Abstract: A mower-conditioner includes a header or platform which is equipped with a rotary disc cutter bar having a relatively long length with at least two cutting units being outboard of a central discharge passage where a pair of conditioner rolls are mounted for receiving the cut crop. Aiding in conveying crop to the discharge passage are right- and left-hand sets of three crop converging drums provided at each side of the discharge passage. The outer drums of the two sets are respectively mounted to the top of the right- and left-hand end cutting units of the cutter bar while the other two drums on each side are located behind an inward and rearward extending line that is tangent to the cylindrical path traced by the outer and inner ones of the drums on each side of the discharge passage. In one embodiment, a direct drive transmission is provided, and in a second embodiment a hydraulic motor is provided, for driving the inner two converging drums of each set.

Abstract: Ground fires are contained by an apparatus such as a brush cutter that creates a fuelbreak. The brush cutter (10) includes a rearwardly positioned tractor (11) and a forwardly positioned cutter assembly (12) for cutting fuelbreaks through brush. The brush cutter renders cut brush into smaller pieces that lay substantially on the ground after cutting and that smolder when ignited while lying on the ground. Outboard rectilinear cutting blades (49 and 51) rotate in their forward arcs toward each other so as to urge the cut brush inwardly toward the adjacent blades for re-cutting. The leading skirt (31) of the cutter deck (30) engages and bends the taller brush in the direction of movement of the brush cutter before the lower portions of the brush are cut, thereby inducing the brush to fall in the path of the brush cutter, so that it is overrun by the brush cutter and chopped. The chopped brush is disposed along the path of cut brush, thereby providing a pathway through the uncut vegetation.

Abstract: A combined mowing machine includes a main chassis designed to be coupled to a tractor, and a plurality of cutting units connected in such a way that they can oscillate on the chassis. Each set of cutting units has a plate support beam mounted between a pair of end plates fixed to the chassis, and a pin integral with the beam. The pin slides in two slots cut into the end plates to allow the movements of the cutting unit. The mowing machine allows the cutting units to oscillate freely in order to follow the lie of the land, as a result of the double-joint oscillation and the forward/back oscillation in the slots.

Abstract: A rotary cutterbar includes a gear case containing a series-parallel set of gears including idler gears and pinion gears for driving the cutting discs of the cutter units. The gear case includes top and bottom walls and the idler gears are each received on a hub including an enlarged upper end located in a hole provided in the top wall and a threaded lower end screwed into a hole provided in the bottom wall. The hubs each have a plastic outer shell encasing a metal insert extending axially within the shell, with the shell forming the sole contact between each hub and the gear case whereby vibrations and shock loads respectively due to gear tooth contact and a cutter knife contacting an obstacle are absorbed by the shell to lessen the transmission of noise and the magnitude of the impact force. O-ring grooves are provided in the plastic shell and receive o-rings for preventing leakage from the gear case through the holes in the top and bottom walls.

Abstract: A commercial riding mower with a chassis built on a relatively rigid frame and having a number of operating systems such as the power plant, motive system, cutter drive system, and fuel storage and delivery system, each of which is accessible through a swing away panel, or hatch, for easy maintenance and repair without compromising safety of the operator or anyone in close proximity to the mower in operation, or impairing the structural integrity of the mower.

Abstract: A disc cutterbar having a two-piece mounting hub, one piece rotatably driven and the other supporting a knife for severing standing crop material, with spring-mounted ball and detent devices holding the two pieces members together and forming a shear device therebetween is disclosed. A specially threaded retaining bolt is associated with the knife-supporting piece whereby, upon failure of the shear device, the knife-supporting piece is rotated out of the cutting plane and away from the operational cutterheads.

Abstract: A mowing arrangement includes three mowing units with which are associated a drive system including transmissions associated with each unit that are alike to the extent that the mowing units may be easily exchanged with one another. Specifically, one of the mowing units has an angle drive transmission while the transmissions on the other two mowing units are belt or chain drive transmissions. All transmissions are mounted for easy replacement whereby the angle drive transmission may be replaced by a belt or chain drive transmission like the other mowing units if it is desired to use the front mowing unit as a side mowing unit. A drive system variant includes two angle gear boxes used as a power-receiving transmission, with the result that all of the mowing units can be constructed exactly the same.

Abstract: A pruning apparatus, particularly for pruning low bushes on the ground, such as blueberry bushes, includes a wheeled main frame to be towed behind a tractor, and a plurality of ground work units pivotally connected to the main frame. The units are positioned in front and rear rows and each is selectively positioned in a transverse position. Thus a pruning area effected by one of the unit overlaps an adjacent pruning area of another unit. The connection between each unit and the main frame permits the unit not only to pivot about a vertical axis, but also to pivot slightly about a horizontal axis in a forward direction so that the apparatus is adapted to conform to a contour of uneven portions of a ground surface. Each ground work unit has a drive shaft attached with a plurality of tool member assemblies. The tool member assemblies are so designed as to effect a cutting and flailing action on the blueberry bushes, thereby cutting and slashing the blueberry bushes.

Abstract: The Lawn Hog is an inexpensive two wheeled cart acting as a spreader bar which two inexpensive push lawn mowers may be attached to. The Lawn Hog attaches to and is pulled behind a riding lawn mower and itself pulls the attached push lawn mowers, thus effectively widening the mowing swath of the riding mower.

Abstract: A lawn mower is provided with a connecting frame of a sufficient length such that the connecting frame can be fastened to a vehicle for synchronous movement therewith so as to mow a lawn when both the vehicle and a cutter unit of the lawn mower are activated.

Abstract: A self propelled, steerable, vertically adjustable, hydraulicly driven, ganged mowing machine for trimming nursery products. The machine generally includes a horizontal platform that supports a staggered array of mower decks. Each mower deck is driven by a hydraulic motor operatively connected to a mower blade for trimming the nursery products. The platform is slideably connected to right and left vertically stationary frames such that the platform is vertically adjustable with respect to the ground, via a hydraulic cylinder interconnecting the platform and each frame. Each vertical frame includes an independently controllable hydraulically driven traction drive motor operably connected to a drive wheel for propelling the machine. The mowing machine also includes a prime mover. The prime mover drives a number of hydraulic pumps. At least one of the hydraulic pumps drives the hydraulic motors which drive the mower blades.

Abstract: The invention concerns an arrangement for the movement of a working unit of an agricultural working implement between a first position and a second position, with an actuator that is provided with a chamber to which a pressurized medium can be applied and that is coupled to the working unit in such a way that it brings the working unit into the second position when the medium is applied to the chamber and the working unit reaches the first position when the medium is not applied to the chamber. An accumulator control arrangement serves to connect the chamber of the actuator to the accumulator only when the working unit moves into the first position.

Abstract: A disc cutterbar with at least one cutterhead having a two-piece mounting hub, one piece rotatably driven and the other supporting a knife for severing standing crop material, with an epoxy layer bonding the two pieces together and forming a shear device therebetween. A brake is associated with the knife-supporting piece whereby upon failure of the shear device, the knife-supporting piece is stopped from rotating within one revolution. The brake includes upper and lower locking blocks having generally mating teeth. Upon failure of the shear device, the teeth of the upper and lower locking blocks engage, thereby stopping the rotation of the mounting hub.

Abstract: A rotatable brush is located adjacent to and in contact with a ground engaging roller of a cutting unit of a mower to clean debris from the roller surface. The brush includes a brush shaft having at least one flight of brush bristles releasably secured to the brush shaft by a pair of fasteners. This permits easy replacement of the flight of brush bristles without having to replace the brush shaft. One end of the brush shaft is driven by a belt drive system with the driven end of the brush shaft passing through an elongated slot in a pivotally adjustable tensioning plate. The plate can be pivoted to adjust the tension in the drive belt without moving the driven end of the brush shaft, thus not affecting or changing the position of the brush relative to the roller. Drive can be imparted to the belt drive system using a hardened cap screw that is threaded into one end of the shaft of a rotatable reel on a reel cutting unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved height adjustment apparatus for controlling the operational height of lawnmowers and other turf maintenance equipment without the use of tools or removal and replacement of mechanical hardware.

Abstract: A flex wing rotary cutter includes wheel axles on each of the center and wing deck frames which are linked together for simultaneous rocking by a lift cylinder coupled between the center deck frame and the center axle. Each of the support wheels of the cutter is mounted to a spindle carried at the rear end of a rocker arm that is pivotally attached, at a location between its ends, to a rear location of a respective strut cantilevered from one or the other of the axles. An air spring is coupled between the strut and a forward end of the rocker arm and a shock absorber is coupled between the rocker arm and the strut at a location between the air spring and the connection of the rocker arm with the strut.

Abstract: A machine for mowing stalk-type crops includes a crop conveyor wheel mounted for rotation about an approximately vertical axis and provided with recesses that are distributed over its circumference and designed as receptacles for plant stalks. A stationary shield is fixed directly above the conveyor wheel and includes an outer region located above an outer portion of the conveyor wheel just inwardly of the recesses of the surface of the conveyor wheel. In order to improve the crop transport and to prevent the loss of corn cobs, the shield is provided with an arcuate cutout located between the outer region and an inner region of the shield, the cutout having an open end located adjacent to the crop flow received by the machine.

Abstract: A mower-conditioner includes a header or platform which is equipped with a rotary disc cutter bar having a relatively long length with at least two cutting units being outboard of a central discharge passage where a pair of conditioner rolls are mounted for receiving the cut crop. Aiding in conveying crop to the discharge passage are right- and left-hand sets of three crop converging drums provided at each side of the discharge passage. The outer drums of the two sets are respectively mounted to the top of the right- and left-hand end cutting units of the cutter bar while the other two drums on each side are located behind an inward and rearward extending line that is tangent to the cylindrical path traced by the outer and inner ones of the drums on each side of the discharge passage. In one embodiment, a direct drive transmission is provided, and in a second embodiment a hydraulic motor is provided, for driving the inner two converging drums of each set.

Abstract: A mower-conditioner includes a header or platform which is equipped with a rotary disc cutter bar having a relatively long length with at least two cutting units being outboard of a central discharge passage where a pair of conditioner rolls are mounted for receiving the cut crop. Aiding in conveying crop to the discharge passage are right- and left-hand sets of three crop converging drums provided at each side of the discharge passage. The outer drums of the two sets are respectively mounted to the top of the right- and left-hand end cutting units of the cutter bar while the other two drums on each side are located behind an inward and rearward extending line that is tangent to the cylindrical path traced by the outer and inner ones of the drums on each side of the discharge passage. In one embodiment, a direct drive transmission is provided, and in a second embodiment a hydraulic motor is provided, for driving the inner two converging drums of each set.

Abstract: A mowing machine connectable to a lifting device arranged at the rear of an agricultural support vehicle has a mowing device with several rotary cutting members guided in a working position laterally on the support vehicle. A support beam has a first end receiving the mowing device and a second end with a three-point hitch with connecting locations connectable to upper and lower rods of the lifting device. A first connecting location is provided on the support beam on a side of the three-point hitch remote from the mowing device. The first connecting location is connected to the three-point hitch such that when the mowing device hits an obstacle while moving in a traveling and working direction, a pivot movement of the mowing device in a direction counter to the traveling and working direction and a lifting movement of the leading area of the mowing device are initiated.

Abstract: A cutting chamber for a mower deck blade is comprised of first and second adjoining skirt members of differing lengths to provide for a lifting air stream at the front of the chamber and a discharging air stream at the rear of the chamber. As a result, cut material can be recut in a mulching action and then easily discharged to the rear of the deck.

Abstract: A sturdy yet easy to assemble and disassemble T-shaped apparatus for ganging together a plurality of individually powered trail-behind mowers for towing by a tractor mower or other type all-terrain vehicle in cutting grass or similar vegetation. This design includes a tractor drawbar pivotally attached to a vehicle for towing having a pivot pin connected thereto at an opposite end to the vehicle, a center drawbar centrally attached to the tractor drawbar by a pivot hinge for connection with the pivot pin, and which is pivotally attached on either end by a left and a right mower drawbar attachment. The center drawbar also having a rear hitch centrally connected, as by welding, on an opposite side to the pivot hinge to pull additional mowers. The design features at least three pivot points to allow an even cut by a plurality of trail-behind mowers on bumpy, uneven terrain.

Abstract: A tool such as a lawnmower, particularly for gardening vehicles, of the type that comprises a protective housing, suitable to provide a supporting chassis for front wheels and cutting blades arranged substantially within its dimensions of the chassis, the housing being provided, in an upper region and at the front of the central region, with two mutually adjacent blades and with an opening on which there is a fan/aspirator from which a connection for a discharge duct to be connected to a collection container branches out.

Abstract: An implement that substantially reduces the likelihood of material being blown out from the underside thereof is provided. To decrease this likelihood, the implement is constructed with a lip that extends outwardly from the front edge of its center chamber. Further provided is an adjustable extension to the lip which may be made part of the implement at the option of the operator. In providing an implement with both the lip and its extension, an operator is permitted to insure against the possibility of vegetation and debris leaving the underside of the deck at the front of the center chamber. Consequently, the overall appearance of one's grounds may be greatly enhanced.

Abstract: A towed rotary cutter includes a self-leveling hitch equipped with a parking stand mounted in a centered position beneath the hitch. Through the operation of the leveling links, the hydraulic lift cylinder that is used for raising and lowering the ground wheels of the cutter relative to the cutter frame is also used to manipulate the hitch, once the parking stand is placed in its park position, so as to remove the weight of the hitch from the tractor drawbar when unhitching the tractor from the rotary cutter, or to place the hitch clevis at the correct height for connecting it to the tractor drawbar when hitching the cutter to the tractor. In a first embodiment, the parking stand is constructed for use with a hitch having a feature for automatically maintaining the clevis in a horizontal attitude.

Abstract: A cutting implement which includes a baffle for directing the flow of air and vegetation caused by the rotation of cutting blades of the implement is provided. The baffle serves to intercept the flows of air and vegetation of adjacent chambers to accelerate the discharge of cut material. Further, the baffle directs cut material above the cutting plane of the blade to permit the blade to effectively raise and cut vegetation in its path which is particularly useful when that vegetation has previously been matted down by at least one of the tires on the tractor on which it is carried.

Abstract: A disc cutterbar with at least one cutterhead having a two-piece mounting hub, one piece rotatably driven and the other supporting a knife for severing standing crop material, with an epoxy layer bonding the two pieces together and forming a shear device therebetween. A brake is associated with the knife-supporting piece whereby upon failure of said shear device, the knife-supporting piece is stopped from rotating within one revolution.

Abstract: A mower-conditioner includes a header or platform which is equipped with a rotary disc cutter bar having a relatively long length with at least two cutting units being outboard of a central discharge passage where a pair of conditioner rolls are mounted for receiving the cut crop. Aiding in conveying crop to the discharge passage are right- and left-hand sets of three crop converging drums provided at each side of the discharge passage. The outer drums of the two sets are respectively mounted to the top of the right- and left-hand end cutting units of the cutter bar while the other two drums on each side are located behind an inward and rearward extending line that is tangent to the cylindrical path traced by the outer and inner ones of the drums on each side of the discharge passage. In one embodiment, a direct drive transmission is provided, and in a second embodiment a hydraulic motor is provided, for driving the inner two converging drums of each set.

Abstract: A disc cutterbar having a two-piece mounting hub, one piece rotatably driven and the other supporting a knife for severing standing crop material, with an epoxy layer bonding the two pieces together and forming a shear device therebetween. A brake is associated with the knife-supporting piece whereby upon failure of said shear device, the knife-supporting piece is stopped from rotating within one revolution.

Abstract: A mower includes a plurality of cutting units carried on a traction vehicle in a staggered and overlapped orientation to provide a cutting swath. The cutting units are rotary type cutting units having cut-outs at each front corner thereof to eliminate or reduce streaking between adjacent cutting units. In addition, each cutting unit has two spaced, ovately shaped ground engaging rollers adjacent each front corner. The ovately shaped rollers are positioned so that a tapered outer end of each roller points to the outside of the cutting unit with the broader, basal end of the roller being positioned closer to the longitudinal centerline of the cutting unit. Such rollers support the front of the cutting unit and allow the front of the cutting unit to roll over the ground.

Abstract: A disc cutterbar with at least one cutterhead having a two-piece mounting hub, one piece rotatably driven and the other supporting a knife for severing standing crop material, with an epoxy layer bonding the two pieces together and forming a shear device therebetween. A brake is associated with the knife-supporting piece whereby upon failure of said shear device, the knife-supporting piece is stopped from rotating within one revolution.

Abstract: The invention is a self propelled, steerable, vertically adjustable, hydraulicly driven, ganged mowing machine for cutting or trimming nursery products, such as shrubs, bushes, tall plants, and the like. The machine generally includes a horizontal platform where the platform supports a staggered array of mower decks and the machine's power and control devices. Each mower deck is driven by a hydraulic motor operatively connected to a mower blade for cutting or trimming the nursery products. The machine includes right and left vertically stationary frames in which the platform is slidably connected to each frame and is adjustable vertically with respect to the ground, via a hydraulic cylinder interconnecting the platform and each frame. Each vertical frame includes an independently controllable hydraulically driven traction drive motor operably connected to a drive wheel for propelling the machine. The mowing machines power and control devices generally include a prime mover.

Abstract: A disc cutterbar with at least one cutterhead having a two-piece mounting hub, one piece rotatably driven and the other supporting a knife for severing standing crop material, with an epoxy layer bonding the two pieces together and forming a shear device therebetween. A brake is associated with the knife-supporting piece whereby upon failure of said shear device, the knife-supporting piece is stopped from rotating within one revolution.

Abstract: A disc cutterbar having a two-piece mounting hub, one piece rotatably driven and the other supporting a knife for severing standing crop material, with an epoxy layer bonding the two pieces together and forming a shear device therebetween. A brake is associated with the knife-supporting piece whereby upon failure of said shear device, the knife-supporting piece is stopped from rotating within one revolution.

Abstract: An improved and more efficient rotary mower comprised of a grass cutting assembly having two or more housings, each of said housing supporting and powering a single horizontally rotating blade, each of said housings being mounted as part of a group permitting verticaal motion by a housing and free orientation of its cutting blade independent of the other housings. An extra degree of freedom of motion of the individual housings results from support means which allows vertical motion and pivoting of a housing from a centralized support point. The assembly permits an improved grass cutting means over uneven terrain.

Abstract: The mower of the present invention comprises a frame, a cutting mechanism supported by the frame, and a windrow grouping mechanism. In turn, the windrow grouping mechanism comprises a longitudinal conveying device and a transverse conveying device. The mower of the present invention is notable in that the longitudinal conveying device comprises at least one roller, the longitudinal axis of which is substantially perpendicular to a direction of forward travel of the mower. The roller is driven in rotation about the longitudinal axis so that its surface transports a product, cut by the cutting mechanism, toward the rear of the mower.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a haymaking machine, particularly a mower of plant matter with a grouping device allowing the plant matter cut in two passes to be grouped together into a double windrow or alternatively a single windrow to be formed. The grouping device is made of a first member for moving the plant matter toward the rear side of the machine and of a second member for moving the plant matter toward a side, the second moving member being mounted on a support in such a way that it can be moved closer to or away from the first moving member for forming a double windrow or a single windrow.

Abstract: A multi-string lawnmower that has a multi-tiered housing to which is mounted to at least one electric motor coupled to a battery. There are a plurality of mandrel shafts arranged in rows mounted to bearings on the underside of the housing. The mandrel shafts are associated with roller guides and engage a serpentine belt, that is powered by the at least one electric motor. The serpentine belt imparts rotational motion to the mandrel shafts such that adjacent shafts rotate in opposite directions. The cutting elements or strings are attached to the mandrel shafts and are held in place by centrifugal force.

Abstract: A cutting device for a cutting machine including a driver driven by a drive shaft, a support structure secured to the driver and at least one drive device intended to drive a cut product toward the rear of the cutting machine. The drive device includes at least two drive walls which extend approximately right around the support structure and which are fixed removably to the support structure by assembly elements.

Abstract: A belly mower is provided for attachment to a vehicle of the ATV type. The mower includes a mower deck having a horizontal mounting plate and a depending skirt with a plurality of blades each mounted on a vertical shaft at spaced positions across the deck. The deck is shaped arranged such that it can be located behind the two front wheels of the vehicle and in front of the two rear wheel of the vehicle. The deck includes a rearwardly extending mounting arm for attachment of the deck to a rear hitch of the vehicle such that forward movement of the vehicle moves the deck forwards and maintains the deck between the front and rear wheels. The deck is also connected to the vehicle to prevent side to side movement of the deck.

Abstract: A cutting element for a rotary cutting machine comprising several adjacent cutting members each of which is intended, during work, to rotate about an upwardly directed respective axis. The cutting element comprises an active zone intended to cut plants and a connecting zone intended to connect the cutting element to a support of a respective one of the cutting members of the cutting machine. The connecting zone has, in cross section, a relatively flat central part, a first edge inclined toward one side of a plane of extension of the central part, and a second edge inclined toward the other side of the plane of extension.

Abstract: This invention relates to a combined mowing machine, preferably but not necessarily the folding type, in particular for gardening, which comprises a main chassis designed to be coupled to a tractor, and a plurality of cutting plates connected in such a way that they can oscillate on the said chassis; each set of cutting plates presents a plate support beam mounted between a pair of end plates fixed to the chassis, and a pin integral with the said beam slides in two slots cut into the said end plates to allow the said movements of the cutting plate.

Abstract: A plant mowing apparatus in which a driven case is rotationally engaged by way of a braking device to a cylindrical frame having a rotary driving shaft pivoted therein and a plurality of cutter rotary shafts each having rotary blade units joined at the top end is attached to the driven case in parallel with the rotary driving shaft, rotary bodies having predetermined circumferential ratio are fixed respectively, to the rotary driving shaft and the cutter rotary driving shaft, and the rotary body for the cutter rotary shaft and the rotary body for the rotary driving shaft are connected by way of a rotation transmitting unit, such that the cutter rotary shaft revolves under auto-rotation. The cutter unit of the rotary blade having a plurality of blade edges at the circumferential side and each of the blade edges is turned to the rotational direction for cutting by the change of the attaching angle, the rotary blade unit and the cutter rotary shaft are engaged under pressure by way of a resilient member.

Abstract: This invention relates to a mower, such as a riding mower, having two side cutting units and a front cutting unit operatively connected to a traction frame. Each side cutting unit can pivot about a substantially vertical axis relative to the traction frame when impact shocks occur on the outer sides of the cutting units. A shock absorber cushions and absorbs such impact shocks, and resists the pivoting motion of the side cutting units, in a bi-directional fashion to be effective during forward or reverse motion of the traction frame. The mower also includes a front cutting unit. The cutting units, both the side cutting units and the front cutting unit, have multiple cutting blades and a single drive motor mounted on the cutting unit for driving all the cutting blades contained on that cutting unit. The drive motor is mounted coaxially on the blade spindle of one of the cutting blades and adjacent blades on the cutting unit are driven by one or more drive belts arranged in straight belt runs.

Abstract: An operating device for an agricultural machine which includes a hitching structure connected to a motor vehicle by use of an upper hitching point and at least one lower hitching point. A second lower hitching point is connected to the device and the hitching structure is movable with respect to the second lower hitching point by use of the device. The device thus makes it possible to bring the agricultural machine from a work position into another position or vice versa.

Abstract: A sturdy yet easy to assemble and disassemble T-shaped apparatus for ganging together a plurality of individually powered trail-behind mowers for towing by a tractor mower or other type all-terrain vehicle in cutting grass or similar vegetation. This design includes a tractor drawbar pivotally attached to a vehicle for towing having a pivot pin connected thereto at an opposite end to the vehicle, a center drawbar centrally attached to the tractor drawbar by a pivot hinge for connection with the pivot pin, and which is pivotally attached on either end by a left and a right mower drawbar attachment. The center drawbar also having a rear hitch centrally connected, as by welding, on an opposite side to the pivot hinge to pull additional mowers. The design features at least three pivot points to allow an even cut by a plurality of trail-behind mowers on bumpy, uneven terrain.

Abstract: A gang-type rotary lawn mower including a frame supported by wheels for movement over the ground, a power source which is mounted on the frame and which drives at least two of the wheels, an operator's seat mounted on the frame, a steering system enabling the operator to steer the lawn mower, at least two side-by-side front rotary cutting deck assemblies mounted on the frame, the front deck assemblies defining a gap between adjacent front deck assemblies, and at least one rear rotary cutting deck assembly mounted on the frame behind the front deck assemblies, each rear deck assembly being aligned with a respective gap between adjacent front deck assemblies, each of the front and rear deck assemblies including a single-spindle mulching deck defining a downwardly opening space, a single spindle mounted for rotation about a generally vertical axis within the space, and at least one cutting blade mounted on the spindle for rotation therewith.

Abstract: A gang-type rotary lawn mower including a frame supported by wheels for movement over the ground, a power source which is mounted on the frame and which drives at least two of the wheels, an operator's seat mounted on the frame, a steering system enabling the operator to steer the lawn mower, at least two side-by-side front rotary cutting deck assemblies mounted on the frame, the front deck assemblies defining a gap between adjacent front deck assemblies, and at least one rear rotary cutting deck assembly mounted on the frame behind the front deck assemblies, each rear deck assembly being aligned with a respective gap between adjacent front deck assemblies, each of the front and rear deck assemblies including a single-spindle mulching deck defining a downwardly opening space, a single spindle mounted for rotation about a generally vertical axis within the space, and at least one cutting blade mounted on the spindle for rotation therewith.

Abstract: An agricultural implement attached to a farm tractor by a three point hitch is used to cut the top of mature cotton stalks, or shred harvested crops or mow turn rows. Knives are mounted on the bottom of vertical shafts which are rotated by belt driven pulleys. The pulleys are driven from a right angle gear box which is driven from the power take off of the tractor. The knives are staggered along either side of a beam traverse to the direction of travel, so that the knives cannot strike other knives as they mow over-lapping swaths.

Abstract: An agricultural implement includes a main body which includes the primary components for harvesting and processing crop material and to which peripheral components are attached along respective interfaces which are within or at dimensions corresponding the maximum allowable legal dimension of the implement for transport over public roads. The peripheral components may be hinged or removed at the interfaces so as to narrow the implement either for transport with its length transverse to the direction of travel or for endwise transport.