Abstract: The rotary mower of the invention includes a housing (9) formed by modules (10) which have flanges (29, 30) making it possible to connect them to one another by means of assembly elements (28). The flanges (29, 30) are formed by at least two wings spaced from one another and directed forwardly. The wings are connected by at least one connecting wing directed crosswise to the direction of advance (6) and connected to the body of module (10).

Abstract: The invention relates to rotary mowers driven from below. According to the invention, shafts (18) and wheels (23) have at least their operational dimensions approximately identical, and alternate wheels (23) take two different positions in relation to the shafts (18). Moreover, when one of the disks (5, 6) is inclined in relation to an adjacent disk, the wheel (23) of the disk most inclined toward the front is farther from the disk (5, 6) than the wheel (23) is from the adjacent disk (5, 6). Moreover, the housing (4) comprises a sliding member (30) which at least partially closes the front part and/or the lower part of the housing (4).

Abstract: A hay-making machine, in particular for side-delivery raking, includes a plurality of truncated-cone-shaped rotary devices which are rotatably arranged about an axis which is slightly inclined in relation to a vertical line, the rotary devices being provided with elastic deformable tools and being arranged side-by-side on a supporting arm which slightly ascends in relation to the working surface and which is supported on the ground by a supporting plate and also provided with a joint drive. The supporting arm extends essentially perpendicular to the working direction of the machine and the adjacent rotary devices overlap. A driving pulley at on end of the supporting arm is connected by superimposed V-belts to a respective rotary device, and the V-belts are provided with a band-like widened backside to form a closed working surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rotary mower driven from below. According to the invention, the upper part of a beam (4) comprises, in the vicinity of cutting elements (5, 7) which rotate in a high plane of rotation, a bulge (30, 32) the upper face of which is at least approximately planar and extends at least approximately parallel to the plane of rotation. The bulges (30, 32) cover at least approximately the space of the upper face of the beam (4) located under the cutting tool support (51, 71) of the high cutting elements (5, 7), and in part at least approximately the space of the upper face of the beam (4) not swept by the cutting tools (9) of the neighboring low cutting elements (6, 8).

Abstract: Mowing device provided with a frame supported by ground wheels which can be coupled to a vehicle by means of a drawbar, and with a number of cutting means arranged side by side when seen in the intended direction of movement of the mowing device during operation, said cutting means being rotatable about upwardly extending axes of rotation and being provided with knives, said cutting means being supported during operation by at least two skids arranged near the outermost cutting means and being in contact with the ground behind the foremost points of the paths described by the knives of the cutting means, while the frame part supporting the cutting means can move resiliently relative to the ground wheels, whereby the drawbar is adjustable relative to the frame about a pivot axes extending transverse to the intended direction of movement during operation.

Abstract: A mower or similar device for cutting ground foliage or for surface conditioning is provided which has an improved deck construction that includes detachably engaged deck members that define housing areas which can substantially enclose pulley assemblies suitable for driving and being driven, the pulley assemblies being straddle-mounted by bearings or the like within said housing areas.

Abstract: The connecting device 5 which links the mowing group 2 to the hitching device 3 comprises a connecting beam 21 and two connecting bars 38 and 39 that are connected respectively to the end of the connecting beam 21 and to the hitching device 3 by means of joints 36, 37, 40, and 41 so as to form with the hitching device 3 and the connecting beam 21 a deformable quadrilateral. The elastically deformable element 45 of the load-reducing mechanism 43 extends at least between two sides of the deformable quadrilateral, so as to create at the level of the connection 22, 23, 25, and 55 between the connecting beam 21 and the mowing group 2 a force directed upwardly.

Abstract: A mower having a plurality of rotary cutting elements each of which is provided with at least one cutting tool. At least one of the rotary cutting element is driven by a transmission means housed in a housing located under the rotary cutting element. The housing is composed of cases in which the rotary cutting elements are guided in rotation, and a brace element determines the distance between each two adjacent cases. The housing is made up of at least one module formed by a case and a brace element formed integrally with the case. The front edge of each of said brace elements is pointed over at least a part of its length. At least said at least one rotary cutting element is mounted on a shaft guided in rotation in the bore of a bearing cylinder.

Abstract: A mowing machine having cutting elements and a beam for attaching to a tractor, and an intermediate structure to which is connected the beam, the cutting elements comprising a first and a second cutting group each group extending on the opposite side of the intermediate structure. The cutting groups are removably mounted on the intermediate structure and optionally are associated with conditioning members for further handling harvested produce.

Abstract: The mowing and chopping machine comprises at least two rotors, which are rotatable about vertical axes, which are spaced apart transversely to the direction of travel of the machine. Each rotor comprises a tooth-carrying disc and a plurality of cutting rotor teeth, which are angularly spaced apart and pivoted to said disc by means of vertical pins and protrude from the periphery of said disc. The rotor teeth are either curved upwardly and downwardly out of the plane of the disc or are composed of a plurality of superimposed cutter blades. A fixed backing cutter is provided in the generally triangular space defined by the flight paths described by the rotor teeth.

Abstract: A mowing device has a number of adjacent cutting elements rotatable around upwardly extending axes of rotation. The cutting elements are supported by an elongated hollow casing located under the cutting elements. Transmission elements for driving at least some of the cutting elements are located in the casing. A reinforcing beam, extending along the rear side of the casing, has been fixed to said casing. The rear ends of tensioned resilient straps have been fixed to the reinforcing beam. The straps extend transverse to the beam and under the casing and are joined to the casing near their front ends at the side of the casing turned away from the reinforcing beam.

Abstract: A windrower has a transverse support positioned at an angle to the travel direction of the apparatus and attached by a towing bar to a tractor and the like. The transverse support is provided with a plurality of crop-transfer drums, which are attached rotatably under the transverse support parallel to each other, and displaced from each other. At least one crop-transfer drum is swingable about its adjacent crop-transfer drum 180.degree. with respect to the axis of the adjacent crop-transfer drum in such a way that its axis retains its angle to the ground. Thus the crop-transfer drums have at least two configurations, in one of which all the crop-transfer drums are side-by-side with an equal spacing between adjacent drums of a width which is much smaller than the width of a crop-transfer drum, and in another in which there is at least one comparatively large gap between two adjacent crop-transfer drums substantially equal in width to the diameter of the crop-transfer drum.

Abstract: A mowing machine for cutting crop comprises a chassis, cutting members supported by the chassis, and an intermediate structure on the chassis which at least partially supports the cutting members. The cutting members extend on both side of the intermediate structure. The mowing machine also comprises members, such as rotary drums or separating surfaces, which prevent attachment of the crop to the intermediate structure. In a preferred embodiment, the mowing machine further includes conditioning members so that the cutting members and conditioning members comprise a cutting-conditioning group.

Abstract: A mowing machine has a cutter bar which is a plurality of drive housings and intermediate members between the drive housing held firmly together in compressing by a tie rod in tension. Each drive housing has a cutting unit which includes a rotatable disc and blades. At least some discs (for example the outermost two) have on their upper sides engaging members for engaging cut crop to convey the crop to the rear. The engaging members of outermost cutting unit are provided on a body which extends upwardly to where it is spaced above the cutting unit while the adjacent cutting unit has its engaging members closer to the disc. The machine is constructed so that it can be folded and partially dismantled for packing in a container of limited dimensions without it being unduly difficult to assemble for the purpose of providing an operable machine.

Abstract: An improved idler gear mounting apparatus for use in a disc cutterbar to rotatably mount the idler gear transferring rotational power between drive gears operatively associated with disc cutter assemblies disclosed wherein a spacer member engages both the upper surface and the lower surface of the transmission casing to provide radial support thereof and also engages the inner race of a bearing assembly rotatably mounting the idler gear. A bolt having a head portion received within a recessed portion of the spacer member extends through the spacer member and is threadably engaged with a securing member which in turn engages the lower surface member of the transmission casing. A lip portion of the spacer member engaged with the upper surface of the transmission casing permits the mounting apparatus to be secured between the upper and lower surfaces of the transmission casing and rotatably mount the idler gear.

Abstract: The rotary mowing attachment for a tractor or the like comprises a mowing drum mounting member, preferably a mounting bar, laterally mountable on a tractor or the like, four mowing drums attached to the underside of the mowing drum mounting member, and at least one cutting tool attached to each mowing drum, wherein the cutting diameters of the cutting tools on at least two mowing drums are different, the cutting diameters of all adjacent mowing drums overlap, and at least one of the mowing drums rotates in a direction of rotation opposite to that of the remaining mowing drums.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mowing machine comprising a frame and at least four cutting members rotatable about upwardly extending rotary axes and being each provided with cutters and drums located above said cutters, the cutting members being driven so that during operation neighboring drums rotate in opposite senses, whereby the diameters of the circles described by the ends of the cutters of the outermost cutting members during operation are larger than those of the intermediate cutting members.

Abstract: A mowing machine which has a rotary cutting member rotatably journalled to a shaft received in a drive housing. The drive housing has connected to it a supporting skid extending under and forward thereof for engagement with the ground. The skid defines, with the drive housing, a space which is filled with a lightweight material such as foam. The material prevents foreign matter from getting into the space, strengthens the skid, reduces the connective welding required and alters the weight and other characteristics of the machine. A plurality of like rotary cutting members with supporting skids are mounted side-by-side.

Abstract: A mowing machine comprises cutting members which are rotatable about upwardly extending axes and drivable via a change-speed mechanism which enables their speed of rotation to be adjusted, for example to suit the characteristics of the crop being mown. The machine also has crushing member driven via a mechanism having replaceable gears for adjusting speed, said crushing member mounted behind the cutting members to rotate about a horizontal axis and having an adjustable head.

Abstract: The tip of the arm 4 which acts on the stabilization device 26 during the pivoting of the arm 4 is located in the vicinity of the pivoting axis 6 of the arm 4 or behind the axis 6. A damping jack 263 may be used as the stabilization device.

Abstract: Disc mowers having a drive casing to accommodate the drive means for disc-shaped rotary cutters with knives attached thereto tend to permit a layer of soil and plant matter to build up in the overlap region of the knives between adjacent stone guards. This tendency is prevented according to the invention by a scraper and deflection element disposed in the overlap region at the front face of the drive casing below the rotary knives and between the rotary cutter discs in the overlap region of the knives. The scraper and deflection element may be adapted to cooperate with mechanically, hydraulically or pneumatically powered cleaning elements to prevent and to remove solid build-up in the overlap region.

Abstract: A mechanism for removing dirt and debris from the interior of a divider member mounted on the end disc of a disc cutterbar used in a disc mower-conditioner is disclosed wherein the dividers are provided with air inlet openings to permit the introduction of air into the interior chamber of the hat-shaped divider members. Each divider member is provided with a plurality of fan blades mounted to the top plate thereof to exhaust air from within the interior chamber and create a flow of air from the air inlet openings through the interior chamber and exiting a discharge opening formed between the divider top plate and a stationary cover mounted thereabove. This flow of air cleans the interior chamber of dirt and debris. An optional filter can be utilized to reduce the amount of dirt and debris permitted to enter the interior chamber through the air inlet openings.

Abstract: In a disk mower which normally has a forward direction of movement and includes a housing, at least two disks rotatably mounted in the housing and operable thereabove, and wherein each disk includes at least one cutter, an entrainment device for the disks supported by the housing and adapted to be driven by a power source external to the housing, and a soil removal device located in a front portion of the housing as defined by the forward direction for reducing any accumulation of soil on the housing, the improvement includes a suspension device for suspending the soil removal device from the housing so as to allow the soil removal device to extend, at the front portion of said housing and as seen from above, completely within the area delimited by the trajectory of said cutters during rotation, and to have at least one degree of freedom of movement with respect to the housing to move along a substantially vertical direction and in an upwardly sense, thereby normally resulting in displacements and/or vibratio

Abstract: A rotary mowing attachment has a transverse support positioned at an angle to the travel direction of the apparatus and attached by a towing bar to a tractor and the like. The transverse support is provided with a plurality of mowing drums, which are attached rotatably under the transverse support parallel to each other, and displaced from each other. At least one mowing drum is swingable about its adjacent mowing drum 180.degree. with respect to the axis of the adjacent mowing drum in such a way that its axis retains its angle to the ground. Thus the mowing drums have at least two configurations, in one of which all the mowing drums are side-by-side with an equal spacing between adjacent drums of a width which is much smaller than the width of a mowing drum, and in another in which there is at least one comparatively large gap between two adjacent mowing drums substantially equal in width to the diameter of a mowing drum.

Abstract: A method of preparation or conditioning of stalk agricultural products includes formation of a field or a space in which an electrical potential difference forms current- and spark shocks. An arrangement includes supports provided with electrodes which are arranged in pairs opposite to one another, and the support forms therebetween a feeding passage for the product. One of the supports can be formed as a driven organ. The arrangement can be associated with a mowing mechanism.

Abstract: A processing apparatus for agricultural stalk-shaped products, and wherein the products are adapted to be formed into a stream of products following cutting thereof from the ground, includes a rotatably driven conveyor element with a plurality of approximately radially outwardly extending conveyor tools separated from one another by gaps, and operatively defining a trajectory, a guidance element defining a plurality of openings, cooperating with the conveyor element for guiding the products, and forming with the conveyor element a guidance channel extending transversely to the stream of products, and wherein the guidance element intersects the trajectory near the front end and near the rear end of the guidance channel, so that the conveyor tools project at least partially outwardly through corresponding openings in the guidance element.

Abstract: A mowing machine has a main frame made up of driving units and intermediate pieces which are mounted alternatively on a tie member. The tie member is normally under tension to compress the driving units and the intermediate pieces together to make the main frame substantially rigid. The tie member is positioned substantially centrally of the driving units and the intermediate pieces so as to provide even loading of their mating faces. The driving units preferably have cutting units with flexible hoods. The cutting units are driven by a common continuous drive shaft through bevel gearing and the direction of rotation of each cutting unit can be changed by removing the gear and replacing it the other way round within the driving unit housing on the driving shaft.

Abstract: A multiple mower arrangement for use on a tractor, comprising a principal mower having at least one rotary blade. A power shaft extends approximately the full lateral width of the principal mower, and delivers power to the rotary blades of such mower. A swingarm mower equipped with a rotary blade is hingedly supported by a hollow arm on the outboard end of the principal mower, with the arm being in turn supported by a hollow hinge. A rotary power shaft extends through the arm and hinge, such that rotary power can be effectively transmitted without the use of belts from the power shaft to the blade of the swingarm mower. A bias arrangement normally biases the swingarm mower into an outwardly extending operative position, with such bias being overcome at such time as the swingarm mower contacts a tree, fencepost, or other fixed object, with power being continuously supplied to the blade of the swingarm mower throughout its full range of operating positions.

Abstract: A disc mower-conditioner having a disc cutterbar with transversely spaced rotatable disc cutters to sever standing crop material by an impact action and a rotatable conditioning mechanism mounted rearwardly of the cutterbar to receive and condition severed crop material is disclosed wherein each disc cutter is provided with a crop lifter affixed to the peripheral portion of the disc cutter adjacent each knife in leading relationship thereto. The crop lifter has an inclined ramp extending substantially a full guadrant of the disc cutter and being operable to lift previously severed crop material away from the corresponding knife before the knife severs standing crop material and to feed the severed crop material into the conditioning mechanism.

Abstract: A transmission shaft, of a mower having one or more rotatable organs and gears, for transmitting rotation of the shaft to the gears. The shaft has a portion that is associated with the gears, and another portion that is not associated with the gears. The other portion has a transverse cross section within a shape that corresponds to that of the one portion end with a dimension smaller than that of the one portion. The reduced dimension of the other portion can be carried out by chemical action, such as by an acid attack.

Abstract: A disc mower-conditioner having a disc cutterbar with transversely spaced rotatable disc cutters to sever standing crop material by an impact action and a rotatable conditioning mechanism mounted rearwardly of the cutterbar to receive and condition severed crop material is disclosed wherein each disc cutter is provided with a crop lifter affixed to the peripheral portion of the disc cutter adjacent each knife in leading relationship thereto. The crop lifter has an inclined ramp operable to lift previously severed crop material away from the corresponding knife before the knife operatively severs the standing crop material to facilitate a feeding of the severed crop material into the conditioning mechanism. The top of the crop lifter is being positioned in substantially the same plane as the raised central portion of the disc cutter for properly lifting the severed crop material toward the conditioning mechanism and for protecting the hardware detachably fastening the corresponding knife to the disc cutter.

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.

Abstract: A multi-spindle mower deck containing a plurality of mower blades rotatably supported in a deck housing. A plurality of blow-out plates strategically located and fixably mounted to the forward sidewall of the housing below the mower blades.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for checking the volume of lubricant in the rotary cutterbar of a disc mower-conditioner is disclosed wherein the header of the disc mower-conditioner is provided with a jackstand to affect a tilting of the disc cutterbar at a predetermined angle relative to horizontal. The fill hole for adding lubricant to the cutterbar is positioned such that the volume of the cutterbar vertically below the fill hole when the cutterbar is tilted at the predetermined angle is substantially equal to the recommended volume of lubricant to be carried by the entire disc cutterbar. The proper volume of lubricant for the cutterbar can easily be determined by filling the cutterbar with lubricant up to the fill hole when the cutterbar is tilted at the predetermined angle.

Abstract: A mower embodies a translatable main frame connectable to a towing vehicle having a power take-off unit connectable to a transmission carried by the main frame. At least one translatable wing frame is hingedly connected to an adjacent side of the main frame and is adapted to pivot selectively to a lower operative position and to an upper inoperative position. Depending cutter carrying shafts are supported for rotation on the main frame and the wing frame and are connected in driving relation with the transmission. An extensible drive shaft is operatively connected at one end to the depending shaft on the wing frame and a clutch operatively connects the other end of the extensible drive shaft to the transmission. An extensible clutch rod operatively connects the wing frame to a clutch actuator to move the clutch to an engaged position while the wing frame is in a lower operative position and to move the clutch to a disengaged position upon movement of the wing frame to an upper inoperative position.

Abstract: Disc mowers having a drive casing to accommodate the drive means for disc-shaped rotary cutters with knives attached thereto tend to permit a layer of soil and plant matter to build up in the overlap region of the knives between adjacent stone guards. This tendency is prevented according to the invention by a scraper and deflection element disposed in the overlap region at the front face of the drive casing below the rotary knives and between the rotary cutter discs in the overlap region of the knives. The scraper and deflection element may be adapted to cooperate with mechanically, hydraulically or pneumatically powered cleaning elements to prevent and to remove solid build-up in the overlap region.

Abstract: A disc mower-conditioner having a disc cutterbar with transversely spaced rotatable disc cutters to sever standing crop material by an impact action and a rotatable conditioning mechanism mounted rearwardly of the cutterbar to receive and condition severed crop material is disclosed wherein each disc cutter member is provided with a crop lifting ramp portion adjacent the peripheral edge of the disc cutter adjacent each knife in both leading and trailing relationships thereto. The inclined ramp portions are operable to lift previously severed crop material away from the corresponding knife before the knife severs standing crop material and to feed the severed crop material into the conditioning mechanism. The inclined ramp portions are provided on both sides of the knives to permit the disc cutter member to be rotatable in either clockwise or counterclockwise directions and still provide a leading crop lifting action.

Abstract: A device for mowing crop comprising a cutting member to be rotated about an upwardly extending rotary axis and supporting at least one upwardly extending pin located near the outer circumference of the cutting member, said pin being guarded in the cutting member with the aid of a pin-engaging end of a spring, while a cutting knife is freely rotatable about said pin whereby the end of the spring engaging the pin is slidably arranged in a recess in the pin, whereas the end of the spring remote from the pin is guarded against shifting transversely of the longititudinal axis of the pin with the aid of parts of the cutting member at least partly surrounding the end concerned and being loosely in engagement with the spring.

Abstract: Drum mowers having flat L-shaped blades in which the vertical portions are spring mounted relative to the rotating drums of drum mowers are disclosed having a spring mounting providing yielding of the horizontal portion of the blade in both a vertical and horizontal direction when it strikes an obstruction and automatic return of the blade to its mowing position. The flat blades provide greater strength and less vertical obstruction than prior blades. In a preferred embodiment, the end cutting portions of the blades attached to adjacent drums of multiple drum mowers do not overlap adjacent discs and are twisted with respect to the flat horizontal portion so the sharpened leading edge is downward.

Abstract: A crop cutting and conditioning apparatus has two vertical axis rotary drum cutters 13, each having an upper rotor with a crop conveying surface 19 and a lower rotor carrying knives 21. Gears drive the upper and lower rotors at different peripheral velocities. The lower rotor has an annular rim 18 having an upper surface shaped to continue the outline of the conveying surface 19. The knives 21 protrude outwardly from beneath the rim 18 and rotate with the rim. The upper rotor has conditioning elements comprising brushes 35 (or sheets of plastics material), for conveying crop and conditioning crop by relative movement between the brushes and the crop. The outer tips of the brushes 35 (or the edges of the sheet or rib-like elements) lie along one or more helical or part helical paths around the rotor axis. Preferably the lower end of each helix leads during the rotation so as to exert a lifting action on crop engaged by the rotors.

Abstract: The rotary mower has a blade housing supported on wheels for travel along the ground and including a top deck, a front wall and opposed side walls depending from the top deck, a rear wall depending from the top deck and extending transversely between the rear portions of the side walls, and a plurality of cutter blades which are mounted inside the blade housing and are rotated in the same direction about laterally spaced vertical axes. A flexible flap extending transversely generally coextensively with the rear wall and extending substantially vertically down to engage the mowed grass forms an effective air seal substantially across the rear of the blade housing.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting upstanding agricultural crops includes a plurality of adjacent dynamically balanced rotary cutter assemblies each having diametrically opposed blades the outer tips of which are at unequal distances from the rotary axis, corresponding blades on adjacent rotary assemblies being substantially 180.degree. out of phase.

Abstract: A disc mower-conditioner having a disc cutterbar provided with transversely spaced rotatable cutter units operable to sever standing crop material by impact action and a flexible curtain extending around the perimeter of the disc cutterbar is disclosed wherein a transverse deflector panel is supported by the mower-conditioner frame between the disc cutterbar and the flexible curtain to restrict the movement of the forward transverse portion of the flexible curtain toward the cutterbar. The deflector panel is pivotally mounted for fore-and-aft movement about a generally transverse axis and has sufficient mass to resist movement of the curtain induced by an air flow created by rotation of the disc cutters. The deflector panel includes a lower curved portion to facilitate the passage of crop material therebeneath for presentation to the disc cutterbar.

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

Abstract: A device for mowing agricultural crops, particularly grass, mainly comprising a continuous main beam (1) bearing a common main drive and a plurality of housings fastened to the front side of said beam (1), each accommodating an intermediate drive to an upstanding rotary shaft for a cutting member (3), wherein each housing is further provided with a freely rotatable member (52) bearing on the ground, and wherein the cutting members are connected through a safety clutch with the rotary shaft so that damage of the transmission gears in the drive due to jamming of the cutting member can be avoided, an undisturbed rearward transport of the crop is ensured and a free, overlapping moving region between two adjacent cutting members is obtained.

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.

Abstract: A multiple rotor mower having a plurality of substantially side-by-side vertically disposed rotors each having a horizontally disposed disc at their lower ends and mowing blades beneath the discs, the discs being segmented into readily detachable and replaceable disc portions for easy replacement of any disc portions damaged by contact with rocks. Closed ground engaging skids are provided beneath discs, the ground engaging skids being formed from two dish-shaped portions having a fastening flange extending outwardly from their adjacent open ends so that the bottom portion of each disc is readily detachable and replaceable providing replacement of the bottom portion of the ground engaging skid when damaged or to obtain different height adjustments of the mower rotor assemblies. The mower rotor assembly is spring suspended from an overhead support arm from the mower frame reducing the force of the ground engaging skids upon the ground.

Abstract: A gang reel mower consisting of a pair of mower heads of the ordinary reel type laterally spaced apart in a forward row, and another mower head disposed behind and laterally intermediate the mower heads in the forward row. Each mower head is castered about a vertical axis disposed forwardly thereof, in order that it may operate directly forwardly even when the mower as a whole is negotiating a turn, and the caster axis of the rear mower head is shifted laterally of the mower frame in order that it will always be aligned to cut the strip of grass left uncut by the front mower heads. Mechanism is provided for elevating the mower heads to a transport position well above ground level, and in so doing to cancel and lock any castering motion thereof.

Abstract: A satellite mower-conditioner comprising a frame, a pair of rotary members mounted on the frame and rotatable about generally upright axes with each rotary member having mounted thereon for rotation therewith a plurality of rotary cutter units rotatable also about respective generally upright axes offset from the rotational axis of the rotary member, two sets of tines stationarily mounted on the frame and associated with the respective rotary members such that the tines of one set define, generally between the rotary members, an angle with the corresponding tines of the other set, and at least two additional sets of tines mounted for rotation with the respective rotary members.

Abstract: A mowing machine has a main frame made up of driving units and intermediate pieces which are mounted alternately on a tie member. The tie member is normally under tension to compress the driving units and the intermediate pieces together to make the main frame substantially rigid. The tie member is positioned substantially centrally of the driving units and the intermediate pieces so as to provide even loading of their mating faces. The driving units preferably having cutting units with flexible hoods. The cutting units are driven by a common drive shaft through bevel gearing and the direction of rotation of each cutting unit can be changed by removing the gear and replacing it the other way round on the driving shaft.