Earth working – Sod cutter
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-22
2001-04-10
Will, Thomas B. (Department: 3671)
Earth working
Sod cutter
C180S900000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06213218
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a mechanized apparatus to assist a crew in laying cut sod in residential yards, commercial establishments, athletic fields and the like.
In new construction, grass surrounding the construction is normally destroyed by the construction or ground shaping associated with the construction. Even without construction, grass sometimes dies or is absent from an area for some reason. Because grass often takes a long time and a great amount of work to grow from seed and, further, because the area where seed is growing is often muddy and is subject to severe washing, it is often desirable to place sod grown elsewhere on such areas to provide immediate grass coverage, erosion and mud control and to substantially improve the appearance of the area.
Consequently, transfer of sod from a growing site or sod farm to a region needing sod, especially residential housing, has become commonplace. With ever increasing demand for such sod, it has become practical for sodding crews to try to improve the efficiency of sod laying. This is accomplished by mechanizing the procedure and by substantially increasing the size of the rolls of sod to reduce the number of individual rolls that must be handled. Therefore, the present invention is designed to assist in the laying of rolls of sod, especially large, heavy rolls that weigh 2000 pounds or more.
Sod is often laid on uncovered dirt, which easily turns to mud when it has rained recently. Such mud makes sod laying difficult or halts it completely because the laying apparatus sinks into the mud. Also in the past, such sod laying has often been accomplished by a forklift or tractor which lifts the roll either to the front or rear of the device. This produces a very uneven distributing of the weight such that the wheels of the associated end tend to be driven deeply into mud or soft dirt. Therefore, a mechanized apparatus is desirable that is mechanically driven, unrolls the sod at the location where the sod is needed and spreads the weight of the sod and apparatus somewhat evenly over the apparatus and over a large area to prevent miring in mud.
Furthermore, sod laying machines must be able to traverse uneven ground and yet maintain ground contact with the wheels to provide traction and reduce the likelihood of miring or producing deep tracks. The present invention provides for articulation of the frame to help insure that all of the wheels remain in contact with uneven ground.
It is also desirable that the sod laying apparatus be able to be driven to the sod and that the sod be quickly loaded and easily raised by the apparatus. In order to accomplish this, the front wheels must be spaceable at least enough for sod rolls to pass through, since the rolls are too heavy to easily lift to the center of the apparatus. Unfortunately, when the wheels are so spaced, the apparatus will not pass through many gates and certain other obstructions. Consequently, it is desirable that the wheels be swingable between loading and gate traversing positions. Further, it is desirable that a driver be able to control such swinging from the driver's seat.
Another problem associated with a sod laying apparatus of this type is getting the apparatus to the worksite. The present invention is designed to provide for simple and quick securement of the apparatus to the rear of a transport truck using hydraulic sod roll lift arms without need for additional equipment or parts. Further, it is desirable that the sod layer have the ability to also unload sod from the truck to reduce the need for a separate forklift. The ability to unload is provided by a forklift attachment for the apparatus that can be easily attached and disconnected and which can be operated by a driver by simple swinging of the driver's chair. To reduce the weight of the apparatus during sod laying, it is desirable for the forklift attachment to be easily detached.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A sod laying apparatus is provided for raising, transporting and laying sod rolls of different sizes, especially large rolls weighing a ton or more. The sod laying apparatus includes an open ended frame that allows the apparatus to drive to and surround a roll of sod, such that the roll is generally between the wheels of the apparatus.
The apparatus includes a frame that has front and rear sections which pivot relative to each other. In particular, the front section includes front wheels and the rear section includes rear wheels with the two sections being pivotal about a front to rear axis to allow all four of the wheels to remain in engagement with the ground when traversing rough terrain.
The frame front section includes a pair of elongate arms which are positioned on opposite sides, and each of the arms has one of the front wheels near a distal end thereof. The front wheels are mounted on a vertical pivot that allows them to pivot relative to arms from a sod loading position wherein the wheels are outside the arms to a gate clearing position wherein the wheels are located between the arms. A hydraulic locking system allows an operator to secure the wheels in either configuration from a drivers seat.
The apparatus also includes sod lifting arms pivotally mounted at one end to the frame and being controlled by a hydraulic cylinder. The sod lifting arms raise and elevate the rolls of sod during laying and also are sized and shaped to join with a bar on a transport truck to raise the apparatus off the ground during transport.
An easily attached and detached forklift is selectively used to remove sod rolls from a transport truck.
The apparatus includes a gasoline motor that operates a hydraulic system. The hydraulic system includes units to drive the front and rear wheels, and cylinder to operate the front wheel locks, the position of the forklift, steering, the tilt of the forklift, and telescoping of the frame arms which can all be controlled from the drivers seat. The hydraulic system also allows for reverse rotation of the front wheels when moving between the two configurations thereof.
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, the objects of the present invention are to provide a sod laying apparatus that easily loads sod into the apparatus and traverse ground while laying such sod; to provide such an apparatus that allows an operator to control most of the operation of the apparatus from a driver's seat; to provide such an apparatus having an articulated frame that allows the apparatus to effectively traverse uneven ground; to provide such an apparatus wherein weight of both sod and apparatus are distributed over a large area and that has wide tires to improve traction in mud and reduces rutting; to provide such an apparatus having front wheels that can be manipulated between a wide body configuration to load sod and a comparatively narrow gate traversing configuration to allow the apparatus to pass through narrow gates and the like; to provide such an apparatus that is adapted to be mounted on a transport truck by operation of sod lifting arms; to provide such an apparatus that may be cooperatively joined to a forklift mechanism to allow offloading of sod from a transport truck; to provide such an apparatus including a telescoping frame to operably allow the frame to be shortened for transport; and to provide such an apparatus that is comparatively easy to operate and especially well adapted for the intended usage thereof.
Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention.
The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2661708 (1953-12-01), Pittman
patent: 3306390 (1967-02-01), Jamme
patent: 3650330 (1972-03-01), Gieringer et al.
patent: 3698730 (1972-10-01), Hansen
patent: 3812918 (1974-05-01), Beck
patent
Mammen Nathan
McMahon John C.
Will Thomas B.
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