US3740066A - Pallet wagon for sod pick-up machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A pallet wagon is adapted to be pulled through a field, either alone or in tandem, along side a sod pick-up and rolling machine and is adapted to receive the sod rolls. The wagon is provided with pairs of fore and aft wheels connected to suitable tongues, with both wheel pairs being selectively steerable. When a tongue is raised, its respective wheel pair locks into non-steerable position. A retractable and removable platform and mount therefore are provided along the open side of the wagon so that a person handling the sod rolls can ride thereon without having to walk alongside the moving wagon.

Description

United States Patent 1 Gieringer et al.

[ PALLET WAGON FOR SOD PICK-UP MACHINE [75] Inventors: Robert G. Gieringer: Robert H.

Gieringer; William A. Gieringer, all of Milwaukee, Wis.

[73] Assignee: H. L. Diebl Co., Inc., South Windham, Conn.

[22] Filed: June 1, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 148,331

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Mold 214/831 June 19, 1973- 3,589,744 6/1971 Hansen 280/325 Primary Examiner-Robert J. Spar Attorney-Andrus, Sceales, Starke & Sawall [57] ABSTRACT A pallet wagon is adapted to be pulled through a field, either alone or in tandem, along side a sod pick-up and rolling machine and is adapted to receive the sod rolls. The wagon is provided with pairs of fore and aft wheels connected to suitable tongues, with both wheel pairs being selectively steerable. When a tongue is raised, its respective wheel pair locks into non-steerable position. A retractable and removable platform and mount therefore are provided along the open side of the wagon so that a person handling the sod rollscan ride thereon without having to walk alongside the moving wagon.

4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures mmmm sun SIEETIWZ FIGJ INVENTORS ROBERT G. GIERINGER ROBERT H. GEERINGER WILLIAM A. GHERINGER BY 44 f4 5 KJ AttOrHEYS PAHMEMM 9 In SIEHEBFZ FIG 6 r' Attorneys 1 PALLET WAGON FOR SOD PICK-UP MACHINE BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a pallet wagon for a sod pick-up machine. More particularly, the invention relates to a wagon for supporting pallets on which are manually placed rolls of sod which have been picked up directly from the field or conveyed to adjacent the wagon by a machine such as that disclosed in the present inventors copending US application Ser. No. 847,898, filed Aug. 6, 1969, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,650,330 and entitledSod Pick-Up Machine.

The wagon is adapted to be pulled through a field, either alone or in tandem, along sidea sod pick-upand rolling machine and is adapted to receive the sod rolls. The wagon is provided with pairs of fore and aft wheels connected to suitable tongues, with both wheel pairs being selectively steerable. When a tongue is raised, its respective wheel pair locks into non-steerable position. A retractable and removable platform and mount therefore are provided along the open side of the wagon so that a person handling the sod rolls can ride thereon without having to walk alongside the moving wagon.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings illustrate the best mode presently contemplated by the inventors for carrying out the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. I is a side elevation of a pallet wagon constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front end perspective view of the wagon, the rear end being a mirror image thereof;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1 and showing the steering and locking apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a vertical section taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing the walking plate and connections.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in the drawings, the pallet wagon of the invention includes a frame lcomprising an inverted V- hipped or arched beam 2 whichis supported at its ends by vertical struts 3 which in turn are supported in any suitable manner on front and rear endyaxles 4. Each axle 4 carries a pair of wheels '5 which are mounted for pivotal steering through a suitable linkage6 which in turn is connected to a horizontally pivotal steering assembly 7. An elongated tongue 8 is attached to a generallyU-shaped bracket 9 on assembly 7, and is vertically pivotable at its inner end and horizontally pivotable with the assembly.

The axle, wheel and steering arrangement is identical at both ends. As the wagon is drawn through the sod field, it is desirable that only theforward wagon end be steered. Also, it may be desired to reverse the direction of wagon movement, and thus the end which issteered. To accomplish this, means are provided toselectively lock either pair of end wheels against steering. For this 6 purpose, a pair of fixed transversely spaced legs 10 extend outwardly from the central portion of each axle 4. Legs 10 are disposed above assembly 7 and bracket 9 and are slightly greater apart than the width of tongue 8 so that when the tongue is raised, it is confined there between. A removable chain 11 may be connected between the upper end of each strut 3 and the end portion of the respective tongue 8 to hold the latter in fixed ver tical position. Legs 10 lock tongue 8 in horizontal position, thus holding wheels 5 straight and preventing steering thereof.

In some instances it may be desired to have several wagons connected in tandem. For this purpose, a hitch plate 12 extends outwardly from each steering assembly 7,with a suitable opening 13 therein. Plate 12 is disposed below its respective tongue 8 so that when the.

latter is raised, the plate will be exposed for suitable connection to the front tongue of a trailing wagon.

The box-like wagon body 14 is hung from beam 2 and includes spaced vertical end struts 15 disposed in wardly from wheels 5, and a central strut 16. A wagon platform or floor 17 is suspended from struts l5 and 16, and is disposed closely adjacent the ground below the axle level.

The rear side and both ends of body 14 are closed, leaving the front body side open. In addition, a transverse divider wall 18 separates body 14 into two sod storage chambers 19.

Each chamber 19 is adapted to receive a skid or pallet 20 on which sod rolls 21 are'manually piled. Since rolls 21 usually overlap the. pallet, as shown, spacer means in the form of an elongated bar 22 extends along the lower rear side corner of body 14 to space the pallet from the rear body wall and pennit overhang of sod.

As the pallet wagon is moved along, a sod handler removes the rolled sod from the field or a machine conveyor and places it on one of the two pallets. Normally, the handler would have to walk along the ground closely adjacent the open front side of the wagon. The device of the present invention provides means to carry the handler along the Wagon.

For this purpose, an extensible rod 23 is telescopingly mounted .in a tubular member 24 disposed along each end of floor 17. Each rod may be pulledoutwardly from the open wagon side. A flat walking plate 25 extends between rods 23 adjacent the open side and is attached thereto by short flexible chains 26. Plate 25 is suspended so that it rides on the ground, and chains 26 always find their proper angle because therods are freely rotatable in members 24. Alternately, the connection between chains 26 and their respective rods may berotatable about the rod axes.

The sod handlermerely stands on walking plate 25 during operation of the system, and is thus relieved of walking. Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being withinthe scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.

We claim: I. A pallet wagon for receiving and storing sod rolls inthe field comprising, in combination:

a. a frame, b. an axle mounted to each end of said frame, c. a pair 'of wheels disposed on each axle, with each pair being mounted for steering, d. means to selectively lock each pair of wheels against steering,

in the field comprising, in combination:

a. a frame having a hipped beam with end studs extending downwardly therefrom,

b. end axles mounting said respective studs,

c. a pair of wheels disposed on each axle and with each pair being steerably mounted and connected to a horizontally pivotal steering assembly,

d. an elongated tongue vertically pivotally mounted at its inner end to each said steering assembly,

e. means to selectively lock each ,pair of wheels against steering, and comprising:

1. a pair of fixed legs extending outwardly from the central section of each axle,

2. said legs being disposed above said steering assembly and transversely spaced apart slightly more than the tongue width so that when the tongue is raised it is confined between said legs and fixedly held in position against horizontal movement,

f. a wagon body suspended from said beam and including a floor disposed between said wheel pairs below the axle level,

g. said body being closed on both ends and on the rear side, but open on the front side,

h. arod extendably mounted to each end portion of said floor,

i. a flat walking plate extending between said rods and adapted to ride on the ground,

j. and flexible means suspending said plate from each said rod. 3. In the wagon of claim 2: means to selectively hold each said tongue in raised vertical position.

4. A pallet wagon for receiving and storing sod rolls in the field comprising, in combination:

a. a frame having a hipped beam with end studs extending downwardly therefrom, I

b. end axles mounting said respective studs,

c. a pair of wheels disposed on each axle and with each pair being steerably mounted and connected to a horizontally pivotal steering assembly,

d. an elongated tongue vertically pivotally mounted at its inner end to each said steering assembly,

e. means to selectively lock each pair of wheels against steering, and comprising:

1. a pair of fixed legs extending outwardly from the central section of each axle,

2. said legs being disposed above said steering assembly and transversely spaced apart slightly more than the tongue width so that when the tongue is raised it is confined between said legs and fixedly held in position against horizontal movement,

f. means to selectively hold each said tongue in raised vertical position,

g. a hitch plate extending outwardly from each said steering assembly beneath the respective tongue for attachment to the tongue of a trailing wagon,

h. a wagon body suspended from said hipped beam and including a floor disposed between said wheel pairs below the axle level,

i. said body being closed on both ends and on the rear side, but open on the front side,

j. a rod extendably mounted to each end portion of said floor,

k. a flat walking plate extending between said rods and adapted to slidingly ride along the ground adjacent said front side to provide support for a sod handler,

l. and flexible means suspending said plate from each said rod and thereby connecting said plate to said floor.

Claims (6)

1. A pallet wagon for receiving and storing sod rolls in the field comprising, in combination: a. a frame, b. an axle mounted to each end of said frame, c. a pair of wheels disposed on each axle, with each pair being mounted for steering, d. means to selectively lock each pair of wheels against steering, c. a wagon body suspended from said frame and including a floor disposed between said wheel pairs below the axle level, f. said body being closed on both ends and on the rear side, but open on the front side, g. and a walking plate connected to said floor and adapted to slide along the ground adjacent said open front side to provide support for a sod handler.

2. said legs being disposed above said steering assembly and transversely spaced apart slightly more than the tongue width so that when the tongue is raised it is confined between said legs and fixedly held in position against horizontal movement, f. means to selectively hold each said tongue in raised vertical position, g. a hitch plate extending outwardly from each said steering assembly beneath the respective tongue for attachment to the tongue of a trailing wagon, h. a wagon body suspended from said hipped beam and including a floor disposed between said wheel pairs below the axle level, i. said body being closed on both ends and on the rear side, but open on the front side, j. a rod extendably mounted to each end portion of said floor, k. a flat walking plate extending between said rods and adapted to slidingly ride along the ground adjacent said front side to provide support for a sod handler, l. and flexible means suspending said plate from each said rod and thereby connecting said plate to said floor.

2. said legs being disposed above said steering assembly and transversely spaced apart slightly more than the tongue width so that when the tongue is raised it is confined between said legs and fixedly held in position against horizontal movement, f. a wagon body suspended from said beam and including a floor disposed between said wheel pairs below the axle level, g. said body being closed on both ends and on the rear side, but open on the front side, h. a rod extendably mounted to each end portion of said floor, i. a flat walking plate extending between said rods and adapted to ride on the ground, j. and flexible means suspending said plate from each said rod.

2. A pallet wagon for receiving and storing sod rolls in the field comprising, in combination: a. a frame having a hipped beam with end studs extending downwArdly therefrom, b. end axles mounting said respective studs, c. a pair of wheels disposed on each axle and with each pair being steerably mounted and connected to a horizontally pivotal steering assembly, d. an elongated tongue vertically pivotally mounted at its inner end to each said steering assembly, e. means to selectively lock each pair of wheels against steering, and comprising:

3. In the wagon of claim 2: means to selectively hold each said tongue in raised vertical position.

4. A pallet wagon for receiving and storing sod rolls in the field comprising, in combination: a. a frame having a hipped beam with end studs extending downwardly therefrom, b. end axles mounting said respective studs, c. a pair of wheels disposed on each axle and with each pair being steerably mounted and connected to a horizontally pivotal steering assembly, d. an elongated tongue vertically pivotally mounted at its inner end to each said steering assembly, e. means to selectively lock each pair of wheels against steering, and comprising:

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