BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Certain embodiments are shown in the drawings. However, it is understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in the attached drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ground-engaging implement from the prior art in a disengaged configuration and showing in shadow an engaged configuration;
FIG. 2 is a quarter perspective side view of a ground-engaging implement with a foldable lift lever in a disengaged configuration in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure;
FIG. 3 is a rear perspective partial view of the ground-engaging implement of FIG. 2 according to section 3-3 as shown on FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is the ground-engaging implement of FIG. 2 where the foldable lift lever is in the engaged configuration;
FIG. 5 is rear perspective partial view of the ground-engaging implement of FIG. 4 according to section 5-5 as shown on FIG. 4; and
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the ground-engaging implement in a storage configuration where part of the weight tray is removed to show the arm in the storage configuration.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
For the purposes of promoting and understanding the principles disclosed herein, reference are now made to the preferred embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language is used to describe the same. It is nevertheless understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device and such further applications of the principles disclosed as illustrated therein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which this disclosure relates.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ground-engaging implement from the prior art in a disengaged configuration. The figure also uses shadow lines to show the ground-engaging implement in an engaged configuration. To operate the plug aerators such as the invention of FIG. 1 or the present disclosure, a user first engages a lever (as shown) to place weights on the main body portion without fear of damaging the aeration mechanism under the main body. Wheels located offset from the main rotation axis rotate along with the lever to a position where only the wheels contact the ground. The user then places weights, such as hard metal sections, bags of sand, water drums, or any other available weight, on the surface available to the user. The ground-engaging implement is then moved to a location where soil aeration is desired using in a possible embodiment a towing vehicle. The lever is then moved from a first position to a second position. FIG. 1 illustrates in shadow such a second position where the wheels are rotated forward and the ground-engaging implements are able to contact the ground. It is understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the correlation of the weight to be placed on the main body portion with the desired aeration in the soil is a function of experience, soil properties, and other such parameters known to one skilled in the art. Once the selected soil surface is aerated by translation of the implement, the lever is pushed back into the first position to disengage the ground-engaging implements from contact with the ground.
FIG. 2 shows a quarter perspective side view of a ground-engaging implement with a foldable lift lever in a disengaged configuration in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 shows a ground-engaging implement 1 comprising a main body portion 2, including a tongue 3 adapted to facilitate connection to a towing vehicle 4 and extending from the main body portion 2. The ground-engaging implement also comprises a main shaft 60 shown on FIG. 3, movably connected to the main body 2, and includes tires 6 connected offset from the main shaft 60 by offset plates 7. In the disclosed embodiment, the main body 2 includes three vertical plates, the first two attached at each extremity of the main body 2 and the last in the center of the ground-engaging implement 1. The main shaft 60 as shown is a steel tube where a plurality of hollow tube sleeves 61 are slipped over the main shaft 60. The main shaft 60 is rotatably connected to the main body 2, and includes an arm 22 and offset plates 7 rigidly connected to the main shaft 60. When the arm 22 is moved around the main shaft axis, the wheels 6 are appropriately moved.
The main body 2 may also include a weight tray 23, shown on FIG. 2 as a flat, rectangular surface surrounded by a small ledge. In one preferred embodiment, the body is made of steel and the side plates are bolted to each side. The center plate is either welded or bolted to the center portion of the main body 2. Sleeves 61 are slipped over the main shaft 60 and include implements 10 connected thereon. The implement, in one embodiment, includes plug tubes 25, which are able to remove plugs of soil when engaged with the ground. The implements 10 and the sleeves 61 are disposed over the main shaft 60 and move freely with respect thereto such that in the operative position, shown as position B on FIG. 4, the implements 10 are adapted to engage the ground. The implement 10 and the sleeves 61 are also disposed over the main shaft so that in the inoperative position shown as position A on FIG. 2, the implements 10 are adapted to disengage the ground. The weight tray 23 is also made of metal sheeting of sufficient strength and thickness, and built with the proper reinforcements, if needed, to withstand pressure from weights placed on the tray 23 without leading to excessive deformation in the overall main body 2. While one possible embodiment of the main body 2 and supports is shown, it is understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that a large number of possible arrangements is possible based on mechanical design considerations.
The tongue 3 as shown on FIG. 2 is made of a double bent C section profile of steel bolted to the main body 2 at a first end by a series of eight bolts and at the other end by a towing connection mechanism as commonly used to attach towed implements to towing vehicles 4. The towing connection mechanism as illustrated is a vertical fixation axis bent as an offset clamp with a rotational joint and a fixation pin. While a possible fixation system of the tongue 3 is illustrated at each end of the tongue 3, it is understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that both ends of the tongue 3 may be attached using any possible method of fixation as long as the towing vehicle is able to functionally pull the ground-engaging implement 1 along the direction of utilization.
An arm 22 is securely connected to the main shaft 60 and allows movement of the main shaft 60 between an operative position, shown as position B on FIG. 4, and an inoperative position, shown as position A on FIG. 2. A lift lever 12, including a mounting end 50 and an operative end 8, is used to rotate the main shaft 60 between the operative position and the inoperative position. The mounting end 50 is connected to the arm 22 at a first location 51 adjacent to the main shaft 60 and is removably connected at a second location 52 located between the first location 51 and the operative end 8.
FIGS. 2-3 show a first position of a first embodiment where the lift lever 12 may be connected at the second location 52 to the arm 22 while the lift lever 12 extends in a direction different from the main direction of the tongue 3. FIGS. 4-5 show a second position of a first embodiment where the lift lever 12 may be connected at the second location 52 to the arm 22 while the lift lever 12 extends in substantially the same direction as the tongue 3. FIG. 6 shows a third position of a first embodiment where the lift lever 12 is not connected at the second location 52 to the arm 22 while the lift lever 12 extends in a direction substantially the same direction as the tongue 3 but the arm 22 extends in different direction from the direction of the lift lever 12.
In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2-6, the lift lever 12 is disposed below the weight tray 23 in the three possible configurations. In another embodiment, the first location 51 is a pivotal connection. In yet another embodiment, the lift lever 12 is held in the operative position by a first notch plate 26 and is held to the inoperative position by a second notch plate 18. One of ordinary skill in the art understands that the notch plates 26, 18 as shown may include notches of sufficient size to house the lift lever 12. It is also understood that while a notch mechanism is disclosed, the notch plates serve as a mechanical stop system that limit the angular rotation displacement and the associated rattling of the lift lever 12 and that a plurality of other systems may be implemented to hold the lift lever 12 in two distinct positions along the tongue 3. In one embodiment, only notch plate 18 is used and required to maintain the disengaged position.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the ground-engaging implement in a storage configuration where part of the weight tray is removed to show the arm in the storage configuration illustrated as C. In this configuration, a locking pin 70 and the associated counter-lock pin 71 to allow the arm 22 to disengage from the lift lever 12. The lift lever 12 is stored in the storage configuration C and shown placed under the first notch plate 26. In the preferred embodiment, the lift lever 12 may be placed along the tongue 3 without the use of the first notch plate 26.
FIGS. 2-6 show an implement 10 made of a square shaped plate with four tubes acting as plug aerators 25 are attached by a bolt to each corner of the square plate. FIGS. 2-6 also show angular corner plates 80 used to reinforce the perpendicular connection between the horizontal weight tray 23 and the vertical side plates. FIGS. 2-6 further disclose a ground-engaging implement 1 that has a first wheel 6 located between the third and the fourth implements 10, and a second wheel 6 located between the sixth and the seventh implements 10. In the preferred embodiment, the ground-engaging implement 1 is shown with a total of eight implements 10, but it is understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the number and position of implements 10 and the number and position of the wheels 6 may be varied.
Furthermore, while the particular preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the teaching of the disclosure. The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as limitation. The actual scope of the disclosure is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the related art.
Patent Application
20080000651
