characterized in that the plant is grasped only on one side and is drawn through the picking aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1985
    Inventor: Klemens Kalverkamp
  • Patent number: 4543774
    Abstract: An attachment for a field chopping machine has a cutting device arranged in a picking region of a working unit and having two cutting disks which rotate in opposite directions and arranged so that at least one of the cutting disks is turnable about an further axle which lies in a working direction of the machine normal to its pivot axle and is held in frictional engagement with the other cutting disk under the action of the spring acting on the further axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1985
    Assignee: Claas Saulgau GmbH
    Inventor: Rudolf Arnold
  • Patent number: 4538404
    Abstract: An improved crop divider assembly (14) for crop harvesting equipment is disclosed. A preferred embodiment of the invention is a combine attachment (12) for operative engagement with a combine (10). The combine attachment (12) includes a plurality of crop divider assemblies (14) that form a plurality of slots which guide the crop into the combine (10) as the combine (10) progresses through the field. The widths of crop divider assemblies (14) are adjustable, thereby making the widths of the slots adjustable. Each of the crop divider assemblies (14) also preferably includes a hingedly-connected snout (16). Each snout (16) is vertically adjustable to permit adjustment of the minimum included angle (31) formed by a pan longitudinal axis (30) and snout longitudinal axis (32). Each snout preferably includes a shoe (18) at its forward end, the shoes (18) upwardly deflecting the snouts (16) if uneven soil, for example, is encountered during the forward progression of the combine (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1985
    Assignee: General Dryer Corporation
    Inventors: Charles J. Heimark, Jr., Charles J. Heimark, Sr.
  • Patent number: 4524571
    Abstract: A corn harvester machine with an improved corn head for picking up downed cornstalks. The head has some conventional components including a cross auger conveyor with a forwardly open trough and a base portion extending forwardly and downwardly from it, pairs of horizontally spaced stripper plates with gathering chains and snapping rolls running above and below them and defining a plurality stalk-receiving throats. A lower cowl is fixedly mounted between each adjacent pair of stripper plates and a downwardly concave upper cowl is nested over each lower cowl and pivotally journaled to it for up and down tilting movement about a horizontal tilting axis at the cowl rear end portions. A pair of stalk lifting chains are trained for orbital movement between pairs of driving and idler sprockets. The driving sprockets are journaled in the lower cowl about the tilting axis. The idler sprockets are rotatably journaled in a front nose portion of the upper cowl and are vertically movable with it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1985
    Inventors: Randall L. Mak, Larry W. Young
  • Patent number: 4516388
    Abstract: A hydraulically-actuated bedknife alignment and positioning mechanism which uses the hydraulic power source to precisely adjust the distance between the blade of a reel-type lawn mower and the bedknife for proper cutting action. The system includes a source of hydraulic fluid under pressure, a hydraulic cylinder (mounted to the frame of the mower) which houses a piston connected by a linkage arm to the bedknife that is biased relative to the reel blade and attached pivotally to the frame. During adjustment, the cylinder is pressurized, forcing the piston to move the bedknife into contact with the blades of the mower. When the hydraulic pressure is removed, the biasing force pushes the bedknife away from the reel blade, but a hydraulic locking valve in the actuating cylinder line limits precisely how far the bedknife is biased away from the reel blade before sealing shut, effecting proper distance setting. The hydraulic adjustment may be remotely actuated by the operator of the mower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1985
    Inventor: Noel W. Chandler
  • Patent number: 4506464
    Abstract: A prime mover (A) has an arm assembly (B) pivotally connected thereto. A cutting assembly (C) is operatively connected with the arm assembly to be positioned thereby. The arm assembly is connected to the tractor to pivot about both vertical and horizontal axes such that the cutting means is positionable fore-and-aft as well as up and down. A hydraulic control circuit (D) controls the position of the arm assembly. The control circuit includes a first through-rod-type hydraulic cylinder (60) which includes a piston (62) slidably disposed therein to divide the cylinder into two equidiameter chambers (64, 66). A through-rod (68) is connected with the piston and extends through both chambers of the cyylinder. The hydraulic cylinder and the piston rod each have the same diameter in both chambers such that as the piston moves, one of the chambers draws the same amount of fluid as the other chamber discharges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1985
    Inventor: Jack O. Cartner
  • Patent number: 4502270
    Abstract: A mobile agricultural harvester has a crop header at its forward end including a plurality of crop dividers. The crop dividers each include a forwardly tapering point portion terminating at its forward end with a tip. Either the tip or the point portion or both are constructed of light emitting material, or are provided with windows covered by light emitting material, so as to provide improved illumination of the crop and field in front of the header during a harvesting operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1985
    Assignee: Allis-Chalmers Corporation
    Inventor: Paul T. Shupert
  • Patent number: 4501111
    Abstract: An apparatus primarily adapted for removing cranberries from vines in a flooded bog bed includes a self-propelled, wheeled chassis and at least a pair of forwardly mounted, transversely extending reel assemblies. Each reel assembly includes a support frame having a base portion and a pair of arms. A reel is rotatably supported on the arms of the support frame. The reel includes an elongated shaft and a plurality of spaced discs interconnected by rods. A trunnion drive motor is secured to one of the arms and is directly coupled to the shaft to rotate the reel during harvesting operations. The base portion of the frame is pivotally secured to a spindle support arm at a free end thereof. The opposite end of the spindle support arm is pivoted to the wheeled chassis. The reels may pivot about an axis transverse to the base portion of the frame and move vertically to conform to the bog bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1985
    Inventor: Lee W. Abbott
  • Patent number: 4499710
    Abstract: The invention consists of a tank of compressed air which is controllably allowed to escape through two nozzle cones mounted on the tips of a rotary power mower blade. What is new is an air driven power lawn mower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1985
    Inventor: John D. Bolton
  • Patent number: 4498278
    Abstract: A swath pick-up for a harvester provides a drive for the transverse toothed members which acts to rotate the toothed members about a transverse axis while moving them longitudinally of the axis. The drive comprises a pair of plates arranged at opposed ends of the transverse member each supporting a plurality of pairs of bevel gears mounted such that one bevel gear rotates with the plate while the other is rotated by rotation of the first to rotate the respective transverse member on a crank. The bevel gears are inter-connected either by a shaft or by an elbow casing. The first bevel gear is either fixed to the plate for rotation therewith or is rotated by an internal cam track provided on a cam plate parallel to the rotatable support plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1985
    Inventor: David Friesen
  • Patent number: 4495754
    Abstract: A hydraulic wing mower includes a central section (A) to which a left wing section (B) and a right wing section (C) are pivotally connected. A first hydraulic cylinder (100) is operatively connected between the central section and left wing section for selecting its angular position and a second hydraulic cylinder (100') is operatively connected between the central section and the right wing section for selecting its angular position. A hydraulic circuit provides hydraulic fluid under pressure from a reservoir (120) to a wing angular position control valve (170). The wing angular position control valve selectively directs hydraulic fluid under pressure to the first and second cylinders to select an angular orientation for the left and right wings. A pressure relief valve (180) is selectively connected between the hydraulic cylinders and the reservoir. When an upward force occurs on one or both of the wing members, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1985
    Inventor: Jack O. Cartner
  • Patent number: 4493181
    Abstract: An attachment for the snout of a combine includes a plate which is disposed above the snout and is inclined upwardly and rearwardly at an angle greater than the angle of the upper surface of the snout to provide a steeper surface for engaging and lifting a down crop. The plate extends above the conventional ear saver which thereby may remain in place to prevent corn ears from being ejected from the combine. The forward end of the plate is fastened to the snout and the rear end is supported on the ear saver by a sliding connection which permits the forward part of the snout to tilt up as it encounters mounds of earth and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1985
    Assignee: Farmer's Factory Co.
    Inventors: George B. Glendenning, Terry S. Glendenning
  • Patent number: 4490967
    Abstract: An apparatus for lifting crops ahead of a harvesting machine which includes a mounting bracket and a pick-up bar pivotally connected by a linkage, and a guide frame for guiding the rear portion of the pick-up bar so that as the pick-up bar swings backward in relation to said mounting bracket, a front end portion of the pick-up bar is lifted. An alternate linkage adjustable in length is also disclosed. An adjustable abutment limits the forwardmost position of said pick-up bar, defining a normal operating position of the apparatus. The apparatus is arranged and constructed so that gravitational forces acting on the pick-up bar will always urge the pick-up bar toward the forwardmost position. The pick-up bar includes a smooth lower surface defining a runner for traveling in close proximity to the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1985
    Inventor: Delbert L. Mills
  • Patent number: RE32599
    Abstract: A hydraulically driven drive reversing mechanism, attachable to a combine to reverse the drive to the header and feeder house components, is disclosed wherein the reversing mechanism is contained within a gearbox detachably connected with the header drive shaft. The reversing mechanism is substantially self-contained within the gearbox and connectable to a source of hydraulic power to provide an optional drive reversing capability for substantially any combine. The reversing mechanism includes a first gear splined onto the header drive shaft for rotation therewith, a second free wheeling gear mounted within the gearbox in an intermeshing relationship with the first gear for rotation therewith and a clutch selectively engageable with the second gear to transfer rotational power from a hydraulic motor to affect a rotation of the header drive shaft in a reverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1988
    Assignee: New Holland Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn A. Musser, James W. McDuffie, Richard A. Pucher, Lloyd W. Redding, T. William Waldrop