# US 4,396,292 A · Windrowing-type composting apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,396,292 A - Document ID: US4396292A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/255,752 - Filed: 1981-04-20 - Granted: 1983-08-02 - Earliest claimed: 1980-01-23 - Assignees: Bancohio National Bank - Inventors: Walter C. Roman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4396292A ## CPC - C05F 17/943: Means for combined mixing and conveying - C05F 17/90: Apparatus therefor - Y02P 20/145: the feedstock being materials of biological origin - Y02W 30/40: Bio-organic fraction processing; Production of fertilisers from the organic fraction of waste or refuse - C05F: ORGANIC FERTILISERS NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C05B, C05C, e.g. FERTILISERS FROM WASTE OR REFUSE - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS - Y02W: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT ## Abstract Windrowing apparatus utilizing a windrowing conveyor which confronts an elongate row of biodegradable material for agitating and transferring it. The apparatus has two rearwardly disposed drive wheels which are fixed to a rigid frame and are selectively driven by hydraulic motors. The wheels have fixed axes to carry out pivotal turns. A third wheel forwardly disposed in a location remote from the row of material being windrowed provides the third component of a three point support. An internal combustion engine is mounted on the rigid frame to provide a primary source of power to hydraulic motors driving the rear wheels and the conveyor itself. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The windrowing apparatus of claim 1 in which said first motor means is mounted intermediate said first and second sides. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The windrowing apparatus of claim 1 including fourth motor means powered from said first motor means for driving said conveyor paddles. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The windrowing apparatus of claim 1 in which: said first motor means comprises hydraulic pump means and an internal combustion engine having an output coupled thereto for providing a constant pressure hydraulic output; said second and third motor means are provided as hydraulic motors coupled in hydraulic drive communication with said first motor means hydraulic output; and said control means is actuable to selectively vary the rate of flow of hydraulic fluid to said second and third motor means for carrying out steering of said apparatus. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The windrowing apparatus of claim 4 in which said first motor means is mounted intermediate said first and second sides. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The windrowing apparatus of claim 5 wherein said third wheel means is located substantially in alignment with an edge of said row of material when said conveyor is urged into said confrontation with said row. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The windrowing apparatus of claim 6 wherein said third wheel means is configured for carrying out the adjustment of the level of said frame forward position so as to provide for the adjustment of the level of said windrow conveyor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The windrowing apparatus of claim 5 wherein said third wheel means is located substantially in alignment with an edge of said row of material when said conveyor is urged into said confrontation with said row; and further is configured for carrying out the adjustment of the level of said frame forward position so as to provide for the adjustment of the level of said windrow conveyor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The windrowing apparatus of claim 5 in which said first and second wheel means are rotatable substantially about a common axis. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The windrowing apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said apparatus includes plow means coupled to said frame forwardly disposed portion adjacent to and outwardly disposed from said windrow conveyor; and said second wheel means is positioned behind said plow means so as to be shielded thereby from said biodegradable material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The windrowing apparatus of claim 10 in which said third wheel means is mounted upon said rigid frame at a location substantially in alignment with an edge of said row of material when said conveyor is urged into said confrontation with said row. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The windrowing apparatus of claim 11 including fourth motor means powered from said first motor means for driving said conveyor paddles. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The windrowing apparatus of claim 1 including coupling means rearwardly disposed upon said frame for connecting said frame with the foreward portion of a drive vehicle, said vehicle serving as a standby power source serving to push said apparatus in a foreward direction having a principal horizontal vector substantially parallel with said given, centrally disposed axis.