Abstract: The present invention relates to a device particularly suitable for grooming/shaping various snow terrain features used by recreational snowboarders and/or skiers and includes an adjustable arm assembly (2) attachable at one end to a suitable vehicle and being capable of deployment substantially orthogonally to the direction of movement of said vehicle; said arm being substantially elongated and including two or more articulately connected sections (5, 6, 7) and one or more actuator means (11, 12, 13) capable of changing the orientation at least two of said sections (5, 6, 7) with respect to each other. The invention is also suitable as a means of shaping embankments or features of earth, soil, sand and so forth or for cutting grass or similar undergrowth.

Abstract: A riding mower is provided that includes a frame, an engine operatively attached to the frame and providing locomotion to the riding mower, a first front wheel operatively attached to the frame, a first back wheel operatively attached to the frame and a back axle forming a back axle axis. The first front wheel forms a front wheel axis and the first back wheel forms a back wheel axis. The back wheel axis is longitudinally spaced from the front wheel axis by a wheel base distance. The engine is longitudinally spaced forwardly of the back axle axis. In this way, the center of gravity of the riding mower is positioned relatively low and forward as compared to other known riding mowers. The first front wheel provides the front-most surface for the riding mower and the first back wheel provides the back-most surface for the riding mower.

Abstract: A transversely-mounted grass cutter mower combination with a vehicle is provided which is adapted to be activated to move laterally to the right or to the left with respect to its mounting to the vehicle and/or to move vertically up or down with respect to its mounting the vehicle. The vehicle is a motor-driven vehicle having front wheels and rear wheels and a longitudinally-extending frame bed therebetween. A transversely-mounted powered grass-cutting mower, having a mower housing and powered grass cutting blades which is mounted to the frame bed by means of a suspended mounting system. The suspended mounting system includes a cooperative linkage which is secured between the longitudinally-extending frame bed of the motor-driven vehicle and the mower housing. A first powered operator is provided for moving the mower housing, in cooperation with the constraints provided by the cooperative linkage, through an infinite number of vertical locations between an upper limit and a lower limit.

Abstract: A rotatable-in-place, powered riding vehicle typically may be used as a lawnmower, garden tractor, wheelchair, or warehouse utility truck. Its simplified construction and operator controls facilitate steering maneuverability. Thus the vehicle can be used in tight working places such as narrow aisles, for turning around at the end of rows, and steering around abutments disposed in the travel path, all in forward drive without requiring a reverse gear transmission. This provides more safety and simpler turning than in vehicles requiring a reverse transmission. Also, the vehicle is simplified, quite inexpensive and requires little maintenance and repair. Thus, the set of wheels pivotably mounted and simple control mechanisms provide optimum pivoting in both forward motion and the rotation-in-place steering functions.

Abstract: The present invention teaches a novel steering apparatus which functions in conjunction with the tandem rake offset mechanism. The rear rake may be offset either left or right, thus permitting single or double windrowing, and also transmits steering commands to the rear rake unit such that it follows the tractor more precisely around the field and more effectively windrows the hay. A unique linkage assembly provides for both offset commands and steering commands to be passed to the rear rake unit.

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

Abstract: A mower-conditioner has a double windrow attachment, in the form of a belt conveyor, mounted to the rear end thereof, the attachment being swingable vertically about a horizontal transverse pivot axis between a lowered working position, wherein it is disposed for intercepting crop, discharged by the conditioning means and guided by a windrow-forming hood, and conveying the crop to one side of the machine, and a raised inoperative position wherein the conveyor is disposed such that it does not extend either the length or width of the machine by any appreciable amount.

Abstract: A hay-making machine operable to move along a straight line path and a curved path includes a central support along with elongated transverse supports pivotably connected to the central support and extending from opposite sides of the central support in a direction generally perpendicular to the straight line path. Raking devices and ground-support wheels are provided on each of the transverse supports. A drawbar structure is connected to the central support and extends generally forwardly of the central support, the drawbar structure being connectable to a tractor vehicle while an undercarriage is connected to the central support and extends generally rearwardly of the central support. Running wheels are rotatably mounted on the undercarriage, and a pivotal arrangement pivotably supports the running wheel for pivotable movement about generally vertical axes.

Abstract: A snow removal device including a frame, an auger mounted for rotary motion in said frame, a blade mounted in the frame in close proximity to the auger and a handle connected to the frame for pushing the auger through the snow. The handle is mounted on the frame to extend radially outwardly from the axle of the auger. The auger can have a single or double twist blade and can be a one-direction or two-direction type blade.

Abstract: The invention relates to a machine for working grass, hay or other crops on the field, provided with two rake members which are drivable about upwardly directed axes of rotation. During operation, the distance between the rake members can be changed by controls at the seat of the tractor on which the machine is mounted to adapt the machine to various circumstances. The machine is provided with swath forming crop guide members, the relative positions of which are automatically adapted to remain about the same irrespective of the distance between the rake members.

Abstract: The invention relates to a machine for working grass, hay or other crops on the field, provided with two rake members which are drivable about upwardly directed axes of rotation. During operation, the distance between the rake members can be changed by controls at the seat of the tractor on which the machine is mounted to adapt the machine to various circumstances. The machine is provided with swath forming crop guide members, the relative positions of which are automatically adapted to remain about the same irrespective of the distance between the rake members.

Abstract: A single-row tomato harvester. A tractor fully supported on its own wheels, has its wheels being spaced apart sufficiently to bridge a previously harvested bed and ride in its furrows. The tractor has its own hydraulic pump, a power take-off unit along the tractor's longitudinal centerline, and a rigid draw bar at its rear. A harvester assembly having no motive power is partially supported on wheels spaced apart widthwise at substantially the same distance as those of the tractor and has a series of hydraulically powered means. The harvester is offset by one bed from the tractor during harvesting. A tongue pivotally attached at one end to the harvester and the other end to said tractor, supports a hydraulic pump for operating the harvester's series of powered means. A longitudinally rigid drive line, swivel mounted to said pump's rotary shaft and to the tractor's power take-off unit, has telescoping means for automatically lengthening and shortening it.

Abstract: A pull type swather or windrower which can be used either singly or in a duplex or tandem arrangement can be adjusted from a working position to a transport position by pivoting the hitch through 90.degree. and by unlocking the wheels so they turn through 90.degree. to move the swather at right angles to its working direction. The swather is mounted on two wheels inwardly of the ends of the swather and rearwardly of the drapers with the wheel remote from the hitch movable to a position forwardly of its working position so as to lie under the drapers and to balance the center of gravity so that the swather can be supported solely by the two wheels in the transport position. A rear or duplex swather can be attached to the front swather by a duplex hitch which provides steering movements of the rear swather in a direction opposite to the steering movements of the front swather so that the former properly tracks the latter in echelon relationship.

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: Tractor drawn baler for the formation of large diameter cylindrical or round bales. Baler comprises a bale-forming chamber into which the harvest products are fed through an opening by a pickup which removes the harvest products from a windrow. Detecting means such as pivoted arms with feeling rollers engaging the chamber circumference are provided along the length of the bale for detecting the lack of uniformity in the diameter of the latter. Steering means connected to the said detecting means for steering the baler by tansversely back and forth movement (zig-zag) relative to the windrow direct the harvest products toward the part of the bale that has the smallest diameter and thereby reestablishing the uniformity of diameter of the said bale.

Abstract: A drive system for a pull-type swather or windrower in which a sensing device senses the side-draft of the swather under operating conditions. The sensing device indicates to a compensating device which is operable from the sensing device whether to increase, decrease or leave unchanged the rotational speed of drive wheels which are provided on the swather and powered by a power plant. The drive wheels act to keep the swather in an effective cutting position substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tractor.

Abstract: An asparagus harvester capable of producing a harvested product with quality comparable to that which is manually picked so as to be readily acceptable to processors. The harvester employs a recirculatory flexible saw cutter with a powered blade cleaner at the downstream end of the cut-off pass of the cutter. It cuts the stalks for transfer to an elevator conveyor by a front blower, the elevated stalks being elevated and then dropped to hopper means past a controlled blower nozzle serving as a debris separator, the hopper means being periodically elevated and having a conveyorized bottom for power discharge of the harvested asparagus.

Abstract: An apparatus for harvesting and windrowing of corn utilizes one or more conveyor units swingably mounted to a corn harvesting implement such as a combine or corn picker and has horizontally moving cutting means carried forwardly of the conveyor units. As the implement moves through a field of standing corn, the cutting means severs the cornstalks as harvesting heads on the implement engage the stalk and strip the corn ears from the stalk. The conveyors receive and transport the severed stalks to a cornstalk discharge location between the conveyor units to create a cornstalk windrow along the path of the traveling implement. Corn plant residue, such as leaves, kernels, ear husks and the like, resulting from husking, are discharged from the implement and guided by deflector plates onto the windrow to be retained there for curing and later pickup.

Abstract: A working vehicle, for example, a lawn mower, floor brush, or snowblower, is disclosed wherein a steerable ground-engaging wheel is located within the sweep of a rotary mechanism. A spindle portion of the wheel is journaled in a sleeve portion of the rotating mechanism and the mechanism is operatively connected to a power source by a power transfer system. The wheel and the rotary mechanism are independently rotatable. Apparatus is provided in both the single cutter and multiple cutter embodiments to adjust the height of the rotary mechanism as a unit. An alternate drive mechanism is disclosed for use with such devices in which a ground-engaging wheel interior of the rotating mechanism is individually powered. In another embodiment, the wheel is castered. Each of the rotating mechanisms includes a rotatable member rotatably supported within a receiving portion of a body which includes a plurality of support wheels.

Abstract: A baler adapted for towing by a tractor to pick up a windrow of hay and roll the hay into a cylindrical bale of substantial size and weight. The baler includes a front mounted pickup and a bale forming structure directly behind the pickup. The bale forming structure is of the type including an endless lower belt and a plurality of upper belts defining an expansible bale forming zone in conjunction with the lower belt. Suitable bale-density and bale-discharge structures are included. The baler includes a wheeled frame which provides a pivot connection for a draft tongue laterally offset from the baler centerline. The draft tongue extends forwardly for hitching to a tractor which can be disposed in towing relation alongside the windrow. A hydraulic cylinder is mounted between the baler frame and the draft tongue for powered steering of the baler relative to the windrow.

Abstract: A rotary lawn mower having a pair of rotary blades, each of which is carried by driven cup-shaped hub. Wheels are disposed within each hub, while a central pivotable wheel is located to the rear of the blade and is positioned along the central longitudinal axis of the mower. The rear wheel can be pivoted by a steering mechanism located on the handle of the mower to provide steering.