Hydraulic and earth engineering – Subterranean or submarine pipe or cable laying – retrieving,... – By means advancing along terrain and guiding pipe or cable...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-29
2001-07-03
Pezzuto, Robert E. (Department: 3673)
Hydraulic and earth engineering
Subterranean or submarine pipe or cable laying, retrieving,...
By means advancing along terrain and guiding pipe or cable...
C180S019100, C180S019300, C280S047110, C280S763100, C172S040000, C172S042000, C172S080000, C172S256000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06254313
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to construction machinery and, more particularly, to self-propelled tractor vehicles, such as plows used to bury tubing, for example irrigation tubing, which are equipped with a U-shaped bracket to facilitate turns during operation of the vehicle.
2. The Prior Art
At the present time there are a number of commercially available machines that have fixed axles, for example lawn mowers and vibratory plows which may be used for burying tubing, such as cable and flexible pipe. For example, one type of self-propelled, walk-along underground construction machine is the Ditch Witch® Model SX Plow available from the Charles Machine Works, Inc., Perry, Okla. See also U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,475,604 and 5,039,252. These machines are generally difficult or impossible to turn because the drive wheels are mounted on a fixed axle.
OBJECTIVES AND FEATURES OF THE INVENTION
It is an objective of the present invention to provide a tractor vehicle such as a tube-burying plow, lawn mower or other vehicle having drive wheels mounted on a fixed axle, equipped with a U-shaped bracket which permits easy turning, so that the vehicle may be turned by the operator, for example, by 90 degrees.
It is a further objective of the present invention to provide such a bracket which may be formed of an inexpensive material, such as steel piping, and yet will provide a ready means to facilitate turning of a self-propelled, walk-along tractor vehicle.
It is a further feature of the present invention to provide such a bracket which may be used with the Ditch Witch® Model 100 SX underground construction machine.
It is a further objective of the present invention to equip a tractor vehicle with such a bracket which permits a person operating the vehicle, even if not skilled, to make a smooth, sharp turn of the vehicle.
It is a further objective of the present invention to provide such a bracket which may be readily fitted to various types of tube-burying plows, lawn mowers and other tractor vehicles without modification to the drive motor of the machine.
It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a plow equipped with such a bracket which may be turned while operating in a variety of soil conditions.
It is a further objective of the present invention to provide such a bracket which is especially designed for use with vibratory plows for making a trench in the earth into which a cable is continuously led.
It is a feature of the present invention to provide a turnable, self-propelled tractor vehicle such as a walk-along plow for burying tubing. The vehicle has a pair of drive wheels rotatably mounted on a fixed axle in front of the vehicle, and optionally a vibratory plow with a blade for cutting a trench in the earth coupled at the rear of the vehicle. A back support means, such as a pair of wheels, is mounted to the tractor vehicle and a U-shaped turning bracket is mounted to the sides of the tractor vehicle. The back support means has a first position elevated with respect to the ground and a second position engaging the ground when downward force is applied to the U-shaped turning bracket. The U-shaped turning bracket, which may be formed from steel pipe of a diameter between 1 and 1¼ inches, has first and second portions, which may be flat or tubular in shape, extending rearwardly from the sides of the tractor vehicle and substantially horizontally with respect to the ground when the back support means is in the first position. For example, the first and second portions may be welded to the sides of the tractor vehicle. A third portion, which also may be flat or tubular in shape, is arranged perpendicular to the first and second portions and has juncture lines with the first and second portions.
The length of the first and second portions are such relative to the tractor vehicle, that by applying downward force to the third portions, the center of gravity of the tractor vehicle is shifted to lift the drive wheels from engagement with the earth and enable the vehicle to pivot on the back support means against the ground to effect a turn. Preferably, the first and second portions are the same length and the ratio of the length of the first portion to the third portion is in the range of 2:1 to 5:1.
It is a further feature of the present invention to provide a frame mounted to the rear of the tractor vehicle and a pair of pivot wheels pivotally mounted to the frame to pivot the vehicle about the wheels to effect a turn upon application of downward force. Preferably, the pivot wheels are mounted to the frame so as to engage the earth only upon application of downward force to the U-shaped turning bracket to effect a turn of at least 90 degrees.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a turnable self-propelled, tractor vehicle, preferably a walk-along vibratory plow for burying tubing, having a pair of drive wheels rotatably mounted on a fixed axle in the front of the vehicle, a back support means, and a U-shaped turning bracket preferably formed of steel pipe of a diameter between 1 and 1¼ inches. The bracket has two portions which are preferably parallel to each other and a third portion which is perpendicular to them. Each portion may be flat or tubular in shape and preferably the ratio of the length of the first portion to the third portion is in the range of 2:1 to 5:1. The length of the first and second portions are such that a user, for example, a construction worker installing underground irrigation tubing, is able to shift the center of gravity of the tractor vehicle by applying downward force to the third portion and pivot the vehicle against the ground to effect a turn.
Additional details of the invention are contained in the following detailed description and the attached drawings, in which preferred embodiments are illustrated by way of example.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2367466 (1945-01-01), Loy
patent: 2918130 (1959-12-01), Thom
patent: 3891043 (1975-06-01), Valdex
patent: 3960231 (1976-06-01), McCormick
patent: 4077731 (1978-03-01), Holz, Sr. et al.
patent: 4260290 (1981-04-01), Flippin
patent: 4269450 (1981-05-01), Welborn
patent: 4475604 (1984-10-01), Albertson et al.
patent: 5039252 (1991-08-01), Schuermann
patent: 5320451 (1994-06-01), Garvery et al.
patent: 5431444 (1995-07-01), Kenealy
patent: 5465801 (1995-11-01), Hoover
patent: 5489000 (1996-02-01), Hillborn
patent: 5653096 (1997-08-01), Edwards
patent: 5878827 (1999-03-01), Fox
patent: 5966914 (1999-10-01), Reents
patent: 6065555 (2000-05-01), Yuki et al.
patent: 900584 (1943-12-01), None
Ditch Witch Model 100sx Operator's Manual, P/N 054-406, The Charles Machine Works, Inc. Issue No. 3/OP-6/94 (1994).
Ditch Witch 100sx Parts and Service Manual, P/N 050-673, The Charles Machine Works, Inc. Issue No. 8/PL—11/96 (1996).
Collard & Roe P.C.
Pechhold Alexandra K.
Pezzuto Robert E.
LandOfFree
Turnable tractor vehicle having fixed axle does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Turnable tractor vehicle having fixed axle, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Turnable tractor vehicle having fixed axle will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2562216