GB2245811A

GB2245811A - Verge trimming machines

Info

Publication number: GB2245811A
Application number: GB9113712A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Harold Cooper
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-07-13
Filing date: 1991-06-25
Publication date: 1992-01-15
Anticipated expiration: 2011-06-25
Also published as: GB9015474D0; GB9113712D0; GB2245811B

Abstract

A verge trimming machine comprises a container for spoil, a frame 15 secured to the container, a cutter 16 carried by the frame for cutting an edge of a verge as the machine is advanced, a lifting device 22 for lifting the spoil adjacent to the cut edge and a power driven spinner 25, 26 for conveying the spoil from the lifting device into the container. <IMAGE>

Description

VERGE TRIMMING MACHINES This invention relates to machines for trimming verges of roads, pathways and the like.

Trimming of such verges involves cutting a straight edge to the grass or other vegetation and then removing the spoil. Traditionally this has been carried out using spades and other hand tools, but on roadways this is a most laborious task. Accordingly, it has been proposed to use a machine having a cutting disc which is drawn along the verge by a tractor or other apparatus. However, existing machines cannot gather up 'the spoil and therefore are not very satisfactory.

According to the present invention there is provided a verge trimming machine comprising a container for spoil, a frame fixed with respect to the container, a cutter carried by the frame for cutting an edge of a verge as the machine is advanced, a lifting device for lifting the spoil adjacent to the cut edge and a power driven spinner for conveying the spoil from the lifting device into the container.

Preferably, the spinner is selectively rotatable in either of two opposite directions for conveying the spoil into or away from the container.

Advantageously, a further power driven spinner is provided for feeding the spoil towards the first mentioned spinner.

Preferably, the cutter is in the form of a rotatable cutting disc.

Preferably, the cutter is supported to allow it to be deflected if it meets with an obstruction.

Preferably, means are provided for adjusting the height of the cutter relative to the frame.

Conveniently, the or eaçh spinner is rotatable by a fluid pressure actuated motor.

The lifting device may be in the form of a plough or may comprise a lifting blade and a guide plate for guiding spoil to the lifting blade.

Conveniently, a flexible guard is provided to enclose the moving parts and to prevent excessive discharge of spoil other than in the required direction.

Conveniently, a sighting gauge is mounted on the frame.

Preferably, the verge trimming machine includes means for attaching the container to a selfpropelled vehicle. In this case the attaching means may include means for adjusting the attitude of the container relative to the vehicle.

Conveniently, the container includes a pivotal flap for shifting spoil within the container from a position to which it is in use conveyed by the first mentioned spinner and means for pivoting the flap from a position external of the container.

The verge trimming machine may have an optional attachment including a second cutter to enable it to be used to cut drainage ditches.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one side and the front of one embodiment of a verge trimming machine according to the invention, with the container omitted.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the other side and the rear of the machine, again with the container omitted, Figure 3 is a view of an optional attachment, Figure 4 is a view showing the machine and the container, Figure 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a verge trimming machine according to the invention, and Figure 6 shows part of yet another embodiment of a verge trimming machine according to the invention.

Referring firstly to the Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, the verge trimming machine shown therein comprises a trimmer 9 and a container which ic in the form of a bucket 10 at the front of a conventional earth moving machine. The bucket may have a removable cover (not shown) and this could be hinged at the top edge to the bucket. An end plate 11 of the bucket 10 is provided with a rectangular hole 12 and the trimmer 9 is secured to the end plate 11 by bolts 13. When the trimmer 9 is not in use it can be unbolted and removed from the bucket 10 and a cover plate can be fitted over the hole 12 so that the bucket can be used for any other normal purpose.

The trimmer 9 is therefore mounted at one side of the bucket 10 and as the earth moving machine moves forward, the trimmer is advanced in a line parallel with the direction of travel of the machine.

The trimmer 9 comprises a composite frame 15 which supports a main cutter in the form of a disc 16.

The disc 16 is mounted on a generally horizontal axle 17 for rotation in a generally vertical plane. The axle 17 is supported by an arm 18 carried by a telescopic column 19 attached to the frame through hinges 20. The telescopic column includes a threaded rod and nut arrangement for extending and retracting the column in order to adjust the height of the disc 16 relative to the frame 15. The hinges 20 allow the disc to be deflected in the event that it meets with an obstruction. The arm 18 extends rearwards from the column 19 relative to the direction of travel of the machine, and the cutting disc will therefore cut the grass or other vegetation of the verge to form a straight edge 21.

A lifting device 22 is located rearwards of the disc 16 and is supported by a vertically extending rear wall 23 of the frame. The lifting device 22 is in the form of an upwardly curved plough having a straight leading edge extending traversely of the direction of travel and is positioned to scoop up spoil cut away from the verge by the cutting disc 16.

The trimmer 9 also comprises a power driven spinner for conveying the spoil from the plough in either of two directions according to the direction of rotation of the spinner. The spinner comprises a horizontal shaft 25 and spaced radially extending bars 26. The shaft 25 is mounted for rotation in a bearing 24a supported by a bearing support plate 24 and is driven by a reversible hydraulic motor 27 fixed to the rear wall 23 of the frame 15.

As shown in Figure 4, the spinner 25, 26 rotates at a position adjacent to the hole 12 in the bucket 10. When the spinner is rotating in one direction spoil is discharged directly into the bucket 10. However, when rotating in the other direction spoil is discharged through the side of the frame, as seen particularly in Figure 1, in a direction towards the verge being cut. Thus, if there is an area on the verge onto which the spoil can be discharged, the spinner is rotated in the appropriate direction to discharge the spoil onto the verge, but if the verge is narrow or there is otherwise no area onto which the spoil can be discharged, the spinner direction is reversed and the spoil is collected in the bucket.

A flexible guard 27 is secured to the edge of the frame 15 to enclose the moving parts and to prevent excessive discharge of spoil other than in the required direction. Part of the guard 27 may be raised, if spoil is to be discharged onto the verge.

To provide access when required to the spinner 25, 26, there is a removable lid 28 on the frame. This may be removed to enable obstructions or blockages to be cleared.

Mounted at the front of the frame 15 is a sight gauge comprising a rod 29 and a chain 30 connected to one end of the rod. The rod 29 is mounted in a tube 31 which is secured to the top of the frame 15. A screw 32 may be slackened to allow the position of the rod 29 in the tube 31 to be adjusted. The end of the rod 29 can thus be aligned with the cutting disc 16 to enable an operator to more easily maintain a straight line cut.

Figures 3 and 4 show an attachment comprising a telescopic column with an internal threaded rod and nut arrangement for extending and retracting the column, and a cutting disc 33 supported by the column. A handle 36 is provided to rotate the threaded rod. The attachment can be connected to the frame 15 as shown in 4 with the two cutting discs 16 and 33 arranged in spaced parallel relationship. The machine may then be used to cut drainage trenches transversely of the length of the verge. To do this, the earth moving machine carrying the verge trimming machine is manoeuvred so that it can be advanced towards the verge. The two cutting discs make spaced cuts, and the spoil between the cuts is extracted by means of the plough and spinner.

The embodiment shown in Figure 5 differs from that described previously only in that the container 40 is purpose built and includes means whereby it can be attached to a self-propelled vehicle in such a way as to allow the attitude of the container to be adjusted relative to the vehicle.

The container 40 has a closure 42 which is hinged at its upper end to the upper, front side of the container and which can be opened to enable the container to be emptied. The container also has an internal flap (not shown) which is connected to the bottom wall of the container for pivotal movement about an axis extending parallel to, and approximately midway between, the closure 42 and the rear wall of the container. Spoil conveyed to the container by the spinner tends to be deposited towards the front of the container and initially the flap is arranged to lie against the bottom wall of the container on the front side of the pivotal axis. Later, the flap can be pivoted upwardly by a lever (not shown) mounted externally of the container and attached to the flap by a flexible cord-like element.This will shift spoil deposited on the flap towards the rear of the container and will enable the container to receive a greater load.

The container 40 is connected to a plateshaped member 43 by three slidable connections 44, 45 46. The member 43 is fixed to the front of a self propelled vehicle (not shown) and a screw-threaded jack 47 is provided between the container 40 and the member 43 to enable the attitude of the container to be adjusted relative to the vehicle. This allows the container 40 to be levelled when the vehicle has all four wheels on the road and also when the vehicle has two wheels on the road and two on a footpath. A locknut .48 may be associated with the connection 44 to lock the container in a required position.

Figure 6 shows part of a modified trimmer for attachment to the container shown in Figure 5. The lifting device 22 of this embodiment comprises a horizontal lifting blade and an inclined guide plate 22a for guiding spoil from the cutting disc 16 to the lifting blade. The lifting blade is behind and at the lower edge of the guide plate 22a and extends forwards only as far as the spinner 25, 26. The leading edge of the guide plate 22a is however close to the cutting disc 16 and this guide plate guides spoil cut away from the verge by the cutting disc 16 towards the lifting blade as the trimmer is advanced. This embodiment also includes an additional power driven spinner 50 which, in the event of a build up of spoil in front of the lifting blade, feeds that spoil along the guide plate 22a to the lifting blade and the spinner 25 and 26.The spinner 50 is driven by an hydraulic motor 51 mounted on the top of the frame 15 through a chain and sprocket drive housed in a casing 52. The axis of rotation of the spinner 51 extends perpendicularly to the axis of rotation of the spinner 25, 26 and in side view is aligned approximately with the rear edge of the cutting disc 16. The walls 23 and 24 are replaced by a housing 53 containing the hydraulic motor for the spinner 25, 26 and the lifting device 22 extends forwards from the front wall of the housing 53. As in the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the cutting disc is supported at the rear end of a trailing arm which is attached to the lower end of a telescopic column. The column is connected to the frame 15 by hinges which allow the disc to deflect if it meets with an obstruction and the telescopic column is adjustable to vary the height of the cutting disc relative to the frame. A sight gauge and a flexible guard similar to those described previously are also provided.

Claims

1. A verge trimming machine comprising a container for spoil, a frame fixed with respect to the container, a cutter carried by the frame for cutting an edge of a verge as the machine is advanced, a lifting device for lifting the spoil adjacent to the cut edge and a power driven spinner for conveying the spoil from the lifting device into the container.

2. A verge trimming machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spinner is selectively rotatable in either of two opposite directions for conveying the spoil into or away from the container.

3. A verge trimming machine as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a further power driven spinner is provided for feeding the spoil towards the first mentioned spinner.

4. A verge trimming machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cutter is in the form of a rotatable cutting disc.

5. A verge trimming machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cutter is supported to allow it to be deflected if it meets with an obstruction.

6. A verge trimming machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including means for adjusting the height of the cutter relative to the frame.

7. A verge trimming machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the or each spinner is rotatable by a fluid pressure actuated motor.

8. A verge trimming machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lifting device is in the form of a plough.

9. A verge trimming machine as claimed in any one cf the preceding claims, wherein the lifting device comprises a lifting blade and a guide plate for guiding spoil to the lifting blade.

10. A verge trimming machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including a flexible guard.

11. A verge trimming machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including a sighting gauge mounted on the frame.

12. A verge trimming machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including means for attaching the container to a self-propelled vehicle.

13. A verge trimming machine as claimed in claim 12, wherein said attaching means includes means for adjusting the attitude of the container relative to the vehicle.

14. A verge trimming machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container includes a pivotal flap for shifting spoil within the container from a position to which it is conveyed by the first mentioned spinner and means for pivoting the flap from a position external of the container.

15. A verge trimming machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an optional attachment including a second cutter.

16. A verge trimming machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

17. A self propelled vehicle equipped with a verge trimming machine according to any one of the preceding claims.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A verge trimming machine comprising a container for spoil, a frame fixed with respect to the container, a cutter carried by the frame for cutting an edge of a verge as the machine is advanced, a lifting device for lifting the spoil adjacent to the cut edge and a power driven spinner for conveying the spoil from the lifting device directly into the container.