A gang reel mower has a hybrid engine, generator and battery pack electric power system driving a pair of electric wheel motors for propelling the mower and for driving individual reel motors for powering a plurality of reel cutting units. A master controller is programmable with a selected clip and maintains the selected clip whether the mower travels straight ahead or is turning. The output power of the generator is damped and is gradually increased during high electrical loads to prevent step responses in the engine and thereby limit engine droop. During regenerative braking of the mower, the generator can be driven as a motor to use the engine as a load. This limits the voltage produced by the traction motors during regenerative braking from damaging the electrical system or overcharging the battery pack. Moreover, maximum transport and mowing ground speeds are automatically reduced during some turns of the mower.

A gang reel mower has a hybrid engine, generator and battery pack electric power system driving a pair of electric wheel motors for propelling the mower and for driving individual reel motors for powering a plurality of reel cutting units. A master controller is programmable with a selected clip and maintains the selected clip whether the mower travels straight ahead or is turning. The output power of the generator is damped and is gradually increased during high electrical loads to prevent step responses in the engine and thereby limit engine droop. During regenerative braking of the mower, the generator can be driven as a motor to use the engine as a load. This limits the voltage produced by the traction motors during regenerative braking from damaging the electrical system or overcharging the battery pack. Moreover, maximum transport and mowing ground speeds are automatically reduced during some turns of the mower.

A walk reel mower has a traction frame that carries at least one ground engaging member operatively powered by a prime mover The mower includes a handle assembly that extends rearwardly and upwardly from the traction frame. The handle assembly includes a handle to be gripped by a user when operating the mower. The handle guides and manipulates the mower. The mower also includes a common mount adapted to attach a reel cutting unit to the traction frame. The common mount has a first pair of laterally spaced mounting surfaces on the traction frame and a second pair of laterally spaced mounting surfaces on the reel cutting unit. The first pair of mounting surfaces face forwardly with respect to a forward direction of movement, and the second pair of mounting surfaces face rearwardly with respect to the forward direction of movement.

An apparatus for selectively harvesting a plant material (such as tea plants) having a stem. The apparatus has a first plant material engaging element rotatable about a first axis, and a second plant material engaging element rotatable about a second axis in the opposite direction to, and synchronized at a fixed ratio with, rotation of the first engaging element. The first and second engaging elements each have a moveable engagement surface to entrap a first respective upper portion of a plant stem therebetween. With continued rotation, the first and second engaging elements pull the entrapped first respective upper portion of the plant over a time period so as cause increasing tension in a second respective lower portion of the plant stem. The second engaging element has a plant material breaking surface which is moveable along an arc so as to contact the second respective lower portion of the plant stem.

The stalk eliminator chops stalks, uproots stalks, and re-chops stalks. The apparatus includes a front stalk chopper on a rotating cylinder with angularly attached blades. A plow tool attaches to the apparatus and provides a subsoiler wing behind and under the front stalk chopper. A rear stalk chopper on a rotating cylinder with angularly attached blades follows the plow tool.

The stalk eliminator chops stalks, uproots stalks, and re-chops stalks. The apparatus includes a front stalk chopper on a rotating cylinder with angularly attached blades. A plow tool attaches to the apparatus and provides a subsoiler wing behind and under the front stalk chopper. A rear stalk chopper on a rotating cylinder with angularly attached blades follows the plow tool.

A land preparation apparatus includes a rotatable tool including a body and a plurality of tool assemblies disposed on an outer surface of the body. The land preparation apparatus also includes a housing including a first end, a second end, and a framework extending between the first and second ends. Ends of the rotatable tool are rotatably connected to the first and second ends. The framework has an interior surface that extends along at least a portion of the width of the rotatable tool. The interior surface combines with a periphery of the rotatable tool, the first end, and the second end to define a chamber. The land preparation apparatus also includes one or more chamber inserts releasably attached to the interior surface, wherein at least a portion of each of the one or more chamber inserts resides in the chamber.

A land preparation apparatus includes a rotatable tool including a body and a plurality of tool assemblies disposed on an outer surface of the body. The land preparation apparatus also includes a housing including a first end, a second end, and a framework extending between the first and second ends. Ends of the rotatable tool are rotatably connected to the first and second ends. The framework has an interior surface that extends along at least a portion of the width of the rotatable tool. The interior surface combines with a periphery of the rotatable tool, the first end, and the second end to define a chamber. The land preparation apparatus also includes one or more chamber inserts releasably attached to the interior surface, wherein at least a portion of each of the one or more chamber inserts resides in the chamber.

Frame systems include a plurality of connected frame units. Each frame unit includes a first end plate connected to a first end of a frame element a second end plate connected to a second end of the frame element. The plurality of frame units is movable between a first state and a second state, wherein in the first state, the plurality of frame units has a first width along a width axis of the plurality of frame units, and a first frame unit and a second frame unit of the plurality overlap by a first overlap amount along the width axis. In the second state, the plurality of frame units has a second width along the width axis and the first frame unit and the second frame unit overlap by a second overlap amount along the width axis.

Frame systems include a plurality of connected frame units. Each frame unit includes a first end plate connected to a first end of a frame element a second end plate connected to a second end of the frame element. The plurality of frame units is movable between a first state and a second state, wherein in the first state, the plurality of frame units has a first width along a width axis of the plurality of frame units, and a first frame unit and a second frame unit of the plurality overlap by a first overlap amount along the width axis. In the second state, the plurality of frame units has a second width along the width axis and the first frame unit and the second frame unit overlap by a second overlap amount along the width axis.