GB2287167A

GB2287167A - A hollow tine spiking machine

Info

Publication number: GB2287167A
Application number: GB9404448A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jonathan William Hargreaves; George Edward Hobbs
Original assignee: Sisis Equipment; Sisis Equipment Macclesfield Ltd
Current assignee: Sisis Equipment; Sisis Equipment Macclesfield Ltd
Priority date: 1994-03-08
Filing date: 1994-03-08
Publication date: 1995-09-13
Anticipated expiration: 2014-03-08
Also published as: GB2287167B; GB9404448D0

Abstract

A hollow tine spiking machine for ground treatment including one or more rows of hollow tines (10) attached to a reciprocating drive mechanism (12) such that soil cores are released from the tines as at (18), and a collection trough (19) enclosing a driven screw conveyor (20) so that the soil cores are collected and conveyed to one or both ends of the machine where they may be deposited onto the ground in a line remote from the spiked area or alternatively conveyed upwardly by an inclined conveyor (22 Figure 2) into a travelling collection hopper. The collecting trough prevents the soil cores from being deposited onto the spiked ground. <IMAGE>

Description

A HOLLOW TINE SPIKING MACHINE THIS INVENTION concerns a spiking machine for ground treatment in which a number of hollow tines usually arrange din one or more rows, are caused to penetrate the ground repeatedly in a reciprocating manner as the machine is progressed forwardly, usually behind a tractor, the object being to produce a continuous series of holes which aerate the ground and into which, for example, a dressing material may be deposited in a subsequent or simultaneous operation.

Hollow tine spiking machines extract a considerable quantity of soil cores which are ejected from the tines and conventionally are deposited back onto the ground to be picked up or brushed aside usually by a further machine which follows the spiking machine.

This creates a major disadvantage in that an additional power unit, or tractor, with a driver is required and which exerts pressure on the ground surface which tends to close the holes created before they can be filled with the dressing material.

An object of the present invention is to provide, in a hollow tine spiking machine, means for collecting the soil cores to prevent them from being deposited onto the ground being treated.

According to the present invention there is provided a hollow tine spiking machine for ground treatment, in which a number of hollow tines are caused to penetrate the ground repeatedly in a reciprocating manner as the machine is progressed forwardly, and in which the removed soil cores are ejected from the tines; characterised by a device disposed adjacent the tines and including a trough for receiving and collecting the ejected cores thus to prevent them from being deposited onto the treated ground.

Preferably, the device also includes means associated with the trough for conveying the cores to a part of the machine where they may be deposited onto an unspiked part of the ground or alternatively deposited into a container for subsequent disposal.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of a hollow tine spiking machine adapted for connection to and to be towed by a tractor; Fig. 2 is a rear view of the machine; and Fig. 3 is a rear view of an improved embodiment.

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated a hollow tine spiking machine having, in this example, a single row of tines 10 disposed side-by-side across the machine 11 and connected to a reciprocating mechanism generally indicated at 12 which serves to cause the tines to penetrate the ground vertically in a sequential manner as the machine is towed in the direction of arrow A.

The machine 11 has a power transmission mechanism 14 for connection to the standard power take-off on a tractor, and a connecting link 15 also for connection to the tractor.

The machine runs on two or more wheels 16 freely rotatable on a main frame or chassis 17.

In Fig. 1 the most adjacent tine 10 is shown at full ground penetration and as can be seen at 18, soil cores are ejected from the sides of the tines as they are filled during the reciprocating motion thereof.

In accordance with the present invention there is located on the rear part of the spiking machine 11 a collection trough 19 so positioned as to receive the soil cores as they are projected upwardly from the tines. Positioned in the trough 19 is a screw conveyor 20, which, as can be seen from Fig. 2, transports the cores to the lefthand end of the machine where they may be deposited on the ground in a line remote from the spiked area. The shaft 21 of the screw conveyor 20 may be driven through a belt or chain from the transmission mechanism 14.

Referring now to Fig. 3, if required, there may be provided at the output end of the screw conveyor 20 an inclined screw conveyor 22 which lifts the soil cores to an elevated position where they may be deposited into a travelling collection hopper or other container.

It is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only. For example, if there is sufficient space available a collection container for the soil cores may be provided on the back of the machine itself and may receive the cores either directly from the trough without the aid of a conveyor, or alternatively by a conveyor for transporting or elevating the cores to deposit them into the container.

Spiking machines typically include several rows of reciprocating tines, and so in accordance with the invention, several collection troughs may be provided, for example, one behind each row of tines.

Claims

1. A-hollow tine spiking machine for ground treatment in which a number of hollow tines are caused to penetrate the ground repeatedly in a reciprocating manner as the machine is progressed forwardly, and in which the removed soil cores are ejected from the tines; characterised by a device disposed adjacent the tines and including a trough for receiving and collecting the ejected soil cores thus to prevent them from being deposited onto the treated ground.

2. A hollow tine spiking machine according to Claim 1, including means associated with the trough for conveying the soil cores to a part of the machine where they may be deposited onto an unspiked part of the ground or alternatively deposited into a container for subsequent disposal.

3. A hollow tine spiking machine according to Claim 2, wherein the conveying means includes a screw conveyor arranged and adapted to convey the soil cores to one end of the machine where they may be deposited on the ground in a line remote from the spiked area.

4. A hollow tine spiking machine according to Claim 3, including a power transmission mechanism for connection to the standard power take-off on a tractor.

5. A hollow tine spiking machine according to Claim 4, wherein the screw conveyor includes a shaft driven through a belt or chain from the power transmission mechanism.

6. A hollow tine spiking machine according to Claim 2, wherein said conveying means includes an inclined screw conveyor.

arranged and adapted to lift the soil cores to an elevated position for disposal.

7. A hollow tine spiking machine according to Claim 1, including a collection container arranged and adapted to receive the soil cores from the trough.

8. A hollow tine spiking machine according to Claim 1, in which the hollow tines are arranged in a single row spaced transversely across the machine.

9. A hollow tine spiking machine according to Claim l, including several rows of reciprocating tines and several collection troughs disposed respectively behind a number of said rows of tines.

10. A hollow tine spiking machine for ground treatment, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.