Earth working – Driven from or guided by stationary object – or anchored – Rotatable about vertical axis
Patent
1997-07-30
1999-02-02
Will, Thomas B.
Earth working
Driven from or guided by stationary object, or anchored
Rotatable about vertical axis
172 22, A01B 4500, E21B 1206
Patent
active
058652590
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an electrically powered earth corer. It is considered that the invention will mainly be used for removing weeds from lawns or flower beds and in this description the earth corer is therefore referred to as a "weeder". However, the invention is by no means limited to a weeder.
Removal of weeds from lawns can be done either mechanically or by use of herbicidal poisons. Poisons, which can be environmentally unfriendly leave the body of the weed in the ground, although dead, which can be unsightly. Mechanical methods of removing weeds include simple manual pulling or digging out with a trowel, or similar tool. Particularly when the weed is deep-rooted, manual pulling often results in a breakage of the weed leaving at least some part of the root remaining in the ground due to the friction of the surrounding earth on the weed. This root will almost certainly re-grow. Digging out the weed with a trowel is more effective at removing the weed as it removes the surrounding earth together with the weed. But removing a weed in this way requires a sizeable hole to be dug in the lawn which can be more troublesome than the original weed.
There are known devices that purport to assist in the removal of deep rooted weeds, without creating a large hole. These operate by the insertion of a thin spike down the centre of the weed. Attached to this spike is a blade which is designed to close on the root of the weed when pulled up and thus remove the weed and root together. One drawback with these devices is that if the weed is firmly rooted the blade fails to adequately grasp the root and merely slips along the length of the root as it is pulled up, failing to remove the weed. Effective operation is also very dependent upon soil conditions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided an electrically powered device for removing a core of earth from an area of ground, comprising a shaft having a lower end, and an elongated hollow cutter extensible by means of electrical power with respect to the lower end of the shaft so as to penetrate the ground and create a core of earth surround by the cutter and supported therein such that removal of the cutter from the ground also removes the core, the cutter being retractable relative to the shaft. The device therefore can be used to remove a small core of earth around the root of a weed, together wish the weed, thus greatly assisting in the weed removal by removing the earth around the weed, but only leaving a minimal mark on a lawn. The small cylindrical hole left in the lawn can be back filled with the earth removed with the weed, once the weed has been removed therefrom. However, the device can also be used for purposes other than weeding, such as planting bulbs.
Preferably, the device includes means for sensing when a required extension has been reached by the cutter and an automatic retraction mechanism that operates on reaching this extension, or alternatively if a stone or other obstruction is encountered. The sensing means may operate by sensing the force or torque applied to the cutter.
Conveniently, the cutter is cylindrical and is arranged to rotate as it penetrates the earth in a drilling action. The lower end of the cutter may have teeth that project outwards in order to reduce friction between the cutter and the surrounding earth. Such teeth will still maintain a good grip on the core of earth inside.
The device may also include automatic means for removal of the core of earth from the cutter once the cutter has been retracted.
The cutter preferably includes opposing members pivotally mounted at the lower end thereof, movable between an open position and a closed position and arranged to be in the open position during penetration of the ground and to be in the closed position during removal of the cutter from the ground.
To deal with tough weeds, such as tree seedlings, the opposing members may comprise a set of claws to grip the root of the weed when retraction commences.
BRIEF DES
REFERENCES:
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patent: 5261496 (1993-11-01), Smotherman
patent: 5322130 (1994-06-01), Ryden
Pezzuto Robert
Rotacon Plc
Will Thomas B.
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