Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This invention relates to a plant harvester and more
particularly to apparatus for winding plant growth about a
moving cable and tearing the plan-t growth and roots from the
earth.
The apparatus is self-contained and mountable upon a
platform to be carried by a vehicle for clearing undesirable
weed or plant growth from fields, farms and the like and, in
one preferred embodiment, the apparatus is mountable upon a
particularly designed boat for harvesting aquatic plant
growth from lakes, rivers, canals and the like.
The invention is an improvement over the inventor's
U. S. Patent ~,3~8,658 which was granted on May ll, 1982.
The patent discloses apparatus for rotating a cable about its
longitudinal axis and moving the cable through plant growth
and winding it upon the cable and, in the process, pulling
the roots of the plant for precluding or minimizing regrowth.
The patent discloses the apparatus as being useful
with a pair of land vehicles, or one land vehicle and a boat,
or with a pair of boats. In operation, a cable is moved
through plant growth, the cable is rotated about its
longitudinal axis, the plants, or weeds, are wrapped about
the cable which is then drawn back into the apparatus, and
cutters are provided for removing the plant growth from the
cable.
The present invention relates to self-contained
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apparatus wherein the harvester mechanism is mountable
upon a platform carried by a single vehicle, such as a truck
or the like, while a preferred embodiment utilizes a single
watercraft, i.e., a boat, for removing aquatic plant growth
from bodies of water.
An object of the invention is to provide a floating
harvester comprising a buoyant hull, the hull including a
plurality of independent compartments for entrapping air
therein, the compartments containing openings therein for
allowing entry and egress of water for entrapping air in the
compartments and floating the hull upon a body of water,
harvester means carried by the hull for harvesting plant
growth in the body of water, and means carried on the hull
for varying the amount of water and air entrapped in the
compartments for adjusting the freeboard of the hull.
Another object of the invention is to provide such a
floating harvester with means for varying the freeboard of
the hull and simultaneously changing the operating depth of
the harvester apparatus.
A further object of the invention is to provide a
watercraft comprising a hull having a bow, a stern, a port
side and a starboard side, a plurality of paddle wheels,
means for mounting individual ones of the paddle wheels
respectively at the bow, stern, port side and starboard side,
and independent drive means for indi~idually rotating each of
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the plurality of paddle wheels.
Another object of the invention is to provide such a
watercraft wherein each of the plurality of paddle wheels
includes mounting means for pivotally connecting the paddle
wheels to the hull for moving the paddle wheels between a
lower operating position and a raised inoperative position
whereby the watercraft may be selectively moved forwardly,
rearwardly, laterally and rotationally.
A still further object of the invention is to
provide an improved paddle wheel for propelling a craft upon
a body of water, the paddle wheel comprising a central hub,
motor means mounted within the central hub, vane means
extending outwardly from the hub and openings formed in the
hub for directing water from the vane means across the motor
means for cooling the same.
A further object of the invention is to provide such
a paddle wheel with mounting means for mounting the motor
means and the paddle wheel on the craft, the mounting means
including pivot means for pivotally connecting the motor
means and the paddle wheel to the craft and means for raising
and lowering the paddle wheel about the pivot means between
an operative position and a stowed position.
Another object of the invention is to provide a
harvester of the type including a cable means which is
rotated about its longitudinal axis for winding plant growth
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thereon, the improvement comprising an intake tube for
receiving the cable means and plant growth carried thereby,
the intake tube having a bight portion, and guide means
disposed at the bight portion for guiding the cable means
past the bight portion and out of contact with the intake
tube.
An additional object of the invention is to provide
a harvester of the type including a cable means which is
rotated about its longitudinal axis for winding plant growth
thereon, the improvement comprising platform means for
supporting the harvester thereon, transport means for moving
the platform means and the harvester over plant growth to be
harvested, the cable means comprising an endless cable, a
cable output guide and a cable intake guide for defining a
path of movement for the endless cable, the endless cable
having an operative portion thereof extending between the
cable output guide and the cable intake guide, and means for
adjustably positioning the operative portion of the endless
cable by raising and lowering the operative portion relative
to the platform.
A still further object of the invention is to
provide such a harvester wherein the transport means
comprises a watercraft for moving on a body of water, and the
platform means comprises a deck portion of the crat, the
means for adjustably positioning the operative portion oE the
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endless cable comprises means for pivotally mounting the
cable output guide and the cable intake guide relative to
each other whereby the operative portion of the endless cable
can be oriented horizontally and at various angles to the
horizontal, the harvester including tensioning means for
tensioning the operative portion of the endless cable wherein
adjustable means are connected to and between the cable
output guide and the cable intake guide for varying the
distance therebetween.
A further object of the invention is to provide such
a harvester with a tumbling means for rotating the endless
cable about its longitudinal axis, a capstan mounted on the
tumbler for pulling the endless cable along its length and
through the cable output guide and the cable intake guide.
lS An additional object of the invention is to provide
such a harvester with tightening means mounted adjacent to
the tumbler means and in contact with the endless cable, the
tightsning means including a drive roller, means for rotating
the drive roller for tightening the wrapped portion of the
endless cable into driving contact with the capstan, the
tightening means further comprising a pulle~ disposed in
contact with ths endless cable, and fluid motor means for
moving the pulley toward the drive roller for forcing the
endless cable into contact with the drive roller.
Fig. 1 is a plan view of a harvester apparatus in
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accordance with the present invention, the harvester
apparatus being mounted upon a platform, i.e., the deck of a
boat provided with a plurality oE paddle wheels for providing
mobility for the apparatus.
Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the boat and
harvesting apparatus and illustrates adjustable features of
the harvesting apparatus and padclle wheels.
Fig. 3 is a plan view of a boat, with the harvester
apparatus removed, and illustrates a series of compartments
in the hull thereof including a manifold for supplying
pressurized air to adjust the freeboard of the boat.
Fig. 4 is a sectional view, taken on line 4-4 of
Fig. 3, and illustrates openings in the hull for allowing
entry and egress of water to adjustably vary the freeboard of
the boat.
Fig. 5 is a transverse, sectional view, taken on
line 5-5 of Fig. 4, and illustrates the introduction of air
into compartments of the hull for varying the water contained
within the compartments.
Fig. 6. is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view
of a central portion of Fig. 5.
Fig. 7 is an end view, looking rom the right oE
Fig. 1, and illustrates mechanisms for positioning the
harvester cable and adjusting tension of the cable.
Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the
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harvester cable mechanism and illustrates the path of
movement of the endless cable from an output guide tube and
into a larger cable intake guide, and an adjustable framework
for changing the spacing of the output guide and intake guide
for adjusting tension in the cable.
Fig. 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary view, taken on
line 9-9 of Fig. 8, and illustrates a sheave fixedly secured
in a bight portion, or elbow, of the cable intake guide.
Fig. 10 is a sectional view, taken on line 10-10 of
Fig. 9, and illustrates the harvester cable and plant growth
wrapped therearound as the cable passes through the bight of
the intake guide tube.
Fig. 11 is a fragmentary, elevational view, taken on
line 11-11 of Fig. 1, and illustrates a tumbler mechanism for
rotating the endless cable about its longitudinal axis, and
also illustrates a drive capstan for pulling the cable along
its longitudinal length, and a tightening or snubbing
mechanism for tightening the cable about the capstan for
providing a driving connection therewith.
Fig. 12 is a plan view of the apparatus of Fig. 11.
Fig. 13 is an enlarged, fragmentary section, taken
on line 13-13 of Fig. 11, and illustrates an adjustable drive
mechanism for pulling on the cable to tighten the same about
the capstan.
Fig. 14 is a fragmentary, sectional view, taken on
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line 14-14 of Fig. 11.
Fig. 15 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a
pivotally mounted structure for carrying an individual drive
motor for one of the paddle wheels and also illustrates a
winch mechanism for moving the paddle wheels from an
operative to an inoperative position.
Fig. 16 is an exploded view and illustrates the
manner of assembling a paddle wheel into position with its
drive motor.
Fig. 17 is an enlarged sectional view and
illustrates the paddle wheel being mounted in operative
position.
Fig. 18 is a jump-section, taken on line 18-18 of
Fig. 16, and illustrates constructional details of the paddle
wheel.
Fig. 19 is a sectional view of another form of
paddle wheel.
Fig. 20 is a sectional view, taken on line 20-20 of
Fig. 19, and illustrates details of construction for the
second form of paddle wheel.
A plant or weed harvester assembly, generally
indicated by the numeral 10, has the various components
thereof mounted and arranged upon a platform 12, which
platform may be mounted upon a vehicle, or farm truck (not
shown), or may be mounted upon a watercraft or boat 14.
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Harvester assembly 10 includes an endless cable 16
which is pulled by a capstan 18 in a generally rectangular
path through an output guide tube 20, across a rear portion
22 of platform 12, through a cahle intake guide tube 24 and
back to capstan 18. In addition to being pulled along its
longitudinal length by capstan 18, endless cable 16 is also
caused to rotate about its longitudinal axis by a tumbler
apparatus, generally indicated by the numeral 26, which is
somewhat similar to the tumbler apparatus disclosed in U. S.
Patent 4,328,658. Specific details of tumbler apparatus 26
will be more particularly described later in this
specification.
In one preferred form of the invention, harvester
assembly 10 is useful for harvesting undesirable plant growth
in shallow lakes, rivers and canals. In such an embodiment,
platform 12 comprises the deck of boat 14. As is evident
from Figs. 1-6, boat 14 is comprised of a buoyant hull 28
which includes a series of hollow compartments 30, six such
compartments being shown, and a plurality of baffle plates or
partitions 32 are secured within and to the bottom of hull 28
and extend upwardly just short of deck or platform 12 to
provide a series of air passageways 34 to distribute
pressurized air throughout the series of hollow compartments
30. When boat 14 is operated in shallow water, it is not
unusual to encounter submerged obstacles such as large roots,
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tree stumps, rocks and various types of debris. The
underside of hull 28 is therefore protected by reinforced
skid bars 36 and, in addition, while buoyant hull 28 is
designed to have a shallow draft, boat 14 is e~uipped with a
reservoir 38 which contains pressurized air that can be
distributed through a manifold 40 and a network of air lines
42 to distribute pressurized air to each of the hollow
compartments 30. A series of openings 44 are formed in each
of the various compartments 30 to allow entry and exit of
water in an amount determined by the pressurized air within
the compartments 30. During stormy weather or rough water
conditions, it is desirable to reduce the freeboard so that
boat 14 rides low in the water, and this is readily
accomplished by reducing the pressurized air in the hollow
compartments 30 by allowing air to exit through an air valve
or vent 46 included within manifold 40. As a resul.t, water
enters through the series of openings 44 in the bottom of
hull 28. In very shallow water, or when the skid bars 36
encounter submerged obstacles, pressurized air from reservoir
38 is introduced through manifold 40 and air lines 42 to
reduce the amount of water contained within the hollow
compartments 30 and thereby increase the freeboard, to
decrease the draft of boat 14 and allow the buoyant hull 28
to float high in the water. It will also be understood that
this feature of adjusting the draft and freeboard of boat 14
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is also useful for adjusting the underwater depth of endless
cable 16 at the rear portion of platform 12 located at the
stern of buoyant hull 28.
Boat 14 is made to be highly maneuverable by
providing a pair of paddle wheels 48 at the port and
starboard sides, a third paddle wheel 50 at the stern and a
fourth paddle wheel 52 at the bow. Each paddle wheel is
independently driven and may be rotated in opposite
directions; as a result, boat 14 may be moved forwardly,
rearwardly, laterally, or rotationally.
As is best shown in Figs. 1, 2, 7 and 8, endless
cable 16 is moved lengthwise in a predetermined path. The
operative portion of cable 16, i.e., that portion upon which
weeds or other plant growth are wound and pulled by their
roots, is that portion of endless cable 16 which extends
between output guide tube 20 and cable intake guide tube 24.
The operating depth and inclination of the operative portion
of endless cable 16 are adjustable by raising and lowering
guide tubes 20 and 24, as is best shown in Figs. 7 and 8.
Output guide tube 20 is pivotally mounted in a pivot block 54
and may be raised and lowered by a port-side winch 56 which
carries a cable or line 58. Likewise, cable intake guide
tube 24 is pivotally mounted in a pivot block 60 for rotation
in a substantially vertical plane and is movable hy a
starboard winch 62 which carries a cable or line 64. The
individual depth of tubes 20 and 24 can be varied to dispose
cable 16 horizontally or at inclinations thereto in order to
accommodate various slopes and terrain in the river, canal or
lake bed.
A tensioning frame 66 includes a pair of spreader
arms 68 and 7~ which are pivotally connected to guide tubes
20 and 24 and have their upper ends connected by a hydraulic
cylinder 72 which extends or contracts to slacken or add
tension to cable 16. Telescoping support members 74,
preferably square or rectangular, are ~arried by platform 12
and carry pivotally mounted sleeves 76 through which spreader
arms 68 and 70 slide during raising and lowering of guide
tubes 20 and 24 by winches 56 and 62, respectively.
Referring to Figs. 7-10, the operative portion of
endless cable 16 passes from the intake guide tube 20 and
enters a funnel 78 fixed at the entrance portion of cable
intake guide tube 24. As was previously noted, cable 16 is
continuous~y rotated about its axis by tumbler apparatus 26,
and weeds or other plant growth are wrapped about the cable
16 and pulled by their roots. As is best shown in Figs. 9
and 10, a sheave 82 is rotatably mounted within an opening 84
which is formed at an elbow or bight 86 of the guide tube
24. A pair of support brackets 88 are welded, at 90, and
rotatably mount sheave 82 on an axle 92. Sheave 82 includes
a series of spaced ribs 94 which form a seriss of spaced
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grooves 96 therebetween. Tension in cable 16 causes the
plant growth 80 wrapped therearound to be pressed into
grooves 96 and provide a driving connection for rotating
sheaves 82 about axle 92. As a result, cable 16 is moved
through the elbow or bight 86 without causing any jamming or
excessive wear on guide tube 24.
Figs. 11~14 show a tumbler apparatus 26 which is
somewhat similar to that shown in my U. S. patent 4,328,658.
Capstan 18 is rotatably mounted upon a frame 100, on an axle
102 and rotatably driven by a drive motor 104 and is balanced
by a series of counterweights 106. Frame 100 is rotatably
mounted in a bearing block 108 by a sleeve 110 which is
rotatably driven by a gear and chain 112 ~connected to a
drive motor, not shown) for rotating frame 100 and capstan 18
for imparting rotation to endless cable 16 about its axis.
Cable 16 has several loops thereof wrapped about
capstan 1~, as is best shown in Fig. 12, and must be ~ept
snug therewith to maintain a pulling action. As is best
shown in Figs. 13 and 14, a friction drive roller 114 is
rotatably driven by a hydraulic motor 11~ and provides a
pulling action for tightening the wrapped portion of endless
cable 16 into driving contact with capstan 18. Cable 16 is
maintained in driving relationship with drive roller 114 by a
pulley 118 which is rotatably mounted upon a sliding frame
120 carried by a fluid motor 122 for moving frame 120 and
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pulley 118 to force cable 16 into driving contact with drive
roller 114.
As can be seen in Fig. 1, cable 16 and plant growth
80 exits from guide tube 24 around a second sheave 82 and
enters a cutter mechanism 124 which includes a rotating blade
126 for stripping plant growth 80 from the cable 16. Chopped
plant growth 128 moves through a chute 130 into a
conventional harvester machine 132 and out through a
harvester chute 134. As is best shown in Figs. 1 and 2,
harvester chute 134 may be pivotally mounted, at 136, to
reduce its overall height during non-use and can be rotated
to an outboard position by a motor 138 and rack 140 SG that
chopped plant growth 128, which has been stripped from cable
16 by cutter blade 126, can be loaded into an accompanying
barge (not shown) maintained alongside and periodically
driven to the shore and emptied.
The port and starboard paddle wheels 48, the stern
paddle wheel 50 and the bow paddle wheel 52 are each
pivotally mounted so as to be movable from their operating
position, as is shown in Fig. 1, to a stowed position when
not being used to propel the boat 14 or when the boat is
being moved over land, such as being transported on a truck.
As is best shown in Figs. 15-17, a T-shaped mounting means,
generally indicated hy the numeral 150, includes a leg 152
secured to a stem 154 which is pivotally mounted in spaced
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bearing blocks 156 secured to the platform or deck 158 of the
buoyant hull 28. A hydraulic drive motor 160 is fixedly
secured to an end of leg 152 by a rigid mounting bracket 162
and rotates a drive plate 164. As is best shown in Fig. 15,
a motor driven winch 166 is mounted upon a gin pole 168 and
includes a cable or line 170 which is attached to leg 152.
Thus, winch 166 can raise or lower hydraulic motor 160 by
rotating the stem 154, of mounting means 150, in the bearing
blocks 156. A shock absorber spring 172 is secured to gin
10pole 168 for engaging leg 152 when it is in the raised
position. Mounting means 150 also includes a locking beam
174 which is welded or otherwise securely fastened to leg 152
and is locked to deck 158 by a pair of locking straps 176 and
levers 178 which are pivotally fastened to a pair of spaced
holddown blocks 180.
Details of the various paddle wheels and mounting
thereof are shown in Figs. 16-20. In Fig. 16, hydraulic
drive motor 160 is shown locked in its operative position
extending outboard of the hull 28. Paddle wheel 48 includes
20a hub 182 and a mounting plate 184 which is assembled with
and secured to the drive plate of motor 160 by a plurality of
-~ bolts 186. Paddle wheel 48 includes a circular inboard end
member 188 and an outboard end member 190 and a plurality of
paddles or vanes 192 which are fixedly secured to the end
members and to the central hub 182. A comparison of Figs.
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16 and 17 will show that paddle wheel 48 is moved axially to
locate hydraulic drive motor 160 within the hub 182 so that
mounting plate 184 can be .secured to drive plate 164 with the
bolts 186. Central hub 182 terminates at a frustoconical end
portion 194 which is closed by a circular end closure plate
196 attached thereto by bolts 198. It is preferable that a
canopy or cover 200 be used to enclose the various paddle
wheels for safety purposes.
It will be understood that when the vanes 192 are
rotated there is a tendency to pick up water and carry it
upwardly with the vanes. This is particularly true when the
boat 14 is riding low in the water because of flooding of the
hollow compartments 30. As is best shown in Figs. 16 and 17,
the hub 182 is provided with a plurality o~ radial openings
15 202 which allow any water carried upwardly by the vanes 192
to cascade across hydraulic motor 160 to provide a cooling
action thereto. Vanes 192 are also provided with crescent
shaped openings 204 in order to preclude water from being
carried upwardly over the top and dumped in front of the
20 paddle wheel 48. Thus, the radial openings 202 and crescent
shaped openings 204 not only allow water to be vented but
make use of such water to cool the motor 160. Water which is
carried upwardly by the outboard vanes 192 cascades
downwardly along the frustoconical end portion 19~ of hub 182
and exits at the outboard end of paddle wheel 48.
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Paddle wheel 52, at the bow of boat 14, is smaller
than the side paddle wheels 48 or stern paddle wheel 50. AS
is shown in Figs. 19 and 20, paddle wheel 52 includes a
plurality of paddles or vanes 210 which are welded or
otherwise fi~edly secured to a central hub. Hub 212 is
provided with a central mounting plate 214 so that paddle
wheel 52 may be axially secured to motor 160 (as is indicated
by the directional arrow 216 connecting Fig. 19 to Fig. 16).
Hub 212 is provided with a series of radial openings 218, and
vanes 210 are provided with crescent shaped openings 220 for
allowing water to cascade therethrough for cooling the drive
motor 160. Water can also escape through openings 222 ~along
arrows 224) which are formed in hub 212 outwardly of mounting
plate 214.
Finally, as will be seen in Fig. 1, all of the power
reguirements for operating the Yarious equipment can be
supplied by an engine 226, a fuel tank 228, and a hydraulic
pump 230. All of the various necessary controls can be
located adjacent to an operator's chair 232.
From the foregoing, it will be seen that there has
been disclosed a preferred embodiment of a weed or plant
harvester which provides advantages not heretofore found in
the prior art; the spirit and scope of the invention is,
however, not to be restricted by the detailed description of
the preferred embodiment but only by the spirit and scope of
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the invention as defined in the appended claimed subject
matter.
