Abstract: An improved disc cutterbar construction is disclosed wherein the cutterbar casing is provided with a rearwardly extending flange and a plurality of forwardly projecting mounting tabs. A wear plate is connected underneath the casing by fasteners extending through the flange and other fasteners interconnecting brackets on the wear plate and mounting tabs on the casing. Semi-circular guards are detachably connected by fasteners engaged with mounting arms forwardly extending from the wear plate. Skid shoes are provided with a hook portion that engages into a slotted opening in the guard members and are fastened to the casing flange by the fasteners connecting the wear plate to the casing.

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 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 a mower comprising a chassis which is provided with an engine. The chassis consists of a front and a rear section each section being provided with a pair of wheels and the front section supports a cutting attachment. The front and at least a part of the rear section are pivotally connected to each other so that they can be turned mainly about a vertical steering axis and about a mainly horizontal swinging axis. The steering axis (29) and the swinging axix (42) is placed considerably closer to the wheel axis of the rear section (13) than the wheel axis of the front section (12) preferably so that the distance (a) between the steering axis (29) and the wheel axis of the rear section (13) is less than 1/3 of the distance (b) between the two wheel axis.

Abstract: A mower comprising at least one mowing unit 1 provided with a cutting bar 2 on the upper face 8 of which are placed a plurality of cutting elements 5, 6, and 7 mounted to rotate around axes 15 directed upwardly with the aid of a plurality of shafts 9, 10, and 11 guided in rotation in a housing 4 of the cutting bar 2. A support structure 3 is placed at a certain distance above the cutting bar 2 and is connected to the cutting bar 2. The support structure 3 includes a beam 28 extending crosswise to the direction of advance of the mowing unit during use. The beam 28 is connected to a strut 29 extending downwardly in the direction of a cutting element 7. The strut 29 is connected to the shaft 11 by a bearing 132. The bearing 132 includes a cylindrical guide 31, 32 the axis of which is merged with the axis 15 of the shaft 11. A connecting device 35 connects the strut 29 to the beam 28.

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: 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: A tow hitch for use with a tractor having, for example, a towing attachment, and one or more lawn or garden implements. The tractor may be, for example, a riding mower or other type of tractor, and the implement may be, for example, a rotary mower, a lawn dethatcher, a sweeper, a roller, etc., or combinations of such implements may be attached to the tow hitch. The two hitch comprises a tow bar which extends transversely of the direction of movement of the tractor, and a tow bar receptacle which is attached to the two bar and to the towing attachment of the tractor, the attachments being such that the tow bar does not pivot relative to the tractor. A bracket is secured to the forward side of each implement, and a flexible connector attaches the tow bar to the bracket.

Abstract: A riding type mower, having a vehicle body with a front and a rear end, includes a bonnet disposed rearwardly of an operator's seat and having top and bottom sides, opposite lateral sides and a rear side. The bonnet houses a fuel tank, an engine, an oil cooler, a cooling fan and a radiator, positioned on the vehicle body in that order rearwardly of the operator's seat. The cooling fan forces cooling air from the front rearward. The bonnet is formed with a cooling air discharge opening in its rear side and a cooling air intake opening in its bottom side and lateral sides.

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 grass cutting attachment for use particularly with compact tractors has a mounting frame, two cutting units lying behind the tractor front wheels and respective support arms which extend from a forward part of the frame rearwardly over the tractor front wheels to support the cutting units. The support arms are pivotal about inclined axes so that the cutting units may be lifted and simultaneously brought sideways into the tractor to reduce overall width. The cutting units are mounted for rocking movement relative to the support arms about fore and aft axis, these axis becoming inclined in the lifted position so that each unit is tilted forwardly and upwardly to improve operator access.

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 mower vehicle includes a vehicle frame and single front and rear driven wheels. The vehicle is adapted to conform generally to slopes and the like by maintaining the frame in a generally upright orientation. First and second blade housings are pivotally connected to the frame and swingable about an axis extending longitudinally of the frame. The first and second blade housings extend laterally from opposite sides of the frame. Each blade housing carries a driven cutting blade. The blade housings are open to one another and have a shared discharge passage at a center rear section thereof. The blades overlap slightly and rotate in synchronized reverse rotations relative to one another. Hydraulic cylinder assemblies are provided to actuate the first and second blade housings about the longitudinal axis in response to changes in slope of the surrounding terrain.

Abstract: A tractor mower system comprising a mower attachment and an oil reservoir and power assembly. The mower attachment has a tool bar from which a plurality of mower units are suspended. The tool bar is connectable to a three-point hitch at the front end of the tractor. Hydraulic conduit means leading from the tractor to the motors that rotate the mowers have quick disconnect couplings. The mower units are staggered with their ends overlapping to avoid unmowed paths between them. Each mower unit has a plurality of rotary blades. The hydraulic reservoir and power assembly is connected to a three-point hitch at the back of the tractor. Fluid is pumped from the reservoir to the motors of the mower units and back to the reservoir through conduits. These conduits are also connected by quick disconnect couplings. The outboard portions of the tool bar support outboard mower units and are pivotal relative to the inboard section.

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: 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 lawn mower hitch assembly including a leading hitch device and a trailing hitch device secured to a respective leading mower vehicle and a trailing mower vehicle, and operatively connected to each other for free pivotal movement about a substantially vertical axis, whereby one or more lawn mower vehicles can be towed in tandem and in offset lateral relationship by a leading tractor vehicle.

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 ditch swather comprises a transverse beam attached to single point hitch for drawing the beam forwardly in a direction transverse to its length with the beam support at either end by a pair of ground wheels. A swather section is pivotally mounted at one end of the frame and movable between a position inclined downwardly at 45.degree. to a position vertically upwardly by operation of a hydraulic cylinder. A gauge wheel at the end of the swather section remote from the frame controls the position of the swather section relative to the ground. The ground wheels at the end of the beam adjacent the swather section are mounted on a walking beam. The reel sickle knife and draper of the swather are hydraulically driven.

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 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 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: An apparatus for use in lawn and garden maintenance, in which a chassis having a pair of axially aligned and independently operable drive wheels carries a central reel mower mounted with the rotational axis of the mower and the drive wheels lying in the same vertical plane. A pair of outer reel mowers may be mounted on the chassis on each side of the path of the central reel mower. A cultivator mounted on a chassis with a pair of axially aligned drive wheels has the frame of the cultivator projecting laterally and aligned with the axis of the drive wheels, the frame of the cultivator being preferably extensible. A lawn trimmer swivelly mountable vertically on a motor driven chassis comprises an articulated arm with a trimming device mounted on the free end of the arm, the arm comprising two pivotally joined parallelogram units and a handle for manipulation of the arm.

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 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: 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 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 disk mower wherein a plurality of rotary disks each having a cutter blade are mounted on a laterally extending slender frame. A driving shaft having a rectangular or polygonal cross-section and extending through the inner passage of the slender frame slidably passes through a correspondingly shaped hole of one of a pair of bevel gears. The pair of bevel gears forms a power transmission mechanism for each rotary disk, the gears engaging each other and both secured to a bevel gear housing. Accordingly, the damaging influence of waved and/or twisted motion of the slender frame on the power transmission mechanisms, is prevented.

Abstract: The trailing wing mower includes a first or central section (A) to which a second or wing section (B) is pivotally connected and a third section (C) is pivotally connected. The first section includes a plurality of tubular members (12, 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22) which are structurally and fluidically interconnected to function as a supporting frame and as a heat exchanger. A hydraulic fluid pump (122) pumps hydraulic fluid from a reservoir (120) to hydraulic motors (50, 90, 90') which are disposed on the first, second and third sections. Hydraulic fluid from the motors flows through the plurality of tubular members to be cooled and returns to the reservoir. The second and third sections are angularly positionable about the first section. The angular position is controlled by a fluid cylinder (100). A cylinder link (106) is pivotally connected with the first section and with the fluid cylinder.

Abstract: The invention comprises an improved lawn mowing machine with a forward mounted mower deck including a plurality of rotary cutters. The blades or cutters rotate in opposite direction on opposite sides of the deck to bring the grass clippings to a deck mounted central vacuum. The mower blades are driven by a belt drive to eliminate expensive drive shafts and gearboxes. Applicant's 45.degree. twist belt drive geometry provides increased life to the belt over prior art 90.degree. twist belt drive geometries.The mower deck includes novel side mower wings. A combined clutch and brake mechanism disengages the drive belt to the wing blade spindle and simultaneously brings the blade to a stop within one second when the wing is raised beyond its cutting range. The wing deck is attached to the mower central deck by a depressed hinge substantially close to the elevation of the mower blades.

Abstract: A device for mowing crop, particularly grass, mainly comprising a frame (1) movable across the field having a girder (4) pivotably (6) connected to a sub-frame (5) and extending transversely of the direction of movement (P1) above a cutter bar (9) with cutting members (10) wherein the outermost cutting member (10) provided with a crop dividing drum on top drives the further cutting members (10) through a transmission accommodated in the cutter bar (9) so simplifying the transfer of driving power from the main frame to the cutter bar and ensuring a free passing of cut crop over the cutting members; a spring member is arranged between the subframe (5) and the girder (4) at a distance from said pivot shaft (6) in order to adapt the pressure of the cutter bar on the field.

Abstract: A mower having a casing, several disks located above the casing and bearing block means supported by the casing, and furthermore having a plate secured to the bearing block means and skid means connected to the plate for protecting the disks.

Abstract: A gang mower typically having five or seven gangs which are raised and lowered by a single piston and cylinder. Lifting arms are fixed to an actuating shaft at each side of the machine and the piston and cylinder are connected between opposed lifting arms to rotate them in opposite directions. An equalizer link connected by cranks to the actuating shafts ensures that the shafts always rotate to equal extents in opposite directions. Chains are connected from the lifting arms to the mowers, the chains and lifting arms being dimensioned so that lifting occurs sequentially, with some of the mowers being lifted before others. The sequential lifting spreads the load more evenly throughout the lifting sequence, thereby permitting a single piston and cylinder to lift all of the mowers.

Abstract: A mower having a rectangular platform and downwardly extending skirts on the sides of the platform, spaced upwardly extending columns on the platform, an engine supported on the platform in columns. A belt tightener arm is pivoted around a fourth column and a third pulley is supported on the arm. A threaded bolt pulls the belt tightener toward the belt thereby tightening it. Two rear wheels are supported on two wheel support levers, each of the rear wheels being supported on the distal end of one of the wheel support levers which are pivoted to the skirt of the platform. The end of the wheel support lever remote from the wheel is adjustable up and down to raise or lower the wheel. The front wheels are mounted as casters attached to upwardly and forwardly extending arms that are attached to the platform, and a drilled cylinder extends downwardly from the distal end of the arm. A shaft of the caster extends up through the hollow cylinder and has an axially threaded member holding it in place.

Abstract: A mowing machine connectable by its frame to a three-point lift device of a tractor and powered by the power take-off of the tractor via belts and a gear train, to extend laterally relative to one side of the tractor. An outboard portion of the frame forms a housing for a gear train that rotates crop displacing members thereunder about shafts each having a gear supported at the lower end thereof which engages pinions on parallel offset shafts for mowing elements. Supporting members under each mowing element are offset to the rear to support the machine. A screening member extends above the mowing elements and to the rear where it is bent downwardly to be spaced a distance less than the height of the mowing element above the ground. Forward the screening member is crenated as seen from above so cutters pivotly mounted from each mowing element describe a cutting arc of about 60.degree. parallel to the adjacent arcuate portion of the screening member.

Abstract: A hydraulically driven mower having a mower deck with conduit means in contact with the deck for flowing hydraulic fluid which powers hydraulic motors for driving cutting blade means positioned below the mower deck so that air flow created by the cutting blade means will provide heat transfer from the hydraulic fluid in the fluid conduit means through the deck member to provide cooling of the hydraulic fluid and a hydraulic drive system having a pressure relief means to direct hydraulic fluid supplied to a first hydraulic motor in series to the next hydraulic motor in series when the first hydraulic motor overloads to maintain sufficient hydraulic power to the second motor.

Abstract: An independently powered mowing attachment for small or medium sized lawn and garden tractors of the low profile type having a rotary mower mounted on the underside of the tractor frame. The attachment has spaced mower assemblies that cut swaths on both sides of the tractor mowers central cut. The mower attachment includes a frame pivotally connected to the tractor drawbar having rear wheels that steer as the tractor turns to assure that the mower assemblies follow and overlap the swath of the leading tractor mounted mower.Each mower assembly is pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis at one side of the attachment frame and has three rotary cutting blades driven by an internal combustion engine mounted centrally on the frame. Two hydraulic actuators are provided for raising and lowering the mower assemblies either simultaneously prior to transort and use, or independently when an obstruction is encountered on one side of the cutting path.

Abstract: Mower with an elongated housing supporting bottom-driven cutter discs and with a hollow stiffening beam inside the housing, the beam extending from the connection end of the housing and being situated between the axes of rotation of the discs and the rearmost positions of the elements pivoting the cutters to the discs, the beam extending the whole length of the housing and being filled with foamed synthetic plastics material.

Abstract: An agricultural mower having a crop cutting rotor that is rotatable about an upright axis and cuts a strip of crop along a cut edge of the crop so as to emerge laterally from said cut edge, and a crop guide that is located adjacent the periphery of the rotor where it emerges from said cut edge of the crop so as to support the crop upright at said edge while it is cut. The guide thereby avoids leaving any uncut lines of crop caused by the rotor pushing crop aside at a cut edge in the crop where it is unsupported by adjacent standing crop. The invention is particularly applicable to a mower with two or more cutting rotors that are rotatable in the same sense about respective upright axes alongside one another with one rotor offset rearwards relative to the other so as to cut crop adjacent a cut edge left by said other rotor, the crop guide being located adjacent the periphery of said one rotor to support the crop along said edge.

Abstract: A mower comprises cutter blades mounted by bolts in bushes on cutter discs surmounted by hollow elements secured on respective shafts. Accommodated within or partially within the hollow elements are drive means including hydraulic motors, drive shafts, bevel gear wheels and a toothed wheel meshing with a toothed wheel. A splined shaft extends through the toothed wheels to synchronize the rotations of the cutter discs. A casing encloses the shaft and is provided with renewable sole pieces which slide on the ground.

Abstract: An improved bean harvester comprising a frame attachable to a tractor, the frame having a transverse mounting shaft between the front and rear tractor wheels, and a plurality of cutting blades each pivotally mounted to the shaft and each having a presetting height adjustment and cutting angle adjustment and blade cleaning scraper, each cutter blade being independently hydraulically powered.

Abstract: A mower of the multiple rotor type in which each rotor has radial mowing blades extending into the transverse plane of adjacent rotors and the blades of adjacent rotors being vertically offset from one another. More specifically the multiple rotors are transversely aligned and are provided with horizontally disposed discs all aligned in a horizontal plane. The mowing blades on alternate discs are associated with the top side of the discs and the mowing blades on the intermediate alternate discs are associated with the under side of the discs. Thus the cooperative blades of any adjacent discs are vertically offset from one another.

Abstract: Crop cutting apparatus providing a wide cutting path and even cutting while following variations in ground level. Known drum and disc mowers of wide cut do not follow variations in ground level, and are easily damaged by ground shocks. Cutter drums 29, 29' and gear boxes 41, 41' are mounted on subframes 16, 16', which are pivotally mounted on main frame 13 to allow independent vertical movement of the drums 29, 29'. Each drum 29, 29' is driven by a flexible belt drive 42, 42' from its gear box 41, 41' to protect the gear boxes from ground shock. The gear boxes 41, 41' are driven by a cross-shaft 48 from a tractor p-t-o. The drums are driven by untimed drive and clash of cutting knives 31, 31' is prevented by a spacing roller 102 which rolls over a cam plate 102' and forces the drums 29, 29' apart when the drums are cutting at the same level. Support members 9 and 9' move apart on cross members 21, 21' and are linked together by tie bar 103 to give overlap of cutters when cutting at different levels.

Abstract: A mowing machine for connection to the three-point hitch of a tractor which extends laterally of the tractor. A drive of meshing pinions contained in a housing, the drive being powered via belts from the power take-off of the tractor. The drive rotates the cutting members about vertical axes which are supported by and disposed immediately above a plate-like supporting element. Plate-like connecting members connect the cutting members with the drive pinions, such connecting members rotating with the cutting members about the same axis. Adjacent cutting members rotate in opposite directions and adjacent connecting members co-operate to move cut crop to the rear relative the mowing machine in swaths by contact and air movement generated thereby. The drive pinions and the cutting members have roller bearings to minimize vibration.

Abstract: A grinding machine towed by a vehicle and having a plurality of rotating grinding members to smooth the surface traversed by the vehicle. Various mechanisms are provided to adjust the orientation of the grinding members so they are substantially parallel to the surface to be ground. The grinding machine comprises a main support member, a plurality of rotating grinding members extending downwardly therefrom, motors for rotating the grinding members, a first hinge coupling of the support member to the vehicle, a second hinge coupling of the support member to a wheel, a first adjusting mechanism to adjust the elevation of the front of the support member via the first hinge coupling and a second adjusting mechanism to adjust the elevation of the rear of the support member via the second hinge coupling.

Abstract: Mower with an elongated housing supporting bottom-driven cutter discs and with a hollow stiffening beam inside the housing, the beam extending from the connection end of the housing and being situated between the axes of rotation of the discs and the rearmost positions of the elements pivoting the cutters to the discs, the beam extending the whole length of the housing and being filled with foamed synthetic plastics material.

Abstract: A mowing machine has an elongated beam that supports side-by-side rotors with pivoted cutters positioned to cut overlapping paths in front of the beam. The rotor units include an upper rotatably hub with pivoted blades and lower bodies which house corresponding driving shafts. The units are releaseably fastened to the beam and in one embodiment, spaced apart supporting elements are fastened to the front side of the beam and a unit is fitted and bolted between elements. In another embodiment, the body of each unit is hollow so that the beam can be passed through units and the latter abutted to one another and secured in place with a single bolt. The driving shaft of each unit is interconnected to adjacent driving shafts by sleeve connectors that form an elongated drive shaft that is parallel and in front of the beam.

Abstract: A lawnmower deck of inverted dish shape having three generally circular, laterally spaced but interconnected open-bottomed compartments in each of which is mounted a horizontally extending blade rotatable on a vertical axis and operable to impel cuttings from one compartment to the next toward one side of the deck, the deck having an outlet opening at that side and at the rearward portion of at least certain of the compartments, there being controllable gates at each of the outlet openings and between each successive pair of compartments, to the end that by opening or closing the gates in the proper combinations, the cuttings may be selectively discharged to the side or to a grass collector, or discharged to the rear, or finely mulched for rapid decomposition to enrich the soil.