US1388362A - Weeder - Google Patents

Description

PATENT OFFICE.

AUSTIN E. MILLER, OF CHENEY, WASHINGTON.

WEEDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 23, 1921.

Application filed August 12, 1919. Serial No. 316,957.

T 0 all 20 homit may 0072 cam Be it known that I, AUSTIN E. MILLER,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Cheney, in the county of Spokane and State of Washington, have invented a new and useful 'Vfeeder, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in a weeder for advanta-' geously cutting and clearing the ground of weeds and the like.

An important object of the invention is to provide a weeder which will elfectively perform its functions upon uneven ground as well as level surfaces, and will not 1mpose excessive draft upon the drawing power.

Another object of my inventlon 18 to provide a weeder which may be conveniently divided into two separate weeders for use independently, provided the weeder before division thereof is too large for the work or too heavy for the drawing power.

A further object of the invention is to provide a weeder including weeding ele ments and means for adjusting the cutting depth of said elements.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a weeder including weeding elements of novel and inex ensive construction and which are highly e cient in practice.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a weeder embodying means for clearing away all possible obstructions to the weeding elements.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device which is simple in construction, strong, durable, inexpensive to manufacture, and is highly efficient in practice.

Other objects and advantages of the mvention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of the description and whereln l ke numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a top plan of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of one of the weeding elements;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the gages for governing the cutting depth of the weeding elements;

Fig. 5 is a plan View ment shown in Fig. 3.

In the accompanying drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention the numeral 5 designates the frame of the weeder n general, which consists of a pair of similar beams 6 normally extending in the same horizontal plane and detachably and hingedly joined by hinge 7, which includes a removable pin 8. A pair of hinge rods 9, each have one end pivotally associated with the pin 8 and its opposite end secured to one of said beams 6 to strengthen the hinge and insure durability of the device. Draft attachments 10 are secured to the beams to facilitate attachments of any preferred form of drawing means. The frame also embodies in the present form, two pairs of sections 11, one pair being pivotally connected to each beam 6 intermediate the ends of each section through the medium of bolts 12 extending transversely through the beams, and the sections are retained in spaced relation to the beams by spacing collars 13, mounted upon the bolts, or any other suitable means. Manifestly the sections are normally arranged in the same horizontal plane with the beams and swing vertically as uneven ground is encountered by the weeder.

Weeding elements 14, a plurality of which are secured to each section 11, are each con structed froma single piece of material, preferably a bar of steel. One end 15 of each element is secured to its respective section of the weeding elethrough the medium of the bolts 16, and has its upper terminal provided with an upwardly extending 'lip 17 for engagement with the forward face of a section 11 to assist in retaining the element in its proper position. The intermediate portion 18 of each element is inclined downwardly and rearwardly of the frame and folded upon itself to form a pocketed shank, the pocket 19 of which opens downwardly with respect to the frame to receive a clearing blade 20. The opposite end 21 of each element is split centrally and longitudinally to form a pair of weeding blades 22 which are bent to extend in a horizontal plane parallel to the frame 5. These weeding blades, one of which is longer than the other, are flared or converge forwardly to the shank, and as usual their forward edges are provided 'with cutting close proximity to the juncture of the weeding blades to insure the weeding blades of clearance of trash or other obstructions.

In order that the cutting depth of the weeding blades may be accurately governed I provide a pair of L-shaped gages 23 for each section ll arranged adjacent opposite ends of each section. A vertical arm 24 of each gage is vertically bifurcated whereby the shank of a bolt 25 passing transversely through the section may pass through the bifurcation and securely retain the gages to the forward face of the sections. Manifestly the gages are readily adjustable vertically of the frame. The horizontal arm 26 of each gage is slightly arcuated upwardly for sliding contact with the surface of the ground.

Assuming that the device is prepared for use with the gages 23 adjusted to insure proper cutting depth of the Weeding blades,

the weeder is dragged or drawn along the ground and the clearing blades 20 cut through the earth and obstructions to prepare a clear path for the weeding blades. The cutting edges of the weeding blades, of course contact with and cut down weeds during the forward movement of the device. When an uneven area isexperienced, the beam 6 will swing upon the hinge 7 whereby the frame readily adapts itself to the uneven surface. Oftentimes the uneven ground is not large enough to effect the swinging of the, beams 6, in which instance, the sections 11 will swing vertically to one side of a pivot or the other so that excessive cutting through the ground will not be imposed upon the blades. When it is found that the cutting blades are entering the ground too deep, the bolts 25 may be loosened whereby the gages 23 can be lowered and the frame 5 may be further elevated from the surface of the ground.

Should the device be considered too large for the work, the two beams 6 may be readily disconnected by removing the hinge pin 8 from the hinge, and either beam 6 and associated parts used separately.

The foregoing description and the drawings have reference to what may be considered the preferred, or approved form of invention. It is to be understood that I may make such changes in construction and arrangements and combination of parts, materials, dimensions, etc., as may prove expe client and fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A weeder comprising a frame, a plurality of weeding'elements mounted thereon, each of said elements consisting of a single piece of material formed to present a pair of cutting blades and a pocketed shank, and a clearing blade secured in said pocket.

2. A weeder comprising a frame, a plurality of weeding elements secured thereto,

each of said elements consisting of a single piece of material, the intermediate portion of which is bent upon itself to form a pocketed shank and a clearing blade secured in the pocketed shank, said intermediate por-.

tion being inclined downwardly and. rearwardly of the frame, the upper end of'said material being secured to said frame, and the lower end of said material being split and flared to present a pair of rearwardly diverging weeding blades arranged parallel to the ground.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

AUSTIN E. MILLER. Witnesses V. E. RoLrE, N. A; Home.

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