Plant husbandry – Miscellaneous – Modified earth's surface – e.g. – sod – turf – reinforced
Patent
1994-10-03
1995-11-21
Raduazo, Henry E.
Plant husbandry
Miscellaneous
Modified earth's surface, e.g., sod, turf, reinforced
404123, A01G 112
Patent
active
054682673
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF INVENTION
THIS INVENTION relates to an improved rolling apparatus alternatively known in some circles as polishing apparatus suitable for rolling or polishing of level surfaces such as bowling greens, cricket pitches, lawn tennis courts, golfing greens and the like.
BACKGROUND ART
A conventional motorised rolling apparatus is described in Australian Patent Specification 522301 which relates to an undercarriage supported by a pair of ground engaging rollers. There was also provided a main frame also having a third ground engaging roller and drive means for driving one of the rollers so as to propel the rolling apparatus in a line of travel along a surface generally normal to the third roller. Coupling means were provided between the undercarriage and the main frame so as to allow pivotal movement of the undercarriage with respect to the main frame about a generally vertical axis. However, the coupling means was such so as to only allow pivotal movement of the undercarriage with respect to the main frame about a horizontal axis parallel with the direction of travel of the rolling apparatus and not about a horizontal axis normal to the direction of travel. In other words in a x-y-z axis frame of reference pivotal movement of the undercarriage with respect to the main frame could occur about the y axis if the y axis coincided with the direction of travel but not about the z-axis. To this end there were provided levelling bolts which were interposed between the undercarriage and main frame which had to be adjusted constantly so as to ensure that the three rollers were oriented in a common horizontal plane. However, it was found in practice that this was relatively time consuming. Also the rolling apparatus of Patent 522301 was prone to produce corrugations in the surface being rolled if the three rollers were not oriented in the same horizontal plane. It was also considered that the apparatus of Patent 522301 was unduly complicated in construction because of the inclusion of the levelling bolts.
BROAD STATEMENT OF INVENTION
It therefore is an object of the invention to provide rolling apparatus which alleviate the abovementioned disadvantages associated with the prior art.
The rolling apparatus of the invention comprises an undercarriage having at least three ground contacting rollers which are unevenly spaced. There also may be provided an overlying main frame or chassis which is universally pivotally attached to the undercarriage so that the undercarriage is pivotable with respect to the main frame or chassis about any direction. The main frame which is mobile may also be supported by at least one ground contacting roller. There also may be provided drive means which is drivingly connected suitably to the roller of the main frame for propelling or driving the rolling apparatus in a line of travel which is suitably normal to the axis of at least one of the undercarriage rollers. Suitably each of the undercarriage rollers are substantially parallel with each other.
The undercarriage may be formed in any suitable manner and thus may comprise a pair of opposed end frame members or end plates interconnected by a longitudinal which is preferably of channel shape having a pair of opposed substantially vertically oriented flanges and an interconnecting web which is suitably oriented in a horizontal plane. The longitudinal member may function as a strengthening member and may also have a cover plate attached thereto.
Preferably each end frame member has rotatably mounted thereto the at least three unevenly spaced rollers. A horizontal web of the channel cross member may be located above the at least three rollers and more suitably directly above an intermediate roller.
Each of the three rollers may include a longitudinal axle extending the length of each roller which is attached at each end to an associated end frame or alternatively may be provided with stub axles at each end attached to an associated end frame.
In the above described arrangement preferably the undercarriage is located adjacent one en
REFERENCES:
patent: 5046889 (1991-09-01), Sterner
Dufty Raymond J.
Kaye Ronald S.
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