GB2197172A

GB2197172A - Ground care implements and appliances

Info

Publication number: GB2197172A
Application number: GB08723801A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Geoffrey Davies
Original assignee: DABRO INT Ltd
Current assignee: DABRO INT Ltd
Priority date: 1986-10-09
Filing date: 1987-10-09
Publication date: 1988-05-18
Anticipated expiration: 2007-10-09
Also published as: GB8723801D0; GB8624277D0; GB2197172B

Abstract

A turf scarifier (10) suitable for attachment to a motor driven vehicle and having one or more rows of sprung tines (32), said row or rows being movable hydraulically between an operative raking position position and a non-operative position for towing to and from an area to be raked. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Ground care implements and appliances DESCRIPTION This invention concerns ground care implements and appliances and is particularly concerned with scarifiers suitable for turf treatment.

Raking of turf or grass surfaces is important for removal of debris, such as dead grass and moss. Such raking can be carried out by means of tractor towed rake scarifiers, the scarifier comprising a row of fixed rake lines.

With such scarifiers turf can be damaged.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved scarifier suitable for attachment to a motor driven vehicle.

According to the invention there is provided a scarifier suitable for attachment to a motor driven vehicle and having one or more rows of sprung tines, said row or rows being movable hydraulically between an operative raking position and a non-operative position for towing to and from an area to be raked.

Preferably the row or rows of tines may be set at varying angles relative to the ground.

Preferably the scarifier has two rows of tines and the tines of one row are out of alignment with the tines of the other row.

This arrangement can provide even ground coverage as well as preventing build up of debris and consequential clogging of the tines.

The tines may be attached to cross bars that are rotatable so that the angle of the tines relative to the ground can be adjusted according to whether light or heavy raking is required. Preferably a pair of such bars are connected to the same hydraulic ram so that angular adjustment of both sets of tines is matched. The tines on one of the cross bars may, of course, be set initially at a different angle to the tines of the other cross bar.

The cross bars are preferably rotatably mounted below a support frame so that rotation of the cross bars and hence movement of the tines is more or less immediately effective.

For the tines to be sprung they may be made of wire and include a coiled section between the point of the tine and its other end which is attached to the cross bar. Preferably the tines are in pairs formed integrally so that the attachment point of the pair is between two such coiled sections. The coiled sections are preferably arranged so that pressure on the tine from the ground tends to wind the coil up rather than to unwind it.

The scarifier of the invention may also comprise a roller preferably before the row or rows of tines in the normal direction of travel of the scarifier. The roller may be raisable and lowerable so that the actual weight or pressure on the tines can be adjusted. Application of downward pressure is useful in producing a tilth in areas of worn turf or grass, such as in goalmouths of football pitches, prior to reseeding. Raising and lowering of the roller may be by means of a lever, preferably by means of two levers one at each end of the roller. A two lever arrangement may be advantageous in reducing stress on the frame and levers.

The scarifier of the invention may be pulled by any suitable motor vehicle but is preferably adapted for attachment via a three point linkage to a tractor or the like that also carries a pump for hydraulic fluid for movement of the tines.

The invention will now further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a turf scarifier; Figure 2 is a perspective view from above of the turf scarifier of Fig. 1; and Figure 3 shows a tine of the scarifier of Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawings, a turf scarifier 10 comprises a generally rectangular frame 12 having parallel side members 14 and 15 and higher front and rear members 16 and 17 respectively attached across the ends of the side members 14, 15, the front by side plates 13 and the rear by support posts 21.

The front and rear members 16 and 17 are braced by a bar 19 between their midpoints.

The front member 16 also has mounted thereon an inverted U-shaped frame 20 whose top member 22 is braced by a diagonal bar 23 to the bar 19. The top member 22 and the front member 16 also carry connection points 25 for a three point linkage of a tractor.

Extending between brackets 28 depending from the side member 14 and 15 are two bars 26, the ends of which are rotatable in the brackets 28. Each bar 26 has attached thereto by pins 30 a series of double tines 32.

The tines 32 are made in one piece from wire and include coiled portions 34 on either side of an attachment loop 36 through which the pins 30 fit. The tines extend from beneath the coils so that when pressing on the ground the coils tend to wind up rather than unwind.

In this way, the springiness of the tines may be maintained.

The bars 26 are connected by a joint linkage to a hydraulic ram 42, whereby the bars can be rotated to adjust the angle of the tines between a non-operative raised position and a variety of lowered operative positions. The hydraulic ram cylinder 44 is pivotably attached to the underside of the bar 19 just behind the front member 16 and its piston 46 is connected to a linkage 48 that is connected directly to one bar 26 and via a bar 50 to the other bar 26.

Forward of the bars 26 is a roller 60 that is mounted in a frame 62 pivotably mounted between the side plates 13. The frame 62 in cludes a lever 64 at each end thereof, whereby the roller 60 can be raised and lowered to adjust the downward pressure on the tines.

Claims

1. A scarifier suitable for attachment to a motor driven vehicle and having one or more rows of sprung tines, said row or rows being movable hydraulically between an operative raking position and a non-operative position for towing to and from an area to be raked.

2. A scarifier as claimed in claim 1 or 2, having two rows of tines, the tines of one row being out of alignment with the tines of the other row.

3. A scarifier as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the tines are attached to cross bars that are rotatable so that the angle of the tines relative to the ground can be adjusted.

4. A scarifier as claimed in claim 3, wherein a pair of such cross bars are connected to the same hydraulic ram so that angular adjustment of both sets of tines is matched.

5. A scarifier as claimed in claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein the tines on one of the cross bars are set initially at a different angle to the tines of the other cross bar.

6. A scarifier as claimed in claim 3, 4 or 5, wherein the cross bars are rotatably mounted below a support frame.

7. A scarifier as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the tines are made of wire and include a coiled section between the point of the tine and its other end which is attached to the cross bar.

8. A scarifier as claimed in claim 7, wherein the tines are in pairs formed integrally so that the attachment point of the pair is between two such coiled sections.

9. A scarifier as claimed in claim 8, wherein the coiled sections of the tines are arranged so that pressure on the tine from the ground tends to wind the coil up.

10. A scarifier as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 also comprising a roller.

11. A scarifier as claimed in claim 10, wherein the roller is before the row or rows of tines in the normal direction of travel of the scarifier.

12. A scarifier as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein the roller is raisable and lowerable.

13. A scarifier as claimed in claim 12, wherein raising and lowering of the roller is by means of a lever at one or each end of the roller.

14. A scarifier substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.