Soil aerator assembly
AssigneePlanetAir Turf Products, LLC
InventorsDavid R. Maas, Scott W. Bjorge
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In certain embodiments a soil aerator may include a hinged frame assembly that cooperates with one or more weight transferring systems adapted to permit an aeration subassembly to lift off the ground when an aeration tine impacts a hard obstacle such as a rock in the soil. The weight transferring systems may in the preferred embodiments be calibrated so that only minimal upward force, such as that caused by impact of an aeration tine with a rock, may cause the aeration subassembly to lift thereby significantly reducing or preventing damage to the aeration tines and drive assemblies and substantially prolonging the life of the aerator.
Claims22
A soil aerator, comprising:
- a frame assembly having a front end and a rear end;
- an aeration device coupled to the frame assembly;
- a front axle member to support the frame assembly, the front axle member located forward of the aeration device;
- a rear axle member to support the frame assembly, the rear axle member located aft of the aeration device;
- a weight transfer system coupled to the frame assembly, the weight transfer system having a biasing member that applies a moment to the frame assembly to transfer a portion of the frame assembly and aeration device's combined weight to the front axle member or the rear axle member,
- wherein the frame assembly is hinged and the aeration device is urged about the hinge axis by the weight transfer system.
A soil aerator, comprising:
- a frame assembly having a front end and rear end;
- means for aerating soil coupled to the frame assembly;
- front support means to support the frame assembly as it travels across a ground surface, the front frame support means located forward of the aerating means;
- rear support means to support the frame assembly as it travels across the ground surface, the rear support means located aft of the aerating means;
- weight transfer means for applying a moment to the frame assembly, the weight transfer means including a biasing means that applies a moment to the frame assembly to transfer a portion of the combined weight of the frame assembly and the aerating means to the front support means or the rear support means,
- wherein the frame assembly is hinged and the aerating means is urged about the hinge axis by the weight transfer means.
A soil aerator, comprising:
- a frame assembly having a front end and a rear end;
- an aeration device coupled to the frame assembly;
- a front axle member to support the frame assembly, the front axle member located forward of the aeration device;
- a rear axle member to support the frame assembly, the rear axle member located aft of the aeration device;
- a weight transfer system coupled to the frame assembly, the weight transfer system having a biasing member that applies a moment to the frame assembly to transfer a portion of the frame assembly and aeration device's combined weight to the front axle member or the rear axle member, wherein the weight transfer system includes a constant force spring.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.