Patent ID: 7249448

Claim:
An agricultural apparatus adapted to be mounted to an agricultural vehicle, the apparatus comprising: a) a mounting frame mountable on the agricultural vehicle, b) a height adjustable boom pivotably mountable on the mounting frame and provided with a series of heads for cutting or spraying discrete areas of vegetation over which the boom is passed, the height of the boom relative to the mounting frame being adjustable so as to allow the height at which the vegetation is cut or sprayed to be adjusted, the boom being pivotable to enable the boom to move in a direction transverse to the intended direction of travel, and c) a damper provided between the boom and the frame to dampen movement of the boom relative to the frame, the damper comprising a pendulum which is pivotable relative to the boom, and wherein the pendulum is pivotally mounted to the frame, wherein the damper further comprises a vertical support pivotably mounted to the mounting frame and pivotable relative to the pendulum and wherein the vertical support acts so as to maintain an orientation parallel to the pendulum, the mounting of the pendulum being such as to maintain an orientation substantially perpendicular to the vegetation over which the apparatus passes, and further wherein the mounting frame includes engagement members adapted to engage with restraining members provided on the boom, the interaction between the engagement members and the restraining members maintaining the boom in an orientation transverse to the intended direction of travel while allowing a free movement of the boom regardless of the gradient over which the agricultural vehicle travels.