Patent Publication Number: US-2018050341-A1

Title: Poultry litter conditioner and attachment assembly

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This document generally describes poultry litter conditioners, and devices, methods and systems for attaching a poultry litter conditioner, or other machines or tools, to a skid steer. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Poultry barns are typically large structures that can house many hundreds or thousands of birds, such chickens or turkeys, or other poultry such as pheasants, ducks, geese, and the like. Some poultry barns include a concrete floor, but many poultry barns include a dirt floor. 
     Typically, a poultry litter comprised of a mixture of poultry bedding material, spilled feed, feathers, and poultry excreta or poultry manure rests on the floor of the poultry barn. Occasionally, the poultry litter can be completely removed from the barn and replaced with a fresh layer of poultry bedding, but this can involve significant effort and cost. The poultry litter may be periodically reconditioned, which may extend the life of the poultry litter and may reduce a number of complete litter replacements that may be needed. One example of a poultry litter conditioner is pulled behind a tractor. 
     A skid steer, skid-steer, skid-steer loader, or skid loader is an engine-powered machine that includes lift arms. A variety of machines that can be used to perform tasks may be attached to the lift arms of the skid steer. 
     SUMMARY 
     In a first general aspect, a poultry litter conditioner includes a tunnel assembly that includes a hood, a left endplate, and a right endplate. The poultry litter conditioner also includes a motor, a shaft configured to be rotated by the motor, and a plurality of beater elements attached to the shaft, where a majority of the shaft is disposed between the left endplate and the right endplate. The poultry litter conditioner further includes an attachment assembly that includes a mounting plate configured to attach to a skid steer, where the attachment assembly further includes first and second lower support members, each coupled to the mounting plate and to the tunnel assembly, and includes first and second upper support members, each coupled to the mounting plate and to the tunnel assembly. The first upper support member is coupled to the tunnel assembly via a first ball-and-socket connection, where the first ball-and-socket connection includes a first bolt and a first bracket that defines a first slot, where at least a portion of the first bolt is slidably disposed within the first slot. The first bracket is attached to the tunnel assembly. The second upper support member is coupled to the tunnel assembly via a second ball-and-socket connection, where the second ball-and-socket connection includes a second bolt and a second bracket that defines a second slot, where at least a portion of the second bolt is slidably disposed within the second slot. The second bracket is attached to the tunnel assembly. 
     Various implementations may include one or more of the following. The tunnel assembly may further include a support bar, and each of the first bracket and the second bracket may be attached to the support bar. The first upper support member may be coupled to the mounting plate via a third ball-and-socket connection, and the second upper support member may be coupled to the mounting plate via a fourth ball-and-socket connection. The first lower support member may be coupled to the mounting plate via a third bracket and a third bolt, and the first lower support member may be able to pivot about the third bolt until a portion of the first lower support member contacts the mounting plate; the second lower support member may be coupled to the mounting plate via a fourth bracket and a fourth bolt, and the second lower support member may be able to pivot about the fourth bolt until a portion of the second lower support member contacts the mounting plate. The hood of the tunnel assembly may include a first forward surface and a first rearward surface that are joined at an apex of the hood; the hood may further include a second forward surface contiguous with the first forward surface, and may include a second rearward surface contiguous with the first rearward surface; the tunnel assembly may further include a third forward surface contiguous with the second forward surface, and may include a third rearward surface contiguous with the second rearward surface. The first forward surface and the first rearward surface may intersect at a first obtuse angle; the first forward surface and the second forward surface may intersect at a second obtuse angle; the first rearward surface and the second rearward surface may intersect at a third obtuse angle; the second forward surface and the third forward surface may intersect at a fourth obtuse angle; and the second rearward surface and the third rearward surface may intersect at a fifth obtuse angle. First ends of each of the first, second and third forward surfaces and first, second and third rearward surfaces may be attached to the left endplate, and second ends of each of the first, second and third forward surfaces and first, second and third rearward surfaces may be attached to the right endplate. The mounting plate may be configured to attach to one or more lift arms of the skid steer. The mounting plate may be configured to attach to a plate that is attached to one or more lift arms of the skid steer. The poultry litter conditioner may further include a first height-adjust plate attached to the left endplate, and may include a second height-adjust plate attached to the right endplate, where a height of the tunnel assembly may be adjustable by setting a position of the first height-adjust plate with respect to the left endplate and by setting a position of the second height-adjust plate with respect to the right endplate. The poultry litter conditioner may further include first and second replaceable wear bars, the first replaceable wear bar attached to a lower portion of the first height-adjust plate and the second replaceable wear bar attached to a lower portion of the second height-adjust plate. The first slot defined by the first bracket may have a horizontal orientation, and the second slot defined by the second bracket may have a horizontal orientation. 
     In a second general aspect, a poultry litter conditioner includes a tunnel assembly that includes a hood, a left endplate, and a right endplate. The poultry litter conditioner also includes a motor, a shaft configured to be rotated by the motor, and a plurality of beater elements attached to the shaft, where a majority of the shaft is disposed between the left endplate and the right endplate. The poultry litter conditioner further includes an attachment assembly that includes a mounting plate configured to attach to a skid steer. The attachment assembly also includes first and second lower support members, each coupled to the mounting plate and to the tunnel assembly, and includes an upper support member coupled to the mounting plate and to the tunnel assembly. The upper support member is coupled to the tunnel assembly via a ball-and-socket connection that includes a bolt and a bracket that defines a slot, where at least a portion of the bolt is slidably disposed within the slot, and where the bracket is attached to the tunnel assembly. 
     Various implementations may include one or more of the following. The tunnel assembly may further include a support bar, and the first bracket may be attached to the support bar. The upper support member may be coupled to the mounting plate via a second ball-and-socket connection. The first lower support member may be coupled to the mounting plate via a second bracket and a second bolt, and the first lower support member may be able to pivot about the second bolt until a portion of the first lower support member contacts the mounting plate; the second lower support member may be coupled to the mounting plate via a third bracket and a third bolt, and the second lower support member may be able to pivot about the third bolt until a portion of the second lower support member contacts the mounting plate. 
     In a third general aspect, a poultry litter conditioner includes a tunnel assembly that includes a hood, a left endplate, and a right endplate. The poultry litter conditioner further includes a motor, a shaft configured to be rotated by the motor, and a plurality of beater elements attached to the shaft, where a majority of the shaft is disposed between the left endplate and the right endplate. The poultry litter conditioner also includes an attachment assembly that includes a mounting plate configured to attach to a skid steer. The attachment assembly also includes a lower support member coupled to the mounting plate and to the tunnel assembly, and includes first and second upper support members, each coupled to the mounting plate and to the tunnel assembly. The first upper support member is coupled to the tunnel assembly via a first ball-and-socket connection, where the first ball-and-socket connection includes a first bolt and a first bracket that defines a first slot. At least a portion of the first bolt is slidably disposed within the first slot, and the first bracket is attached to the tunnel assembly. The second upper support member is coupled to the tunnel assembly via a second ball-and-socket connection, where the second ball-and-socket connection includes a second bolt and a second bracket that defines a second slot. At least a portion of the second bolt is slidably disposed within the second slot, and the second bracket is attached to the tunnel assembly. 
     Various implementations may include one or more of the following. The tunnel assembly may further include a support bar, and each of the first bracket and the second bracket may be attached to the support bar. The first upper support member may be coupled to the mounting plate via a third ball-and-socket connection, and the second upper support member may be coupled to the mounting plate via a fourth ball-and-socket connection. The lower support member may be coupled to the mounting plate via a third bracket and a third bolt, and the lower support member may be able to pivot about the third bolt until a portion of the lower support member contacts the mounting plate. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1A and 1B  are perspective views of an example poultry litter conditioner and a skid steer, where the example poultry litter conditioner is attached to the skid steer with an example attachment assembly. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the example poultry litter conditioner and the example attachment assembly of  FIGS. 1A and 1B . 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the example poultry litter conditioner and the example attachment assembly of  FIGS. 1A and 1B . 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the example poultry litter conditioner and the example attachment assembly of  FIGS. 1A and 1B . 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of the example poultry litter conditioner and the example attachment assembly of  FIGS. 1A and 1B . 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the example poultry litter conditioner, example attachment assembly, and skid steer of  FIGS. 1A and 1B  in use. 
         FIG. 7A  is a perspective view of an example poultry litter conditioner and an example attachment assembly. 
         FIG. 7B  is a perspective view of the example poultry litter conditioner of  FIGS. 1A and 1B , and yet another example attachment assembly. 
         FIG. 8A  is a perspective view of the example attachment assembly of  FIGS. 1A and 1B  and an example grading blade. 
         FIG. 8B  is a perspective view of the example attachment assembly of  FIGS. 1A and 1B  and an example snow blower. 
     
    
    
     Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Described herein are example poultry litter conditioners, and example devices, methods and systems for attaching poultry litter conditioners, or other machines or tools such as snow blowers or grading blades, to a skid steer. 
       FIG. 1A  is a perspective view  100  of an example poultry litter conditioner  101  and example attachment assembly  102  that can be used to attach the poultry litter conditioner  101  to an example skid steer  103 . The skid steer  103  includes lift arms  104  that can be raised or lowered by an operator of the skid steer via a control in the cabin of the skid steer  103 . The example attachment assembly  102  is connected to the lift arms  104  of the skid steer  103  at a first end, and is connected to the poultry litter conditioner  101  at a second end. View  100  shows the skid steer  103  with its lift arms  104  partially raised, so that the poultry litter conditioner  101  is lifted off the ground by the lift arms  104  and the attachment assembly  102 .  FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of the example poultry litter conditioner  101 , example attachment assembly  102 , and example skid steer  103  of  FIG. 1A , this time with the lift arms  104  lowered so that the poultry litter conditioner  101 , via the attachment assembly  102 , rests on the ground. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view,  FIG. 3  is a side view,  FIG. 4  is a bottom view, and  FIG. 5  is a front view of the example poultry litter conditioner  101  and the example attachment assembly  102  of  FIGS. 1A and 1B . 
     The example poultry litter conditioner  101  includes a tunnel assembly  122  that includes a hood  123 , a left endplate  160 , a right endplate, a motor  214 , a shaft  200  configured to be rotated by the motor  214 , a plurality of beater elements  202  attached to the shaft  200 , a support bar  147  that provides support for the tunnel assembly  122 , left height adjust plate  162  attached to the left endplate  160  and adjustable with respect to the left endplate  160  to set a height of the poultry litter conditioner  101 , a right height adjust plate  163  attached to the right endplate and adjustable with respect to the right endplate to set a height of the poultry litter conditioner  101 , and left and right replaceable wear bars attached respectively to the left height-adjust plate  162  and the right height-adjust plate  163 . 
     The example attachment assembly  102  includes a mounting plate  120  and four (in this example) support members that connect the poultry litter conditioner  101  to the mounting plate  120 . In some examples, the mounting plate  120  can be mounted to the lift arms  104  of a skid steer  103  or to a plate of the skid steer that is attached to the lift arms of the skid steer, and the support members can be attached to the mounting plate  120  at a first end of the support members. In the depicted example, the support members include two upper support members  124  and two lower support members  126 . In some examples, more or fewer (e.g., one, three, four, or more) upper support members  124  may be included; similarly, more or fewer (e.g., one, three, four, or more) lower support members  126  may be included in some examples. 
     In various implementations, the mounting plate  120  can be attached to the lift arms  104  of the skid steer  103  in a variety of ways, as will be known to one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the mounting plate  120  can be bolted to the lift arms  104  of the skid steer, or bolted to a plate of the skid steer that is attached to the lift arms of the skid steer, or in other appropriate ways (e.g., to one or more brackets attached to the skid steer arms). In some examples, the mounting plate  120  may have a different shape than the generally rectangular shape of the mounting plate  120  depicted in  FIG. 2 . 
     In the depicted example, the mounting plate  120  includes two upper brackets or bracket pairs  148 , and two lower brackets or bracket pairs  140 . Regarding each of the lower brackets  140 , a first end of a lower support member  126  is attached to the respective lower bracket  140  via a bolt  142  or other appropriate connecting member (e.g., a pin). The lower support member  126  may be a rigid, elongate member, and may be attached at a first end to the mounting plate  120  (e.g., via bracket  140 ) and may be attached at a second end to the poultry litter conditioner  101  (e.g., at support bar  147  of the poultry litter conditioner  101 ), for example via a bracket or bracket pair  144  of the poultry litter conditioner  101  and secured by a bolt  146  or other appropriate connecting member (e.g., a pin), or to another machine or tool in examples where the attachment assembly  102  is used with a machine or tool other than the poultry litter conditioner  101  (see, e.g.,  FIGS. 7A and 7B ). 
     In some examples, the lower support member  126  may pivot about the bolt  142  until a portion of the lower support member  126  contacts the mounting plate  120  (which may provide a pivot stop, for example). In some examples, the lower bracket  140  may be configured to provide a gap of about ⅛″ between the mounting plate  120  and the first end of the lower support member  126  in a starting position. In some examples, the lower support member  126  may pivot about the bolt  146  until a portion of the lower support member  126  contacts the support bar  147  (which may provide a pivot stop, for example). In some examples, the bracket  146  may be configured to provide a gap of about 1/16″ between the support bar  147  and the second end of the lower support member  126  in a starting position. In general, each of the two lower support members  126  may generally move independently of the other. 
     For each of the upper brackets or bracket pairs  148  of the mounting plate  120 , an upper support member  124  is coupled to the respective upper bracket  148  via a bolt  150 . The upper support member  124  is an elongate member, coupled at a first end to the mounting plate  120  (e.g., via bracket  148 ), and coupled at a second end to the poultry litter conditioner  101  (e.g., at support bar  147  of the poultry litter conditioner  101 ), or to another machine or tool in examples where the attachment assembly  102  is used with a machine or tool other than the poultry litter conditioner  101  (see, e.g.,  FIGS. 7A and 7B ). In some examples, the upper support member  124  can include a length adjustment feature, such as a turnbuckle, that can be adjusted to set an appropriate length of the upper support member  124 . 
     In some examples, the bolt  150  includes a ball feature, and the first end of the upper support member  124  includes a socket  125  configured to couple with the ball feature of the bolt  150  to form a ball-and-socket coupling. The first end of the upper support member  124  may pivot  149  via the ball-and-socket coupling provided by socket  125  and the ball feature of bolt  150 , according to some examples. Arrow  149  in  FIG. 3  depicts that the upper support member  124  may pivot in a front-to-back direction, and in some examples the upper support member  124  may also pivot laterally or may pivot a combination of front-to-back and laterally (for simplicity, arrow showing lateral pivot not shown in  FIG. 3 ). In some examples, a pivot range of from 0-8 degrees (e.g., in any direction) may be provided by the ball-and-socket connection. In some examples, a pivot range of from 0-12 degrees (e.g., in any direction) may be provided by the ball-and-socket connection. In some examples, a larger pivot range may be provided. 
     In some examples, the second end of the upper support member  124  is slidably coupled to a bracket or bracket pair  152  of the poultry litter conditioner  101  via a bolt  156  positioned in a slot  154  defined by the bracket  152 . Some examples of the bolt  156  include (similar to bolt  150  at the mounting plate end), a ball feature, and the second end of the upper support member  124  can include a socket  125  configured to couple with the ball feature of the bolt  156  to form a ball-and-socket coupling. The second end of the upper support member  124  may pivot  153  via the ball-and-socket coupling provided by socket  125  and the ball feature of bolt  156 , according to some examples. Arrow  153  in  FIG. 3  depicts that the upper support member  124  may pivot in a front-to-back direction, and in some examples the upper support member  124  may also pivot laterally (for simplicity, arrow showing lateral pivot not shown in  FIG. 3 ). In some examples, a pivot range of from 0-8 degrees (e.g., in any direction) may be provided by the ball-and-socket connection. In some examples, a pivot range of from 0-12 degrees (e.g., in any direction) may be provided by the ball-and-socket connection. In some examples, a larger pivot range may be provided. 
     In the depicted example, the slot  154  has a generally horizontal orientation in bracket  152 , and the bolt  156  and second end of the upper support member  124  may slide  155  forward or rearward within the slot  154 , according to some examples. As such, the second end of the upper support member  124  may both pivot  153  (e.g., may pivot front-to-back, or may pivot laterally, or a combination of the foregoing) via the ball-and-socket coupling and may slide  155  forward or rearward in the slot  154 , according to some examples. The slot  154  may have a variety of lengths in various implementations. In some examples, the slot  154  has a length of 3.5″. In some examples, the slot has a length of 2″, 2.5″, 3″, 4″, 4.5″, 5″, 5.5″, 6″, or longer. As a starting position, an operator may position the bolt  156  generally at or near a center of the slot  156  (e.g., as depicted in  FIG. 3 ), so that in operation the bolt may have approximately equal amount of travel forwards in the slot  154  or rearwards in the slot  154 . 
     In some examples, the slot  154  may have an orientation other than generally horizontal. For example, the slot may generally slope rearward or may generally slope forward (not shown). In some examples the slot may have a “V” shape or a “W” shape, or an “M” shape, for example (not shown). Other orientations for the slot are also possible. 
     In general, each of the two upper support members  124  may generally move independently of the other, and this can advantageously provide adjustability to permit the poultry litter conditioner to be able to tip an appropriate amount to one side or the other, or to roll an appropriate amount forward or rearward, which can provide better adaptability of the poultry litter conditioner to uneven terrain such as poultry barn floors that are uneven and have dips or mounds, for example. 
     Adjustability provided by one or more of the ability for the first ends of upper support members  124  to pivot (e.g., front-to-back, laterally, or a combination of the foregoing), the ability of the second ends of upper support members  124  to pivot (e.g., front-to-back, laterally, or a combination of the foregoing) and slide front-to-back within slot  154 , and the ability of the first end and the second end of lower support members  126  to pivot can provide performance advantages and durability advantages in some implementations. For example, as described above many poultry barns have uneven floors whether because the concrete is uneven or has dips, holes, hills or mounds (or other irregularities) in it, or because the dirt floor is uneven or has dips, holes, hills or mounds (or other irregularities) in it, and the built-in flexibility that may be possible using the attachment assemblies discussed herein can permit the poultry litter conditioner (or other machine or tool) to better adapt to the contour of the floor or terrain over which it is being used. When the poultry litter conditioners and attachment assemblies discussed herein encounter a dip, hill, mound, or other type of irregularity in the terrain being processed, because of the adjustability and flexibility provided by the attachment assembly, the poultry litter conditioner may advantageously tip to the left or to the right, if appropriate, or may roll forward or roll backwards, if appropriate, or a combination of tipping and rolling, if appropriate, so that the poultry litter may be better reconditioned. Additionally, durability of the machine may be enhanced because wear and tear on the components of the machine may be reduced due to reduced stress or force imparted on the components of the machine as compared to the stress or force imparted to components of a more rigid machine. 
     For example, when the poultry litter conditioner  101  encounters a mound, hill, or other obstruction, one or more of the following may occur: a) the bolts  156  may slide rearward in the respective slots  154 , which may permit the tunnel assembly to roll rearward; b) the ball-and socket connections at the second end and/or first end of the upper support members  124  may pivot, in some examples to different degrees; and/or c) the second end or first end (or both) of the lower support member  126  may pivot, in some examples to different degrees. 
     The poultry litter conditioner  101  includes a tunnel assembly  122  that includes a hood  123 , a left endplate  160 , a right endplate opposite the left endplate  160 , a motor  214 , a shaft  200  configured to be rotated by the motor  214 , a plurality of beater elements  202  attached to the shaft  200 , a support bar  147  that provides support for the tunnel assembly  122 , a left height adjust plate  162  attached to the left endplate  160  and adjustable with respect to the left endplate  160  to set a height of the poultry litter conditioner  101 , a right height adjust plate  163  attached to the right endplate and adjustable with respect to the right endplate to set a height of the poultry litter conditioner  101 , and left and right replaceable wear bars attached respectively to lower portions of the left height-adjust plate  162  and the right height-adjust plate  163 . In operation, the motor  214  causes the shaft  200  to rotate, thereby causing the plurality of beaters  202  to also rotate. The beaters  202  condition the poultry litter by lifting the poultry litter from the floor of the poultry barn and propelling the poultry litter against the underside of the hood  123  or against the left or right endplate. The poultry litter is thus aerated and broken up by the action of the beaters  202  and by collision with the underside of the hood  123  or with one of the endplates. In some examples, the poultry litter rebounds off the underside of the hood  123  or off an endplate and is again (in some examples, repeatedly) beaten by the beaters  202 , which may further condition the poultry litter. Eventually, the conditioned poultry litter returns to the floor of the poultry barn, exiting below and behind the support bar  147  as the skid steer  103  is driven forward. 
     The hood  123  can have a variety of shapes. In the depicted examples, the hood  123  includes an apex  130  of the hood  123 , a first forward surface  131  of the hood  123 , a first rearward surface  132  of the hood  123 , a second forward surface  133  of the hood  123 , a second rearward surface  134  of the hood  123 , a third forward surface  135  of the hood  123  and a third rearward surface  136  of the hood  123 . The apex  130  is formed by the intersection of the first forward surface  131  and the first rearward surface  132 , which intersect at a first obtuse angle. The first forward surface  131  and the second forward surface  133  intersect at a second obtuse angle that is greater than the first obtuse angle. Also, the first rearward surface  132  and the second rearward surface  134  intersect at a third obtuse angle that is greater than the first obtuse angle. The second forward surface  133  and the third forward surface  135  intersect at a fourth obtuse angle, and the second rearward surface  134  and the third rearward surface  136  intersect at a fifth obtuse angle. 
     The shape of the hood  123 , the surfaces  131 ,  132 ,  133 ,  134 ,  135 , and  136 , and the angles defined by the surfaces of the hood  123  may advantageously encourage additional conditioning of the poultry litter. For example, when the beaters  202  propel the poultry litter against the underside of the hood  123 , the poultry litter may bounce off the underside of the hood  123  and be directed back towards the beaters  202 , which may cause the poultry litter to again be propelled against the underside of the hood  123 . This may be repeated several times, for example, which may improve the reconditioning of the poultry litter in some examples. 
     In some examples, the hood  123  may comprise a single sheet of metal that is bent to have the depicted shape with the surfaces  131 - 136  and the described obtuse angles. The multiple surfaces  131 - 136  may provide increased strength to the hood as compared to hoods with fewer surfaces, for example. In some examples, the support bar  147  may be welded to the tunnel assembly, and the brackets or bracket pairs  152  and  144  may be welded to the support bar (e.g., to an upper surface of the support bar and to a rear-facing surface of the support bar, respectively). The left and right endplates may be welded to the hood  123 , for example. 
     In some examples, the motor  214  can be mounted to a portion of the hood  123 , perhaps with one or more brackets or strengthening panels for added support. The motor  214  is coupled to the shaft  200  via a belt  210  (or in some examples a chain). A first sprocket or gear  213  is coupled to a shaft  212  of the motor, and a second sprocket or gear  207  is coupled to an end portion  206  of the shaft  200 , with the belt  210  coupling the first sprocket  213  to the second sprocket  207 . Sprocket ratios can be altered to obtain an appropriate shaft rotation velocity, as will be known to one or skill in the art. 
     The left height-adjust plate  162  is bolted to the left endplate  160  via a left-rear height-adjust bolt  176  and a left-front height-adjust bolt  172 . The left-rear height adjust bolt  176  can be adjusted and secured within a vertical rear slot  174  defined by the left height-adjust plate  162  to adjust a left-rear height of the poultry litter conditioner. Similarly, the left-front height adjust bolt  172  can be adjusted and secured within a vertical front slot  170  defined by the left height-adjust plate  162  to adjust a left-front height of the poultry litter conditioner. The right height-adjust plate  163  includes similar height adjustability (not shown). The height adjustment can be used to set a desired depth for the processed poultry litter. In some examples, a depth of 2″, 2.5″, 3″, 3.5″, 4″, 4.5″, 5″, 5.5″, 6″, or greater may be desired, for example. 
     Attached to a lower portion of the left height-adjust plate  162  is a replaceable wear bar  164 , which can be replaced over time as it wears down, and the right height-adjust plate  163  similarly includes a replaceable wear bar attached on a lower portion. As can be seen with reference to  FIG. 3 , the height adjust plate includes an angled forward lower edge  166   a , an angled rearward lower edge  166   b , and a lower edge  164 . The angled forward and rearward lower edges  166   a ,  166   b  may aid in traversing floors with varying contours, for example. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the example poultry litter conditioner  101 , example attachment assembly  102 , and skid steer  103  of  FIGS. 1A and 1B  in use. An operator using the poultry litter conditioner  101 , which is attached to the skid steer  103  via the attachment assembly  102  to recondition the poultry litter on the floor of the poultry barn. 
       FIG. 7A  is a perspective view of an example poultry litter conditioner  277  and an example attachment assembly  275 . The example attachment assembly  275  is similar to the example attachment assembly  102 , except that attachment assembly  275  includes a single lower support member  126  rather than two lower support members. Similarly, poultry litter conditioner  277  is very similar to the poultry litter conditioner  101  discussed above, except that only a single lower bracket (e.g., similar to bracket  144  (see  FIG. 3 ) is included because the attachment assembly  275  includes a single lower support member  126 . The mounting plate  120  may be mounted to a skid steer  103  (see e.g.,  FIG. 1A ). 
       FIG. 7B  is a perspective view of an example poultry litter conditioner  282  and an example attachment assembly  280 . The example attachment assembly  280  is similar to the example attachment assembly  102  described above, except that attachment assembly  280  includes a single upper support member  124  rather than two upper support members. Similarly, poultry litter conditioner  282  is very similar to the poultry litter conditioner  101  discussed above, except that only a single upper bracket (e.g., similar to bracket  152  (see  FIG. 3 ) is included because the attachment assembly  280  includes a single upper support member  124 . The mounting plate  120  may be mounted to a skid steer  103  (see e.g.,  FIG. 1A ). 
       FIG. 8A  is a perspective view of the example attachment assembly  102  of  FIGS. 1A and 1B  and an example grading blade  300 . The grading blade  300  and attachment assembly  102  can be mounted to a skid steer  103  (see e.g.,  FIG. 1A ) and used to grade a road, for example. In other examples, the grading blade  300  could be attached to the attachment assembly  275  of  FIG. 7A , or to the attachment assembly  280  of  FIG. 7B . 
       FIG. 8B  is a perspective view of the example attachment assembly  102  of  FIGS. 1A and 1B  and an example snow blower  320 . The snow blower  320  and attachment assembly  102  can be mounted to a skid steer  103  (see e.g.,  FIG. 1A ) and used to blow snow from a driveway or parking lot, for example. In other examples, the grading snow blower  320  could be attached to the attachment assembly  275  of  FIG. 7A , or to the attachment assembly  280  of  FIG. 7B . 
     The above description provides examples of some implementations. Other implementations that are not explicitly described above are also possible, such as implementations based on modifications and/or variations of the features described above. For example, the techniques described above may be implemented in different orders, with the inclusion of one or more additional steps, and/or with the exclusion of one or more of the identified steps. Similarly, the apparatuses described herein may include one or more additional features, may exclude one or more of the identified features, and/or include the identified features combined in a different way than presented above. Features that are described as singular may be implemented as a plurality of such features. Likewise, features that are described as a plurality may be implemented as singular instances of such features. The drawings are intended to be illustrative and may not precisely depict some implementations. Variations in sizing, placement, shapes, angles, curvatures, and/or the positioning of features relative to each other are possible. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.