Back to results
US 7,451,831 B2Granted
Soil aerator
AssigneePlanetAir Turf Products, LLC
InventorsScott W. Bjorge, David R. Maas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A soil aeration apparatus may include aeration tines that are actuated by a relatively compact gear system that reduces the size and weight of the apparatus. In addition, a soil aeration apparatus may operate without a centrally disposed support shaft, thus enabling the tine-holder shafts to be positioned closer to one another and reducing the size of the apparatus.
Claims17
An apparatus for aerating soil, comprising:
- first and second substantially parallel members rotatably coupled to a carrier, each member having at least one aeration tine attached thereto;
- and
- a gear system for rotating each of the first and second members while revolving the first and second members about a central axis of the carrier, the gear system having a first planetary gear coupled to the first member, a second planetary gear coupled to the second member, and a sun gear axially aligned with the central axis and engaged with at least the first and second planetary gears;
- wherein the gear system rotates the at least one aeration tine about its respective parallel member and revolves the at least one aeration tine about the central axis to form an aeration pocket in a compound motion while at least a portion of the at least one tine is in a ground surface.
1 more element
An apparatus for aerating a ground surface, comprising:
- first and second substantially parallel members rotatably coupled to a carrier, each member having at least one aeration tine attached thereto;
- and
- a gear system for rotating each of the first and second members while revolving the first and second members about a central axis of the carrier, the gear system having a first planetary gear coupled to the first member, a second planetary gear coupled to the second member, and a sun gear axially aligned with the central axis and engaged with at least the first and second planetary gears;
- wherein the gear system causes the at least one aeration tine to rotate about its respective parallel member and causes the at least one aeration tine to revolve about the central axis so that the at least one tine moves in a compound motion relative to a ground surface.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.