Abstract: A lawn trimmer attachment for trimming sprinkler heads has sprinkler head clamps extending upward from its elongate body. Carriages for the sprinkler head clamps are biased by springs toward the center of the attachment. The bottom of the attachment has a plurality of longitudinally spaced blade sockets. Downwardly extending cutting blades may be inserted into the blade sockets to adjust the distance between the blades. A center brush extends downward between the cutting blades.

Abstract: A system for operating a harvester may include an elevator extending between a proximal end and a distal end, with the elevator being configured to carry harvested crops between its proximal and distal ends. The system may also include a storage hopper positioned adjacent to the distal end of the elevator, with the storage hopper defining a volume configured to receive the harvested crops discharged from the distal end of the elevator. In addition, the system may include a rotary spreader positioned within the storage hopper. The rotary spreader may be configured to be rotated within the storage hopper to disperse the harvested crops received from the elevator across at least a portion of the volume.

Abstract: A lawn mower may include a blade housing configured to house at least a first blade and a second blade, a shaft disposed to rotate within the blade housing, a powerhead configured to selectively turn the shaft responsive to application of power from a power source, and a blade coupler configured to selectively couple the first blade and/or the second blade to the shaft to produce different cutting performance conditions based on which of the first blade and/or the second blade is operably coupled to the shaft.

Abstract: A harvesting head for a collection machine that harvests material. The head includes conveyor belts to transport material towards the collection machine, and blower heads to help prevent material from falling off the conveyor belts. The conveyor belts can include a feed belt that feeds material towards the collection machine, and a side belt that carries material towards the feed belt. Blower heads can blow across the side belt and towards the center of the feed belt. Blower heads can be located below the side belt. Blower heads can be located near the front of the feed belt and blow towards the collection machine. A feed drum can move material towards the collection machine, and blower heads can blow across the feed drum and towards the feed belt or collection machine. Blower heads can be movable, or have adjustable flow rate, velocity, direction or spread.

Abstract: A lawnmower is provided. The lawnmower includes a prime mover, a first pulley assembly, a second pulley assembly, a cooling fan, and a blade assembly. The prime mover includes a drive shaft. The first pulley assembly is coupled to the drive shaft. The second pulley assembly is coupled to the first pulley assembly. The blade assembly is coupled to the prime mover via the second pulley assembly. The cooling fan is coupled to the second pulley assembly.

Abstract: Decisive modifications are proposed to a cutting system reducing cutting losses and having a floating disk, in order to improve the efficiency of the system. The lower finger (1) cuts at the lower level and has a tip pointing upwards to prevent the finger from entering the ground; weeds passing past the lower finger pass over the upper finger (3), the accumulation of branches between the fingers being thus prevented. The upper finger (3) has a guard (4) that prevents grains from dropping out of the cutting platform, and the guard is also used to mount two bearings which act to orient the cutter bar (2).

Abstract: A lawnmower uses thin, replaceable blades with a hardened cutting edge. Such blades are held by blade holding elements in a horizontally rotating mower blade assembly. The blade assembly and blade assembly housing are configured in a specialized cross-flow mower assembly to reduce grass leave tip damage, increase cut quality and overall aesthetic appeal, while consuming less power and providing a reduced environmental impact.

Abstract: In a lawn mower for mowing lawns on a ground having a drive shaft adapted to transmit a rotational driving force of a operating motor (prime mover), three blades and a connecting member having a blade disk adapted to connect the blades with the drive shaft, a fan is integrally formed at the connecting member. The blades are attached to the connecting member at a circumference of the connecting member and to be movable relative to the connecting member in a radial direction of the connecting member.

Abstract: A cotton air harvester header assembly for attachment to the front lifting mechanism of a conventional self propelled cotton harvester's chassis, for movement through a field of cotton plants in equally spaced rows. Air harvesters use air flow (wind, vacuum, atmospheric pressure) to harvest cotton. The enormous amount of plant material moving thru harvester's row units, create a self cleaning environment using cotton plants as a cleaning method to continually push unwanted material past harvester's self cleaning extractor units. Air harvesters do not require spindles, doffers, brushes, rotating drums or cutter blades, and the elimination of thousands of parts, allows harvester's row units to be grouped closer together than spindle or stripper harvesters, resulting in a more versatile cotton harvester which can be configured to harvest wide row or narrow row cotton, and be mounted on a tractor or used as a single walk behind air harvester row unit.

Abstract: A guard for a sickle of an agricultural plant cutting machine includes a forwardly extending finger including a longitudinally extending, upwardly facing surface extending over the sickle, which includes a rearwardly facing air discharge nozzle therein located above and/or forwardly of the sickle, and the finger includes an air flow passage extending internally therethrough from an air inlet adjacent to a base of the finger to the nozzle, for delivering a flow of pressurized air thereto, the nozzle being at least mostly flush with or recessed into the upwardly facing surface. As a result, the nozzle is operable for discharging the flow of air rearwardly over the finger without obstructing plant material flow thereover, the air flow being sufficient to blow at least a substantial amount of loose grain and other plant material located forwardly of the front edge of a header floor of the machine, onto the floor for collection by a conveyor of the header for processing.

Abstract: An apparatus for collection and reduction of yard debris combining a frontally facing vacuum pick up with a chipper-shredder-blower unit to induce airflow for entraining debris collected at the vacuum pick up; reduce the entrained debris to a more manageable volume; impel the reduced debris to a two-stage free-flow-separator device for removing the debris from the air in which it is entrained; and deposit the debris in a detachable accumulator for subsequent dumping.

Abstract: The crop lifter and air assist feeding assembly for a floating cutter bar header includes a lower tube that is generally horizontal. An upper tube is fixed to the front end of the horizontal tube and extends upwardly and rearwardly to an air discharge orifice. A vine lifting rod is attached to the upper tube. The lower tube is mounted under a knife guard. A skid plate connected to the cutter bar has an attached terminal air supply tube. The terminal air supply tube passes through a front portion of the skid plate and attaches to the lower tube. An elastic and flexible tube is positioned above the skid plate, and is connected to the terminal supply tube and to terminal air supply tube and a blower air delivery tube under the skid plate.

Abstract: A guard for a sickle of an agricultural plant cutting machine includes a forwardly extending finger including a longitudinally extending, upwardly facing surface extending over the sickle, which includes a rearwardly facing air discharge nozzle therein located above and/or forwardly of the sickle, and the finger includes an air flow passage extending internally therethrough from an air inlet adjacent to a base of the finger to the nozzle, for delivering a flow of pressurized air thereto, the nozzle being at least mostly flush with or recessed into the upwardly facing surface. As a result, the nozzle is operable for discharging the flow of air rearwardly over the finger without obstructing plant material flow thereover, the air flow being sufficient to blow at least a substantial amount of loose grain and other plant material located forwardly of the front edge of a header floor of the machine, onto the floor for collection by a conveyor of the header for processing.

Abstract: A lawncare machine 100 has a powered rotary raking or scarifying reel 5 together with a powered vacuum collector 8 whereby material thrown up by the reel is immediately drawn into the collection chamber 8. During removal of the vegetation material, it is drawn into the chamber 8 due to a suction created by a fan 2. The material is normally held in the box by means of a perforated screen 10 situated between the box and fan entry. The chamber 8 may be emptied by moving the screen 10 so that the material is discharged through the fan 2. Alternatively the chamber 8 may be emptied by means of flap valves 19, 21, 23 which cause a reversal of the airflow through the chamber so that the collected material never passes through the fan.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring stalk strength and/or root strength of a plant is provided. In accordance with various embodiments, the apparatus includes a conveyer operably connected to a motor for circulatorily driving the conveyer around at least one guide device. At least one pulling finger is coupled to the conveyer. Each pulling finger is structured such that, when the apparatus is positioned adjacent the plant stalk and the conveyor is driven around the guide device, each pulling finger will contact and pull a plant stalk as each pulling finger travels around the guide device. The apparatus additionally includes a force sensor for measuring resistive force encountered by the motor as each pulling finger pulls the plant stalk.

Abstract: A housing which encloses the trimmer of a combined weed whacker, blower and vacuum to prevent grass, leaves and weeds from dispersal once cut, so as to capture them after a trimming action by recessing the trimmer substantially wholly within the enclosure to limit their dropping to the ground and so they can easily be vacuumed into a container bag.

Abstract: A new method for collecting and dispensing cut crops. The feed crop is cut as in the prior art. A vacuum is used to lift the dried feed crop off the ground and blow it into a mobile storage container. The feed is allowed to compress under its own weight within the storage container. Three or more harvesting cycles can be used to completely fill the storage container. Multiple containers can be used to harvest large feed crops. The containers are then parked in a convenient location awaiting winter. When winter arrives, the feed containers are towed to the feeding area. Doors in the lower portion of the containers are opened to allow access to the feed.

Abstract: A harvester having a receptacle movable between a harvest position for receiving crop and a dump position for unloading the crop includes an air duct system with a first duct extending upwardly towards the inlet of an accumulator located adjacent the receptacle. An air system propels the removed crop upwardly through the air duct towards the inlet. A second upright duct located adjacent a lower accumulator outlet directs crop from the accumulator to the receptacle. When the receptacle is raised to the dump position, all the crop is directed into the accumulator and the outlet is blocked so that the harvester can continue to operate while the receptacle is unloaded. Diverter structure may be provided for facilitating movement of the removed crop directly into the receptacle when the receptacle is in the harvest position and directing the removed crop downwardly into the accumulator when the basket is moved towards the dump position.

Abstract: A hydraulic system has a frame member having an end. The structural member is pivotally coupled with the frame member end. A first hydraulic cylinder includes a cylinder housing, a ram with a head reciprocally disposed within the housing, a first chamber on one side of the head, and a second chamber on another side of the head. A first end of the first hydraulic cylinder is attached to the frame member. A preload spring has a first end which is attached to the frame member, and a second end which is attached to the second end of the first hydraulic cylinder. A second hydraulic cylinder is coupled between the frame member and the structural member. The second hydraulic cylinder includes a cylinder housing, a ram with a head reciprocally disposed within the housing, a first chamber on one side of the head and a second chamber on another side of the head. A first fluid line interconnects the first chamber of the first and second hydraulic cylinders.

Abstract: A self-propelled mower and vacuum has a front-mounted flail blade mower assembly. After being cut, the grass clippings are propelled through a discharge chute into a cuttings basket by air pressure created by the flail blades and vanes attached to the blade rotor. Additional suction may be provided by a blower system which blows air into the discharge chute. The width of the flale blade mower assembly and the large volume of cuttings which may be held in the cuttings basket make the disclosed device particularly beneficial for mowing large areas of grass and turf, including athletic fields, belt ways and airstrips.

Abstract: The invention is a harvester particularly suited for harvesting baby greens. The harvester generally comprises a chassis with wheels that travel in the furrows between raised beds, a sorting belt assembly, and an articulated connection to a cutting assembly on a floating header. The floating header rides on the top surface of a raised bed and is articulated so that the floating header can move independently of the chassis to follow the contours of the top of the raised bed so that the cutting assembly can cut at a uniform height. The sorting belt assembly includes a series of belts for collecting and sorting the cut baby greens at the easiest and most effective time to do so, immediately after the baby greens are cut and before the baby greens are clumped in storage bins or in other storage containers.

Abstract: This Power air blower fan head mobilizer of matted vegetation solves the problem of blowing leaves and other debris matted together by wind or rain. A flexible serrated mobilizer probe (composed of metal, plastic, or composite) is inserted into the terminal fan head air nozzle of an air or leaf blower in such a way that a mass of often wet debris is stirred, tossed, moved, and cut. Thus, the invention opens pathways into the matted mass so that airflow is effective. The device includes a curved sharp terminus, which acts as a vegetation cutter on both flat and irregular surfaces. Large stemmed vegetation and small limbs can also be sawed in two because the probe has coarse and fine serrations on its respective lateral sides. In addition, the 5 inch projecting curved probe terminus provides a spring skid to reduce weight of the power air blower, thus saving energy of the operator.