US1537412A - Machine for cutting sod - Google Patents

Description

C. F. DAFFERNER MACHINE FOR CUTTING 501) May 12, 1925.

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d 1 1 if May 12, 1925.

INVENTOR,

c. F. DAFFERNER MACHINE FOR CUTTING 50D Flled Nov 27 1923 WITNESSES ATTORNEY Patented May 12, 1925.

1,537,412- UNITE n smrss PAT EN-T? orecHA'R'LE'sF. DAFFE'RNER, oF'oTT'tI'ivr-WA, IOWA;

MACHINE FOR CUTTING son.

Application-filed November 27, 1923. semi No. 677,303.

To all QUILOWL it mayv concern:

Be it known that I,-GI-IARLES F. DAFFER- NEH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Uttumwa, in the'county of lVapello and State of Iowa, have invented a new and Y useful Machine for Cutting- Sod, of-which the followingis a specification.

This invention relatesto a machine for cutting sod, which is adapted to be drawn over the ground by horses or to be propelled by a motor, and'which is of especial value wherever operations are conducted on a large scale; I

Une of the principal objects of the in vention is to provide a device for the purpose stated which may be operated continuously without clogging, and which has improved means for insuring, a perfect and uniform out.

Another important objectis to provide a machine which may be easily and accurately guided, so as to cut the sod in straight strips-of uniforin width.

It is also an object of the invention to mount the frame and the mechanism: carried thereby in such a manner thatthe cutting devices will automatically adjust themselves, so that a continuous and uni-.

form strip of sod maybe ut as rapidly as the machine canbe drawn over the ground.

k W'ith these and other objects in View, in certain details the machine consists of construction and combinations thereof which will be more fully understood from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of the invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section thereof.

Figure 3 is a plan view, with certain minor parts shown in section.

Figure a is a detail perspective view of the cutting elements.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view of the means for supporting the frame.

The invention includes an under-slung frame including side rails and ll' integrally or otherwise connectedat theirfront ends by a cross rail 12, and attheir rear ends by a cross rail or rod 18. The rails 10 and 11, toward their front ends, have rigidly secured thereto upstanding,hanger plates let, which are supported upon a transverse rod which constitutes an axle. This axle is rotatably supported by a heavy roller, which in the present embodiment consists of a metallic shell 16 filled with concrete 1'? witha central metallic core or sleeve 18, which forms a bearing for the rod or axle 15. This roller being of considerable weight serves not only vto pack the sod and to make the surface smooth preparatory to cutting, but also serves in connection with the draft means to force the cutters into the" ground, andto insure a sod of uniform thickness.

A pair of handles- 19 are mounted at their forward ends on the projecting ends of the" rod 15, and are supported at their rear ends by upright bars 20 from-the rear cross rail 13, and may also be provided with suitable cross braces 21.

In the form shown herein which is'adapted tobe drawn'by horses or a smalltractor, a clevis 22 is pivotally mounted in a strap 23' secured centrally to the front cross rail-12, and connected with this clevis is a ing portions 26 connected by a V-shaped horizontal blade 27 both portions 26 and 27 beingprovided with a cutting edge 28, Since the frame of the machine is underslung' and runs close to the" ground, the draft is applied through the draft link 2 k in a forward and upward direction, and this forces the cutting blades 26 and 27 downwardly into the ground, holding the same at substantially a uniform depth as the machine is moved forwardly.

An auxiliary cutter is provided at each side of the machine for marking and initia'lly cutting the edges of thestrip of sod. Each-of these aiilxiliary cutters has its frame pivoted, as at 29', immediatelybehind thecharacter of the soil.

The improved means for guiding the machlne includes a transverse shaft 36 ournaled 1n the rear ends of the side rails 10 and 11, and having sheaves 37 and 38 secured to its opposite ends. Cables 39 and 40 have their rear ends secured to the respective sheaves and partly wound about the same, and extend thence forwardly through the respective eyes 41 and 42 at the forward corners of the frame, and have their front ends secured to an eye 43 formed at the front end of the draft link 24. It will be noted that the rear end of cable 39 is wound about the sheave 37 in one direction, while the cable 40 is wound about the sheave 38 in the opposite direction, so that by rocking the shaft 36 one of the cables is shortened and the other lengthened to swing the draft link laterally, as shown in dotted lines in, Figure 3, and thereby change the direction of draft and steer the machine to the right or left. For rocking the shaft 36, an upstanding arm 44 is integrally, or otherwise, secured to one end thereof. The turnbuckle 25 may be adjusted so as to give the proper tension to the cables 39 and 40.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that I have provided a machine which may be conveniently and accurately steered, merely by rocking the lever 44, which is within convenient reach of the driver. The depth of cut of the cutting disks 33 may be easily regulated by adjusting the weights 34-. The weight of the roller 16, in connection with the under-slung frame and the relative arrangement of the draft device and fixed cutting blades 26 and 27, insures a rapid cut and a uniform product. While the specific details of construction and their general arrangement herein described is to be preferred, it will be apparent that many modifications may be made therein, and some of the features may be omitted without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

WVhat is claimed is:

1. In a sod cutter, the combination of a frame, a supporting arm at each side of the frame and pivoted thereto to swing in a ver tical plane, a vertical disk cutter journaled on each of said arms, means for forcing said disk cutters into the ground, a fixed cutting blade having a horizontal portion and vertical end portions connecting it to the frame, said supporting arms terminating in forks each engaging opposite sides of the respective vertical end portions of the fixed cutter.

In asod cutter, the combinationof a roller, an underslung frame supported thereby and having a horizontal cutting blade secured thereto inrear of the roller and adapted to cut beneath the sod, a pivoted member at each side of the frame, a vertically disposed disk cutter carried by each pivoted member, and adjustable means acting on the pivoted members for forcing the disk cutters into the ground.

3. In a sod cutter, the combination of a roller, an under-slung frame supported thereby, a horizontal cutting blade having vertical end portions secured to the sides of the frame, a pivoted member at each side of the frame between the cutting blade and the roller and terminating in a fork which engages opposite sides of the vertical end portion of the blade, a vertical disk cutter journaled in the fork and in the same vertical plane with the end portion of the blade, and adjustable means acting on said pivoted members for forcing the disk cutters into the ground.

4. In a sod cutter, the combination of a main frame, an auxiliary frame comprising two diverging arms, means for pivoting the auxiliary frame to the main frame at the point where the arms diverge, a weight mounted on one of the arms, a fork provided on the other arm, and a cutting disk mounted between the arms of the fork, said fork cooperating with a partuof the sod cutter to guide the up and down movement of the auxiliary frame.

5. In a sod cutter, the combination of a ting edges, supporting arms pivoted to the frame to swing in vertical longitudinal planes, vertical disk cutters carried by said supporting arms in the same planes as the vertical portions of the fixed cutter and in front thereof, and means for actuating the supporting arms to force the disk cutters into the ground.

6. In a sod cutter, the combination of a frame, a relatively fixed cutter secured thereto and having integrally connected horizontal and vertical cutting blades, arms pivoted to the frame to swing in vertical longitudinal planes, said arms extending rearwardly and downwardly from their pivots and terminating in forks which straddle the respective vertical blades, a vertical disk cutter journaled in each fork in front of the corresponding vertical blade, and means for actuating said arms to force the disk cutters into the ground.

7. In a sod cutter, the combination of a ground roller, an under-slung frame supported thereby, a relatively fixed cutter secured to the rear part of the frame and having integrally connected horizontal and vertical cutting blades, arms pivoted to the frame in, front of the fixed cutter, vertical, disk gutters carried by said arms in the same planes as the respective vertical cutting blades, said arms having rearwardly extended overhanging portions With weights adjustably mounted thereon for yieldably forcing the disk cutters into the ground.

8. In a sod cutter, the combination oi a ground roller, an under-slung frame sup ported thereby, a relatively fixed cutter secured thereto and having a horizontal cutting blade terminating at its ends in up turned vertical cutting blades, arms pivoted to the frame to swing in vertical longitudimi planes in front of the fixed cutter, said arms, extending rearwardly from their pivots and terminating in forks which straddle the respective vertical cutting blades, a vertical disk cutter journaled in each fork in front of the corresponding vertical blade, said arms having rearWardly extended overhanging portions With Weights adjustably mounted thereon for yieldably forcing the disk cutters into the ground.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature.

CHARLES F. DAFFERNER.

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