The Toro Company

Bruce A Granger

Brannon W Polk

Todd A Otto

Robert J Bisson

David S Klis

David J Norlander

John H Weber

Dennis J Deets

Dean A Podevels

Randel J McCrackin

A sprayer has a tank for holding a spray solution that is applied to a ground or turf surface. The sprayer includes an agitation system having a plurality of agitation nozzles that extend into the tank that are accessible from outside the tank and can be removed and replaced without using tools. The sprayer may include a rinse system carried onboard the sprayer which is segregated from the spray and agitation systems to avoid contaminating the rinse liquid prior to the time the rinse liquid is sprayed into the tank through rinse nozzles. The rinse nozzles include upwardly and downwardly directed nozzle ports and a bottom spinner for thoroughly cleaning all interior surfaces of the tank. The sprayer may also include a chemical eductor mounted on the side of the tank, whose weight is counterbalanced by springs, and which easily pivots between lower and upper positions on the tank.

Sprayer having spray solution agitation system

A top dresser for distributing particulate matter on a variety of terrain. The top dresser may includes a towable frame which is operatively connected to a pair of wheel assemblies. Each wheel assembly is rotatingly attached to the frame of the top dresser in such a fashion as to enable the wheels of the wheel assembly to follow the contours and undulations in the terrain over which it traverses. Each wheel assembly is operatively connected to a hydraulic pump which is in turn operatively connected to a hydraulic circuit which is used to control and power various elements of the top dresser. The top dresser includes a hopper with gate assembly and a conveyor to distribute particulate matter at predetermined rates to the terrain. The gate assembly is adjustable and includes a biased gate which deflects in response to contact with large nonconformities such as rocks. The conveyor belt is a pre-manufactured substantially continuous loop of material which has a patterned or otherwise roughened surface. The conveyer belt is supported between a pair of roller assemblies, including a drive roller having a textured metal oxide coating for enhancing the friction coefficient between the belt and the drive roller assembly. The conveyor belt and the attendant roller assemblies may be accessed by shifting a portion of the top dresser, and the conveyor belt and attendant roller assemblies may be in turn shifted to permit replacement, repair and inspection. A hydraulic circuit is provided with a charge pump assembly which eliminates the need to maintain a pressurized reservoir, thus reducing leakage during periods of inactivity.

Top dresser

An improved clutch assembly is described which includes a safety spring member which is adapted to engage the free end of a broken clutch spring so that the clutch will continue to operate in normal fashion.

Clutch assembly

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Prior Lake, MN, United States of America

Bruce A Granger