GB2447701A

GB2447701A - Turf or soil penetrating device

Info

Publication number: GB2447701A
Application number: GB0705608A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stuart Booth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-03-23
Filing date: 2007-03-23
Publication date: 2008-09-24
Also published as: GB0705608D0

Abstract

A device 1 for reciprocatively penetrating turf or soil which is operatively mountable on one or more substantially vertical reciprocative arms of an aerator or cultivator comprises a plate-like body extending into a plurality of unidirectional tines 3, wherein the body 2 is adapted to assist in the mounting on the substantially vertical reciprocative arms. The tines 3 may extend from a common first edge 1a of the body 2 and be substantially parallel spaced apart by curved webbing 6. The body 2 may contain a first 5a and second 5b aperture capable of fastening the device to the substantially vertical reciprocative arms. The device 1 may be manufactured by cutting a plurality of the devices 1 from sheet metal and heat treating the individual devices. This may be followed by additional milling, grinding or hot forming of the tines 3.

Description

Device The present invention relates to a multi-tine penetrating device

for reciprocatively penetrating turf or soil.

An aerator can be used to aerate an area of turf such as a golf green. An efficient aerator may introduce air, moisture and nutrients into the sub-surface of the turf without substantially disrupting its external surface.

A conventional aerator comprises a plurality of single tines individually mounted in a tine holder. The tine holder is secured to vertically reciprocative arms. Single tines are available in various shapes and sizes and only an appropriately configured tine holder can be used to mount a selected tine.

The present invention seeks to improve the versatility of an aerator by providing a multi-tine penetrating device which dispenses with the need for a specially configured tine holder.

Thus viewed from one aspect the present invention provides a penetrating device for reciprocatively penetrating turf or soil which is operatively mountable on one or more substantially vertically reciprocative arms of an aerator or cultivator comprising: a substantially plate-like body extending into a plurality of unidirectional tines, wherein the plate-like body is adapted to assist the penetrating device to be operatively mountable on the one or more substantially vertically reciprocative arms.

By eliminating the need for differently configured tine holders, the penetrating device of the invention is rapidly deployed and replaced as desired. It is also less susceptible to vibration-induced loosening than are single tines r* :* individually coupled to the vertically reciprocative arms via a specially *:. configured tine holder. It is also a more economical alternative to multiple * individual tines mounted on a special tine holder. * **

Typically the penetrating device is comb-like.

In a preferred embodiment, the plurality of unidirectional tines extend from a common first edge of the substantially plate-like body. Typically a second free edge (for example parallel to the first edge) is chamfered or rounded.

In a preferred embodiment, adjacent tines of the plurality of unidirectional tines are substantially parallel.

Adjacent tines of the plurality of unidirectional tines are typically equidistantaly spaced apart. Preferably adjacent tines of the plurality of unidirectional tines are speced apart by curved webbing.

The substantially plate-like body and plurality of unidirectional tines may be substantially coplanar. A part of each tine may extend outside the plane of the substantially plate-like body. This may accommodate stresses occurring during reciprocative penetration of turf or soil coupled with forward propulsion of the aerator or cultivator.

In a preferred embodiment, the substantially plate-like body is adapted to assist the penetrating device to be operatively mountable directly on the one or more vertically reciprocative arms.

The plurality of unidirectional tines may be two or more, preferably three or more, particularly preferably four or more, more preferably five or more, yet more preferably six more, even more preferably seven or more (eg seven) tines.

The cross-sectional profile of each tine may be substantially regular or irregular. The cross-sectional profile of each tine may be substantially polygonal such as substantially square or rectangular. Each tine may be a solid tine, star tine, chisel tine, pencil tine, slitter tine or needle tine. For each type of tine, the width and thickness of the substantially plate-like body may be adapted accordingly. Preferred are a plurality of unidirectional tines selected : ... from square tines, rectangular tines, star tines or chisel tines. These tines ****** generally maximise the surface area of turf or soil made available to water, air *.S.

and nutrients. S. ** * S 5

* .: Each tine may terminate in a point, edge, face or faces. The edge, face or faces may be rounded. S **

:f Each tine may be at least partially tapered. For example the tine may be . .: tapered to a terminal point or a terminal edge. The terminal edge may be substantially perpendicular to the plane of the plate-like body.

The substantially plate-like body may be adapted to assist the penetrating device to be operatively mountable on the one or more vertically reciprocative arms by a suitable fastener. For this purpose, the substantialyl plate-like body may be provided with one or more (eg two) apertures. The apertures may be regular or irregular (eg elongate). Elongate apertures are preferred to assist mounting to vertically reciprocative arms of different aerators or cultivators.

The fastener may be a threaded or non-threaded fastener (eg a bolt) passing through the aperture.

Preferably the substantially plate-like body comprises a first and second aperture, wherein each of the first and second aperture is capable of receiving a fastener to operatively mount the penetrating device on the one or more substantially vertically reciprocative arms.

The penetrating device of the invention is typically cut from sheet metal (eg sheet metal alloy or steel such as sheet spring steel). Cutting may be carried out by laser, plasma or gas profiling.

Viewed from a further aspect the present invention provides a process for manufacturing a penetrating device as hereinbefore defined comprising: creating in sheet metal a template corresponding to a plurality of nested penetrating devices as hereinbefore defined; cutting from the sheet metal the plurality of nested penetrating devices; and heat treating each penetrating device The process may further comprise: milling or grinding each of the plurality of unidirectional tines of the penetrating device (eg to a terminal point or edge).

The process may further comprise: hot forming each of the plurality of unidirectional tines of the penetrating device. * * *

*:: Viewed from a yet further aspect the present invention provides an aerator or * cultivator comprising: : ***, one or more substantially vertically reciprocative arms; and at least one (preferably more than one) penetrating device as hereinbefore defined mounted on the one or more substantially vertically reciprocative arms.

The present invfention will now be described in a non-limitative sense with reference to the accompanying Figures in which: Figure 1 is an illustration of an embodiment of the penetrating device of the invention.

Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment of the penetrating device of the present invention denoted generally by reference numeral 1. The penetrating device 1 is manufactured by laser profiling from sheet spring steel. The penetrating device 1 is comb-like and comprises a substantially plate-like body 2 extending from a first edge la into seven substantially parallel, unidirectional tines 3a-g. The free second edge 1 b of the penetrating device 1 opposite the first edge la is rounded ic.

Each of the tines 3a-g in this embodiment is a chisel tine with a terminal edge 4a perpendicular to the plane of the substantially plate-like body 2. The tines 3a-g are separated by curved webbing 6.

The substantially plate-like body 2 is provided with twin elongate apertures 5a, 5b which are capable of receiving a bolt to secure the device 1 to vertically reciprocating arms of an aerator. * * * **S. S * **** ** S. * S * * *

S

S * *S * * . S*S. S. * * S

S

Claims

I. A penetrating device for reciprocatively penetrating turf or soil which is operatively mountable on one or more substantially vertically reciprocative arms of an aerator or cultivator comprising: a substantially plate-like body extending into a plurality of unidirectional tines, wherein the plate-like body is adapted to assist the penetrating device to be operatively mountable on the one or more substantially vertically reciprocative arms.
2. A penetrating device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plurality of unidirectional tines extends from a common first edge of the substantially plate-like body.
3. A penetrating device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein adjacent tines of the plurality of unidirectional tines are substantially parallel.
4. A penetrating device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein adjacent tines of the plurality of unidirectional tines are spaced apart by curved webbing.

* ...
5. A penetrating device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the substantially plate-like body is adapted to assist the penetrating device to be : * * operatively mountable directly on the one or more vertically reciprocative arms.

* :
6. A penetrating device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each of *. : tne piuraitty 01 UlilUlteeLlonul Lilies IS SCICCLCU huh! 4UdIC LIIICS, !CCL1IgUi4L * tines, star tines and chisel tines.
7. A penetrating device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the substantially plate-like body comprises a first and second aperture, wherein each of the first and second aperture is capable of receiving a fastener to operatively mount the penetrating device on the one or more substantially vertically reciprocative arms.
8. A process for manufacturing a penetrating device as defined in any preceding claim comprising: creating in sheet metal a template corresponding to a plurality of nested penetrating devices as defined in any preceding claim; cutting from the sheet metal the plurality of nested penetrating devices; and heat treating each penetrating device
9. A process as claimed in claim 8 further comprising milling or grinding each of the plurality of unidirectional tines of the penetrating device.
10. A process as claimed in claim 8 or 9 further comprising hot forming each of the plurality of unidirectional tines of the penetrating device.
11. An aerator or cultivator comprising: one or more substantially vertically reciprocative arms; and at least one penetrating device as defined in any of claims 1 to 7 mounted on the one or more substantially vertically reciprocative arms. * ** * * * * S. I... * S S... S. *S * S * * I S.. * ** * . * S.. * S S.