A hitch assembly for use by an agricultural machine, in particular a self-propelled windrower, allowing the adjustable position of a hitch for use in both the towing of implements during field operations and the transportation of implements from one location to another. The adjustable hitch advantageously provides stability during the transportation position and is up and out of the way of crop flow during field use.

An apparatus, system and method of securing attachments to a utility vehicle, particularly a stand-on, zero-turn mower. The apparatus includes an A-shaped mounting assembly having a base with first and second ends and a tubular member extending outwardly from the first end. The tubular member defines a bore that receives a shaft extending from the attachment. The mounting assembly is positioned vertically above a mower deck but on an opposite side of the frame of the mower relative thereto. The second end of the mounting assembly and part of the mower deck are secured to the frame using the same connectors. A hydraulic actuator engages a forwardmost end of the assembly and is actuatable to raise or lower the assembly relative to the frame, pivoting the assembly about the connectors. The attachment and mower deck are substantially simultaneously operable to perform separate landscaping tasks while the mower moves across a surface.

An apparatus, system and method of securing attachments to a utility vehicle, particularly a stand-on, zero-turn mower. The apparatus includes an A-shaped mounting assembly having a base with first and second ends and a tubular member extending outwardly from the first end. The tubular member defines a bore that receives a shaft extending from the attachment. The mounting assembly is positioned vertically above a mower deck but on an opposite side of the frame of the mower relative thereto. The second end of the mounting assembly and part of the mower deck are secured to the frame using the same connectors. A hydraulic actuator engages a forwardmost end of the assembly and is actuatable to raise or lower the assembly relative to the frame, pivoting the assembly about the connectors. The attachment and mower deck are substantially simultaneously operable to perform separate landscaping tasks while the mower moves across a surface.

A grain harvesting articulated combine includes of a crop processing power unit (PPU), a rear grain cart, and an articulation joint that connects the PPU with the rear grain cart. The articulation joint includes a transverse drawbar attached to the PPU about its rear, which has an aperture facing the rear grain cart and is located underneath the PPU forwardly of the rear of the powered PPU. An arcuate beam is attached to the rear of the powered PPU. A grain auger assembly runs from the PPU to the rear grain cart. The grain auger assembly has a forward end and a rear end and is formed from an outer tube and an inner tube rotatingly carried within the outer tube. A pin runs through the transverse drawbar aperture and a bracket aperture. A pair of articulation cylinders is affixed to the transverse drawbar and to the outer tube.

A header is removably attached to lift arms of an agricultural harvester by mounting pins received in upwardly facing recesses on the ends of lift arms. A bar is moved into locking position by a lever arm mounted on the lift arms to hold the header mounting pins in place. A hook shaped latching device is pivotally mounted on the lift arm adjacent the lever arm for capturing it in place against the lift arm.

A mowing apparatus created by connecting a powered walk-behind mower to the side of a small tractor using a rigid articulated frame. The length of the frame provides the extended reach into the slope, allowing the tractor to stay on the flat terrain while mowing the adjacent steep slopes. The connection between the tractor and the mower is rigid in the horizontal directions, allowing the fine control of the mower position during the tractor movement both forward and in reverse, straight and turning, and articulated in the vertical direction, allowing the mower to follow the shape of the slope and preventing the transmission of the excessive side forces to the tractor, avoiding the risk of the tractor overturning. The apparatus allows the tractor and the mower to be quickly disconnected and used separately for their original purposes.

A mid-mount mower has a mower unit mounted under a vehicle body between front wheels and rear wheels. The mower includes a lift link mechanism having a front link and a rear link, an intermediate structure interconnecting one end of the front link and one end of the rear link via a pivot axis, a blade housing having an engaged portion engageable with an engaging potion of the intermediate structure and a guide face configured to guide the engaging portion ad the engaged portion to an engaging position so as to establish connection between the blade housing placed on a ground surface and the intermediate structure in association with a movement of the vehicle body in a front/rear direction.

A haymaking machine includes a chassis supported directly or indirectly on the ground by wheels and a working device connected to the chassis. The chassis includes a coupling device to which two hitching pieces are articulated each bearing a hitching pin for the hitching to the respective lower arms of a tractor. Each hitching piece cooperates with a respective return device. Each return device storing energy when the corresponding hitching pin moves, relative to the coupling device, upward from a first position. Each return device is able to release that energy to the corresponding hitching pin by returning the hitching pin toward the first position. Each return device stores energy when the corresponding hitching pin moves, relative to the coupling device, downward from a second position, and each return device can release that energy to the corresponding hitching pin by returning the hitching pin toward the second position.

A device for harvesting long agricultural products, such as grass, straw, pulses, biomass products, including a first unit (2) and a second unit (3) for picking up the agricultural products extending along a relative main line (A) and equipped with pick-up device (4, 6) configured to pick up from the ground the agricultural products and an unloading device (5, 7) operatively located downstream of the pick-up device (4, 6) and movable along the main line (A) for releasing the agricultural products. The harvesting device also includes a frame (9) having one or more portions (9a) connectable to the front of a self-propelled agricultural unit (100) and provided with a first connecting and supporting member (10) and second connecting and supporting member (11) associated respectively with the first pick-up unit (2) and the second pick-up unit (3) and positioned on opposite sides of the frame (9) relative to a middle line (D) of the frame (9) which is orthogonal to the main line (A).

A system and method for detachably securing an attachment to a zero-turn utility vehicle such as a zero-turn, stand-on mower. The system includes a mounting assembly provided on a hydraulically operated support member on the utility vehicle's frame; and a connector assembly provided on the attachment. The mounting assembly includes a pivotable plate member that is inserted into the complementary shaped connector assembly. The plate member includes a locking rod at an upper end. The connector assembly has side walls and a top wall that surround the plate member when the mounting assembly is engaged with the connector assembly. The top wall overhangs and captures the locking rod between the top wall and a back wall of the attachment. A locking mechanism secures the mounting assembly and connector assembly together. Moving the attachment is accomplished by actuating the hydraulic system on the utility vehicle to move the support member.