Abstract: A new and more efficient tomato harvesting machine is capable of simultaneously severing up to three (3) rows of tomato vines or other similar crops. The harvesting machine comprises pick up means adjacent to the forward end of the machine for picking up and severing vinous crops from the field, where the crops remain attached to the vines, as the vines are severed. The pick up means carry the crops and vines rearwardly and upwardly. The harvesting machine further comprises separating means for separating crops from the vines. The present invention comprises improvements to the pickup means and the separating means. These improvements allow a harvester to gather vines and crops from up to three adjacent rows simultaneously, and to process the increased volume of vines and crops without overloading the processing equipment.

Abstract: A mower comprising a frame, a deck with a discharge located forwardly of at least one cutting blade, a baffle in the deck disposed between the blade and discharge that is spaced from the top wall of the deck defining a discharge aperture in the deck that creates suction and focuses clippings toward the discharge, and wheels coupled to the frame by a suspension preferably of independent construction. Each blade is massive for high inertia, generally planar, and disc-shaped having at least three cutting arms that each have a tab extending below the plane and having a cutting edge. Each arm preferably also has an upwardly extending suction-increasing flap. The suspension has a pair of control arms pivotally mounted to the frame with each arm having a mounting arm extending above the frame capturing a biasing element that urges the arms away from each other to keep the wheels in contact with the ground.

Abstract: A multi-blade mower deck having a center right and left blade chambers, which are partially connected to each other, each blade chamber including a rotary mounted cutting blade with lifting sails thereon for rotating and lifting the air into each blade chamber, a front skirt defining portions of said blade chamber; a continuous rear skirt wrapping around rear portions of each of said blade chambers; and a fan chamber positioned above the cutting deck and concentrically aligned over the center blade chamber and having an opening into the center fan chamber including concentrically mounted impeller blades for driving air and clipping from the fan chamber through a exhaust passage positioned over the cutting deck.

Abstract: A mowing mechanism having a spindle rotatively driven by a power source, a blade having a radially inner portion coupled for rotation with the spindle and a radially outer portion for cutting vegetation, a housing within which the blade rotates, and a disc coupled for rotation with the spindle and operatively carried within the housing for rotation with the blade and spaced above the blade. The inner and outer portions of the disc serve to channel air and clippings to the inner portion of the blade. The rotating disc prevents accumulation of the grass clippings beneath the disc and housing, and enhances airflow within the housing due to viscous drag or friction between the disc and the air within the housing. Deflectors carried by the disc are designed to further enhance airflows and generally deflect clippings back toward the inner portion of the blade for mulching.

Abstract: A blower apparatus, which is used with a lawnmower which has an engine and a cutting blade housing, includes a blower assembly supported by the lawnmower. The blower assembly is located distal to the cutting blade housing and is powered by the lawnmower engine. A transport conduit has a transport-conduit input end and a transport-conduit output end which is connected to the cutting blade housing. A pressurized blower conduit has a blower-conduit input end and a blower-conduit output end which is connected to the blower assembly. The blower-conduit output end is connected to the transport conduit at an intermediate position between the transport-conduit input end and the transport-conduit output end. A top loading container assembly is supported by the lawnmower, and the top loading container assembly is connected to the transport-conduit output end.

Abstract: A blade assembly is provided for a lawn mower which includes first and second fan blades to maintain the interior of the blade housing free of accumulated grass clippings as occur when mowing damp or wet grass. The blade assembly includes a conventional grass cutting blade and two axially spaced and radially displaced fan blades which are affixed to the engine shaft, above the cutting blade. The fan blades create sufficient turbulence within the housing to prevent grass accumulation, thereby improving the ability and efficiency of the mower.

Abstract: Lawn and garden maintenance equipment for collecting and shredding debris and chipping branches is provided with wheel support, a housing, and a handle for guiding the apparatus, the housing having a substantially closed bottom wall below a motor-driven disc for rotation about a vertical axis, which disc is capable of chipping branches because of a knife on one side and of moving air because of blades on the other side. A circumfirentially extending screen within the housing is supported in a vertical orientation relative to the ground, which screen is formed of at least two segments, both of which are supported radially inwardly and spaced from the sidewalls of the housing. The air and entrained debris are drawn into and enters the housing through an inlet extending to a centrally disposed axial opening whereby the entrained air and debris are driven against the screen to be broken up into smaller pieces.

Abstract: The new yard-care machine includes features of a mower, a mulching mower and a branch chipper. Such machine has a cutting blade in an enlarged lower blade chamber and a fan and a chipper plate in an enlarged upper fan chamber. A restriction separates the chambers and a leaf and grass-comminuting mulching blade is interposed in the restriction between the blade and the plate. The machine shroud has an exhaust port equipped with an optional diffuser for spreading finely-divided mulch on a lawn. The shroud also has an opening through which branches can be introduced to the chipper plate. The resulting branch chips are exhausted into a collection bag. Manual and self-propelled ("walk behind" or riding) versions and various embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: This invention is an improvement of the vertical shaft rotary lawn mower so that it can, besides cut grass, also vacuum and sweep lawns, driveways, and other hard-surfaced areas and to shred leaves and other shreddable materials. The improvement includes a rotatable sweeper brush in its own housing, a shredder with a number of uniformly twisted angularly radiating blades, and an inverted truncated conically shaped blower. Both shredder and blower are attached respectively near the top extremity and to the lower extremity of a rotatable spindle. In the sweeping and/or vacuuming operation, the sweeper brush, the spindle, the blower, and the mower blade revolve and leaves and other debris are sucked up into the brush housing by the rotating brush and by the rushing air, torn into small pieces by the revolving shredder, and the debris thrown upwardly sideward by the blower into the upper corner above the baffles, whirled, and thrown upward into the discharge chute and into the grass bag.

Abstract: A lawn mower of the type which collects grass cuttings includes a motor-driven blade rotatable about a sustantially vertical axis, at least one fan rotatable about the same axis, and a grass collecting system of the type in which grass collection is aided by suction from an airstream produced by the fan. It includes a closure which is selectively adjustable to at least two positions: one in which a grass collection aperture in a grass box is closed and a debris collection aperture in the grass box is open, and the other in which the grass collection aperture is open and the debris collection aperture is closed. A second embodiment includes a closure which is selectively adjustable to at least two positions: one in which both the grass collection aperture and the debris collection aperture are open, and the other in which only the grass collection aperture is open.

Abstract: Lawn and garden maintenance equipment for collecting and shredding debris and chipping branches is provided with a wheel-supported housing having a handle for guiding the apparatus, the housing having a substantially closed bottom wall below the blades and having a portion thereof providing an air and debris inlet opening, a motor mounted on the housing with a shaft extending into housing and supporting a disc for rotation with the shaft within said housing, the disc having a cutter on its top for slicing limbs and a slot adjacent said cutting means to permit sliced material to pass through the disc, downwardly extending blades mounted on the bottom of the disc move air and air entrained debris within the housing to an exit opening in said housing generally opposite the inlet for air and entrained debris, and a top opening in the housing is radially aligned with the cutter to accept limbs and the like to be fed through the opening to be engaged by the cutter.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus, such as a lawn mower is described comprising a substantially endless housing having an open bottom, air intake opening and a discharge port. The housing cooperates with a plate member projecting inwardly from a bottom part of the housing to define a substantially enclosed centrifuge chamber. A rotatable cutting blade is mounted in the chamber and an air impeller is provided for pressurizing air in the chamber. The plate member and impeller enhance the centrifugal movement imparted to the cuttings by the rotating cutting blade. A mulch recycling system is provided for receiving the grass cuttings and for delivering the cuttings to a predetermined location adjacent the housing for mulching. The mulch recycling system is adapted for use in connection with cutting apparatus supported by wheels, or roller members, as well as air-floated cutting apparatus.

Abstract: A mulching mower apparatus for use in a mover having a housing that includes a discharge outlet. A guide mechanism is provided for guiding air and vegetation clippings radially inwardly and downwardly towards the blade for re-cutting, and a blocking mechanism is provided for partially blocking the housings discharge outlet to thereby allow a portion of the air circulating within the housing to escape and increase the lifting of the vegetation to be cut.

Abstract: A variable diameter belt type power transfer assembly having a drive sheave and a driven sheave, both of which are adjustable and include a pair of opposing coaxial flanges, one of which is axially movable relative to the other, is disclosed wherein both flanges of the drive sheave are provided with first and second belt engaging surfaces flaring radially outwardly with respect to each other so as to define first and second variable diameter belt receiving grooves therebetween. A dual range of velocity ratios between the drive sheave and the driven sheave is obtainable by selectively positioning a drive belt in the respective variable diameter belt receiving grooves.

Abstract: A post-processor having a housing in communication with the discharge of a lawn mower. A cutting blade is disposed within the housing for rotation on a driven shaft for finely cutting the materials in the housing, and a discharge opening is formed in the housing above the cutting blade for discharging fine cut materials. An impeller is also disposed within the housing on the shaft for drawing materials past the cutting blades and forcing fine cut materials through the discharge opening. A baffle affixed to the housing adjacent the discharge opening disperses the stream of fine cut materials.

Abstract: A crop blower for a combine harvester. An elongated, tubular housing has a convex outer surface on a first side and a concave outer surface on a second side. There is a fan having a central shaft extending parallel to the housing and spaced-apart from the concave surface thereof. The fan has a plurality of groups of blades. Each group of blades has a plurality of spaced-apart blades which are generally parallel to the shaft and operatively connected thereto. There is a bearing support for the fan mounted on the housing near each end of the housing and between adjacent groups of blades. Each bearing support between adjacent groups of blades includes a U-shaped member extending about the convex surface of the housing. The shaft is rotatably mounted on the bearing supports. There is a motor for rotating the fan and a mount on each end of the housing for mounting the crop blower on a combine harvester.

Abstract: An air-floated cutting apparatus is described comprising a substantially endless housing having an open bottom, an air intake opening and a discharge port, the housing cooperating with a plate member beneath the housing to define a substantially enclosed chamber. A rotatable cutting blade is mounted in the housing, and an air impeller is provided for pressurizing air in said chamber sufficient to float the housing above the ground. The rotatable cutting blade and the air impeller are designed for co-rotation. According to the invention, a mulch recycling system is attached to the discharge port for receiving grass clippings produced by the rotatable cutting blade and for delivering the grass clippings to a predetermined location adjacent the endless housing for mulching. The system may include an applicator for treating the grass clippings with enzymes and/or bacteria to facilitate composting and fermentation.

Abstract: A flow directing device for use with rotary blade mowers where the blade is located for rotation in plane generally parallel to a surface to be cut and where the devices within the scope of the present invention include an air flow direction vane having a base located on the underside of the central portion of the blade with upstanding vanes on the leading side of the blade where each of the vanes is tilted inwardly over the blade and has a tip at the edge which is turned outwardly toward the front edge of the blade.

Abstract: An electrically or petrol driven cylinder mower comprises a mower body 101 and a grass box. An electric motor or petrol engine drives a cutter assembly 202, and also a turbo fan drawing air through an opening 207, both mounted in the body. The grass box has a mouth 204 over the cutters and an opening 302 which mates with the opening 207 in the mower body, and through which the turbo fan sucks air from the cutting region through the grass box.The air from the turbo fan is discharged within a skirt on the underside of the mower body to assist in supporting the mower above the ground. This skirt, and the land wheels and rear roller, lie behind the cutters, so as to avoid flattening the grass before it reaches the cutters. The land wheels are preferably inset, so that they run only on cut grass.

Abstract: A mower deck including a shroud having a top, a discharge opening, first and second sides, the discharge opening located adjacent the second side and a peripheral skirt defining an open bottom, a plurality of cutting blades mounted to the shroud, each blade on a corresponding vertical drive shaft so as to cut plants and convey the clippings generated thereby from the first side to the second side and through the discharge opening, the drive shaft located closest to the discharge opening being provided with an impeller blade oriented at an angle to the corresponding cutting blade and adapted to direct the flow of cut plants toward the second side and through the discharge opening. The shroud also includes intake ports and a baffle which facilitates the flow of air and clippings from the first side to the second side.

Abstract: A lawn mower includes a cutter blade rotatably disposed in a cutter housing, for cutting grass, a discharge fan rotatably disposed in the cutter housing upwardly of the cutter blade, for discharging grass clippings cut off by the cutter blade, a power source disposed outside of the cutter housing, and a speed reducer mechanism disposed outside of the cutter housing upwardly of the discharge fan, for transmitting mechanical power from the power source at a reduced speed to the discharge fan to rotate the discharge fan at a speed lower than the speed at which the cutter blade rotates. The cutter blade comprises a flat member and lies substantially horizontally.

Abstract: A power lawnmower having a body, a motor mounted to the body with a vertical drive shaft, a cover over the motor defining a power source chamber and a cutter blade below the body. Located on the drive shaft below the motor is a fan enclosed within a cylinder having openings therethrough. An opening in the cover admits air in to the motor chamber through an air filter. Two rows of ribs extending downwardly from the cover provide a filter cavity for receipt of the air filter in this opening. A second filter is positioned atop the motor and compressed between the motor and the cover. This air filter is retained by positioning ribs extending downwardly from the cover to the motor. An attachment mechanism mounting the blade to the drive shaft incorporates an attachment plate to which the blade is attached, a socket receiving the end of the drive shaft and two collars. A first collar is located within the socket and abuts against the end of the drive shaft.

Abstract: A power operated walking mower of the type having a generally cup-shaped housing with a motor supported on top of the housing and having a vertical shaft driving a rotary blade within the housing. A discharge chute extends generally tangentially in a forward direction from the left side, rather than right side, of the housing that turns upwardly and somewhat rearwardly to a discharge opening near the top and forward left side of the motor. A material receiving container, or grass bag, is connected to the end of the discharge chute an extends rearwardly over the top of the motor and then downwardly between spaced mower handle bars and is supported directly on the mower housing.

Abstract: A crop blower apparatus includes a blower for providing a stream of forced air. There is a mechanism for powering the blower and a discharge duct connected to the blower for providing a directed curtain of air and a frame for mounting the blower forwardly of the knife of a harvester. There may be a plurality of blowers having discharge ducts which are juxtaposed so as to discharge a substantially continuous curtain of air. The blowers may have coaxial drive shafts which are interconnected.

Abstract: A mower deck with fan structure rotatable with the blade spindle for creating an air turbulence to prevent debris buildup around the spindle and to exhaust debris away from and cool the mower drive train area. In one embodiment, an attachment including a plurality of vanes is connected to the lower side of the driven spindle sheave to create an air disturbance around the spindle. In another embodiment, the sheave is apertured and includes integral vanes projecting downwardly from the apertures. The fan structure draws air in from a first drive cover port located above the blade spindle and exhausts air and airborne debris through a second port in a high pressure side of the cover.

Abstract: A blower attachment for rotation with a filament line spool of a conventional filament line trimmer which attachment is provided with at least a pair of blades that are selectively extendable from the spool for providing a blower function.

Abstract: A blower attachment comprising a band for slipping over and snugly engaging for rotation therewith a filament line spool of a conventional filament line trimmer. The band is provided with at least a pair of blades extending outwardly thereof.

Abstract: An agricultural harvesting apparatus (10) comprising a ground engaging housing (12), said housing (12) having an open lower end (14), a cutting and suction blade assembly (38) mounted within the housing (12) for rotation about a substantially vertical axis (20) and comprising a plurality of outwardly extending blade members (40) arranged to cause air to be pushed through the cutting and suction blade assembly upon rotation of the latter, and outlet means (57,48) in the housing (12) for removal of air sucked up by the cutting and suction blade assembly (38) and crop material cut by the cutting and suction blade assembly (38).

Abstract: The device includes a wheel mounted frame having a detachable base plate, when used as a shredder, a small engine on the upper side of the frame and an internal blade enclosure within said frame, a small chute to limit the intake and prevent overloading from occurring, and a discharge on the internal enclosure opposite to the intake or loading chute. Two cutting blades are mounted on the motor drive shaft which extends vertically into the internal enclosure, an upper blade having a downturned outer end portion to draw air in through the air intake chute and a lower blade radially spaced from the upper blade by 90 degrees and having an upturned outer end portion to prevent material from building up upon the base plate. When used as a lawnmower, the base plate is removed and a plurality of radially extending stabilizer rods is substituted thus providing an open base so that the lowermost cutting blade can engage the grass.

Abstract: A downwardly opening generally circular plan-shaped horizontal housing is provided including opposite side maximum width portions and having a driven rotary vacuum blade assembly journalled therein about a central upstanding axis. The lower end of the downwardly opening housing is at least substantially closed throughout an annular zone extending about and inwardly from the outer periphery of the housing lower end and a depending skirt structure is provided establishing a substantial barrier to the longitudinal flow of reduced pressure air inward toward the center of the annular zone immediately beneath the latter from all horizontal directions, except those horizontal directions extending inwardly toward the center of said annular zone from said opposite side maximum width marginal portions.

Abstract: A lawn mower is described having a high collection efficiency. This is accomplished by constructing a housing having a toroidally-shaped skirt defining the interior space in which the blade rotates in a horizontal plane. The interior space has a generally circular cross-section, the radius of which gradually increases toward a region of maximum radius between upper and lower portions of the housings. The blade is positioned to rotate in the lower portion of the housing and a discharge port is positioned to encompass the region of maximum radius.

Abstract: A forwardly opening cylindrical housing is mounted on the forward end of a wheeled frame coupled to the front of self-propelled prime mover and the rear of the housing includes a forwardly facing axial inlet and radial discharge rotor assembly mounted therein. The housing includes a tangential outlet for the rear end thereof aligned with the rotor assembly and the outlet has the inlet end of conduit means connected thereto for conveying large volumes of air having forage entrained therein to a remote bin into which the discharge end of the conduit opens. The forward end of the housing includes generally diametric stationary bar structure and a forward extension of the rotor shaft includes radial cutting blades spaced slightly axially from the stationary bar.

Abstract: A lawn edger having a motor (14) arranged with a vertical axis of rotation, a fan and cutter assembly (15) within a hollow frame (11), cutting blades (17) being below the fan blades (16) and extending not only radially outwardly from the axis of rotation but also axially downwardly so that they slope towards the cutting edges, and cutting is affected over a small segment of the periphery of the cutting blades, for example, by tilting the lawn edger to one side.

Abstract: A rotary lawnmower blade that includes cutting edges on removable cartridges which can be replaced without the use of tools. The blade is hollow in design with air inlets that pick up high volumes of air as the blade rotates, compress the air and discharge it at an increased velocity to aid in discharging the grass clippings and other debris. The blade also is designed to increase the suction action of the blade as it rotates in order to make the grass more erect and also pick up the grass clippings more effectively. Also included in the design is an unique method of attaching the blade to the engine drive shaft so as to minimize damage if the blade strikes a solid object.

Abstract: A high speed rotor in the chute of a forage harvester is used to crack kernels in chopped forage impelled to the rotor. The rotor itself has four or more rows of elongated, spaced-apart plates provided with blunt cracking edges, and a deflector, disposed upstream of the rotor, is adjustable for a wide range of positions and diverts the flow of material to allow control over the degree of cracking.

Abstract: A forage or picking harvester unit includes a cylindrical cutter followed by an impeller fan with a crushing device in the path between the cutter and the fan. In the cylindrical cutter, the cutting wheel shaft is arranged perpendicularly relative to the shaft of the impeller fan. The crushing device is formed of crushing rollers with the roller axes extending parallel to the cutting wheel shaft. The crushing rollers are positioned in the path of the material flowing from the cylindrical cutter into the impeller fan. The circumferential surfaces of the crushing rollers are fluted in the direction parallel to the roller axes. The fluted surfaces form alternating teeth and recesses so that the circumferential surfaces of the crushing rollers can intermesh.

Abstract: A device adapted to temporarily replace the standard cutting blade of a rotary power mower enables the thus modified power mower to function in a manner to rake debris from a lawn. The raking effect can be achieved at low rotational speed of the mower. The device is comprised of an elongated support plate which mounts upon the lower extremity of the mower's vertically disposed drive shaft, and two rake arms adjustably attachable to the extremities of the support plate to provide an overall length of the device equal to the cutting blade it replaces. The rake arms are provided with a series of resilient fingers angled away from the support plate and terminating in a line diagonal to the center longitudinal axis of said support plate.

Abstract: A multi-row corn cutter forage harvester and/or picker forage harvester, such as a forage harvester of the disc-wheel type, includes a first support bar arranged to be mounted on the three-part attachment linkage of a tractor. A second support bar, which mounts the harvester device, is connected to the first support bar by a swivel hinge. The second support bar can be pivoted relative to the first bar between a first position extending laterally outwardly from the first support bar and a second position where the second support bar is located behind the first support bar. In the first position, the harvesting device can be operated, while in the second position it is arranged for transport. It could be possible to operate the harvesting device in the second position. A belt drive for the harvesting device extends from a first pulley mounted on the first support bar to a second pulley mounted on the second support bar.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a cutter blade for a rotary lawn mower, which cutter blade is generally of elongated rectangular outline and includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, a longitudinal axis extending lengthwise between the leading and trailing edges, a generally planar outer end portion including a cutting edge forming a part of the leading edge and an outer tip, and a sail portion extending from outer end portion along a form line extending between the outer tip and the trailing edge at a form angle within the range of 25 degrees to 35 degrees to the longitudinal axis. The sail portion also has an upper edge which is spaced above a horizontal plane containing the cutting edge at a height of between 0.65 inches and 0.75 inches and which extends continuously concavely arcuately outwardly and upwardly from the form line at a uniform radius between 1.00 inches and 1.40 inches measured in a plane perpendicular to the form line.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved lawn mower construction adapted for cutting vegetation into pieces and delivering the cut vegetation pieces into a disposable flexible air impervious baglike receptacle for disposal of the cut vegetation pieces. The lawn mower includes a housing having a plurality of wheels movably supporting the housing. A prime mover, such as, a gasoline internal combustion engine is mounted on the housing. The prime mover has a drive shaft drivingly connected thereto. A cutting blade is connected to the shaft. The cutting blade is mounted in the housing for cutting vegetation under the housing and throwing the cut vegetation pieces toward the outer periphery of the housing. A blower impeller is mounted on the drive shaft within the housing for blowing air out of the housing. A junction is a part of the housing for receiving air and cut vegetation pieces propelled by the blade and air blown by the impeller for moving the cut vegetation pieces.

Abstract: A compost processing machine for separating, mixing and stacking compost includes a pick-up drum at its forward end which picks up the compost and discharges it to feed means which in turn feeds the compost to a beater drum at the back end of the machine with the feed means and beater drum being formed in three distinct sections so as to provide a staggered type of feeding from the feed means to the beater drum and then a staggered type of discharge from the beater drum to the pile of compost being formed therefrom.

Abstract: A rotary mower has an engine supported by an engine platform secured to a frame having wheels and a handle, the engine has an output drive shaft which has a cutting blade rigidly secured at its end, a counter-rotating housing overlies the blade and is rotated in a direction opposite to the blade by a transmission means, the transmission means has a drive pulley rigidly secured to the output drive shaft, a pair of idler pulleys rotationally supported by the engine platform, a driven pulley rotationally supported by the drive shaft, and an endless belt trained from the drive pulley through the idler pulleys to the driven pulley, the counter-rotating housing is rigidly affixed to the driven pulley.

Abstract: An apparatus for lawn maintenance incorporates the usual features of a lawn mower plus means which achieve the mulching and collection of lawn debris. The apparatus is provided with a wheel-equipped housing having an apertured upper deck upon which an engine is centered. Conduits extend from the apertures to a collector box positioned above the engine. The cutting blade has upturned extremities positioned to pass beneath the apertures. During rotary motion of the blade, air and debris are propelled upward through the apertures and conduits into the collector box. The debris is mulched by counter-rotating intermeshed blades positioned within the collector box, and blown into a porous collector bag carried by a handle attached to said housing.

Abstract: A rotary grass mower of the type having a hollow motor body and a motor mounted on top of the body having a downwardly depending shaft which carries a disc bearing grass cutter blades. A blower is provided within the body above the disc and within the body to draw air downwardly from the top of the body and then outwardly and upwardly into an annular plenum chamber which is formed in the body above the path of movement of the cutter blades. The plenum chamber provides a discharge chute for air and entrained grass cuttings and the cuttings are moved, by air from the blower, in the chute to a discharge opening thereof. The air is deflected upwardly into the plenum chamber by an upturned rim on the disc. The circulated air is used to cool the motor.

Abstract: The blower of a forage harvester is controlled by two-speed belt drives for operating the blower between a first and a second speed for improved power requirements and operating efficiency. The disadvantages of such belt drives is avoided by a selector apparatus which controls a single speed rotating input and provides a two-speed rotating output.

Abstract: A bagging filament line lawn mower (2) has a filament line cutting element (8). A fan (60) located in a cutting chamber (26) in the housing (4) of mower (2) is shielded by an outer shroud wall (68). Shroud wall (68) and fan (60) are configured to create an airflow in the cutting chamber (26) over that portion of the grass traversed by the free end portion (47) of the cutting element (8). This airflow has both vertical and circumferential components to both lift the grass for more efficient cutting by the cutting element (8) and to transport the cut grass particles through the lawn mower housing (4) to a discharge outlet (34). Shroud wall (68) is sufficiently high and is spaced so that an operator during normal operation of mower (2) cannot interpose a body member into the fan path.

Abstract: A hover-type lawn mower being provided with a cover which fits over the shroud or housing for the rotatable blade. The cover is provided with openings so that the air flow therethrough forms an air cushion and also transports cut grass and leaves to a collecting area in the cover. The cover is further provided with releasable fastening means to the shroud, so that the cover can be removed when it is desired to empty the collected cut grass and leaves therein.

Abstract: A trailer hitch comprises two elongate bumper members, a trailer bumper member connectable to the trailer near one end thereof and a tractor bumper member connectable to the tractor near one end thereof so that the trailer bumper member contacts the tractor bumper member when the trailer is connected to the tractor. A male hitch member is connected to the trailer bumper member and extends outwardly therefrom. A recess in the tractor bumper member receives the male hitch member. A latch connected to the tractor bumper member releasably secures the male hitch member. The trailer hitch is particularly adapted for connecting a forage harvester to the front of a truck.

Abstract: Lawn mower (2) includes a housing (4) having at least one cutting chamber (22 or 24) in which a flexible line cutting element (8) is rotated by a motor (76). Sails (80) located on cutting element (8) are configured to generate an air flow in the cutting chamber (20 or 22). This air flow is directed to a discharge outlet (38) in the housing (4) which causes the cut grass particles to be deposited in a grass collector (14). Grass collector (14) includes air discharge outlets (94) which evacuate the air flow from the grass collector (14) to ensure proper deposition of the grass particles therein. Sails (80) are preferably flexible so as to be incapable of severing a body member accidentally placed into contact therewith. An improved sail (240) radially outboard of a support disc (224) overlies flexible lines (226 and 228) to give better agitation of the vegetation in yet another embodiment.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a cutter blade for a rotary lawn mower, which cutter blade is generally of elongated rectangular outline and includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, a longitudinal axis extending lengthwise between the leading and trailing edges, a generally planar outer end portion including a cutting edge forming a part of the leading edge and an outer tip, and a sail portion extending from outer end portion along a form line extending between the outer tip and the trailing edge at a form angle within the range of 25 degrees to 35 degrees to the longitudinal axis. The sail portion also has an upper edge which is spaced above a horizontal plane containing the cutting edge at a height of between 0.65 inches and 0.75 inches and which extends continuously concavely arcuately outwardly and upwardly from the form line at a uniform radius between 1.00 inches and 1.40 inches measured in a plane perpendicular to the form line.