GB2489395A

GB2489395A - Ground treatment apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2489395A
Application number: GB201102696A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Leslie Neville Reeves
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-02-16
Filing date: 2011-02-16
Publication date: 2012-10-03
Anticipated expiration: 2031-02-16
Also published as: GB2489395B; GB201102696D0

Abstract

A ground treatment apparatus 1 comprises a support means 5 and two penetrating means 8, 9 supported by the support means, the penetrating means being spaced apart from one another and configured to rotate relative to the support means, the penetrating means being mounted on respective non-parallel axes (40, 41) so that as they rotate they pass a region where they approach toward a point of minimum separation and pass another region where they approach toward a point of maximum separation. A blade 20 maybe arranged between the penetrating means. There may be more than two penetrating means. One penetrating means may rotate faster than an adjacent penetrating means. The apparatus may be adapted to be hand operable. Also disclosed is a ground treatment apparatus comprising a penetrating means and a blade substantially adjacent the penetrating means.

Description

I

GROUND TREATMENT APPARATUS

The present invention relates to ground treatment apparatus.

Plants of the variety typically cultivated in domestic gardens generally grow in the first two inches of soil. In the event that a domestic garden comprises generally clay soils, planting too deep can ultimately be poisonous for the plant thereby causing it too die. It is therefore desirable to cultivate the soil such that plants may be planted within the first two inches of a clay soil. Clay soils, in particular, tend to be difficult to break up due to their compact nature and inability to drain water effectively although all soils suffer from compaction to some degree due to gravity and overhead traffic.

Conventional gardening tools such as spades, hoes and rakes can therefore be ineffective at breaking the soil sufficiently for the soil to be a useful medium for plant cultivation.

A number of powered solutions such as tillers and rotovators have been developed that easily break through tough soils. However, a problem with such devices is that they tend to be overly aggressive in a domestic environment and tend to overwork the soil. Therefore, such apparatus cannot be easily operated to provide a degree of sensitivity when working the soil thereby limiting the user's ability to obtain a desired soil texture and working depth. Such apparatus is also expensive and prone to breaking down.

A further problem with conventional gardening tools is that they can become clogged with soil when in operation thereby limiting effectiveness at working the soil and also giving the user the unwanted task of continually having to clean the tool during and after operation.

An object of the present invention is to mitigate the above difficulties.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a ground treatment apparatus comprising a support means and two penetrating means supported by the support means, the penetrating means being spaced apart from one another and configured to rotate relative to the support means, the penetrating means being mounted on respective non-parallel axes so that as they rotate they pass a region where they approach toward a point of minimum separation arid pass another region where they approach toward a point of maximum separation.

Advantageously, the apparatus may be adapted so that the point of minimum separation creates an area of increased force on any matter placed in this region compared with other regions between the penetrating means thereby helping to crush, slice and sliced matter of various sizes as the apparatus is operated.

The point of minimum separation may be fixed relative to the support. The apparatus may comprise a blade arranged between the penetrating means. The penetrating means may be arranged relative to the blade such that a shearing effect is achieved between the blade and the penetrating means. The penetrating means may be arranged relative to the blade such that the shearing effect is achieved at the region of minimum separation between the penetrating means. The blade may be fixed relative to the support. At least a part of the blade may be curved.

There may be more than two penetrating means. The penetrating means may be arranged such that there is an odd number on one side of the point of minimum separation and an even number on the other side of the point of minimum separation.

Alternatively, the penetrating means may be arranged such that there is an even number on both sides of the point of minimum separation. There may be four penetrating means.

The penetrating means may be configured such that one penetrating means rotates faster than an adjacent penetrating means. The penetrating means may be disc shaped. The diameter of one penetrating means may be different from an adjacent penetrating means. The penetrating means may comprise a series of cireumfcrcntially spaced apart teeth. The penetrating means may be star shaped. The penetrating means may comprise wheels. The penetrating means may be arranged such that, when placed upon a substantially flat surface, each penetrating means comes into contact or close to contact with the surface at a point of rotation. The penetrating means may be mounted to the support via axles. One penetrating means may be mounted to one axle and an adjacent penetrating means may be mounted to a different axle. Different axles may be offset from one another.

The apparatus may be adapted to be inverted. The apparatus may be adapted to be hand operable.

The apparatus may comprise a handle. The support means may be connected to the handle.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a ground treatment apparatus comprising a support means, a penetrating means supported by the support means and configured to rotate relative to the support means, a blade arranged substantially adjacent the penetrating means, wherein said penetrating means is angled toward the blade such that there is a region of lowest separation between said penetrating means and said blade.

Advantageously, a ground treatment apparatus according to the second aspect may be configured such that the region of lowest separation gives rise to a shearing effect between the blade and the penetrating means. The shearing effect achieved helps to shred, crush and slice the soil as the apparatus is put into operation.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood an embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Fig. 1 is a side view of a ground treatment apparatus according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a front perspective view of the ground treatment apparatus shown in Fig. I; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the ground treatment apparatus shown in Fig. I; and Fig. 4 is an enlarged front view of a part of the ground treatment apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

With reference to the drawings, there is shown a ground treatment apparatus 1 comprising a stainless steel handle 3, a support means 5 connected to the handle 3 and four stainless steel rotating blades with teeth which, in this embodiment, take the form of spike wheels 7, 8, 9 10 mounted to the support means 5 via respective axles 40, 41.

A plastic grip 12 is mounted to the end of the handle 3 remote from the support means and is shaped and configured to be grasped by a user of the apparatus 1.

The support means 5 is made from stainless steel and comprises a forked central body 11 and a pair of arms 13, 15 which extend substantially perpendicularly from opposite sides respectively of the body in a downward direction. The two arms 13, 15 are angled relative to one another such that they converge toward a common plane identified by dotted line A. The two arms 13, 15 are separated such that the distance between an edge of one arm 13 and the corresponding edge of the other arm is closer than the distance between the opposite edge and the corresponding edge oftheotherarml5.

Two of the spike wheels 8, 9 of each pair have a greater diameter than the other two spike wheels 7, 10 of each pair. The diameter of the spike wheels is the diameter of the circle defined by the circumferentially spaced tips of the spikes of the respective wheels. The difference in diameter gives rise to a difference in peripheral tip speed between the larger and smaller diameter spike wheels. This different peripheral tip speed gives rise to a shearing effect between adjacent spike wheels which helps to break up and aerate the soil. The larger diameter spike wheels 8, 9 are mounted to the respective axles on the inwardly facing sides of the arms 13, 15 and the smaller diameter spike wheels 7, 10 are mounted to the respective axles on the outwardly facing side of the arms 13, 15. The spike wheels 7, 8, 9, 10 are rotatably mounted to the respective axles so that one spike wheel 7 can rotate in either direction independently of the other spike wheel 8 of a pair.

The two axles 40, 41 of each arm, which are fixed, extend substantially perpendicularly out from the arms and are offset from one another along the length of the arms such that, at a region of rotation, the larger diameter spike wheel 9 and the smaller diameter spike wheel 10 substantially touch a common plane indicated by dotted line B. This plane is intended to correspond to the ground so that there is a region of rotation at which all spike wheels are substantially flush with a substantially flat surface i.e. the ground. Alternatively, the spike wheels of each arm are mounted to a common axle and the arms 13, 15 are inclined toward one another so that the end of each arm converges toward a common plane.

Since the axles 40, 41 extend substantially perpendicularly out from the arms 13, 15, the spike wheels 7, 8, 9, 10 mounted thereto are substantially parallel to the arms 13, 15 and therefore converge toward the same common plane A as the arms 13, 15. Thus, as the spike wheels rotate they pass a region where they approach toward a point of minimum separation and pass another region where they approach toward a point of maximum separation. As the axles 40, 41 are fixed, these points of minimum and maximum separation are substantially fixed relative to the support 5.

Movement of the tips progressively from a point of minimum separation to a point of maximum separation during rotation helps to rip and squash any soil caught between the spike wheels. This is because the distance between the tips of spike wheels on opposite sides respectively of the common plane A increase as the tips move from the point of minimum separation to the point of maximum separation and decrease as the tips move from the point of maximum separation to the point of minimum separation. The increasing tip separation during forward rotation helps to tear apart soil caught between the spike wheels and the decreasing tip separation serves to squeeze and break up soil during rearward rotation.

The diameter of the inner spike wheels 8, 9 is dependent upon the distance between the mounting points on their respective axles since too large a diameter can lead to the spike wheels 8, 9 clashing in operation. The diameter of the two large diameter wheels 8, 9 is therefore chosen such that the point of least separation between the two is roughly between 1cm and 4 cm. This distance corresponds to the anticipated smallest size of particulate matter that it is intended to pulvcrise. Of course, the point of least separation could be less or more than these values depending upon the size of matter it is intended to crush.

A substantially flat stainless steel blade or anvil 20 extends from the body Ii of the support means 5 between the larger diameter spike wheels 8, 9. The anvil 20 is positioned such that it lies substantially along the common plane A to which the arms 13. 15 and spike wheels 7, 8, 9, 10 converge. The anvil 20 is approximately 0.5cm thick and has a curved D-shaped bead. The anvil 20 is arranged such that the region of curvature of the head extends toward the point of minimum separation between the spike wheels 8, 9. The curvature of the head is such that the distance between the head and the two adjacent spike wheels 8, 9 increases rapidly as the wheels rotate away from the point of minimum separation. Thus, since debris and mailer caught between the region of minimum separation and the anvil 20 is moved to a larger region of separation, the apparatus does not become clogged with matter during operation. To further aid the self cleaning mechanism, a hole is cut out in the D-shaped head to provide an aperture through which trapped matter can pass.

The anvil 20 assists with cutting through soil and helps guide the apparatus during operation in either direction. In this embodiment, the positioning of the anvil 20 is such that it lies slightly behind the region of minimum separation between the two larger diameter spike wheels 8 so that the anvil approaches the region of least separation to within approximately 0.5cm to 1.5cm. The proximity of the two wheels 8, 9 to the anvil 20 gives rise to a shearing effect thereby making it easier to cut through soil.

The support means 5 and spike wheels 7, 8, 9, 10 are further configured such that the apparatus 1 can be inverted so that the direction of convergence of the spike wheels is toward the ground. The spike wheels and body arc shaped such that the outer edge of the spike wheels extends beyond the boundaries of the support means and the anvil 20 so that, in the inverted position, the wheels can penetrate the ground.

In the inverted position, the apparatus 1 can be used to create a furrow.

In use, the apparatus 1 is grasped by a user at the grip 12 of the handle 3 and is placed on the ground so that the spike wheels 7, 8, 9, 10 are all roughly in contact with the ground. The user then drives the apparatus in a downward and forward direction with the application of pressure, the forward direction corresponding to the direction of convergence of the spike wheels 7, 8, 9, 10. The forward motion of the apparatus causes the spike wheels to rotate relative to the support means 5 thereby causing the spike wheels to bite into the ground. Since the penetrating means rotate in either direction, the apparatus 1 can be operated in the reverse direction so that a user can work the ground without having to take the apparatus 1 away from the surface.

This has advantages over a rake which can only be operated in one direction. Thus, the user of the apparatus can work the soil without having to change standing position and can therefore avoid having to walk over an area that has already been treated with the apparatus which would undo all his efforts.

The convergence of the two larger diameter spike wheels 8, 9 gives rise to a region of increased pressure therebetween which helps to break up turf and soil as the apparatus 1. is driven through the ground. Since the spike wheels 7, 8, 9, 10 diverge in the rearward direction, any soil and other ground material is thrown backward thereby producing a awake' of soil and debris. The shearing effect between the larger diameter spike wheels 8, 9 and the anvil 20. also helps to cut, slice and crush the soil thereby helping the soil to be broken up. The angled relationship between the spike wheels 7, 8, 9, 10 and anvil 20 also helps ensure that the spike wheels do not become clogged with soil during operation since any soil is directed rearwardly and shredded into smaller pieces.

The additional smaller diameter wheels 7, 10 rotate more quickly than the larger diameter wheels 8, 9 during operation. The difference in speed of rotation gives rise to a further shearing effect between the wheels of each pair. This further helps to break up the soil and also ensures that the wheels 7, 8, 9, 10 do not become too clogged during operation.

It is of course to be understood that the above embodiment has been described by way of example only and that many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

For example, it is envisaged that further spike wheels may be mounted in series to the outer edges of the apparatus so that a larger expanse of ground is covered by the apparatus in a single pass. Each further spike wheel may be of a different diameter from an adjacent spike wheel but still arranged such that its outer extremities roughly touch die common plane B at a point of rotation. The difference in diameter

S

gives rise to a difference in speed of rotation to achieve the shearing effect. Such an apparatus could be mounted to the back of a tractor for example and used to treat a large area of ground more quickly than a smaller hand operated device.

It is also envisaged that the dimensions and weight of the apparatus could be changed to suit the desired function. For example, if scarifying is the desired function, the spike wheels could be made smaller in diameter and the apparatus lighter so that the action of rotation is less aggressive on the lawn. Furthermore, the angle of the spike wheels relative to the support could be adjusted so that the difference between extreme tip separation between spike wheels on opposite sides of the common plane A is reduced thereby reducing the ripping and squeezing effect of the spike wheels and making the apparatus less destructive to the soil.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A ground treatment apparatus comprising a support means and two penetrating means supported by the support means, the penetrating means being spaced apart from one another and configured to rotate relative to the support means, the penetrating means s being mounted on respective non-parallel axes so that as they rotate they pass a region where they approach toward a point of minimum separation and pass another region where they approach toward a point of maximum separation.
2. Apparatus as claimed in claim I, wherein the point of minimum separation may be fixed relative to the support.
3. Apparatus as claimed in claim I or claim 2, further comprising a blade arranged between the penetrating means.
4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the penetrating means is arranged relative to the blade such that a shearing effect is achieved between the blade and the penetrating means.
5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the penetrating means is arranged relative to the blade such that the shearing effect is achieved at the region of minimum separation between the penetrating means.
6, Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 3 to 5, wherein the blade is fixed relative to the support.
7. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 3 to 6, wherein at least a part of the blade is curved,
8. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein there are more than two penetrating means.
9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the penetrating means are arranged such that there is an odd number on one side of the point of minimum separation and an even number on the other side of the point of minimum separation.
10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the penetrating means are arranged such that there is an even number on both sides of the point of minimum separation.
11. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 8 to 110, wherein there are four penetrating means.
12. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 8 to 11, wherein the penetrating means are configured such that one penetrating means rotates faster than an adjacent penetrating S means.
13. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the penetrating means are disc shaped.
14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the diameter of one penetrating means is different from an adjacent penetrating means.
15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the penetrating means comprises a series of circumferentially spaced apart teeth.
16. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the penetrating means are star shaped.
17. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the penetrating means comprise wheels.
18. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the penetrating means are arranged such that, when placed upon a substantially flat surface, each penetrating means comes into contact or close to contact with the surface at a point of rotation.
19. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the penetrating means are mounted to the supportvia axles.
20. Apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein one penetrating means is mounted to one axle and an adjacent penetrating means is mounted to a different axle.
21. Apparatus as claimed in claim 18 or claim 19, wherein different axles are offset from one another.
22. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus is adapted to be inverted. 12.23 Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus is adapted to be hand operable.24. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a handle.25. Apparatus as claimed in claim 24, wherein the support means is connected to the handle.26. A ground treatment apparatus comprising a support means, a penetrating means supported by the support means and configured to rotate relative to the support means, a blade arranged substantially adjacent the penetrating means, wherein said penetrating means is angled toward the blade such that there is a region of lowest separation between said penetrating means and said blade.27. A ground treatment apparatus as substantially hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.