Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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TITLE:
Self-Propelled Aerating Device
INVENTOR:
Loren F. Hansen
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to aerating
devices, and more parti.cularly, to self-propelled
aerating devices.
Aerating devices which mechanically aerate
lawn and soil areas are known. Representative prior
art constructions of aerating devices are disclosed
in the following United States Patents:
Smith21,377 August 31, 1858
Harvey208,088 September 17, 1878
Marcy1,704,986 March 12, 1929
Stidger1,742,563 January 7, 1930
Hamshaw1,878,442 September 20, 1932
Archibald2,056,337 October 6, 1936
Krenzke2,258,061 October 7, 1941
Clark2,450,749 October 5, 1948
Howard2,545,735 March 20, 1951
De Cato2,664,683 June 5, 1954
Howard2,792,900 May 21, 1957
Hall2,816,496 December 17, 1957
Marlow2,961,055 November 22, 1960
To facilitate operation, an aerating device
commonly includes a small reciprocating engine which
drives the aerating assembly and propels the device
over the ground. As with other powered devices, it is
desirable to coordinate the operation of the engine
throttle with the operation of the clutch assembly,
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which engages and disengages the aerating assembly, to
provide smooth and reliable performance. It is also
desirable to be able to control the depth of penetration
of the aerating assembly into the ground and achieve
overall lateral stability in the device when the
aerating assembly is being operated, while facilita-ting
the transportation of the device when the aerating
assembly is not in operation.
None of the above patents discloses a simple
yet effective means for coordinating the operation
of the engine throttle and clutch assembly in a self-
propelled aerator. While some of the above patents
disclose means to control the depth of penetration of
the aerating assembly into the ground (Stidger, Hamshaw,
Archibald, and Howard), as well as means to facilitate
the transportation of the device when the aerating
assembly is not in operation (Marcy), none discloses
a self-propelled aerating device that achieves both of
these results with a minimum of operator effort.
SUMMARY OF T~E INVENTION
The invention provides an aerating device comprising
a chassis having a front end portion and a rear end portion,
front support means mounted on the front end portion for
rotation relative to the front end portion and supporting
the front end portion off the ground, aerating means for
penetrating the ground and being mounted on the rear end
portion for rotation relative to the rear end portion,
handle means attached to the rear end portion, whereby
the chassis is adapted to pivot relative to the front support
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means when the handle means is moved vertically
upwardly, thereby lifting the aerating means off the
ground, and rear support means mounted for pivotal
movement relative to the rear end portion and being
movable between a transport position in which the
rear support means supports the rear end portion and
. the aerating means from the ground, and an operational
position in which the aerating means supports the
rear end portion from the ground and the rear support
means limits the depth of penetration of the
: aerating means into the ground to a predetermined
depth.
In one embodiment of the invention, the
rear support means includes a shaft having opposed
ends and mounted transversely across the chassis
for rotation relative to the chassis, each of which
opposed ends is located outwardly of the aerating
means, a pair of support frames each having an
inner end and an outer end, which inner ends are
respectively mounted on the opposed ends for rotation
therewith, a support wheel mounted on each of the
outer ends for rotation relative to each of the
outer ends, which support wheels hold the rear end
portion and the aerating means from the ground when
the rear support means is in the transport position
and limit the depth of penetration of the aerating
means when the rear support means is in the operational
position.
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In one embodiment in accordance with the
invention, the rear support means includes locking
means for selectively holding the pair of support
frames in either the transport position or the
operational position, which locking means is movable
between a normal locked position to prevent pivotal
movement of the pai~ of support frames and an
unlocked position to allow pivotal movement of the
pair of support frames between the transport position
and the operational position, and which locking means
is manually operable between the locked and the
unlocked positions.
Other features and advantages of the
embodimentsof the invention will become apparent
upon reviewing the following general description
and the appended claims.
DESCRIPTION OF T~E DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a side and partially diagrammatic
view of a self-propelled aerating device embodying
various of the features of the invention and showing
the device in the operational position;
Fig. 2 is a side and partially diagrammatic
view of a self propelled aerating device shown in
Fig. 1, except that the device is shown in the
transport position;
Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of
; the control handle of the device shown in the neutral
position;
,
Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken generally
along line 4-4 in Fig. 3, except that the control
handle has been moved to the intermediate position; and
Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken generally
along line 4-4 in Fig. 3, except that the control handle
has been moved to the drive position.
; Before explaining the invention in detail,
it is to be understood that the invention is not
limited in its application to the details of construction
and the arrangements of the components set forth in the
following description or illustrated in the drawings.
The invention is capable of other embodiments and of
being practiced and carried out in various ways.
Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and term-
inology employed herein is for the purpose of descriptionand should not be regarded as limiting.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
An aerating device 10 is shown in Fig. 1 which
embodies various of the features of the invention. While
the invention is applicable for use in aerating devices
of various constructions, in the illustrated embodiment,
the aerating device 10 includes a chassis 12 adapted
for movement over the ground 11 and having a front end
portion 14 and a rear end portion 16. A handle 18 is
attached to the rear end portion 16 for guiding the
movement. A control handle 20 is attached to the handle
18 and is adapted for forward and rearward pivotal
movement relative to the handle 18.
Aerating means 22 is mounted for rotation
relative to ~he rear end portion 16. The aerating
means 22 includes a plurality of spikes 24, or tines,
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mounted about a center hub 26. The tines 24 are
adapted to penetrate the ground 11 as the aerating
means 22 is rotated.
A ballast wheel 28 having weight is mounted
for rotation relative to the front end portion 1~
and supports the front end portion 14 from the ground 11.
Because of this construction, the chassis 12
is adapted to pivot relative to the aerating means 22
when the handle 18 is moved vertically downwardly,
thereby lifting the ballast wheel 28 off the ground 11
to provide a downward thrust force upon the aerating
means 22 during operation of the device. The chassis
is further adapted to pivot relative to the ballast
wheel 28 when the handle 18 is moved vertically upwardly,
thereby lifting ~he aerating means off the ground 11 to
facilitate steering or otherwise moving the device 10
when the aerating means 22 is not being used.
In one embodiment of the inventionJ the device
10 includes rear support means 30 movable between an
operational position to control the depth of penetration
of the tines 24 into the ground 11 and provide overall
lateral stability to the device 10 when the aerating
means 22 is in operation, and a transport position in
which the rear support means 30 supports the rear end
portion 16 ancL the aerating means 22 from the ground 11
to facilitate movement of the device 10 when the aerating
means 22 is not in operation.
The rear support means 30 includes a shaft
38 which is mounted transversely across the underbody
of the chassis 12 and is located generally between the
front end portion 1~ and the rear end portion 16. The
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shaft 38 is mounted to rotate relative to the chassis 12.
A pair of support frames 32 is provided,
each support frame 32 having an inner end 34 and an outer
end 36. While Figs. 1 and 2 show only one support
frame 32, it is to be understood that the opposite
side of the device 10, which is not illustrated, also
includes a support ~rame corresponding to the support
frame shown. The inner ends 34 are attached at opposite
ends of the shaft 38 for common rotation therewith, and
positioned generally outwardly of the aerating means
to provide lateral support. A support wheel 40 is
mounted on each outer end 36 for rotation relative to the
outer end 36.
In this construction, the support frames 32
are movable between the transport position (shown in
Fig. 2) in which the support wheels 40 support the
rear end portion 16 and the aerating means 22 from the
ground 11; and the operational position (shown in Fig. 1)
in which the aerating means 22 supports the rear end
portion 16 from the ground 11 thereby permitting the
tines 24 to penetrate the ground 11. In the operational
position, however, the support wheels 40 limit the
penetration of the tines 24 into the ground 11 to a
predetermined depth, as well as provide overall lateral
stability to the chassis 12 during operation of the
aerating means 22.
Locking means 42 is provided so that the
operator may selectively lock the rear support means 30
in either the transport or operational position. The
locking means 42 includes a locking quadrant 44 attached
to at least one of the support frames 32. The locking
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quadrant 44 has an upper slot 46 and a lower slot 48.
The locking means 42 further includes a manually
operated latch 50 which is adapted to be slidably
received in either slot 46 or 48. A spring 52 biases
the latch 50 in a normally locked position, engaging
the latch S0 in either slot 46 or 48, and preventing
pivotal movement of the support frames 32. When the
latch 50 is thus engaged in the upper slot 46, the support
frames 32 are securely held in the transport position;
when the latch 50 is engaged in the lower slot 48,
the support frames 32 are securely held in the operational
position.
The machine operator may pivotally change the
position of the support frames 32 by sliding the latch
50 out of engagement with its respective slot 46 and
48 and moving the handle 18 either vertically upwardly
to move the support frames 32 from the operational
position to the transport position, or vertically
downwardly to move the support frames 32 from the trans-
port position to the operational position.
The aerating device 10 is self-propelled
because a small reciprocating engine 54 is provided
having a drive wheel 56 which is drivingly connected
with the aerating means 22. The engine 54 includes a
throttle 58 which is movable between an idle position
(shown in Fig. 2) for driving the engine 54 at idle
speed and an advanced position (shown in Fig. 1) for
driving the engine 54 at above idle speed. A throttle
control cable 60 is operatively connected to the throttle
58 and includes a throttle cable end portion 62 attached
to the contro] handle 20.
Aerator drive means 64 operatively connects
the drive wheel 56 with the aerating means 22. The
aerator drive means 64 is movable between an engaged
position for drivingly connecting the aerating means
22 with the drive wheel 56 and a disengaged position
for interrupting the driving connection between the
aerating means 22 and the drive wheel 56.
I~hile the aerator drive means 64 can be
constructed in various manners, in the illustrated
embodiment, the aerator drive means 64 includes a
flywheel 66 which is drivingly connected with the
aerating means 22 by a drive chain 68. A flexible
drive belt 72 is carried by the flywheel 66 and the
drive wheel 56. The drive belt 72 has a diameter
such tha-t it is normally loosely-carried by the flywheel
66 and the drive wheel 56, so thattherotation of the
drive wheel 56 will not be transmitted to the flywheel
66, as is shown in Fig. 2. This corresponds to the
disengaged position of the aerator drive means 64.
The drive belt is further carried by a
pulley 74 located intermediate the flywheel 66 and the
drive wheel 56. The pulley 74 is mounted at the end
of a pivotally attached lever arm 76 which is, in turn,
operatively connected to an aerator control cable 78
having an aerator cable end portion 80 which is operatively
attached to the control handle 20. Thus, as the control
handle 20 is moved rearwardly by the operator, the
aerator control cable 78 moves the lever arm 76, which
causes the pulley 74 to bear against the drive belt
72. The tension in the drive belt 72 between the
flywheel 66 and the drive wheel 56 is thereby increased,
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as is shown in Fig. 1, moving the drive belt 72 from
the loosely-carried position to a tightly-carried
position, at which time the flywheel 66 and the drive
wheel 56 are drivingly connected. This corresponds to
the engaged position of the aerator drive means 64.
As can be seen, movement of the control
handle 20 between the forward and rearward positions
operatively affects the positions of both the throttle
58 and the aerator drive means 64. Referring to
Fig. 2, in the forward, or neutral position, the control
handle 20 holds the throttle 58 in the idle position
while holding the drive belt 72 in the loosely-carried
position, during which the aerating means 22 is
inoperative Referring now to Fig. 1, in the rearward,
; 15 or drive, position, the control handle 20 holds the
throttle 58 in the advanced position while holding the
drive belt 72 in the tightly-carried position, during
which maximum power is transmitted from the engine 54
to the aerating means 22.
To achieve even and smooth operation and
to reduce the chance of damaging the aerator drive
means 64, it is desirable to further coordinate the
respective positions of the throttle 58 and the aerator
drive means 64 as the control handle 20 is moved between
the forward and rearward positions. Thus, the invention
provides control means 82 for moving the aerator drive
means 64 from the disengaged position to the engaged
position before mouing the throttle 58 from the idle
position to the advanced position. Likewise, the control
means 82 moves the throttle 58 from the advanced
position to the idle position before moving the aerator
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drive means 64 from the engaged position to the disengaged
position.
More specifically, the control handle 20
includes an intermediate position between the neutral
and the drive positions. In accordance with the invention,
as the control handle20 is moved from the neutral
to the intermediate position, the throttle 58 is held
in the idle position while the aerator drive means ~4
is moved from the disengaged position to the engaged
position. As the control handle 20 is thereater
moved from the intermediate position to the drive
position, the throttle 58 is moved from the idle
position to the advanced position while the aerator
drive means 64 continues to be held in the engaged
position.
This operational sequence is achieved by
providing an upper aperture 84 and a lower aperture
86 in the control handle 20. Referring first to
Fig. 3, the upper aperture 84 is adapted to engage the
aerator cable end portion 80. The aerator cable end
portion 80 further includes tension means 88, such
as a spring, to securely hold the aerator cable end
portion 80 within the upper aperture 84 regardless
of the position of the control handle 20. Therefore,
as the control handle 20 is moved between the neutral
and intermediate positions, the aerator drive means 64
is immediately moved by the aerator control cable 78
from a disengaged to the engaged position and continues
to be held in the engaged position as the control handle
20 is further moved between the intermediate and drive
positions.
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The lower aperture 86 is adapted to receive
the throttle cable end portion 62. As can be seen
in Fig. 4, the lower aperture 86 is adapted to slidably
engage the throttle cable end portion 62 as the control
handle 20 is moved between the neutral and intermediate
positions. The throttle 58 is -thereby held in the idle
position while the aerator drive means 64 is being moved
into the engaged position by the upper aperture 84.
As can be seen in Fig. 5, the :Lower aperture 86 is
adapted to securely engage the throttle cable end
portion 62 and thus move the throttle control cable
60 only when the control handle 20 is moved from the
intermediate position to the drive position. The
throttle 58 is thus moved by the throttle control cable
60 from the idle position to the advanced position.
As previously noted, the aerator drive means 64 is
already in the engaged position when this sequence
occurs.
The invention further provides override
means 90 for reducing the possibility that the throttle
58 will become stuck or frozen in the advanced position
while the aerator drive means 64 is moved from the
engaged to the disengaged position, thereby resulting
in engine "run-away". At the same time, the override
means 90 provides a means for quickly disengaging the
aerator drive means 64 in the event that the throttle
58 does become frozen in the advanced position.
The override means 90 includes an override
bracket 92 in which the lower aperture 86 is located
and to which the throttle control cable 60 is operatively
connected as before described. The override bracket
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: further includes a tab 94 which abuts the control
handle 20, thereby adapting the override bracket 92
for rearward pivotal movement in response to the
rearward pivotal movement of the control handle 20.
However, the forward pivotal movement of the override
bracket is governed by spring means 96 attached to the
override bracket, and is controlled by the tab 94
which prevents the forward progress of the spring-
assisted pivotal movement of the override bracket 92
from exceeding the forward progress of the manually
controlled pivotal movement o~ the control handle 20.
In accordance with the invention, as the
control handle 20 is pivoted forwardly from the drive
position to the neutral position, the spring biased
override bracket 92 assists the return of the throttle
from the advanced position to the idle position,
while the tab 94 assures the desired sequence of
operation. However, as is readily apparent, should
the throttle control cable 60 freeze while the throttle
58 is in the advanced position in spite of the spring
means 96, the control handle 20 operates independently
of the override bracket 92, and can be quickly moved
from the drive position to the neutral position to
disengage the aerator drive means 64.
Various of the features of the invention are
set forth in the following claims.
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