US3190566A

US3190566A - Safe leaf disposal apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3190566A
Application number: US270233A
Authority: US
Inventors: Wesley P Cressy; Geiger Vincent
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-04-03
Filing date: 1963-04-03
Publication date: 1965-06-22
Anticipated expiration: 1982-06-22

Description

June 22, 1965 w. P. CREssY ETAL- 9 SAFE LEAF DISPOSAL APPARATUS Filed April 3, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTGRS.

WESLEY P. CRESSY VINCENT GEIGER ATTORNEY June 22, 1965 w. P. CRESSY ETAL Filed April :5. 1963 SAFE LEAF DISPOSAL APPARATUS FIG. 3

3 Sheets-Sheet 2- jj\ 4 7 g a 47 5; K 2. I as 2 WESLEY P. CRESSY VINCENT GEIGER ATTORNEY June 22, 1965 R CRESSY ETAL 3,190,566

SAFE LEAF DISPOSAL APPARATUS Filed April 3, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORi WESLEY P. CRESSY VINCENT GEIGER ATTOR United States Patent 3,196,566 SAFE LEAF DISPGEAL APPARATUS Wesley P. Cressy, lid Charles Ave, and Vincent (Geiger, 143 Lindberg St., both of Massapequa Park, N.Y. Filed Apr. 3, 1963, Ser. No. 270,233 6 Claims. (@l. 241- 56) This invention relates to apparatus for leaf disposal and more particularly to devices for receiving and grinding leaves and collecting the resulting leaf particles.

A continuing problem in both urban and suburban communities is the matter of leaf disposal during the fall season. Many homeowners attempt to dispose of fallen leaves by burning them. As attested to by countless news reports, this method materially increases the incidence of fires that have gone out of control, necessitating the calling of the local fire department. There is thereby entailed an increased monetary expense as well as an increased danger to life, limb and property. In addition to the forementioned possibilities, with each instance of leaf burning there is the attendant increase of air pollution. This has become a problem of such magnitude that various corrective measures have been undertaken at even the highest government levels.

Still another method of leaf disposal is by carting. That is, large trucks are employed to take the fallen leaves to a remote spot where they are dumped and subsequently burned. The matter of air pollution therefore still exists and further, there is the substantial payroll and equipment expense for an operation of this type. At best, this method merely replaces one problem with another without alleviating the dangerous condition of excessive air pollution.

In order to provide quick and etficient leaf disposal the present invention is directed towards apparatus that is sized to be practical for use by an individual homeowner or, alternatively, of a somewhat larger size for municipality use. The operation of the present invention is safe, having concealed cutting apparatus and is convenient to use in that the chopped or ground leaves may be easily removed and used as a mulch. The rotating blades reduce the leaves to fine particles which may also be used for weed control or combined with fertilizer thus providing utility for a hitherto objectionable product. It should be understood that all the advantages accruing to an individual home owner would also be available to communities using the larger commercial version of the present invention.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved, portable leaf disposal apparatus.

Still another object is to provide a leaf disposal ap paratus having concealed cutting blades.

Another object is to provide safe, yet efficient, means to grind or chop fallen leaves to fine particle or powder size.

Still another object is to provide a low cost, easily manufactured leaf disposal apparatus.

A further object is to have said leaf disposal apparatus contain integral collecting means for the chopped leaves.

An additional object is to include easy access to the collecting means for disposal of the contents therein.

Yet another object is to provide easy access to the operating mechanism of the present invention for the purposes of cleaning and maintenance.

A still further object is to provide leaf disposal apparatus adaptable for use by an individual, such as a homeowner.

Another object is to provide a large capacity, mobile leaf disposal unit suitable for municipality use.

These and other objects and advantages of the presout invention will, in part, be pointed out with particularly and will, in part, be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the appended drawmg.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a leaf disposal unit adaptable for use by an individual such as a homeowner.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevational view taken along line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view illustrating the device of the present invention mounted on a motorized vehicle.

FIGS. 59 illustrate alternative pitched cutting blades usable in the present invention.

FIG. 10 shows an alternative basket construction for varying aperture size for different applications.

With reference now to the drawing, there is shown in FIGS. 1-3 a leaf disposal unit 20 mounted on a carriage 22 in which wheel sets 24 and 25 are rotatably journaled by means of transverse axle 23 and 30, respectively. Handle 32, suitably attached to the carriage, facilitates movement and permits mobility of the apparatus.

Upright, cylindrical body member 34 is releasably secured to the top surface of carriage 22 by means of spring loaded, quick release latches 35 and contains therein the operating mechanism of leaf disposal unit 20. The upper portion of body member 34 contains an open, funnel-shaped hopper 36 which is releasably secured thereto by means of clips 38 or other suitable latches. When the unit requires cleaning such as removal of stones and the like, or to replace some elements, the removal of body member 34 provides ready access to the interior of the apparatus.

Directly below the hopper is a conical safety hood 40 coaxially positioned on the longitudinal center line of body member 34 with its pointed, upper end 42 facing the open hopper. Sloping side walls 44 terminate in a circular base portion 46. Spaced below safety hood 4%, and releasably seated on pads 47 integral with inner wall 48 of body member 34, is a substantially fiat, disclike safety ring 50 having a circumferential fillet S1 and central opening 52 defined by upturned flange 53 slightly smaller than the diameter of base portion 46. The safety ring and safety hood are spaced a sufficient distance from each other to permit the passage of leaves, but the combination of the sloping side wall 44 of hood 46 together with flange portion 53 inhibit passage of stones, rocks, sticks, etc., that could damage the cutting blades. That is, undesirable elements which are generally too heavy to be drawn through opening 52 but which are inadvertently introduced into the hopper will be deflected outwardly by the hood and further inward movement will be interrupted by flange 53. Fillet 51 serves to guide the leaves inwardly towards central opening 52. Support ribs 54 are suitable spacing means and do not interfere with the passage of leaves.

Secured within body member 3a beneath safety ring 5th is a basket 56 having a perforated, tapered side wall 58, smaller in diameter than the inner wall 48 of body member 34, and a perforated base wall oil. The basket is releasably supported on posts 57. Inverted cups 59, secured to and depending from the underside of basket 56 are seated on posts 57 and are removably secured thereto by pins 61. Posts 57 are integral with and serve to space bottom wall 60 from carriage 22. As will be discussed hereinafter, basket 56 may be interchanged or combined with other baskets having different perforation patterns. This interchangeability adds to the U) versatility of the apparatus in that the fineness of the chopped or ground leaves may be accurately controlled by means of the variability of perforation size. As illustrated in FIG. 3, base wall 60 of basket 56 has a central opening 62 through which is passed drive shaft 64 of motor 66. It has been found that a 3 HP. gasoline motor or a H.P. electric motor is quite satisfactory for the average homeowner.

The drive shaft of motor 66 extends upwardly and terminates proximate opening 52 of safety ring 5'0. Attached to the end thereof in a preferred form of the invention are impeller blades 68 which, when driven by motor 66, suck both air and leaves downwardly past the sloping side walls of safety hood 40 through opening 52 in safety ring 50. From the drawing, it will be seen that the users hands cannot come into contact with the impeller blades and therefore the apparatus is quite safe to use. This feature alone represents substantial improvement of the prior art since safety is a prime consideration of power tool users. Spaced downwardly from impeller blades 68, on drive shaft 64, is a pitched cutting blade 70 positioned just above perforated base wall 60 of basket 56. When the leaves are drawn downwardly under the influence of impeller blades 68, they are chopped or ground by cutting blades 70 which is also driven by motor 66. It should be understood that motor 66 may be secured either to carriage 22 or to body member 34 by any one of a number of conventional means. Further, motor 66 may be located externally of body 34 and be drivingly connected to shaft 64 by means of a pulley mounted on the motor shaft having an endless belt trained thereabout, the belt being fitted through an appropriate opening on body member 34 and also being trained about a pulley secured to drive shaft 64. In a construction of this type, conventional support means and bearings for shaft 64 would be provided within body member 34. It should also be noted that impeller blades 68 may be eliminated by selecting a properly pitched cutting blade that will also draw in the leaves as well as cut them.

At a point in the lowermost portion of body member 34, or alternatively, someplace below bottom wall 60 of basket 56, there is provided an outlet port 72. Neck portion 74 of porous bag 76 is secured to outlet port 72 by means of releasable clamp 78. Bag 76 also has closure means comprising a substantially U-shaped, elongated clamp 80 fabricated from a resilient material. The legs of clamp 80 engage the beaded lips 82 of bag opening 84 so that in order to empty the bag all that is necessary is to slip clamp 80 along the bead. Other closure means such as zippers, snaps, etc., may also be employed. Bag 76 is made of a porous, fiex-ible material to provide an outlet for the air sucked downwardly by impeller blades 68. However, the openings in bag 76 are not sufficiently large to permit egress of the ground leaves. As an alternative to the bag illustrated, a disposable bag, such as burlap, may be used. In this instance the bag is clamped to outlet port 72 and at its other end to some convenient point such as the handle. When full, the neck portion of the bag is tied off and the bag removed for future disposal.

FIG. 4 illustrates a larger version of the present invention whereby essentially the same elements, constructed on a larger scale, are included in a motorized vehicle such as a garbage truck. In this instance the truck 100 is moved from place to place within the community where leaves have been collected. The leaves are fed into a conveniently placed hopper 102 and drawn into perforated chamber 104 by means of impeller blades 106. Instead of gravity feed, a blower or conveyor may be employed to deliver the leaves to the perforated chamber. As before, when the leaves are in chamber 104, they are ground into fine particles by cutting blade 108. Under the influence of impeller blades 106, the ground leaves are blown into collecting chamber 110 from which they may be dispensed, when convenient, by means of an access l door 112. Motive power for

blades

106 and 108 may be obtained directly from the vehicle power plant by means of suitable couplings or a separate motor may be provided, the function of which would be to actuate the leaf disposal mechanism.

In order to eliminate the need for manually lifting the leaves to the height of the hopper, conveyor has been added. Leaves are placed in the bucket-like carriers 122 at the lowermost level 124. The leaves are transported upwardly by the conveyor and dropped off the top of conveyor 120 at position 126, falling freely therefrom into the hopper. The leaves are ground in the manner described previously and the fine particles are then blown into an internal collecting chamber within the body of the truck.

This apparatus offers the advantage of a mobile disposal unit, the movements of which may be controlled by the governmental agency directly concerned with this problem. Further, this eliminates the necessity of individuals burning their own leaves. It should also be noted that the ground leaves may be used as a mulch by the park department of the municipality using the equipment, thus eliminating the need for additional purchases.

FIGS. 5 to 9 illustrate alternative cutting blades. In FIG. 5, blade is provided with a plurality of projections 132 on the top surface thereof. Projections 132 are perpendicular to the rotational plane of the blade and are radially situated proximate the periphery of the blade. As before, the blade is secured to the driven shaft proximate the base wall of the perforated basket.

Alternative cutting blade of FIG. 6 is provided with a plurality of projections 142 positioned proximate the periphery of the blade. Projections 142 are disposed on both top and bottom surfaces of the blade and form acute angles with the rotational plane of the blade.

FIG. 7 illustrates still another blade having projections 152 on the top and bottom surfaces thereof, radially disposed proximate the periphery of the blade. However, in this case the projections are perpendicular to the rotational plane of the blade.

In FIGS. 8 and 9, there are illustrated additional cutting blades having projections extending radially from the circumferences thereof. Blade (FIG. 8) is provided with projection 162 at an angle to the rotational plane of the blade while blade (FIG. 9) is provided with projections 172 parallel to the rotational plane of the blade.

It should be understood that any one of the blades heretofore described may be used in pairs, that is, in tandem on a common shaft, and there may also be used a combination of two or more of the various alternatives described and illustrated. It is also contemplated that the above described blades be suitably pitched to provide aerodynamic type lift. This will have the effect of pulling down the leaves and the impeller blade may be eliminated, if so desired.

An alternative basket construction is illustrated in FIG. 10. Nesting, concentric baskets and 182 having different size perforations are secured in close proximity to each other within the cylindrical body member by means of spacers 184 integral with basket 180. Screws 186, integral with basket 182, pass through oversized apertures 188 in each spacer and are retained by nuts 190, thus permitting a limited amount of rotation of the baskets with respect to each other. The baskets are supported on carriage 22 as hereinbefore described. The nesting basket configuration permits the adjustment of screen apertures so that, according to the application, different size particles are permitted to pass through.

The various embodiments described and illustrated and the combinations thereof provided effective and economical means for leaf disposal. The smaller of the units is completely safe for the average homeowner to use and in addition, finds a practical use for an end product that was heretofore a nuisance. he finely ground leaf particles may be used as a mulch or may be used in a compost pile as part of a manufactured fertilizer. All this is accomplished without an increase in air pollution. Where community-wide use of the apparatus is anticipated, the results are also beneficial. The hazards of leaf burning are eliminated; standard refuse disposal equipment may be readily adapted, and once the fall season is over, the equipment may just as readily be returned to its normal function. It may therefore be seen that the present invention offers utility regardless of the scale of use.

It should also be noted that the construction of the apparatus is quite simple and even though the operating mechanism is concealed for safety purposes, it still is accessible for cleaning and maintenance, such as blade sharpening.

There has been disclosed heretofore the best embodiment of the invention presently contemplated and it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A motor driven leaf disposal apparatus, comprising in combination:

(A) a hollow body member having first and second ends and an outlet port, said first end bein open for the admission of leaves, said outlet port being proximate said second end and in communication with said first end;

(B) leaf supporting means disposed within said body member above said outlet port to receive said leaves, said supporting means having perforated side and bottom walls and a top wall, said top wall having a central leaf-admitting opening in longitudinally spaced opposition to said open end of said body member;

(C) a rotatable cutting blade driven by said motor, said blade positioned within said leaf supporting means proximate said bottom wall and adapted to comminute said leaves; and

(D) leaf particle collecting means removably secured to said outlet port; and

(E) a hood member having a base portion, said hood member being mounted above and in spaced relation ship to said central leaf admitting opening and substantially coextensive therewith, the base portion of said hood member being substantially smaller than said leaf supportin member and substantially the same size as the central opening in said leaf supporting member.

2. A motor driven leaf disposal apparatus, comprising in combination:

(A) a hollow body member having first and second ends and an outlet port, said first end being open for the admission of leaves, said outlet port being proximate said second end and in communication with said first end;

(B) leaf supporting means disposed within said body member above said outlet port to receive said leaves, said supporting means having perforated side and bottom walls and a top wall, said top wall having a central leaf admitting opening in longitudinally spaced opposition to said open end of said body member;

(C) a rotatable impeller driven by said motor, said impeller positioned proximate said top wall opening and adapted to draw air and leaves into said leaf supporting means;

(D) a rotatable cutting blade driven by said motor, said blade positioned within said leaf supporting means proximate said bottom wall and adapted to comminute said leaves;

(E) leaf particle collecting means removably secured to said outlet port; and

(F) a conical hood member spacedly secured longitudinally and coaxially above the central opening of said leaf supporting means, the base of said conical hood member being slightly larger than the opening in said leaf supporting means and substantially smaller than said leaf collecting means.

3. A leaf disposal apparatus comprising, in combina tion:

(A) a carriage;

(B) a hollow body member secured to said carriage,

(1) said body member having one open end;

(2) said body member having an outlet port proximate the end opposite said open end;

(C) a hopper removably secured to said open end of said body member,

(1) said hopper communicating between the exterior and interior of said body member;

(D) an annular ring defining a central opening,

(1) said ring being removably disposed transverse the longitudinal center line of said body member,

(2) said ring being longitudinally spaced below said hopper;

(E) a conical hood member having a base portion, said hood member being spacedly secured to said ring intermediate said hopper and said ring opening, the base portion of said hood member being substantially smaller than said annular ring and substantially the same size as the central opening in said annular ring;

(F) a perforated basket removably secured intermediate said ring and said outlet port,

(1) said basket having a central opening in the bottom surface thereof;

(G) a motor having an elongated shaft extending through said basket opening and terminating proximate said ring opening;

(H) a cutting blade secured to and driven by said motor shaft proximate said basket bottom wall; and

(I) particle collecting means secured to said outlet port external of said body member.

4. A leaf disposal apparatus comprising, in combination:

(A) a carriage;

(B) a hollow body member secured to said carriage,

(1) said body member having one open end,

(C) a hopper removably secured to said open end of said body member,

(D) an annular ring defining a central opening,

(2) said ring being longitudinally spaced below said hopper;

(E) a conical hood member having a base portion, said hood member being spacedly secured to said ring intermediate said hopper and said ring opening, the base portion of said hood member being substantialsmaller than said annular ring and substantially the same size as the central opening in said annular ring;

(1) said basket having a central opening in the bottom surface thereof;

(H) an impeller blade secured to and driven by said motor shaft proximate said ring opening;

(I) a cutting blade secured to and driven by said motor shaft proximate said basket bottom wall; and

(1) leaf particle collecting means secured to said outlet port external of said body member.

5. A leaf disposal apparatus comprising in combination:

(A) a carriage; I

(B) a hollow body member secured to said carriage,

(1) said body member having one open end, (2) said body member having an outlet port proximate the end opposite said open end;

(C) an annular ring defining a central opening,

(1) said ring being disposed transverse the longitudinal center line of said body member,

(2) said ring being longitudinally spaced below said open end of said body member;

(D) a conical hood member having a base portion, said hood member being spacedly secured to said ring intermediate said body member open end and said ring opening, the base portion of said hood member being substantially smaller than said annular ring and substantially the same size as the central opening in said annular ring;

(E) a perforated basket secured intermediate said ring and said outlet port,

(1) said basket having a central opening in the bottom surface thereof;

(F) a motor having an elongated shaft extending through said basket opening and terminating proximate said ring opening;

(G) a cutting blade secured to and driven by said motor shaft proximate the bottom surface of said basket; and

(H) particle collecting means secured to said outlet port external of said body member.

6. A leaf disposal apparatus comprising, in combination:

(A) a carriage;

(B) a hollow body member secured to said carriage,

(C) a hopper removably secured to said open end of said body member,

(D) an annular ring defining a central opening,

(2) said ring being longitudinally spaced below said hopper;

(1) said basket having a central opening in the bottom surface thereof;

(G) a vertical shaft extending through said basket opening;

(H) a cutting blade secured to said shaft for rotation therewith;

(I) motor means arranged to drive said shaft; and

(J) leaf particle collecting means in communication with said outlet port external of said body member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 814,114 3/06 Burr 241248 1,523,614 7 1/25 Shelton 241-89 1,651,319 11/27 Bowman 241195 2,308,578 1/ 43 White 24186 2,352,127 6/44 Sheldon 24119l 2,607,538 8/52 Larson 241-195 2,822,846 2/58 Ward 146192 2,825,377 3/58 Ostrowski 241-101 2,853,240 9/58 Mahoney 241-10l 2,969,820 1/61 Gruendler 241-195 40 J. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A MOTOR DRIVEN LEAF DISPOSAL APPPARATUS, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) A HOLLOW BODY MEMBER HAVING FIRST AND SECOND ENDS AND AN OUTLET PORT, SAID FIRST END BEING OPEN FOR THE ADMISSION OF LEAVES, SAID OUTLET PORT BEING PROXIMATE AND SECOND END AND IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID FIRST END; (B) LEAF SUPPORTING MEANS DISPOSED WITHIN SAID BODY MEMBER ABOVE SAID OUTLET PORT TO RECEIVE SAID LEAVES, SAID SUPPORTING MEANS HAVING PERFORATED SIDE AND BOTTOM WALLS AND A TOP WALL, SAID TOP WALL HAVING A CENTRAL LEAF-ADMITTING OPENING IN LONGITUDINALLY SPACED OPPOSITION TO SAID OPEN END OF SAID BODY MEMBER; (C) A ROTATABLE CUTTING BLADE DRIVEN BY SAID MOTOR, SAID BLADE POSITIONED WITHIN SAID LEAF SUPPORTING MEANS PROXIMATE SAID BOTTOM WALL AND ADAPTED TO COMMINUTE SAID LEAVES; AND (D) LEAF PATICLE COLLECTING MEANS REMOVABLY SECURED TO SAID OUTLET PORT; AND (E) A HOOD MEMBER HAVING A BASE PORTION, SAID HOOD