Earth working – Sod cutter
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-08
2001-06-12
Novosad, Christopher J. (Department: 3671)
Earth working
Sod cutter
Reexamination Certificate
active
06244354
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to cutting grass sods from grass land.
2. Background Art
Grass sod is utilized to quickly form large grass surfaces such as sports fields, golf courses and lawns. The grass sod is cut from a grass land and typically has a breadth of between 24 and 48 inches. The cut grass sod is collected as a roll or a slab.
It is desirable that the cut grass sod have a constant thickness over its length and breadth. However, the grass land from which the grass sod is cut often has sloping terrain over the length and/or breadth of the grass sod wherein the terrain is slightly hollow or slightly rounded. Because of the sloping terrain, difficulties are encountered maintaining the thickness of the grass sod constant over its length and/or breadth. This varying thickness yields problems during laying of sports fields and the like which must be as flat as possible. Moreover, the thickness of the cut grass sod is dependent on the application. For example, a golfing green or a high quality sports field would utilize a grass sod that is preferably cut as thinly as possible. Conversely, for gardens or planting grass fields, the grass sods can be cut thicker. If the grass sod is cut from a sloping terrain, a temporary “dead” spot can be produced. This is a particular problem when the grass sod is cut as thinly as possible, such as for golfing greens or high quality sports fields. In applications where thicker grass sods can be utilized, it is important to cut the grass sod at a substantially constant thickness over its length and/or breadth in order to reduce transportation costs moreover, it is desirable to cut the grass sods at a substantially uniform thickness over its breadth in order to avoid a stack or roll of grass sod from sagging to one side or, in the case of narrow rolls or stacks of grass sods, from falling over.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for cutting a grass sod of a substantially uniform thickness over its length and breadth.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, I have invented an apparatus for cutting a grass sod from a grass land. The apparatus includes a chassis having a front end and a back end. A cutting blade is received on an adjusting mechanism which is coupled to the chassis and which adjusts a position of the cutting blade to cut the grass sod a predetermined distance below a surface of the grass sod. A measuring mechanism measures a profile of the grass sod to be cut from the grass land and/or a thickness of the cut grass sod. A controller is connected to the measuring mechanism and the adjusting mechanism. The controller causes the adjusting mechanism to adjust the position of the cutting blade in response to the measuring mechanism detecting changes in the profile of the grass sod to be cut from the grass land and/or a thickness of the cut grass sod.
The measuring mechanism can include a ground profile detector and/or a sod thickness detector. The ground profile detector is positioned adjacent the front end of the chassis for detecting a profile of the surface of the grass sod to be cut from the grass land. The sod thickness detector is positioned between the cutting blade and the back end of the chassis for detecting a thickness of the cut grass sod.
The cutting blade can be flexible and the controller can cause the adjusting mechanism to adjust the flexion of the cutting blade in response to the measuring mechanism detecting changes in the lateral profile of the grass sod to be cut from grass land and/or a lateral thickness of the cut grass sod.
I have also invented a method of cutting from a grass land a grass sod having a predetermined thickness. The method includes setting a cutting blade to cut from the grass land the grass sod having the predetermined thickness. During cutting of the grass sod from the grass land, a profile of the grass sod to be cut and/or a thickness of the cut grass sod is determined. In response to variations in the profile and/or the determined thickness, the cutting blade is adjusted to maintain the cut grass sod at the predetermined thickness.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2614477 (1952-10-01), Habenicht
patent: 3509944 (1970-05-01), Brouwer et al.
patent: 3540535 (1970-11-01), Brouwer et al.
patent: 3590927 (1971-07-01), Brouwer et al.
patent: 3658134 (1972-04-01), Bibby
patent: 3807504 (1974-04-01), Nunes, Jr.
patent: 4616713 (1986-10-01), Shattuck
patent: 4632192 (1986-12-01), Hooks
patent: 4892152 (1990-01-01), van Vuuren
patent: 2738265 (1979-03-01), None
patent: 0153103 (1985-08-01), None
patent: 9502317 (1995-01-01), None
Harmelerwaard Patents B.V.
Novosad Christopher J.
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