Windrowing-type composting apparatus

Self-propelled windrowing apparatus for laterally transferring an elongate row of biodegradable material, said row being oriented along a given, centrally disposed axis and having a given width, comprising:

• a windrow conveyor having spaced, parallel, mutually interconnected elongate paddles drivably, orbitally movable about spaced parallel axes and having a downwardly disposed region for confronting said row of material and progressively moving said material to an adjacent said row thereof;
• a rigid frame;
• first motor means mounted upon said rigid frame;
• mounting means for mounting said conveyor at a forwardly disposed portion of said frame such that said paddles within said downwardly disposed region are arranged at an acute angle with respect to said centrally disposed axis when said conveyor is urged into confrontation with said row;
• first and second spaced apart wheel means connected with said frame for supporting and driving said frame and having respective fixed axes of rotation aligned to normally drive said apparatus along a vector parallel with said centrally disposed axis to urge said conveyor into said confrontation, said first and second wheel means being disposed at opposite sides of said frame, said first wheel means being disposed at a first said side and rearwardly of said conveyor downwardly disposed region, said second wheel means being disposed at a second said side and substantially outwardly of said downwardly disposed region;
• second and third motor means selectively powered from said first motor means and respectively coupled in driving relationship with said first and second wheel means;
• third freely rotatable wheel means freely pivotal about a vertical axis, attached to said frame at said second side in the vicinity of the forward portion of said downwardly disposed region for supporting the forward portion of said frame for movement;
• and
• control means actuable to effect said select powering of said second and third motor means.