GB2472229A - Ground aeration apparatus having reciprocating tines - Google Patents

Ground aeration apparatus having reciprocating tines Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2472229A
GB2472229A GB0913176A GB0913176A GB2472229A GB 2472229 A GB2472229 A GB 2472229A GB 0913176 A GB0913176 A GB 0913176A GB 0913176 A GB0913176 A GB 0913176A GB 2472229 A GB2472229 A GB 2472229A
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United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
fluid
conduit
supply
pressure
tine
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB0913176A
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GB0913176D0 (en
Inventor
Jonathan Williams Hargreaves
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
SISIS EQUIPMENT
Sisis Equipment Macclesfield Ltd
Original Assignee
SISIS EQUIPMENT
Sisis Equipment Macclesfield Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by SISIS EQUIPMENT, Sisis Equipment Macclesfield Ltd filed Critical SISIS EQUIPMENT
Priority to GB0913176A priority Critical patent/GB2472229A/en
Publication of GB0913176D0 publication Critical patent/GB0913176D0/en
Publication of GB2472229A publication Critical patent/GB2472229A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01BSOIL WORKING IN AGRICULTURE OR FORESTRY; PARTS, DETAILS, OR ACCESSORIES OF AGRICULTURAL MACHINES OR IMPLEMENTS, IN GENERAL
    • A01B45/00Machines for treating meadows or lawns, e.g. for sports grounds
    • A01B45/02Machines for treating meadows or lawns, e.g. for sports grounds for aerating
    • A01B45/023Perforators comprising spiking tools actively driven in a reciprocating movement through a crankshaft or eccentric mechanism

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Soil Sciences (AREA)
  • Environmental Sciences (AREA)
  • Soil Working Implements (AREA)

Abstract

Aground aeration apparatus comprises a reciprocating tine12having a fluid conduit22with an outlet26via which fluid passing along the conduit may exit the conduit; first210and second400pressurised fluid supplies, connected to the fluid conduit via first and second valves30,430, respectively; wherein the first fluid supply has a higher pressure than the second fluid supply. The apparatus may further comprise timing apparatus for controlling the operation of the valves wherein the second valve opens and closes before the first valve. The first fluid which may be air, may be used as a propellant to eject the second fluid, which may be a gel, from the tine. The reciprocating action may be driven by a crank13and the timing of the valves may be regulated by reference to the rotation of the crank.

Description

GROUND TREATMENT APPARATUS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to ground treatment such as, for example, the treatment of turf, such as by the impregnation within the turf of one or more fluids.
It is important for a soil to contain both adequate moisture and air-filled pore spaces. Such pores provide routes for gas exchange with the atmosphere, known as soil aeration. Adequate soil aeration is needed to create a healthy environment for turfgrass roots, which require oxygen for respiration. In addition, plant-beneficial microbes living in the soil, which are aerobic organisms that consume oxygen in their respiratory processes and generate carbon dioxide (C02) also require oxygen. Efficient soil aeration is therefore necessary to prevent soil oxygen depletion and the accumulation of excessive CO2 or other, toxic gases. As the rate of metabolic processes of organisms increase with a rise in temperature, the higher the temperature, the greater the demand for oxygen and soil aeration. Consequently, the demand for soil oxygen is at its highest during the summer months and at its lowest during the winter in the UK.
The ideal balance of water to air in the total pore space should be 70% water and 30% air.
Thus, while it is preferable to provide aeration to turf, in certain turf conditions, ensuring the of an adequate quantity of water can also be difficult.
2. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
It is known from EP 1203522 to provide an array of reciprocating tines, each of which inject air or some other fluid into the ground upon penetration.
OF THE INVENTION
:hI present invention provides ground treatment apparatus comprising a reciprocating tine * having a fluid conduit which has an outlet whereby fluid passing along the conduit may exit the conduit via the outlet; first arid second pressurised fluid supplies, connected to the fluid conduit via first and second valves respectively; wherein the first fluid supply has a higher pressure than the second fluid supply.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a side view of a part of a conventional ground treatment apparatus; Fig. 2 is a schematic view of an embodiment of ground treatment apparatus according to the present invention; and Figs. 3 to 5 are details of elements of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 2.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to Fig. 1, a ground aeration apparatus generally indicated at 10 is adapted to be mounted on or drawn by a tractor (not shown), though this is not essential and the apparatus may equally be self-propelling. The apparatus comprises a row of tine assemblies each having a tine 12 which is reciprocated in a vertical direction by crank 1 3 attached to a crankshaft 1 3a, belt driven from a motor 14. The crank 13 causes oscillation of a pivoted arm 15 pivotally connected at 16 to an assembly 17 supporting the tine 12. A parallel link arm 18 maintains the movement of the tine in a generally vertical direction.
A high pressure supply 20 of a first fluid, which in the present embodiment is air, supplies air at a pressure of 10 bar. The air supply 20 is connected via a pipe 22 to a fluid conduit 24 extending coaxially along the tine, and which comprises a pair of outlet ports 26 located in the region of the pointed, distal end of the tine 12. The pipe 22 can be thought of as having two parts: part 22A which is upstream of a poppet valve 30, and part 22B which is downstream of the poppet valve 30. Air is admitted to the conduit 24 by the operation of the valve 30, which is cyclically depressed by a cam 32 on a flywheel 40 that rotates with the crankshaft 1 3a, thus * ,. ensuring that air is expelled from the outlets 26 of the fluid conduit 24 at the correct instant in the **reciprocating cycle of the tine 12, that is to say when the tine 12 is inserted into the ground 0.
**.* Thus far, the apparatus described is essentially conventional. * I* * S *
2'5' Referring now additionally to Fig. 2, the apparatus illustrated and described above in connection with Fig. 1 is illustrated schematically. The high pressure air supply 20 in Fig. 1 is provided by a L:c0mP1ess0r 210, which provides a substantially constant supply of air, which in the present has a pressure of 10 bar. The high pressure air supply is conducted, via a 12-way manifold 212 and pipes 22, each of which includes a poppet valve 30, to the conduit 24 within each tine 12 of a tine assembly.
In addition, the present embodiment also comprises an auxiliary system, which supplies a second fluid whose viscosity is greater than that of the first fluid (provided in this example by air). In the present embodiment, the second fluid is a gel generated from mixing water absorption powder and water, which is intended to have the function of hydrating turf which may, for whatever reason, be incapable of retaining sufficient moisture. The gel within the reservoir is thus more viscous than, in this example, the air supplied from compressor 210.
Referring again to Fig. 2, the auxiliary system includes a reservoir 400 of second fluid. The reservoir 400 is a high pressure supply of gel by virtue of being pressurised from the high pressure air compressor 210, via a pressure regulator 402 which operates to apply a pressure to the reservoir 400 which is lower than that provided by compressor 210, in this instance a pressure of 4 bar. The reservoir 400 thus provides a high pressure supply of gel at approximately 4 bar, via a 12 way manifold 410, a pipe 422 and a pinch valve 430, to part 22B of the pipe 22, downstream of the poppet valves 30. The latter part, 22C of the pipe 22 downstream of the intersection with pipe 422 is thus common to both the air and the gel fluids.
A manually-operable valve, provided by a combination of a lever 414 and a 5 way manifold 416, is operable to connect, or disconnect the supply of gel from reservoir 400 to the 12 way manifold 410, as desired, thus providing an option for aeration only to take place, without the addition of gel.
The pinch valve 430 is ordinarily biased closed by the provision of a high pressure supply of air I'd off of one of the pipes 22, via a regulator 250, and a further poppet valve 452, which is also operated by means of an additional cam (not shown) on the flywheel of the crankshaft 1 3a. The further poppet valve 452 is ordinarily based open, so that the air pressure from the regulator 250 is transmitted directly to the pinch valve and operates to bias the valve 430 closed. When the poppet valve is depressed by the additional cam, the biasing pressure on the pinch valve 430 is momentarily released and a pellet of gel, whose size is determined both by the pressure of the reservoir and the time interval over which the cam operates the further poppet valve 452, is urged under the supply pressure from the gel reservoir 400, into the common part 22C of the pipe 22. Operation of the pinch valve is shown and described in more detail in connection with Fig. 4 As mentioned previously, the air supply pressure from the compressor 210 is higher than that of gel reservoir 400. It follows that air entering the common part 22C of the pipe 22 will do so *: . at a higher pressure than gel entering part 22C. As a result, if the pinch valve is still open when the poppet valve 30 opens, there is a significant possibility that gel will be blown back into the pipe 430, rather than forced along the tine conduit 24 and out of outlets 26. Accordingly, it is preferable that the pinch valve is relatively fast-acting, and that the timing of the cams is such that the pinch closes before the poppet valve 30 opens.
Preferably, the auxiliary cam is located on the flywheel in front of the cam 32, with the result that this occurs before the poppet valve 30 operates to allow air from the compressor 210 providing the high pressure supply into the common part 22C of the pipe 22. This then has the effect that the subsequent release of high pressure air forces the gel into the conduit 24 and out of the outlets 26.
Referring now to Fig. 3, a poppet valve 30 comprises a lever 310, pivotally mounted to the body 312 of a valve chamber which houses a spring-loaded piston 314. Displacementofthefreeend of the lever by the lobe 316 of a cam causes the lever to displace the piston 314 axially within the valve chamber. Axial displacement of the piston 314 opens a conduit within the valve chamber to enable air to pass from the inlet 318 to the outlet 320, and on to the tine conduit 24.
Referring now to Fig. 4, a pinch valve comprises an e'astic diaphragm 340, which is biased closed to prevent the flow of gel in the direction of arrow 342 by pressure in an annular chamber 344. When the pressure within the chamber is released, the pressure in the pipe carrying the gel forces a pellet of gel through the opening diaphragm; the size of the pellet being determined by the length of time for which the diaphragm is open and the pressure with which the gel is urged through it. A quick exhaust valve (QEV) 350, located immediately upstream of the pinch valve has an atmospheric outlet vent 352. The outlet vent 352 is ordinarily biased closed by the pressure from the compressor 210, thus preventing the egress of air out of the vent while under supply pressure from the compressor. On reduction of the compressor below a threshold value, a fast-acting biasing mechanism in the outlet biases the outlet vent 352 open. This allows air in the vicinity of the diaphragm to escape as the diaphragms' biasing action operates to force itself open, thereby permitting the transmission of gel through the pinch valve. In this manner, the pinch valve can regulate the flow of gel yet operate sufficiently rapidly to ensure that the valve closes before the higher pressure air is admitted to the common part 22C of the pipe 22. Failure *:*::* of the valve to close in time, for example, might result in blow back' of gel toward the reservoir 400 under the action of the (higher) pressure of the air from compressor 210. Accordingly, it is of benefit in this embodiment to have a valve which is capable of opening rapidly, thus enabling .:ith1e provision of precise relative timings between ejection of the gel and application of the air from the compressor to act as a propellant for the gel.
Referring now to Fig. 5, a tine assembly includes a retaining body 510 which may be mounted to the reciprocating arm 17 by means of a spigot 512. Air from pipes 22 enters the assembly at inlets 514 and is conducted to the conduits within a tine 12 by a conduit within the retaining body 510. Preferably, the tines 12 are exchangably mounted within the retaining body 510. This enables, for example, an assembly to comprise a combination of one tine that includes a conduit 24 and outlets 26 to aerate and moisturize the soil, and another that does not contain such conduits but nonetheless performs a useful cultivating function for the soil by puncturing it. 4 V
In a modification, a plenum chamber is provided to supply pressure, via the air compressor 210, to the gel reservoir 400. The plenum chamber may perform two functions. Firstly, it provides a source of more consistent pressure for the reservoir. This may be of significance in applications were great precision is required in the pellet size of the gel implanted into the ground, since pellet size may be affected by reservoir pressure. Secondly, where the apparatus is driven and powered by a tractor, any interruption in the drive from the tractor will momentarily result in a loss of pressure within the gel reservoir while the air compressor once again starts to function.
By adding a plenum chamber and a non-return valve, a momentary interruption in the operation of the air compressor will not affect the supply pressure within the gel reservoir. *..* * * * ** S *.S* * S **** * SS * * S * S. * ** * S * SSS * S. S * * * S S.

Claims (14)

  1. CLAIMS1. Ground treatment apparatus comprising a reciprocating tine having a fluid conduit with an outlet via which fluid passing along the conduit may exit the conduit; first and second pressurised fluid supplies, connected to the fluid conduit via first and second valves respectively; wherein the first fluid supply has a higher pressure than the second fluid supply.
  2. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first and second fluid supplies are connected to the tine fluid conduit via a common conduit and the first and second valves are upstream of the common conduit.
  3. 3. Apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising timing apparatus for controlling the operation of the first and second valves, wherein the second valve opens before the first valve is opened.
  4. 4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the second valve opens and closes before the first valve opens.
  5. 5. Apparatus according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the second fluid supply is connected to the conduit downstream of the first fluid supply's connection to the conduit.
  6. 6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the first fluid is used as a propellant to eject the * .. second fluid from the outlet in the tine. * * * * **
  7. 7. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the second fluid has a higher viscosity than the first fluid. *. * * I *
    *
  8. 8. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reciprocating action of the tine is driven by a crank and timing of the operation of the first and second valves is regulated by reference to rotation of the crank.
  9. 9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the timing of the operation of the first and second valves is regulated by cam lobes connected for rotation with the crank.
  10. 10. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a reservoir of second fluid, kept under a supply pressure.
  11. 11. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the reservoir of second fluid is kept under supply pressure by a pressure supply for the first fluid.
  12. 12 Apparatus according to claim 9 or claim 10 further comprising a plenum chamber used to supply pressure to the reservoir of second fluid.
  13. 13. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the plenum chamber is pressurised by the pressure supply for the first fluid.
  14. 14. Ground treatment apparatus substantially as described herein and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. * * * ** * * * ***. * ** * * * * S. * .* * U S *.. S S. S * S S S *S
GB0913176A 2009-07-28 2009-07-28 Ground aeration apparatus having reciprocating tines Withdrawn GB2472229A (en)

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Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
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Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0913176A GB2472229A (en) 2009-07-28 2009-07-28 Ground aeration apparatus having reciprocating tines

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GB0913176D0 GB0913176D0 (en) 2009-09-02
GB2472229A true GB2472229A (en) 2011-02-02

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Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ITPD20130088A1 (en) * 2013-04-10 2014-10-11 Ci M P A S A S Di Gallo Adriano E C EQUIPMENT FOR AERATION OF THE SOIL, FOR GROUNDS GROWING IN A HERBAL MANTO, FOR AGRICULTURAL AND SIMILAR LANDS
ITPD20130349A1 (en) * 2013-12-19 2015-06-20 Ci M P A S A S Di Gallo Adriano E C PERFECT EQUIPMENT FOR SOIL VENTILATION, FOR AGRICULTURAL LANDS, VINEYARDS, ORCHARDS, GROUNDS GROWN IN A HERBAL MANTO, AND SIMILAR
WO2017162363A1 (en) * 2016-03-21 2017-09-28 Novokraft Ag Ground treatment apparatus
WO2018053943A1 (en) * 2016-09-20 2018-03-29 安徽美芝制冷设备有限公司 Oiling assembly for refrigerator compressor and compressor
US10791663B2 (en) 2015-09-22 2020-10-06 Novokraft Ag Soil treatment device
WO2023084237A1 (en) * 2021-11-11 2023-05-19 Seegrow Solutions Limited Valved dosing system

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1993021753A1 (en) * 1992-04-27 1993-11-11 Portable Soil Decompactor Company Ltd. Apparatus for decompacting soil
US5802996A (en) * 1995-05-12 1998-09-08 Baxter; Bill J. Soil aerator fertilizer and method
WO2001068282A1 (en) * 2000-03-10 2001-09-20 Nickell Jerry D Improved in-situ deep remediation injection system and method
CA2378585A1 (en) * 2002-04-18 2002-09-03 Alden Roy Toles Hydro airator
US20050223955A1 (en) * 2004-04-08 2005-10-13 Fulgham Robert E Mobile subterranean aerator and deep root stimulator
US20060185567A1 (en) * 2005-02-22 2006-08-24 Hargreaves Jonathan W Ground injection apparatus

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1993021753A1 (en) * 1992-04-27 1993-11-11 Portable Soil Decompactor Company Ltd. Apparatus for decompacting soil
US5802996A (en) * 1995-05-12 1998-09-08 Baxter; Bill J. Soil aerator fertilizer and method
WO2001068282A1 (en) * 2000-03-10 2001-09-20 Nickell Jerry D Improved in-situ deep remediation injection system and method
CA2378585A1 (en) * 2002-04-18 2002-09-03 Alden Roy Toles Hydro airator
US20050223955A1 (en) * 2004-04-08 2005-10-13 Fulgham Robert E Mobile subterranean aerator and deep root stimulator
US20060185567A1 (en) * 2005-02-22 2006-08-24 Hargreaves Jonathan W Ground injection apparatus

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ITPD20130088A1 (en) * 2013-04-10 2014-10-11 Ci M P A S A S Di Gallo Adriano E C EQUIPMENT FOR AERATION OF THE SOIL, FOR GROUNDS GROWING IN A HERBAL MANTO, FOR AGRICULTURAL AND SIMILAR LANDS
ITPD20130349A1 (en) * 2013-12-19 2015-06-20 Ci M P A S A S Di Gallo Adriano E C PERFECT EQUIPMENT FOR SOIL VENTILATION, FOR AGRICULTURAL LANDS, VINEYARDS, ORCHARDS, GROUNDS GROWN IN A HERBAL MANTO, AND SIMILAR
US10791663B2 (en) 2015-09-22 2020-10-06 Novokraft Ag Soil treatment device
WO2017162363A1 (en) * 2016-03-21 2017-09-28 Novokraft Ag Ground treatment apparatus
CN108712858A (en) * 2016-03-21 2018-10-26 诺瓦克拉夫特有限公司 Land treatment systems equipment
US20190014713A1 (en) * 2016-03-21 2019-01-17 Novokraft Ag Ground treatment apparatus
RU2701848C1 (en) * 2016-03-21 2019-10-01 Новокрафт Аг Soil treatment device
US10798862B2 (en) 2016-03-21 2020-10-13 Novokraft Ag Ground treatment apparatus
CN108712858B (en) * 2016-03-21 2021-11-30 诺瓦克拉夫特有限公司 Land treatment equipment
WO2018053943A1 (en) * 2016-09-20 2018-03-29 安徽美芝制冷设备有限公司 Oiling assembly for refrigerator compressor and compressor
WO2023084237A1 (en) * 2021-11-11 2023-05-19 Seegrow Solutions Limited Valved dosing system

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