NZ594073A - A vertically mounted rotor with a follower skid or wheel connected to a three point linkage to make channels - Google Patents

Abstract

A drain forming and/ or clearing apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus has a body (1) adapted to be attachable (6, 8) to a three point linkage of a suitable vehicle, the vehicle having a power take off ("PTO") and a hydraulic system. The body can be raised and lowered by the hydraulic system of the vehicle. A rotor assembly (2) is carried by and extends below the body and is rotated in use about a substantially vertical axis. The rotor is used to create and/or clear a ground channel when rotating and being advanced at least in part below ground level. The rotor is powered from a vehicle PTO connectable drive (9), or a vehicle hydraulic system connectable drive, carried by the body. At the other end of the body from the three point linkage is a ground following assembly (3). The follower assembly extends below the body so as to follow in a channel formed or cleared by the rotor. This helps to smooth out the channel made by the rotor. The rotor has a hub (11) connected to a plurality of blades (13), paddles or vanes outstanding from the hub and with a cant or rake to uplift soil when rotated in one rotational direction. Each blade assembly defines a leading edge with a member that is replaceable. Ties connect and support each blade assembly, each such tie connecting from the outside training edge of one blade to the next. One or more pre-rippers (17) may be attached to the body near the three point linkage to loosen the soil prior to the channel being cleared by the rotor.

Description

Received at IPONZ 20 March 2012 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT, 1953 No: 594073 Date: 14 July 2011 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION PASTURE DRAIN FORMING APPARATUS I, PETER SUTHERLAND, a New Zealand citizen of 70 Johnston Road, RD1, Hokitika 7881, New Zealand, do hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: Received at IPONZ 20 March 2012 The present invention relates to vehicle mounted apparatus for forming a drain or channel in the ground, and methods of drain forming using such an apparatus.

In order to facilitate pasture drainage it is necessary to clear channels in the ground to direct excess water. Because the channels may run across large amounts of land, this is usually achieved by towing a drain forming device behind a tractor. Various mole ploughs and rippers have been designed to be dragged through the soil in order to create shallow drainage channels, but where larger and deeper channels are required, a rotary blade, mounted on an axis parallel to the ground surface and parallel with the direction of travel, can be used to carve a channel out of the ground as the tractor moves forward. The rotor is subjected to a large amount of force during this mode of operation, and the blades are liable to become damaged and inefficient fairly quickly.

When viewed in cross section, the resulting channel carved by such a rotary drain clearing blade has a hemispherical bottom and perpendicular sides. Such a channel shape is liable to cave in upon itself.

The rotary blade also throws all of the dirt that it excavates out to one side (depending on which way the blade is spinning) and the trajectory of the thrown dirt can reach a substantial height. This can cause unwanted deposits of dirt to accumulate alongside the drain, and makes it difficult to shield the driver of the vehicle from flying dirt.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle mounted drain clearing apparatus which overcomes or at least partially ameliorates some of the abovementioned disadvantages or which at least provides the public with a useful choice.

Alternately, it is an object of the present invention to provide a rotary channel clearing apparatus which can be connected to a tow vehicle via a standard three point linkage and used to clear a dish shaped channel in the ground.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a rotary channel clearing apparatus wherein the positioning of the rotor can easily be adjusted to achieve the desired channel depth and profile.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a method of forming a drain or channel by breaking up the ground with a ripper assembly, clearing a channel with a rotor assembly mounted on an axis substantially perpendicular to the surface of the ground in which the channel is to be cleared and then smoothing and shaping the profile of the channel with a follower assembly.

In an aspect the invention is a drain forming and/or clearing apparatus comprising or including: Received at IPONZ 20 March 2012 a body having proximal and distal regions, the body being adapted to be attachable at its proximal region to a three point linkage of a suitable vehicle, the vehicle having a power takeoff ("PTO") and a hydraulic system, whereby the body will be raisable and lowerable responsive to the hydraulic system of such vehicle acting on at least part of the three point linkage of the vehicle, a rotor assembly to be rotatable in use about a substantially vertical axis, the rotor assembly being carried by and extending below the body between the proximal and distal regions and being able to create and/or clear a ground channel when rotating and being advanced at least in part below ground level, a vehicle PTO connectable drive, or a vehicle hydraulic system connectable drive, carried by the body and actuable to rotate the rotor assembly, and a ground following member or assembly ("follower assembly") carried by the distal region of the body, said follower assembly extending below the body so as to follow in use the rotor assembly; in a channel formed or cleared by the rotor assembly; wherein the rotor assembly comprises or includes a hub, plural blade, paddle or vane ("blade") assemblies outstanding from the hub and with a cant to uplift soil when rotated in one rotational direction, each blade assembly defining a leading edge with a member detachable from that part of the blade assembly proximally carried by the hub,and ties to support each blade assembly, such ties being to a more distal region of that part of the blade assembly proximally carried by the hub.

Preferably the leading edge of each blade assembly rises from its more proximal region. Optionally preferably the ties are from the hub.

Preferably the ties are from the blade assembly to blade assembly.

Preferably the follower assembly is adapted to be adjustable via a connection from the vehicle to which the body is to be attached as to the vertical extent of the follower assembly below the distal region of the body; Preferably the working depth and working angle of ground penetration, if any, of the rotor assembly, in use, will be adjustable from the suitable vehicle to which the apparatus is attached and connected by adjusting the three point linkage of the vehicle and the vertical extent of follower assembly. Such adjustment of the three point linkage is reliant on some freedom of movement relative to the upper link of the vehicle during at least drain or channel forming or clearing.

Received at IPONZ 20 March 2012 Preferably all such working depth and working angle adjustments can be hydraulically actuated.

Preferably the follower assembly has at least one wheel and/or skid, of any form, adapted to follow in the bottom of die channel being formed or cleared by the rotor assembly.

Preferably the follower assembly has a skid, and preferably the skid is adapted to smooth the surface within the channel to a curved cross-section.

Preferably said follower assembly provides a downwardly directed convex disc-shaped surface for contact with the ground when the apparatus is in use.

Preferably there is at least one ground ripping assembly ("ripper assembly") dependent from the proximal region of the body, Preferably said ripper assembly comprises a ground cutting disc or roller, or ground cutting rippers or tines (preferably flanking the locus of the rotor assembly but in advance of the rotor assembly).

Preferably said ripper assembly extends below the body, the vertical distance by which it extends being adjustable.

Preferably such vertical distance adjustment of the ripper assembly can be hydraulically actuated.

Preferably said rotor assembly has two or more laterally spaced drain or channel clearing blades, paddles or vanes ("blades"), each as a blade assembly, [e.g. substantially so hereinafter shown].

Preferably said drain clearing blade assemblies are removable at least in part.

Preferably said drain or channel clearing blades comprise a support member (e.g. that part proximally carried by the hub) and a leading edge plate.

Preferably said leading edge plate is bolted or otherwise removably attached to said support member.

Preferably the support members, via a gusset or otherwise, attach proximally tangentially of the hub.

Preferably said drain or channel clearing blades are set with an upwards angle of rake.

Preferably there are one or more outwardly extending shield plates depending from said body.

Preferably there is a plurality of flails or curtains secured along a portion of the length of said body or said shielding plates to hang vertically.

Preferably there is vertically hanging curtaining secured along a portion of the length of said body or said shielding plates.

Received at IPONZ 20 March 2012 Preferably the apparatus is substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The invention is also a rotor assembly of or for apparatus as defined.

In another aspect the invention is in combination or assembly, apparatus as previously defined, and a vehicle to which the apparatus is both attachable and hydraulically connectable or is both operatively attached and operatively hydraulically connected.

In another aspect the invention is the use of a tractor or like vehicle with a three point linkage attachment to the proximal region of the body of a drain or channel forming apparatus, the apparatus being as previously defined, and preferably being characterised in that it has a rotatable rotor assembly to drain or channel form as the apparatus is advanced, the rotor assembly being rotatably driven from the tractor or like vehicle about substantially vertical axes, and beingfurther characterised in that a distal region of the body is height controlled using an in drain or in channel extending wheel assembly or skid assembly, the vertical extent of which wheeled or skid assembly is controllable from the tractor or like vehicle thereby, together with the hydraulics of the three point linkage attachment, to at least (a) hold the rotor assembly clear of the ground reliant on all links of the three point linkage, when desired, and (b) control, reliant on at least the lower links of the three point linkage and/or the wheel or skid assembly, the depth of the ground entry of the rotor assembly and disposition of its substantially vertical rotational axes, as desired.

In another aspect the invention is a method of forming or clearing, or both, a drain or channel in soil or pasture, said method comprising or including the step of using an assembly as previously defined to rotate the rotor assembly below the general ground level as the vehicle advances.

In another aspect the invention is a drain forming (and/or clearing) apparatus comprising or including: a body proximally attachable to a three point linkage of a suitable vehicle having a power takeoff and/or hydraulic system, optionally, at least one ground ripping assembly ("ripper assembly") proximally dependent from the body, optionally, distally carried by and/or carrying the body a ground following member or assembly ("follower assembly") Received at IPONZ 20 March 2012 a ground channel creating and/or clearing apparatus rotatable about a substantially vertical axis ("rotor assembly") carried by the body, and a vehicle PTO connectable drive, or a vehicle hydraulic system connectable drive, carried by the body and actuable to rotate the channel creating and/or clearing apparatus.

Preferably said ripper assembly comprises a ground cutting disc or roller, or ground cutting rippers or tines.

Preferably said ripper assembly extends below the body, the vertical distance by which it extends being adjustable.

Preferably such vertical distance adjustment of the ripper assembly can be hydraulically actuated.

Preferably said follower assembly provides a disc-shaped surface for contact with the ground when the apparatus is in use.

Preferably said follower assembly extends below the body, the vertical distance by which it extends being adjustable.

Preferably such vertical distance adjustment of the follower assembly can be hydraulically actuated.

Preferably said rotor assembly comprises two or more laterally spaced drain clearing blades.

Preferably said drain clearing blades are removable.

Preferably said drain clearing blades comprise a support member and a leading edge plate.

Preferably said leading edge plate is bolted or otherwise removably attached to said support member.

Preferably said drain clearing blades are set with an upwards angle of rake to give the rotor assembly a substantially disc or conical shape.

Preferably there are one or more outwardly extending shield plates depending from said body.

Preferably there is a plurality of flails secured along a portion of the length of said body or said shielding plates to hang vertically.

Preferably there is vertically hanging curtaining secured along a portion of the length of said body or said shielding plates.

Preferably the working depth and working angle of the rotor can be adjusted by independently altering the vertical height of the body at the front and rear of the apparatus.

Preferably such working depth and working angle adjustments can be hydraulically actuated.

Received at IPONZ 20 March 2012 In another aspect the invention is a method of forming a drain or channel in soil or pasture, said method comprising or including the steps of (i) loosening the soil with a ripper assembly (ii) clearing a channel through the loosened soil with a rotor assembly mounted on an axis substantially perpendicular to the surface of the ground in which the channel is to be cleared; and (iii) smoothing and shaping the profile of the channel with a follower assembly; wherein said ripper assembly, rotor assembly and follower assembly being associated with each other by a body and mounted on a vehicle.

In a further aspect the invention is the use of a vehicle mounted drain or channel forming apparatus, said apparatus comprising or including: a body proximally attachable to a three point linkage of a suitable vehicle having a power takeoff and/or hydraulic system, optionally, at least one ground ripping assembly ("ripper assembly") proximally dependent from the body, optionally, distally carried by and/or carrying the body a ground following member or assembly ("follower assembly") a ground channel creating and/or clearing apparatus rotatable about a substantially vertical axis ("rotor assembly") carried by the body, and a vehicle PTO connectable drive, or a vehicle hydraulic system connectable drive, carried by the body and actuable to rotate the channel creating and/or clearing apparatus.

Other aspects of the invention may become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

A used herein, reference to the three point linkage of a vehicle includes two plough arms, hydraulically raisable and lowerable, and a top link that may require a telescopic or articulable linkage from the apparatus so that, at least within limits, there can be both proximal height control to be affected by the distal height control, yet to allow the uplifting of the apparatus for transportation.

As used herein the term "and/or" means "and" or "or", or both.

As used herein "(s)" following a noun means the plural and/or singular forms of the noun.

The term "comprising" as used in this specification means "consisting at least in part of'. When interpreting statements in this specification which include that term, the features, prefaced by that term in each statement, all need to be present but other features can also be present. Related terms such as "comprise" and "comprised" are to be interpreted in the same manner.

Received at IPONZ 20 March 2012 A preferred embodiment will now be described.

Figure 1 shows the drain or channel clearing apparatus from side on, Figure 2 shows a plan view looking down upon the drain or channel clearing apparatus, with the position of the shielding plates shown in broken lines, Figure 3 shows a desirable dish shaped profile of a channel, Figure 4 is a perspective view from above of a preferred rotor assembly in accordance with the present invention, the arrow showing the intended rotational direction (anti-clockwise) for the canting of the blades, paddles, vanes or the like shown, Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the rotor assembly of Figure 4, and Figure 6 shows under the body of apparatus in accordance with the present invention how it is a rotor assembly as shown in Figure 4 can be positioned under a flanged shaft for attachment thereto thereby to receive, via a transmission, the drive from the PTO of a carrying vehicle.The drain clearing apparatus consists of a body or support frame 1 (e.g. of steel) upon which a rotor assembly 2 (e.g. of steel) and a follower assembly 3 (e.g. of steel) are mounted along with several outwardly extending shielding plates 4 (e.g. steel).

The apparatus is designed to be connected to the rear of a tractor or other suitable vehicle via a standard three point linkage. The upper linkage may be articulable or telescopic to allow some freedom of movement. It can include a double acting hydraulic ram in order to allow some freedom of movement yet control.

The support frame or body comprises two elongate supporting members 5 which are joined at the rear of the apparatus and diverge outwardly to provide, at the front of the apparatus, two attachment points 6 enabling attachment to the two lower connections (e.g. plough arms) of the three point linkage on the tow vehicle. Further members depending from the main supporting members are joined as shown in Figure 2 to create an upper frame 7 and an attachment point 8 enabling attachment to the upper connection of the three point linkage.

When the apparatus is attached to the vehicle in this way, relative movement of the upper and lower three point linkage connections will enable lifting and tilting of the support frame or body as required.

Depending from and supported by the frame is the rotor assembly 2 and transmission box 9 with a coupling for connection to the vehicle power take-off 10. The rotor is suspended below the frame and connects to a shaft output from the transmission boxll. Thus the power takeoff selectively (i.e. by control at the vehicle) drives the rotation of the rotor via the transmission box.

The rotor has a number of blades 12 depending from a central hub, each blade having a plate bolted to it in order to reinforce the leading edge 13. As the rotor spins the blades dig into Received at IPONZ 20 March 2012 the dirt and shifts it away to clear a channel. The blades and leading edge plates may have some degree of curvature and should be set to have an upward angle of rake, giving the rotor a conical or disk shaped profile. The leading edge plates can be unbolted and replaced as necessary, and ties reaching from the axial shaft to the outer edge of each blade can help to provide the rotor with extra strength.

Shielding plates 4 are mounted along either side of the apparatus to prevent dirt from being thrown up as it is shifted by the rotor. These may be of mesh or plate material, mesh obviously contributing less to the weight of the apparatus. Additionally, unpowered but responsive flails made of heavy chain or similar material may be hung off the shielding plates to prevent too much dirt from being thrown sideways of the rotor as it spins. Alternative forms of curtaining (for example, linked mesh) may be used for this purpose.

The follower assembly 3 is mounted at the rear of the support frame or body and is secured in a vertical position, from which it extends below the frame. At the base of the assembly is a hemispherical skid or disc 14 which passes along the channel after the rotor to move or compress loose soil and to smooth and shape the profile of the channel. Alternatively the skid may be replaced by a dolly wheel able to orient itself to follow along the cleared channel.

In use, the follower bears some of the weight of the apparatus and can be used to control disposition and height. However when not in use (for example, during transport by the tow vehicle) the entire apparatus can be tilted upwards on the three point linkage so that the follower assembly does not contact the ground.

The follower assembly is adjustable as to height by sliding engagement of vertical member 15 in the sleeve 16. Whilst the vertical member can be positioned manually and engaged by a simple mechanical pin or be helically interengaged, preferably there is a connection to the hydraulics of the towing vehicle to actuate the sliding or other required relative movement under the action of a ram or rotary activator. Other from vehicle, activation means can be used [e.g. solenoidal or electrical motor drive]. The connection may also be of RF means or any alternative.

By using this sliding mechanism to adjust the height at the rear of the apparatus along with the lifting arms of the three point linkage on the tow vehicle to adjust the height at the front of the apparatus, an operator as a vehicle [e.g. far or contractor's tractor] advances is very easily able to alter the angle at which the rotor meets the ground. The working depth of the rotor can also be set and altered with reasonable ease and efficiency. Ideally the rotor will be positioned so as to clear a dish-shaped channel in the ground of the profile shown in Figure 3.

The apparatus may also have one or more pre-rippers 17 extending below the frame or body near the front of the apparatus to loosen the soil prior to the channel being cleared by the rotor so that rotor is not subjected to excessive force. This is shown in Figures 1 and 2 by the Received at IPONZ 20 March 2012 pair of ripper tines 18 angled in toward each other, but other types of rippers or rollers could equally be used to break up the ground. The distance by which the rippers extend below the frame can be adjusted to correspond with the desired working depth of the rotor. Again, this adjustment can be very simply facilitated by the slider and pin arrangement 19 shown, but could alternatively be actuated by hydraulic controls (e.g. from the vehicle).

In a preferred of the present invention, the apparatus of Figures 4 and 5, a preferred rotor assembly, is formed from steel.

A hub 21 is provided with a flange 20 for bolting in rotational alignment with the shaft 26 using the flange 25 of that shaft 26. The shaft 26 is to be rotated via the gear box or transmission 27 preferably under the action of a PTO drive shaft 28 as shown in Figure 6.

The hub 21 carries gussets 29 to which is attached the proximal end of each blade, paddle, or vane 22. That cant provided by gussets 29 is preserved by the association of each proximal end of the abutting blade or vane 22 on its neighbour and its attachment as well as the tie bracing between adjacent blades 22 with ties 24.

Preferably as shown, each blade, paddle or vane 22 is not exactly radial of the hub 21. Each member 22 is preferably somewhat tangential of the hub 21, but despite the cant, is preferably substantially parallel to a radius of the hub.

Each of the blades carries a replaceable leading edge member 23 which can be sacrificial in nature or can be readily replaced as and when the need arises. It may be of a hardened steel or other wear resisting material.

In other forms of the present invention the tie members 24 can be, for example, ties from each blade or vane back to a more upwardly extended hub 21. Preferably however, the more distal linkage and their association not only with themselves but also with each blade 22 maximises the rigidity of the structure.

As can be seen the rotation of the rotor assembly with the bottom edge regions of each blade/leading edge member is adapted to shape a channel (e.g. as in Figure 3). For this purpose there is a general straight or curvilinear rising of the leading edge from the hub proximity.

A typical angle of attack of the blade 22 with its attached leading edge protector 23 is substantially as shown. They can be anything from say 10 ° to 90 ° with respect to the rotational axis of the assembly. More preferably it ranges from 30° to 70°.

Claims (27)

-11 - Received at IPONZ 20 March 2012 What I claim is:

1. A drain forming and/or clearing apparatus comprising or including: a body having proximal and distal regions, the body being adapted to be attachable at its proximal region to a three point linkage of a suitable vehicle, the vehicle having a power takeoff ("PTO") and a hydraulic system, whereby the body will be raisable and lowerable responsive to the hydraulic system of such vehicle acting on at least part of the three point linkage of the vehicle, a rotor assembly to be rotatable in use about a substantially vertical axis, the rotor assembly being carried by and extending below the body between the proximal and distal regions and being able to create and/or clear a ground channel when rotating and being advanced at least in part below ground level, a vehicle PTO connectable drive, or a vehicle hydraulic system connectable drive, carried by the body and actuable to rotate the rotor assembly, and a ground following member or assembly ("follower assembly") carried by the distal region of the body, said follower assembly extending below the body so as to follow in use the rotor assembly in a channel formed or cleared by the rotor assembly; wherein the rotor assembly comprises or includes a hub, plural blade, paddle or vane ("blade") assemblies outstanding from the hub and with a cant or rake to uplift soil when rotated in one rotational direction, each blade assembly defining a leading edge with a member detachable from that part of the blade assembly proximally carried by the hub, and ties to support each blade assembly, each such tie being to a more distal region of that part of the blade assembly proximally carried by the hub.

2. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein the leading edge of each blade assembly rises from its more proximal region.

3. Apparatus of claim 1 or 2 wherein the ties are from the hub.

4. Apparatus of claim 1 or 2 wherein the ties are from the blade assembly to blade assembly.

5. Apparatus of claim 1 or 2 wherein the follower assembly is adapted to be adjustable via a connection from the vehicle to which the body is to be attached as to the vertical extent of the follower assembly below the distal region of the body.

6. Apparatus of claim 5 wherein the working depth and working angle of ground penetration, if any, of the rotor assembly, in use, will be adjustable from the suitable vehicle to - 12- Received at IPONZ 20 March 2012 which the apparatus is attached and connected by adjusting the three point linkage of the vehicle and the vertical extent of follower assembly.

7. Apparatus of claim 5 or 6 wherein all such working depth and working angle adjustments can be hydraulically actuated.

8. Apparatus of any one of the preceding claims wherein the follower assembly has at least one wheel and/or skid, of any form, adapted to follow in the bottom of the channel being formed or cleared by the rotor assembly.

9. Apparatus of claim 8 wherein the follower assembly has a skid.

10. Apparatus of claim 9 wherein the skid is adapted to smooth the surface within the channel to a curved cross-section.

11. Apparatus of claims 9 or 10 wherein said follower assembly provides a downwardly directed convex disc-shaped surface for contact with the ground when the apparatus is in use.

12. Apparatus of claim 1 or 2 wherein there is at least oneground ripping assembly ("ripper assembly") dependent from the proximal region of the body.

13. Apparatus of claim 12 wherein said ripper assembly comprises a ground cutting disc or roller, or ground cutting rippers or tines.

14. Apparatus of claim 12 or 13 wherein said ripper assembly extends below the body, the vertical distance by which it extends being adjustable.

15. Apparatus of claim 14 wherein such vertical distance adjustment of the ripper assembly can be hydraulically actuated.

16. Apparatus of claim 1 or 2 wherein said rotor assembly has two or more laterally spaced drain or channel clearing blades or vanes assemblies each attaching proximally, via a gusset or otherwise, tangentially of said hub.

17. Apparatus of claim 16 wherein there are at least four blade assembEes.

18. Apparatus of claim 16 or 17 wherein each blade assembly is substantially as herein described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.

19. Apparatus of claim 1 or 2 wherein there are one or more outwardly extending shield plates depending from said body.

20. Apparatus of claim 19 wherein there is a plurality of flails or curtains secured along a portion of the length of said body or said shielding plates to hang vertically.

21. Apparatus of claims 19 or 20 wherein there is vertically hanging curtaining secured along a portion of the length of said body or said shielding plates.

22. Apparatus of claim 13, 14 or 15 wherein there are rippers or tines flanking the locus of the rotor assembly but in advance of the rotor assembly. - 13- Received at IPONZ 20 March 2012

23. Apparatus of any one of the preceding claims substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

24. In combination of assembly, apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 23, and a vehicle to which the apparatus is both attachable and hydraulically connectable or is both operatively attached and operatively hydraulically connected.

25. The use of a tractor or like vehicle with a three point linkage attachment to the proximal region of the body of a drain or channel forming apparatus, of any one of claims 1 to 23 for drain or channel forming or clearing purposes.

26. A method of forming or clearing, or both, a drain or channel in soil or pasture, said method comprising or including the use of claim 25 using an assembly of claim 24 to rotate the rotor assembly in part below the general ground level as the vehicle advances.

27. A rotor assembly of, or for, apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 23. dated this MY Of [Ylarclo QjQIai PER (Mii* -<h.m (iii - agents FOR THE applicant