Excavating – Land clearer
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-06
2002-06-11
Batson, Victor (Department: 3671)
Excavating
Land clearer
C037S302000, C037S404000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06401369
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to removing rooted brush, small trees, and the like, using excavators and other earth working machines, including backhoes and trackhoes. Bushes, such as mesquite bushes, often have a taproot, of substantial diameter, and an extensive, attached root system having smaller diameters. The taproot is generally vertical, while many of the attached root system members are generally horizontal.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are tools in the industry for removing rooted bushes and the like, and some can be utilized on an excavator such as a trackhoe or backhoe. Others perform as a plow and in other configurations.
Among those tools that are intended for excavators are the devices disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,490,340, issued to Robert G. Muncy. A multi-piece coupling apparatus is provided, along with arcuate side members, and a cutting blade that is single-edged, notched and V-shaped.
Another device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,353,285, issued to D. W. Murray. The Murray device is in two major sections, attached directly to the boom. A scissors effect is utilized for cutting as the two sections join during operation.
Another device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,321,761, issued to Soren Hedblom. A forked member is moved into position under a tree stump. A second member rests against the ground, while the first member lifts the stump.
No prior tools offer a simple, multi-functional, dual-mode, compact grubbing tool for excavators of the type having a boom with a first and second extension, where the second extension moves with respect to the first.
What is needed is a simply configured grubbing tool for attachment to the first and second extensions of the boom on an excavator or other earth-working machine. The tool needed should be compact, should have both front and rear cutting blade edges, should optimize the power at the cutting blade edges, should have the ability to dig and cut both vertical and horizontal roots in both the fore and aft directions, should have simple bracing that optimizes the operator's visibility through the tool, and should be positionable such that it can be used as a leveler for post-removal surface maintenance.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention is a grubbing tool that can be coupled to the first and second extensions from the boom of an excavator or other earth-working machine. The tool is simply constructed and provides dual operational modes, such that the operator can cut both the main vertical tap root and horizontally oriented roots, and do so in both the fore and aft directions. Both front and rear facing horizontal cutting blade edges are provided, as well as, front and rear facing vertical cutting blade edges. The force acting on the root at tie horizontal cutting blade edge is efficiently transferred through the tool by the optimal configuration and sizing of the tool sides and attachment points to the excavator. Straight front and rear edges of the side members, and the location of the attachment points, allow the tool's front or rear edges to be positioned flush against the surface after the bush has been pulled and stacked. The operator can then sweep and level the ground surface by lateral movement of the tool. Bracing between the side members is positioned high within the tool, thus optimizing the operator's visibility through tie tool. The tool can also be rapidly used in a fore and aft shallow cutting technique that allows the very quick removal of large numbers of densely situated small bushes.
My invention provides a root grubbing tool for attachment to an excavator or earth working machine, of the type having a dipper stick and dipper stick linkage, comprising: a pair of side members, each side member having a front edge, a rear edge, a top edge, and a bottom edge; a first pair of coupler members directly attached to the side members to allow coupling of the side members to the dipper stick: a second pair of coupler members attached to the side members to allow coupling of the side members to the dipper stick linkage; and a cutting blade, the cutting blade attached proximate the side members' bottom edges, such that, when the dipper stick linkage is moved with respect to the dipper stick the root grubbing tool moves arcuately, the cutting blade having a front edge, the cutting blade front edge being beveled for cutting as the root grubbing tool is moved arcuately in the front direction.
In another embodiment, the side members' front edges form an angle of less than or equal to ninety degrees with respect to the cutting blade front edge.
In an additional embodiment, the cutting blade has a rear edge, the rear edge being beveled for cutting as the root grubbing tool is moved arcuately in the rear direction.
In an additional embodiment, the side members' front edges form an angle of less than or equal to ninety degrees with respect to the cutting blade front edge, and the side members' rear edges form an angle of less than or equal to ninety degrees with respect to the cutting blade rear edge.
In an additional embodiment, each of the side members' rear edges has a top portion and a bottom portion, the bottom portions being beveled.
In an additional embodiment, each of the side members' front and rear edges has a top portion and a bottom portion, the front and rear edge bottom portions being beveled.
In an additional embodiment, the side members' front edges are substantially straight.
In an additional embodiment, the side member's rear edges are substantially straight.
In an additional embodiment, the side members' front and rear edges are substantially straight.
In an additional embodiment, each of the side members' front edges has a top portion and a bottom portion, the bottom portions being beveled.
An additional embodiment further comprises a brace, the brace being attached to and between the side members proximate the first pair of coupler members.
An additional embodiment further comprises a brace, the brace being attached to and between the side members proximate the second pair of coupler members.
An additional embodiment further comprises a brace, the brace being attached to and between the side members, the brace being further attached to the first pair of coupler members.
An additional embodiment further comprises a brace, the brace being attached to and between the side members, the brace being further attached to the second pair of coupler members.
In an additional embodiment, the dipper stick has a hole and the dipper stick linkage has a hole, each of the first and second pair of coupler is members further having a hole, the first coupler member pair hole being alignable with the dipper stick hole such that a pin may be inserted through the first pair of coupler members and the dipper stick, the second coupler member pair hole being alienable with the dipper stick linkage hole such that a pin may be inserted through the second pair of coupler members and the dipper stick linkage, and at least one side member has a first hole, the at least one side member first hole being aligned with the dipper stick hole such that the pin inserted through the at least one side member first hole passes through the dipper stick hole, and at least one side member has a second hole, the at least one side member second hole being aligned with the dipper stick linkage hole such that the pin inserted through the at least one side member second hole passes through the dipper stick linkage hole, the insertions of the pins thus coupling the root grubbing tool to the dipper stick and the dipper stick linkage.
An additional embodiment further comprises means for locking the pins in the inserted position.
In an additional embodiment, the number of side member first holes for receiving a pin to be inserted in the dipper stick hole is two, and the number of side member second holes for receiving a pin to be inserted in the dipper stick linkage hole is two.
In an additi
Batson Victor
Gray George S.
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