Livestock bedding conditioning apparatus

An apparatus for conditioning livestock bedding comprising;

• (a) a self-propelled drive vehicle having a front and a back;
• (b) a frame attached to the drive vehicle;
• (c) a rotor arm having a top side and a bottom side, the rotor arm pivotally attached to the frame, the rotor arm pivotable through a range of positions from an approximately horizontal first position to an approximately vertical second position;
• (d) a bearing unit set within the rotor arm, the bearing unit extending from the top side to the bottom side;
• (e) a rotor set within the bearing unit, the rotor comprising a shaft having a first end and a second end, a longitudinal axis defined by the first end and the second end, the first end compromising a bit, the bit engaging the ground when the rotor arm is in the first position, the shaft extending through the bearing unit with the first end on the bottom side and the second end on the top side of the rotor arm wherein the rotor further comprises a plurality of gussets attached to the portion of the shaft from the first end to the bottom side of the rotor arm, the gussets aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft;
• (f) means for rotating the rotor, said means compromising a hydraulic motor attached to the rotor arm, the hydraulic motor rotating a drive belt, the drive belt rotating the shaft of the rotor;
• and
• (g) means for pivoting the rotor arm from the first position to the second position and from the second position to the first position.

An apparatus for conditioning livestock bedding comprising;

• (a) a self-propelled drive vehicle having a front and a back, the front and back defining a first axis;
• (b) a first frame member attached to the front, extending forward therefrom, the first frame member aligned approximately parallel to the first axis;
• (c) a rotor arm having a top side, a bottom side, and a rotor cover, the rotor arm pivotally attached at a right angle to the first frame member, the rotor arm defining a second axis the rotor arm pivotable through a range of positions from an approximately horizontal first position to an approximately vertical second position;
• (d) a plurality of bearing units set within the rotor arm, each bearing unit extending from the top side to the bottom side, the bearing units aligned with each other along an axis parallel to the second axis;
• (e) a plurality of rotors set within the bearing units, each rotor comprising a shaft having a first end and a second end, the first end and second end defining a longitudinal axis, the first end comprising a bit, the bit engaging the ground when the rotor arm is in the first position, the shaft extending through the bearing unit with the first end on the bottom side and the second end on the top side of the rotor arm, the bit comprising a plurality of blades, each blade at an approximate right angle to the shaft;
• (f) means for rotating the rotors, said means comprising a hydraulic motor attached to the rotor arm, the hydraulic motor rotating a drive belt, the drive belt rotating the shaft of the rotor;
• (g) the rotors further comprising a plurality of gussets attached to the portion of the shaft from the first end to the bottom side of the rotor arm, the gussets aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft;
• and
• (h) means for pivoting the rotor arm from the first position to the second position and from the second position to the first position.