AU2009101202A4

AU2009101202A4 - Improved turf cultivator

Info

Publication number: AU2009101202A4
Application number: AU2009101202A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Geoffrey T. Hatton
Original assignee: MANOEUVRE MOW Pty Ltd
Current assignee: MANOEUVRE MOW Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2009-11-25
Filing date: 2009-11-25
Publication date: 2009-12-17
Anticipated expiration: 2017-11-25
Also published as: AU2009101202B4; NZ589273A

Description

1 IMPROVED TURF CULTIVATOR FIELD OF INVENTION 5 This invention relates to machines for cultivating grass cover especially for lawns and playing fields. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 10 US 2004/0244351 teaches a device for cultivating a grass cover comprising a frame coupled to a tractor, said frame supporting a drive shaft, which, during use of the device, extends square to the direction of movement of the frame and extends almost horizontally, said shaft being provided with a number of cultivating members, square to the axis of said shaft, at spaced-apart positions. 15 At each location of a cultivating member on the drive shaft, a cutting disc is present which is rotatably supported on a shaft mounted on the frame and each cutting disc is followed by a rising coulter. Following the cultivating member is a roller for pressing the parts of the grass cover that were turned upwards by the 20 rising coulter back down to form a smooth turf cover. This device achieves fair results in cultivation of recreational fields, such as sports playing fields for example. The soil and turf ploughed up by the rear coulter knives is distributed across the ground and the slots made in the ground 25 can be closed sufficiently so that the sports field can be used again after a period of time. However unevenness due to the heaving and tearing of the cultivating member can occur along the edges where the slots occur. This is caused by the rear 2 rising coulter knives which cut the slots thus tearing and damaging the grass cover. Accordingly it can take some time for a smooth turf cover to re-establish. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 5 It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a cultivator which overcomes the disadvantages of prior grass cultivating devices or at least to provide a useful alternative. 10 STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a turf cultivator comprises a frame on which is transversely mounted in progressive order, a series of cutting discs, a driven shaft carrying a series of disc mounted rotary blades and a free wheeling roller. Preferably the cutting discs are mounted in staggered pairs on axles attached 15 to brackets fixed to the frame. Preferably the rotary blades are attached to discs carried on the driven shaft. Preferably the series of rotary blades are located in front of and between individual discs. Preferably the discs are made from stainless steel and the blades are made 20 from high abrasion resistant steel with a hard face welded on the leading edge. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is an elevation of a cultivator drawn behind a tractor 25 Figure 2 is an exposed plan view of the cultivator of Figure 1 Figure 3 is an elevation of a pair of staggered cutting discs 3 Figure 4 is a front elevation corresponding to Figure 3 Figure 5 is an elevation of an individual disc with rotary blades and Figure 6 is a plan view of the spacing and orientation of a series of rotary blades as shown in Figure 5 mounted on a driven shaft. 5 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In Figure 1, cultivator frame 1 is coupled to a tractor and has transversely mounted on it a series of cutting discs 2 and a driven shaft carrying disc 10 mounted rotary blades 3. A free wheeling roller 4 is also mounted at the front of frame 1 as a height adjustment device. The relative spacing and radial orientation of discs 2 and blades 3 is illustrated in Figure 2. Discs 2 are mounted in staggered pairs on axles 5 attached to 15 brackets 6 which are fixed to frame 1 via struts 7 as shown in Figures 3 and 4. Blades 3 are bolted to discs 8 which are mounted on drive shaft 9 as shown in Figures 5 and 6. Accordingly blades 3 are located in front of and between discs 2 so that after 20 blades 3 cut slots in the turf and soil, rotating discs 2 break and push the turf and soil sideways to the direction of travel. This action breaks up and reconditions the soil and turf profile.

4 ADVANTAGES In the prior art device of US 2004/0244351 the coulter knives it employs to break and lift the turf and soil cause considerable damage to the cover and so 5 re-establishment of the cover takes longer than with cutting blades 3 of the present invention. Further the spacing of discs 2 and cutting knives 3 is closer than in the prior art device and this closer spacing produces more top dressing soil. Finally discs 2 are fabricated from stainless steel so that soil does not readily adhere and a cleaner cut is achieved while blades 3 are made from high 10 abrasion resistant steel with a hard face welded on the leading edge. The closer spaced and increased number of discs 2 and blades 3 allows more turf thatch reduction while increasing soil quantities. Accordingly higher water infiltration and retention rates are achieved and the ability to inject soil 15 ameliorants and water retention materials is enhanced. The end result is a faster re-establishment of an improved cover than that achieved by prior art devices. VARIATIONS It will be realized that the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative 20 example only and that all other modifications and variations as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein set forth.

5 Throughout the description and claims of this specification the word "comprise" and variation of that word such as "comprises " and "comprising" are not intended to exclude other additives components integers or steps. 5 10 15 20

Claims

1. A turf cultivator comprising a frame on which is transversely mounted in progressive order, a free wheeling roller, a driven shaft carrying a series of disc mounted rotary blades and a series of cutting discs. 5

2. The cultivator of claim 1 wherein the cutting discs are mounted in staggered pairs on axles attached to brackets fixed to the frame.

3. The cultivator of claim 1 wherein the rotary blades are attached to discs 10 carried on the driven shaft.

4. The cultivator of claim 1 wherein the series of rotary blades are located in front of and between individual discs. 15

5. The cultivator of claim 1 wherein the discs are made from stainless steel and the blades are made from high abrasion resistant steel with a hard face welded on the leading edge. 20