GB2029475A

GB2029475A - Apparatus for the treatment of surfaces

Info

Publication number: GB2029475A
Application number: GB7835962A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: SISIS EQUIPMENT Ltd; Sisis Equipment Macclesfield Ltd
Current assignee: SISIS EQUIPMENT Ltd; Sisis Equipment Macclesfield Ltd
Priority date: 1978-09-07
Filing date: 1978-09-07
Publication date: 1980-03-19
Also published as: DE7924646U1; JPS5536585A; GB2029475B; DE2935112A1

Abstract

Apparatus for treating hard porous playing surfaces for sports and athletics comprises an assembly adapted to be connected to power towing means, the assembly having, in operative succession and each disposed transversely to the intended direction of travel, a rake structure (26, 28), means for levelling particulate material (42, 44), a roller (52) and brush means (54), the assembly including means (30, 32, 36, 38, 40) for controlling the operative position of the levelling means. Treatment of a disturbed and compacted such surface with the apparatus reconsitutes the surface in homogeneous manner and so as to give desirable characteristics. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for the treatment of surfaces This invention concerns apparatus for the treatment of surfaces. The surfaces are what are commonly referred to as hard porous playing surfaces, artificially prepared from grit, shale, cinders or like particulate material, and the treatment is such as is required to maintain such surfaces in good condition for sports and athletic use.

In our U.K. Patent specification No.

1470009 we have described apparatus for such treatment of surfaces of the kind referred to which consists of an assembly adapted to be secured to power towing means such as the hydraulic towing linkage of a tractor, said assembly comprising, in operative succession and each disposed transversely to the intended direction of travel, a rake structure, particulate material levelling means, and brush means. In the embodiment described by way of example in our specification aforesaid the rake structure consists essentially of a plurality of rake tines, and these, the levelling means and the brush means are each independently height-adjustable relative to the ground.

It has been found, when using the apparatus described in our specification aforesaid, that the results are not always as good as might be desired in that the surface, after treatment, was somewhat "fluffy", and it is the object of the present invention to overcome this problem.

According to the present invention, apparatus for the purpose referred to consists of an assembly adapted to be secured to power towing means such as an hydraulic towing linkage of a tractor, said assembly comprising, in operative succession and each disposed transversely to the intended direction of travel, a rake structure, particulate material levelling means, and brush means, and is characterised by a transverse roller disposed between the levelling means and the brush means, and by a system for maintaining the levelling means in proper operative relationship with the surface being treated. The roller will, desirably, also be mounted in a manner allowing its height to be adjusted, and the mounting arrangement will preferably consist of a linkage which allows the levelling means to follow vertical surface variations without departing from a horizontal disposition.

The invention will now be described further, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which, Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of apparatus according to the invention, and Figure 2 is a plan view corresponding to Fig. 1 but to a reduced scale.

The illustrated apparatus consists essentially of a frame adapted to be secured to the hydraulic towing linkage of a tractor, and, adjustably supported on the frame, a series of rake tines, particulate material levelling means, a roller and brush means.

Referring to the drawings, and especially to Fig. 1 the towing linkage 10 of a tractor 1 2 is shown supporting the apparatus in operative position. The connexion of the towing linkage is direct to a rear member 1 4 to which is connected a rectangular frame 1 6 which supports two horizontal beams 18, 20 and two inclined stays 22, 24, joined by a tie bar 23.

The rake tines 26 form part of a subassembly suspended from a pair of brackets 28 attached to the horizontal beams 18, 20.

This sub-assembly may be like that described in our U.K. Patent Specification No. 873319.

The particulate material levelling means is in the form of a further sub-assembly. This consists of two pair of brackets 30, 32, each pair connected at their lower ends by cross bars 34. At the lower ends of the brackets 30, 32 are pivotally connected links 36, 38 and the lower ends of each pair of links 36, 38 are pivotally connected to a cradle 40. The latter supports a pair of long angle irons 42, 44 which can be presented with either an edge of a side to the ground (an edge thus presented being shown in the Figs.) and which lie parallel to the array of rake tines 26.

Tie bars 46 join the pairs of outer ends of the angle irons 42, 44, which latter act as levelling instrumentalities when the apparatus is in use. Obviously one, or more than two, angle irons may be used. A lug 35 provided on each cross-bar 34 serves as an abutment for the respective links 38 so that the cradle 40 never swings to or past "bottom dead centre".

At the ends of the horizontal beams 18, 20 is mounted yet another sub-assembly which included a ground roller and a brush. It consists of two brackets 48, secured in vertically adjustable manner to the respective outer ends of the beams 18, 20 which brackets 48 carry a roller frame 50 by means of which a ground roller 52 is rotatably mounted, also parallel to the array of tines 26. Two further brackets 53 extend forwardly from the carriage 50 and serve to mount a bristle brush 54, which also lies parallel to the array of tines 26. It may be arranged for the brush 54 to be vertically adjustable relative to the roller 52.

If desired a solid platform may be provided between the beams 18, 20.

The apparatus described forms a very effective and versatile tool for the treatment of surfaces of the type described. Such surfaces, after use, become disturbed and compacted, and the use thereon, successively, of a rake, levelling means and brush, as described in our specification No. 1 470009 aforesaid, enables a disturbed and compacted surface to be reconstituted. However, the reconstituted surface may, as previously mentioned, have a "fluffy" character to an undersirable degree.

Our investigations showed that additional treatment with a ground roller could give the required degree of firmness but considerable difficulties arose in producing a finish acceptable in other respects. These problems were only solved, surprisingly, when the roller was incorporated in the apparatus and disposed between the levelling means and the brush, and when the levelling means was supported in a special manner, as we found necessary to ensure that the proper operative relationship with the surface was maintained. The mounting particularly described is very effective in ensuring that the levelling means operates satisfactorily between the rake and the roller by floating in horizontal disposition without any possibility of swinging forwardly beyond "bottom dead centre".

When using the apparatus with all four instrumentalities operative a very satisfactory reconstitution of the surface is obtained. The rake first decompacts the surface, the levelling means levels it, the roller firms it, and the brush has a light redistributional affect, all of which results in a homogeneously reconstituted surface having the desired characteristics. Of course, any one or more of the four instrumentalities may be raised and secured in inoperative position if for any reason this is desired.

If the platform previously referred to is provided this can conveniently serve to carry a line-marking apparatus and line-marking material for later use in case the surface needs lines marking thereon after reconstitution.

Claims

1. Apparatus for treating surfaces comprising an assembly adapted to be connected to power towing means, the assembly comprising, in operative succession and each disposed transversely to the intended direction of travel, a rake structure, means for levelling particulate material, a roller, and brush means, the assembly including means for controlling the operative position of the levelling means.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, including means mounting the roller, the mounting means being adjustable to adjust the height of the roller.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which the means for controlling the levelling means comprises a linkage permitting the levelling means to follow vertical surface variations without departing from a horizontal disposition.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which the linkage comprises members pivoted about transverse axes and the means for controlling the levelling means comprises abutment means engageable by the linkage to prevent the members being vertical or inclined forwardly.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the assembly includes line-marking means.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the levelling means comprises one or more angle irons having an edge engageable with the surface to be treated.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the levelling means comprises one or more angle irons having a side engageable with the surface to be treated.

8. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.