Patent Application
20200291601
The present invention generally relates to earth moving equipment, and more particularly to a scarifier assembly that may be connected to a vehicle to assist in preparing a ground surface for grading.
Earth moving equipment is available in different forms and for different purposes. Once excavation and concrete contractors have completed major work, which may include excavating and/or pouring a foundation for a structure, such as a commercial building or house, a dirt contractor works to build up or cut down the dirt pad or ground on the site, which may include the area around and inside of a structure. The dirt contractor is tasked with bringing the site to within 1/10 of a foot of the specifications on a grading site plan. Following the work by a dirt contractor, a fine grading contractor is brought in to move dirt and/or gravel with a goal in fine grading to achieve the highest quality slab and to keep the waste factor as little as possible.
There are times when a fine grading contractor may encounter areas of hard or solid ground, which may include highly compacted soil, frozen portions, concrete or asphalt debris, rocks or other matter. Such areas often require digging and removal by use of heavy duty digging equipment, followed by delivery of new soil to fill as needed because known grading systems typically are not capable of dealing with such solid ground variations or large chunks of hard dirt that may have been left by a dirt contractor. Fine grading systems generally are not equipped to deal with cutting such hard ground environments.
Scarifier equipment may be used in such efforts, as well as in other settings to breakup compacted soil or tear up vegetation, such as when working on landscaping projects. The scarifiers of the scale discussed and disclosed herein are not merely used to dethatch a lawn, but rather are on a larger, more robust scale and are used for more course disruption of a ground surface. Presently available scarifier assemblies or other existing earth moving equipment and systems include disadvantages that limit grading performance and that do not enable a fine grading assembly to work through hard ground without extensive intervention from other equipment.
Prior art scarifiers for such larger scale projects tend to be presented as an implement that is mounted to the front or rear of an earth moving vehicle, with the implement extending well forward or rearward of the vehicle. The substantial forward or rearward extension of the implement decreases the maneuverability of the vehicle and may negatively impact the approach and departure angles of the vehicle. This can impose limitations on the vehicle when a prior art implement is connected to thereto, which can be due to the extent to which the implement extends forward or rearward from the vehicle, or the use of further forward or rearward support wheels and/or the mounting and controls associated with such implements. This tends to cause such an implement to have to remain detached from the vehicle unless and until it is ready for specific use on a ground surface that has been prepared to at least a minimum standard. Unfortunately, such an implement likely must remain connected to the vehicle. In some instances, the implement is connected using the main front mounting for an accessory that is available on a vehicle, such as a skid steer, which means that the vehicle then must be dedicated for that use until the implement is disconnected and some other implement, such as a shovel or blade is connected to the vehicle. Switching implements requires labor and time, which increases risks of injury while reducing productivity due to a machine downtime.
It would be particularly advantageous to be able to use a scarifier assembly on earth moving vehicles, especially multi-use vehicles associated with grading, such as a typical skid steer vehicle. It also would be advantageous to be able to have such a scarifier assembly remain connected to such vehicles while being useful for other purposes and while not having to be connected to the main front functional equipment on such vehicles.
The present disclosure provides a scarifier assembly for use in a grading system that permits an earth moving vehicle, such as a track or wheeled vehicle to overcome shortcomings in the prior art, while providing major advantages. First, the scarifier assembly of the present disclosure may be connected to a vehicle at an end opposed to the normal working end of the vehicle, such as for example, connection to a rear of a skid steer vehicle that has a typical front mounting system for various implements, such as a shovel or blade or any number of other implements. Second, the new scarifier assembly presents a relatively mass efficient, compact structure that remains close to the vehicle at all times, may be mounted in place of ballast plates, and does not substantially increase the area occupied by the vehicle, thereby having little if any impact on the maneuverability of the vehicle. Third, the scarifier assembly is retractable to a position when not in use that is well above the ground surface and it does not present an issue for angles of approach for the vehicle. Fourth, the scarifier assembly may provide for simple adjustment and use by an operator who can readily adjust the depth to which the scarifier assembly will effectively dig through the soil by manipulating the set-up of adjustable, removable and easily replaceable teeth. Fifth, the adjustable, removable teeth may be reversed end-to-end to extend the life of the teeth, and may be rotated to reverse the angle on the end of the teeth to vary the tendency to dig or create furrows. Sixth, the scarifier assembly may be connected to a vehicle in a way that utilizes the standard auxiliary hydraulic ports provided on the vehicle, or alternatively may be connected to a diverter valve to permit use of two hydraulic functions, by leaving the standard auxiliary hydraulic ports on the vehicle available for other use.
The present scarifier assembly extends a much shorter distance from the vehicle, eliminates the need for additional support wheels and does not occupy the quick attach assembly of a vehicle. The mounting configuration provides for connecting the scarifier assembly to a vehicle that need not include a quick attach assembly. References to directions herein, such as rearward or forward, are relative to the direction of travel when using the scarifier assembly, which may not be the same as the normal directional orientation of a particular vehicle. However, in the examples shown, the scarifier assembly is connected to the rear of a vehicle and is used when the vehicle is moving in the normal forward direction.
The scarifier assembly employs simple movement of a pivotal arm assembly by use of lift actuators that move between present full retraction and full extension positions. The depth of scoring of the ground is determined by the adjustment position of the removable teeth. A significant improvement may be provided by having the scarifier assembly connected to a vehicle that also has an operable grading blade assembly on the opposite end of the vehicle. Having both implements available on a track or wheeled vehicle, such as a skid steer, can help to avoid and/or consolidate significant steps that otherwise would follow the work of a dirt contractor. Rather than having to use heavy duty equipment to dig out and remove hard ground, debris or other such matter, and back fill with new soil, use of the new scarifier assembly permits cutting through the aforementioned difficult soil or debris with the same vehicle that is used for fine grading, although it could be used on a separate vehicle that is dedicated to use only of the scarifier assembly. The scarifier assembly can be used to claw or cut through wet soil, helping it to dry faster, while otherwise loosening soil to be more easily redistributed over the ground surface when trying to meet a grading site plan.
The scarifier assembly utilizes compact up and down movements. Also, the auxiliary hydraulic ports typically available on an earth moving vehicle, such as a skid steer, may be used to operate the scarifier assembly, or the hydraulic system of the vehicle may be modified to include a diverter valve that permits the auxiliary ports to remain available, while providing for separate connection to the scarifier assembly. Because the lift actuators for the pivotal arm of the scarifier assembly readily and quickly lift or lower the arm, as desired, the vehicle may rapidly make several passes over the same area, if needed. The efficient, compact structure of the scarifier assembly has a relatively short distance that it extends from the vehicle and it may be used with grading equipment on the opposed end of a vehicle, without need for forward or rearward support wheels, which facilitates greater mobility and permits use of the new scarifier assembly closer to walls or other obstacles.
Although it will be appreciated that the scarifier assembly could be configured differently, it is preferably configured to have the lift actuators operate within a pre-selected range of motion, with the depth of cutting based on the adjustment of the removable teeth. The assembly additionally is capable of providing substantial downward force to the teeth for cutting or breaking up solid or compacted surfaces and for tilling soil. Ultimately, this permits the vehicle to be used to more quickly and easily achieve the goal of providing a high quality slab, and finishing the fine grading well within the required site plan specifications, while reducing the waste factor. The teeth are spaced relatively closely, such as around six inches apart. This is advantageous in breaking up the soil and other material faster and more completely. However, it will be appreciated that the spacing could be increased or decreased, and could be altered, such as by having receivers every three inches apart, which would permit separation by increments of three inches by selectively removing teeth. Additionally, different tooth designs may be implemented quite easily, depending on the soil conditions and the tendency for example to need to break up or till the soil.
In a first aspect, the disclosure provides a scarifier assembly for connection to a vehicle, with the scarifier assembly including a right housing assembly and a left housing assembly, and the right housing assembly further having a first pivot and a second pivot, and the left housing assembly further having a first pivot and a second pivot. A pivotal arm assembly includes a rear cross member extending between and connected to a forward extending right end and a forward extending left end, with the pivotal arm assembly including a plurality of flanges connected to the rear cross member and a plurality of elongated teeth removably connected to the plurality of flanges. The forward extending right end of the pivotal arm assembly is pivotally connected to the first pivot of the right housing assembly and the forward extending left end of the pivotal arm assembly is pivotally connected to the first pivot of the left housing assembly. A right lift actuator is pivotally connected at a first end to the second pivot of the right housing assembly and is pivotally connected at a second end to the forward extending right end of the pivotal arm assembly at a location spaced from the connection of the forward extending right end of the pivotal arm assembly to the first pivot of the right housing assembly. Similarly, a left lift actuator is pivotally connected at a first end to the second pivot of the left housing assembly and is pivotally connected at a second end to the forward extending left end of the pivotal arm assembly at a location spaced from the connection of the forward extending left end of the pivotal arm assembly to the first pivot of the left housing assembly.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and provided for purposes of explanation only, and are not restrictive of the subject matter claimed. Further features and objects of the present disclosure will become more fully apparent in the following description of the preferred embodiments and from the appended claims.
In describing the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawing figures wherein like parts have like reference numerals, and wherein:
It should be understood that the drawings are not to scale. While some mechanical details of the example scarifier assembly, including details of fastening means and other plan and section views of the particular components, have not been shown, such details are considered to be within the comprehension of those of ordinary skill in the art in light of the present disclosure. It also should be understood that the present disclosure and claims are not limited to the preferred embodiments illustrated.
Referring generally to
The scarifier assembly 10 includes a right housing assembly 14 and a left housing assembly 16. The right housing assembly 14 includes a first pivot 18 and a second pivot 20, and the left housing assembly 16 includes a first pivot 22 and a second pivot 24. A pivotal arm assembly 26 includes a rear cross member 28 extending between and connected to a forward extending right end 30 and a forward extending left end 32. The pivotal arm assembly 26 further includes a plurality of flanges 34 connected to the rear cross member 28 and a plurality of elongated teeth 36 removably connected to the plurality of flanges 34. The forward extending right end 30 of the pivotal arm assembly 26 is pivotally connected to the first pivot 18 of the right housing assembly 14 and the forward extending left end 32 of the pivotal arm assembly 26 is pivotally connected to the first pivot 22 of the left housing assembly 16. A right lift actuator 38 is pivotally connected at a first end to the second pivot 20 of the right housing assembly 14 and is pivotally connected at a second end to the forward extending right end 30 of the pivotal arm assembly 26 at a location 40 spaced from the connection of the forward extending right end 30 of the pivotal arm assembly 26 to the first pivot 18 of the right housing assembly 14. A left lift actuator 42 pivotally connected at a first end to the second pivot 24 of the left housing assembly 16 and pivotally connected at a second end to the forward extending left end 32 of the pivotal arm assembly 26 at a location 44 spaced from the connection of the forward extending left end 32 of the pivotal arm assembly 26 to the first pivot 22 of the left housing assembly 16.
As will be appreciated by viewing
Each of the right and left housing assemblies 14, 16 of the scarifier assembly 10 has an inner wall 46 connected to the vehicle 12. For example, as best seen in FIGS. the inner wall 46 of each of the housing assemblies 14, 16 may be connected to the rear of the vehicle 12 via mounting fasteners 48, such as bolts, which are received by threaded mounting holes 50 that are otherwise provided for mounting ballast plates. Each of the right and left housing assemblies 14, 16 further includes an outer wall 52, and the first pivot 18, 22 and second pivot 20, 24 extend between the respective inner wall 46 and outer wall 52. The outer wall 52 of each of the right and left housing assemblies 14, 16 optionally includes mounting apertures 54 through which mounting fasteners 48 are accessible. The right and left housing assemblies 14, 16 have a forward upper wall 56 and a rearward upper wall 58 that extend between and are connected to the inner wall 46 and outer wall 52, but remain open in the vertical space between the forward upper wall 56 and rearward upper wall 58, as well as across the bottom of the housing assemblies 14, 16.
The outer wall 52 of each of the right and left housing assemblies 14, 16 further include respective apertures 60 through which the first pivot 18, 22 and second pivot 20, 24 are accessible, and further include closure elements 62 that extend over the respective apertures 60. The closure elements 62 are configured as tabs mounted by bolts that can be loosened to pivot the tabs to gain access to the first pivots 18, 22 and second pivots 20, 24 for maintenance, such as lubrication, or removal to permit removal of the pivotal arm assembly 26 and/or lift actuators 38, 42. Each outer wall 52 of the right and left housing assemblies 14, 16 also has a central opening 64 through which the respective lift actuator 38, 42 is accessible. Each central opening 64 is closed by a removable cover 66 to help protect the lift actuators 38, 42 from debris, inadvertent contact or other damage.
As best seen in
It will be appreciated when viewing
To help facilitate adjustment of the depth of the teeth 36, a first end 80 of the elongated rod 78 includes a handle for ease of grasping and manipulating, while the opposed second end 82 includes structure to secure the elongated rod 78 in position. For instance, as seen in
For ease of use, the lift actuators 38, 42 are intended to be fully extended to a preset limit when intending to engage a ground surface and fully retracted when intending to otherwise operate the vehicle 12. In essence, the pivotal arm assembly 26 is lowered to be approximately two inches from the ground surface when the lift actuators 38, 42 are in their fully extended position. Therefore, the depth of cutting of the soil is controlled by adjusting the extent to which the teeth 36 extend downward from the rear cross member 28. As best seen in
To enhance the ability to penetrate and break-up compacted soil or other materials, each of the plurality of teeth 36 further includes an upper end 88 having an upward extending angle from the central body 86 and a lower end 90 having a downward extending angle from the central body 86. Preferably, the angle at which the upper end 88 extends upward is the same as the angle at which the lower end 90 extends downward, and both are preferably 45 degrees, but it will be appreciated that other angles may be used. The pivotal arm assembly 26 preferably is deployed at an angle of approximately 40 degrees when in the fully lowered position. With this example configuration and each of the teeth 36 having upper and lower ends 88, 90 at angles of 45 degrees, each of the teeth 36 will tend to have a forward tip that is deeper than a heel or trailing portion of the lower end 90. It will be appreciated that the depth of the teeth 36 will tend to influence whether the teeth are rupturing the compacted or hard ground surface or tending to till and create furrows. With apertures 76 being approximately one inch apart, the approximately 40 degree angle of the pivotal arm assembly 26 means that that adjustment from one aperture 76 to the next results in a depth adjustment of roughly one half inch, although it will be appreciated that other configurations may be utilized.
As will be appreciated in
For advantageous compatibility with most earth moving equipment, the lift actuators may be hydraulic actuators. As will be appreciated and best seen in
From the above disclosure, it will be apparent that a scarifier assembly constructed in accordance with this disclosure may include a number of structural aspects that provide significant advantages over prior art scarifier assemblies for use on vehicles, depending upon the specific design chosen.
It will be appreciated that a scarifier assembly may be embodied in various configurations in accordance with the present disclosure. Any variety of suitable materials of construction, configurations, shapes and sizes for the components and methods of connecting the components may be utilized to meet the particular needs and requirements of an end user. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made in the design and construction of such a scarifier assembly without departing from the scope or spirit of the claimed subject matter, and that the claims are not limited to the preferred embodiment illustrated herein.
