Abstract: An agricultural vehicle includes a chassis; a header carried by the chassis and including a cutter mechanism, the header being adjustable in a vertical direction; a swath roller carried by the chassis behind the header; a roller actuator connected to the swath roller and configured to adjust the swath roller in the vertical direction; and a controller coupled to the roller actuator. The controller is configured for: detecting when the header raises in the vertical direction; recording a header raising point where the header raises; determining when the swath roller reaches the header raising point; and signaling the roller actuator to raise the swath roller when the swath roller reaches the header raising point.

Abstract: A lawn mower includes a hollow shaft, a cutter blade, flaps, a belt type continuously variable transmission, and a transmission mechanism. The cutter blade extends along a horizontal line which is perpendicular to the hollow shaft. The flaps are provided for the cutter blade. Each of the flaps has a flap angle changeable along the horizontal line. A control force converter unit of the belt type continuously variable transmission converts a displacement force of the movable sheave relative to the fixed sheave in an axial direction into a control force that controls the flap angle of the flaps. The transmission mechanism is accommodated inside the hollow shaft, and transmits the control force to the flaps.

Abstract: A lawn mower includes a housing, a drive source, flaps, a grass clippings container, a grass clippings container weight detection unit, an internal pressure detection unit, and a control unit. If it is determined that a first condition where a change amount per predetermined fixed time of the weight detected by the grass clippings container weight detection unit is below a weight change amount reference value and a second condition where a change amount per predetermined fixed time of the internal pressure detected by the internal pressure detection unit has increased to a internal pressure change amount reference value, are satisfied, the control unit implements control to place the flaps in a substantially horizontal state.

Abstract: A lawn mower includes a drive source for driving a cutter blade through a rotation shaft, a flap provided for the cutter blade in a manner that the flaps have a flap angle changeable along a horizontal line which is perpendicular to the rotation shaft, an actuator for controlling the flap angle of the flaps, a control unit for controlling the actuator, and a blade switching unit for switching the cutter blade between an operation state and a stop state. When the control unit determines that a stop switch signal has been received from the blade switching unit, the control unit controls the actuator to increase the flap angle of the flaps.

Abstract: A lawn mower includes a housing with an opened bottom, a hollow shaft extending in a vertical direction of the housing and including a lower end positioned within the housing, a cutter blade, flaps provided for at least part of the cutter blade in a manner that the flaps have a flap angle changeable along a horizontal line, an actuator for outputting an output to control the flap angle of the flap, and a transmission mechanism accommodated in the hollow shaft for transmitting the output of the actuator to the flaps.

Abstract: A control unit of a lawn mower performs switching control for switching operation between a first control mode and a second mode. In the first control mode, during rotation of an engine at a first reference rotation speed, in the case where a change amount of rotation speed of the engine per unit time has exceeded a reference speed change amount, the rotation speed is maintained at a second reference rotation speed, and an flap angle is increased. In the second control mode, during rotation of the engine at a second reference rotation speed, in the case where an opening angle of a throttle valve has fallen below a reference opening angle, the rotation speed is maintained at the first reference rotation speed, and the flap angle is decreased. The second reference rotation speed is higher than the first reference rotation speed.

Abstract: A conveyor (16) includes a plurality of conveyor disks (20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30) that are arranged coaxial to one another and are rotatable about a common central rotational axis, wherein teeth are distributed around the edge of said conveyor disks. A first conveyor disk (20), and a second conveyor disk (22) situated directly adjacent to the first conveyor disk (20), are spaced apart by a smaller axial clearance than that between the second conveyor disk (22) and a third conveyor disk (24) that is situated directly adjacent to the second conveyor disk (22) and arranged on a side of the second conveyor disk (22) that faces away from the first conveyor disk (20).

Abstract: A chopping assembly for a harvesting implement having a blade assembly, a housing, and a guide. The blade assembly is disposed within the housing and the guide directs cornstalks toward an input port on the housing. The blade assembly not only cuts the cornstalk from its root but also chops the stalk into stover. A fluid dynamic force is created by the blade assembly to direct the stover with the aid of the housing to an output port.

Abstract: A chopping assembly for a harvesting implement having a blade assembly, a housing, and a guide. The blade assembly is disposed within the housing and the guide directs cornstalks toward an input port on the housing. The blade assembly not only cuts the cornstalk from its root but also chops the stalk into stover. A fluid dynamic force is created by the blade assembly to direct the stover with the aid of the housing to an output port.

Abstract: Picking arrangement for picking at least one fruit (36) located on an elongate stem (33) of a plant (34), has a holder (3), that can be moved along the ground (9), and having an elongate picking gap (30), which is provided on the holder (3), bounded by lateral edges (31) and through which the stem (33) can be guided. The fruit (36) is separated off along the edges (31) in the process, wherein the picking gap (30) is oriented such that the step (33) can be fed to the picking gap (30) with its longitudinal axis oriented parallel, or essentially parallel, to the longitudinal axis of the picking gap (30).

Abstract: A chopping assembly for a harvesting implement having a blade assembly, a housing, and a guide. The blade assembly is disposed within the housing and the guide directs cornstalks toward an input port on the housing. The blade assembly not only cuts the cornstalk from its root but also chops the stalk into stover. A fluid dynamic force is created by the blade assembly to direct the stover with the aid of the housing to an output port.

Abstract: A machine for harvesting crops having stalks includes a plurality of mowing and intake devices for cutting and conveying the crop through a transverse conveying channel in a direction toward a longitudinal midplane of the machine. On each side of the midplane there is provided a deflection channel, which curves rearward in an arc from a direction extending perpendicular to a forward direction of travel of the machine toward an intake channel arranged along the midplane at a rear side of the machine. A deflection conveying drum is arranged adjacent a rear side of the deflection channel to convey the crop coming from the transverse conveying through the deflection channel. An additional conveying wheel, which moves relative to, and has drivers sweeping through, the deflection channel is formed separate from the mowing and intake devices and is arranged on the same side of the midplane as the deflection conveying drum, but has an axis of rotation forward of a forward side of the deflection channel.

Abstract: A crop harvesting header includes a compact arrangement of side-by-side mounted intake and mowing units, cross conveyors and deflection coveyors, which operate to efficiently deliver cut crop to a central outlet at the rear side of the header. Some of the compactness is attributable to a drive arrangement which makes it possible to mount the axes of rotation of certain cross conveyors respectively within the cylindrical envelopes described by the peripheries of the vertically spaced intake disks of the intake and mowing devices.

Abstract: A combine having a chopper arrangement for receiving and chopping harvested crop material that has been threshed and separated. The chopper arrangement comprises a web wheel disk having knives entrained thereon that cooperate with a stationary shear bar to chop the harvested crop material that has been threshed and separated.

Abstract: A forage harvester header includes a plurality of intake and mowing arrangements disposed side-by-side across the width of the header and adapted for being driven about respective upright axes. Located behind the intake and mowing arrangements and leading to a centrally located discharge channel is a transverse conveying channel having upright conveying drums associated therewith to aid in moving the harvested crop stalks toward the discharge channel. A table is provided across the top of the center two intake and mowing arrangements and mounted centrally in the table is a conveyor arrangement which operates to gather and deliver rearwardly any crop stalks which emerge from the transverse conveying channel and go across the table in the vicinity of the conveyor arrangement.

Abstract: A machine for mowing and chopping corn and similar stalk-like harvested crops has a number of drawing-in and mowing drums which rotate about a vertical axis and which are provided with protruding driver gear rims. The drawing-in and mowing drums are disposed in the transverse direction on either side of the vertical longitudinal center plane of the machine centrally ahead of a chopper which has an insertion duct which takes up the cut, harvested crops. The insertion duct is bounded above and below by two insertion rollers disposed at a height from one another and laterally by two conveying drums which are at a transverse distance from one another. The conveying drums transport the cut, harvested crops along and rotate about vertical axes.

Abstract: A pruning machine, for pruning or trimming a row of vines or other plants, includes first and second sets of pruning apparatus. The first set includes a first mounting plate having a central axis and an outer edge, a first set of blades mounted on the first mounting plate and protruding outwardly from the outer edge, a second mounting plate having a central axis and an outer edge located close to the first mounting plate so that the respective central axes and outer edges substantially coincide, and a second set of blades mounted on the second mounting plate and protruding outwardly from the second mounting plate outer edge. In operation, the first set of blades rotates relative to the second set of blades so that scissor like cutting actions are formed between them. The blades on the first mounting plate and/or the blades on the second mounting plate taper from a broader width at the outer edge of the respective mounting plate to a narrower width at the point furthest from the central axis.

Abstract: A non-row-sensitive forage harvesting header for attachment to a mobile frame carrying a chopper has a pair of rotatable cutting discs for severing stalks as the frame moves across a field. Positioned above the cutting discs are a pair of drum-shaped transfer devices rotatable in opposite directions about upright axes coaxial with the rotational axes of the respective cutting discs for gathering severed stalks to a central location between the devices. A pair of endless gripping elements extend about respective ones of the transfer devices and present opposed rearwardly moveable runs extending between the central location and the chopper when the header is attached to the frame. The opposed runs of the gripping elements are operable to cooperatively grip each gathered stalk therebetween while moving the stalk rearwardly from the central location to the chopper.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing unwanted plants such as post harvested plants in a field, has a frame assembly, at least one depth wheel, at least one pair of counter-rotating cutter disc stacks supported by the frame assembly, the stacks being spaced from each other such that a plant passing between the pair of stacks is cut, each stack being formed from a plurality of axially spaced apart cutting discs.

Abstract: A stalk puller and chopper assembly 10 drawn behind a tractor 11, the stalk puller and chopper assembly comprising a puller means in the form of a pair of contra-rotating rubber wheels 12 and 13 on a shaft 21. The wheels are located upstream of a feeder means comprising a pair of guide plates 14 and 15 and an array of toothed feeder blades 16 mounted on a feeder shaft 17. The guide plates co-operate with the wheels and the rotating feeder blades 16 to deliver stalks extracted by the wheels to a downstream chopper assembly 19 where chopper blades 18 on shaft 22 shred the stalks which are then discharged rearwardly at 20 in the form of mulch. As can be seen the stalks are controllably delivered sideways into the choppers. The clearance between the cutter blades 18 and the anvils of the toothed feeder blades is exaggerated in the drawings with the usual clearance being about 2 mm.

Abstract: A polyurethane sugar beet flail including one or more tapered arms which radiate from a hub that contains a hardened support bearing. One multi-arm flail includes a support hub containing a bored nylon bearing having a pair of co-planar arms which radiate from a tapered transition region of the hub. A channel separates the arms. Another multi-arm flail includes a pair of arms staggered about the circumference of the hub. Another flail provides a single arm.

Abstract: A rotary mower cutter disc includes a replaceable knife mount shield which, in one embodiment, comprises a unitary slotted body which is received over the edge of the disc and held in place by the knife mounting bolt. The nut holding the bolt in place is located within a cylindrical cavity of the shield. In a second embodiment, the shield in made in two pieces mounted in sandwiching relationship to the mounting location of the disc having a back-turned lip defining a slot received over the edge of the disc and with the other piece being located on the side of the disc beside the lip and forming the cylindrical cavity for protecting the nut of the knife mounting bolt.

Abstract: A machine for cutting and mulching banana plantation debris includes a self-propelled tractor mechanism having at least two driven wheels and at least one steerable wheel. The tractor mechanism forces banana plantation debris below the tractor mechanism as the tractor mechanism is driven. A cutting assembly is hitchable to a front or rear end of the tractor mechanism and connectable to a power take-off of the tractor mechanism. The cutting assembly as a tunnel chassis having an upside down U-shaped cross section that supports an inertial cutting and crushing mechanism. The tunnel chassis includes a substantially vertical shaft that mounts an inertial flywheel and, below the inertial flywheel, a mounting plate for rotatably mounting a plurality of cutting blades.

Abstract: A shredding disk for a lawn mower which attaches to the motor shaft and between the mower blade and the lawn mower deck. The shredding disk includes a disk member and a plurality of knives in a serrated fashion located inboard of the circumferential edge of the disk member. A feed tube is positioned on the top of the lawn mower deck and can be closed with a cap during regular mowing. The shredding disk is for shredding branches or twigs, such as those members which fall off trees.

Abstract: A machine for chopping strawberry plants or other row crops consisting of a rotating blade that describes a plane approximately parallel to the plane formed by the top of the beds on which the crop is planted, with a spacer rigidly attached to the underneath side of the rotating blade. Said spacer is circular in shape, with a flat top and a bottom curved in the shape of a dinner plate, with a smooth bottom surface, and rotates coaxially with the knife. The machine also has knives angled to reach down the sloping sides of the bed to chop the stems and leaves that hang into the furrow. Said side knives also have circular spacers rigidly attached, similar in shape to the top knife spacer, rotating coaxially with the side knives. Said spacers prevent said knives from digging into the plastic film laid on top of the bed and destroying it. The framework supporting these rotating knives is raised and lowered by a gauge wheel so that the height of the knives above the surface of the bed remains relatively constant.

Abstract: A sugar cane harvester in which the base cutting assembly is configured and mounted to the harvester so as to allow convenient removal and/or servicing of the base cutting assembly. The base cutting assembly has a gearbox which extends across the space between the side walls, above a path along which the sugar cane is caused to move, and which projects beyond at least one of the side walls; a pair of drive shafts which extend downwardly from the gearbox in the space between the side walls, with each of the drive shafts carrying base cutting blades; and a motor for driving the base cutting assembly which is mounted to the outwardly projecting part of the gearbox. The base cutting assembly may be mounted to one or both of the side walls, preferably with fasteners and onto a mounting provided on the side walls. One or both of the side walls may have a cut-away portion which allows the base cutting assembly to be withdrawn laterally from between the side walls for servicing.

Abstract: A base cutter assembly (16) of a sugarcane harvester (10) in which the accumulation of trash around the drive shaft (32) of the base cutter assembly (16) is prevented. The base cutter assembly (16) is provided with a shaped drive shaft (32) which causes the trash which in use is wrapped around the shaft, to migrate towards an intermediate portion (40) of the drive shaft (32); and a cleaning means (34) positioned adjacent the intermediate portion (40) and adapted to remove the trash which builds up at the intermediate portion (40). The cleaning means may be in the form of a rotatable wheel (42) which is angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft (32).

Abstract: A mowing apparatus for mowing stalk-like crops independently of rows and conveying the mowed crop to a draw-in-box of a chopper, including two rotating mowing rollers with rigid entrainment fingers, the mowing rollers being arranged laterally in front of the draw-in-box of the chopper, and two rotating wipe-off-rollers provided with wipe-off-fingers and cooperating with the mowing rollers by overlapping of the tip paths of the entrainment fingers and of the wipe-off-fingers, wherein the entrainment fingers are hook-shaped and inclined forward with respect to the radial direction and the wipe-off-fingers having a greater circumference velocity than the entrainment fingers.

Abstract: A straw chopper and spreader assembly for receiving straw from a threshing machine, has a casing enclosing a pair of contra-rotatable flail assemblies. The flails are mounted in different horizontal planes and have blades which overlap so as to shear and chop the strew. At the rear of the casing is a rear outlet defined between a rear skirt and a bottom extension of the casing. The rear skirt is adjustable so as to enlarge or reduce the size of the rear outlet. In addition to discharge through the rear outlet, chopped straw is also discharged laterally through side chutes which have removable end portions so that discharge selectively may be outwardly and upwardly or outwardly and downwardly. Chaff spreading discs are mounted below the assembly and rotates horizontally.

Abstract: A cutting machine for use in agriculture, viticulture and arboriculture has at least one cutting assembly constituted by a plurality of superposed cutting tools, each cutting tool comprising a rotary circular cage provided with peripheral openings, and a member disposed in the cage and taking part in the cutting action, the improvement being that the cage and the member disposed therein are made in a complementary manner and are associated so as to constitute a system of blade and counter blade producing a cut by shearing action.

Abstract: Individual stalk shredder units are mounted beneath the frame between the wheels of a cotton harvester. The shredder units are connected to a shredder bar which is attached to the frame by support arms. The height of shredder bar in use is regulated by gauge wheels. The shredder bar is raised and lowered by a power lift mechanism.

Abstract: A lawn mower blade having superior leaf mulching qualities is provided by placing V-shaped notches in each cutting edge of a conventional rotary lawn mower blade. The notches are positioned one-half (1/2) inch from the blade tip and have sides which measure three-sixteenths (3/16) of an inch in length. The notches are positioned with the axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the blade.

Abstract: In a combine harvester, the chaff discharged from the cleaning shoe is funneled towards the downwardly directed inlet of a pneumatic conveyor and transferred, by the conveyor, to the inlet of a rear mounted straw chopper. In this way, the relatively light chaff material is mixed with heavier straw helping to spread the chaff more widely and uniformly. The upward intake or ingestion at the conveyor inlet aerodynamically screens out undesirably heavy material, allowing it to fall to the ground.

Abstract: A straw chopper and spreader assembly for receiving straw from a threshing machine, has a casing enclosing a pair of contra-rotatable flail assemblies. The flails are mounted in different horizontal planes and have blades which overlap so as to shear and chop the straw. At the rear of the casing is a rear outlet defined between a rear skirt and a bottom extension of the casing. The rear skirt is adjustable so as to enlarge or reduce the size of the rear outlet. In addition to discharge through the rear outlet, chopped straw is also discharged laterally through side chutes which have removable end portions so that discharge selectively may be outwardly and upwardly or outwardly and downwardly. Chaff spreading discs are mounted below the assembly and rotates horizontally.

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: An agricultural slasher for cutting bushy plants, such as cotton plants, after harvesting, has a tractor-mounted main frame carrying a series of parallel laterally spaced driven cutter shafts inclining from bottom to top in the direction of travel, each carrying, one above the other, a series of rotary cutters each having a number of radiating blades. Guides on the main frame define guideways to guide plants to be slashed, as the main frame is advanced, towards the rotary cutters which co-act, near to the rear of the guideways, with fixed cutters on the main frame. The inclined assemblies of rotary cutters, coacting with the fixed cutters, cut the branches of the bushes into small pieces before the trunks of the bushes are severed near ground level, and the lowermost of the rotary cutter blades penetrate the soil and chop the roots of the bushes.

Abstract: A dual winch for mounting on a tractor comprises a pair of winch drums separately connected via a clutch to a common drive shaft. Each winch drum typically incorporates a planetary gear unit. The cables on the winches are connected to a roller preferably provided with double chevron blades.

Abstract: A bean cutting device to cut beans when harvesting a bean crop. The device is mountable on the front of a tractor and includes a frame carrying a plurality of generally upright but forwardly inclined columns. Each column carries a cutting assembly including a cutting blade mounted on a shaft rotated by a hydraulic motor. The cutting blade is comprised as a spherical segment and has a leading edge disposed in slightly penetrating relationship relative to the soil surface. The cutting blades operate in counter-rotating pairs to cut and windrow rows of beans. Deflector units are mounted at the bases of the columns to deflect cut beans into a windrow located between pairs of counter-rotating blades.

Abstract: Straw spreaders are normally controlled manually by the operator and it is therefore extremely difficulty to continually adjust the speed of the spreader so that the straw layer is reasonably even because the density of the straw varies continuously across the average field. The present device includes a rheostat sensor at the straw walker that controls the speed of the orbital motor driving the spreader blade assemblies. This results in a relatively even spread of straw taking place regardless of the variation in straw density as the motor slows down under a light load and speeds up when heavy straw is encountered. The operator can, of course, control the on/off functions from the cab if, for example, it is desired to spread alternate swaths.

Abstract: A brush cutter with elevated brush engaging bar to keep brush bent away from brush cutter as cut is made. In one version the cutter comprises a circular saw blade driven from the power take-off at the front of a small two wheel drive tractor. In another version the cutter comprises a rotary lawn mower blade. The lawn mower housing preferably has a removable panel and a bar spaced above the portion of the housing normally covered by the panel.

Abstract: The invention relates to vegetation clearing devices and more particularly to a gravity roller means for use in vegetation clearing. The invention provides a vehicle for use in vegetation clearing which comprises a winch arrangement mounted on the vehicle and connected with, so as to drive, two independently controllable winch drums. Control lines are mounted around the winch drums and are connected by way of a fair lead arrangement to a roller. Roller mounting means are provided at the front of the vehicle, so that with the vehicle situated in position at the top of a slope or hill, the roller is allowed to roll down the slope clearing vegetation in its path.

Abstract: A machine for clearing and cleanly chipping trees and brushwood in the path of the machine as it moves forward. A pair of counterrotating disk cutters cut a kerf in the standing material and propel the cut material upwardly and rearwardly to the throat between a pair of feed rollers. The feed rollers deliver the cut material to a chipper, which reduces the material to chips and delivers them to a chip storage bin. The bin can be tilted to dump chips alongside the machine. The entire mechanism is carried by a self-propelled, articulated, track-supported vehicle which is especially well-suited for operation over soft, boggy ground.

Abstract: A casing is secured at the rear of the threshing machine underneath the straw discharge thereof. It is provided with a closed base panel and a partially open top panel through which the straw and chaff is fed. In one embodiment, a multi-bladed straw chopper is journalled for rotation within the casing and the blade ends are angulated to create a downdraft within the casing. The straw is chopped by the blades and blown out together with the chaff through apertured wall of the casing. The wall is closed at the rear thereof through approximately 90.degree. with at least one vertical support bar between the upper and lower panels towards the front. In a preferred embodiment, an adjustable divider is situated near the rear of the straw walkers and extends upwardly from the casing so that the straw enters the blades in the front portion and the chaff is drawn in through the rear portion of the casing.

Abstract: A rotary mower shielding structure is provided for utilization in bedded row crops. The shielding structure is carried at the forward edge of the mower and has uniquely shaped openings compatibly spaced for row crops. The openings are designed to guide and support the row crop as it enters the cutting chamber of the mower to assure severing of the stalk near the crest of the bed. The shielding structure depends rearwardly and guides the stalk until contact with the blade, yet terminates forwardly of the blade to avoid interference when obstacles strike the shielding structure. Rigid material forms the structure to contain the severed stalks within the cutting chamber and assure thorough shredding.

Abstract: An implement particularly for harvesting corn stalks including a pair of ight counter rotating conveying rollers which define therebetween a cutting station to which crop material is conveyed by stalk guides, with the conveying rollers having knives radially extending therefrom and blades located above the knives. A counter-knife cooperates with the knives to cut the crop material which is then engaged by the blades and propelled rearwardly to a plurality of feed rollers rotating about horizontal axes. The blades are formed with rearwardly curved leading edges and axially extending conveying members are provided on the conveying rollers above the blades. The blades and the knives are angularly arranged about the conveying rollers to be alternately passed through the cutting station during rotation of the conveying rollers.

Abstract: An offset adapter dimensioned to connect different farm implements in offset relation to a tractor with a three point lift. The adapter is reversible to offset the implement to the right or to the left, and it is constructed to facilitate vertical adjustments of the implement with respect to the terrain. The adapter has a bar depending from which are brackets connectable to first and second hitching points on the implement. The first bracket is rigidly mounted to the bar and is designed to be connected to one of the implement hitching points; and the second bracket may be slidably disposed along the bar, but is capable of rigid attachment at a position on the bar corresponding to the position of a second implement hitching point. Two mountings are also provided for attachment of the bar to a conventional three point lift.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for harvesting tobacco wherein the apparatus includes a tobacco harvester having a stalk cutting head comprised of two sets of generally vertically spaced circular saw blades disposed in side-by-side relationship that are adapted during harvesting to cut standing tobacco stalks into relatively short stalk sections. Tobacco leaf material extending from the cut stalk sections remain generally intact with the cut stalk sections such that during harvest the tobacco crop material is harvested in a manner such that the respective stalk sections and tobacco leaf material are harvested together in one operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for clearing brush by shredding or pulverizing the brush. The device has a pair of rotatable blade assemblies which are held in a frame. Each blade assembly has a plurality of blade-support shafts and one each shaft a plurality of bars are mounted. The blade assemblies are rotated and the tip of the blades on one blade assembly does not quite touch the tip of the blades on the other assembly.

Abstract: An adapter for use with rotary crop shredders and with a vehicle for towing the shredders. The resulting shredder apparatus is described as having a center shredder, directly behind the vehicle and shredders on each side of the center one. A center coupling assembly makes connections to the towing vehicle and to the center shredder. Extending from the center coupling assembly to each side shredder is a beam. A side coupling assembly connects each side shredder to the corresponding beam. The positions of the side shredders along the beams can be adjusted for best alignment with planted crop rows. The coupling assemblies, by providing considerable freedom of motion for the shredders, enable them to run over irregular ground. At the same time, means have been provided which permit the shredders to be raised for transport to and from a field.

Abstract: A grass and leaf collector and compactor attachment for lawn mowers consisting of a chute adapted to be mounted at the side of a mower hood to receive mower cuttings ejected from the hood in the lower end thereof, the chute angling upwardly into a hopper also adapted to be mounted on the mower, and a paddle bar extending generally longitudinally through the chute and having paddles secured transversely thereto at intervals along its length. The paddle bar is driven in a vertical orbital path by a special driving connection to a ground-engaging wheel of the mower, so as to impel cuttings received in the lower end of the chute upwardly through the chute into the hopper. The driving connection includes a special safety clutch operable to be disengaged automatically in the event of any substantial obstruction to movement of the paddle bar, so as to prevent damage. The hopper is at a sufficient elevation above ground level that its contents may be dumped by dropping the floor thereof.