GB2246499A

GB2246499A - Verge trimming apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2246499A
Application number: GB9115194A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ronan Michael Hamill
Original assignee: MACHINERY PATENT ROYALTIES LIM
Current assignee: MACHINERY PATENT ROYALTIES LIM
Priority date: 1990-07-12
Filing date: 1991-07-12
Publication date: 1992-02-05
Also published as: GB9115194D0

Abstract

A verge trimming apparatus (1) for mounting on a tractor (2) for trimming a road verge has a cutting disc (5) to cut turf at the road verge and a scraper blade (6) behind the cutting disc (5) to lift cut turf from the road verge. Mounted above the scraper blade (6) is a rotatable shaft (8) having a number of radial arms (9) for deflecting cut turf from the scraper blade (6) onto conveyors (10, 58) which direct turf away from the road verge. The arms (9) are telescopic which prevents damage to outer ends of the arms and/or jamming of the shaft (8) if turf or stones get caught between the arms and the scraper blade (6). <IMAGE>

Description

wA verae triiiina anDaratusZ This invention relates to a verge trimming apparatus for trimming road verges and the like.

According to the invention there is provided a verge trimming apparatus for mounting on or towing by a tractor vehicle, the apparatus comprising a support frame, cutting means to cut turf at a road verge, a scraper blade to lift the turf away from the road surface and means to engage and move turf rearwardly of the scraper blade to a conveyor to deliver cut turf away from the verge.

In one embodiment of the invention the means comprises a rotatable shaft mounted above the scraper blade and substantially parallel to the scraper blade, having one or more radial turf engaging members. Preferably a number of spaced-apart radial arms are provided on the shaft.

In a particularly preferred embodiment the arms are telescçpic.

Preferably each arm is of two part construction having a fixed inner portion attached to the shaft and an outer portion movable on the inner portion between an extended position and a retracted position of reduced arm length.

In another embodiment biasing means is provided to urge the outer portion towards the extended position. Typically the biasing means is a spring extending between the inner and outer portions.

In a further embodiment the scraper blade is height adjustable on the support frame.

Preferably the scraper blade is pivotally mounted on the support frame for longitudinal and transverse pivotal movement of the scraper blade. Typically rams are provided between the support frame and scraper blade to position the scraper blade on the support frame.

In another embodiment discharge means is provided at a discharge end of the conveyor to deliver the cut turf away from the conveyor. Typically said means is a discharge chute extending beneath the discharge end. Ideally the chute is pivotally mounted for rotation about a vertical axis.

In a preferred embodiment the discharge means is a discharge conveyor mounted on the support frame and extending beneath the discharge end of the conveyor. Preferably the discharge conveyor is pivotally mounted on the support frame for pivoting about a vertical axis to allow turf be directed either rearwardly or to the side of the conveyor.

The conveyor and rotatable shaft are preferably hydraulically driven.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of an embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a verge trimming apparatus according to the invention, mounted on a tractor vehicle; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus; Fig. 3 is a side view of the apparatus; Fig. 4 is a side view of the apparatus, shown in a raised stored position on the tractor; Fig. 5 is a front view of the apparatus, shown in a lowered working position; Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the apparatus in another working position; Fig. 7 is a detail side view of portion of the apparatus; Fig. 8 is a detail front view of a scraper blade portion of the apparatus; Fig. 9 is a detail elevational view of portion of the apparatus; and Fig. 10 is a plan view showing the apparatus in use trimming a verge.

Referring to the drawings there is illustrated a verge trimming apparatus according to the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The apparatus 1 is shown mounted on a tractor 2, and has a support frame 3 by which it is mounted to the tractor 2. A rotatable cutting disc 5 is mounted adjacent a front end of the frame 3. Rearwardly of the cutting disc 5 is a ground engaging scraper blade 6. Mounted above the scraper blade 6 and substantially parallel to the scraper blade 6 is a rotatable shaft 8 with a number of radial arms 9 to move cut turf rearwardly of the scraper blade 6 onto a conveyor 10 for delivery of cut turf away from the scraper blade 6.

Referring in particular to Fig. 8, the scraper blade 6 comprises a rectangular plate with a front cutting edge 20.

Side walls 21 are upstanding at each side edge of the scraper blade 6 and a top 22, connects upper ends of the side walls 21. Bearings 25 mounted in each side wall 21 support the shaft 8. An inner end 26 of the shaft 8 is connected by sprocket and chain drive to a hydraulic motor 27 mounted on the top 22.

Each of the arms 9 is telescopic and is of two-part construction having a fixed inner portion 30 attached to the shaft 8 and an outer portion 31 movable on the inner portion 30 between an extended position, as shown in broken outline in Fig. 9, and a retracted position (Fig. 9) of reduced arm length. The outer portion 31 forms a cap which is a sleeved fit over an outer end 32 of the inner portion 31. A biasing spring 33 is mounted between the inner portion 30 and outer portion 31 to urge the outer portion 31 towards the extended position which is indicated in broken outline in Fig. 9.

The scraper blade 6 is mounted to a rectangular upright 35 forming portion of the support frame 3. The upright 35 has spaced-apart parallel channel-section sides 36 interconnected by a top member 37. A ram 39 extends between the top member 37 and a carriage 40 slidably mounted between the sides 36 and connected to the scraper blade 6 to allow the scraper blade 6 to be moved from a lowered working position as shown in Fig.

1 and Fig. 5 and a raised stored position as shown in Fig. 4.

The upright 35 is pivotally mounted on the support frame 3 adjacent its lower end at 42. A ram 43 extending between the support frame 3 and the upright 35 is operable to pivot the upright 35 on the support frame 3 thereby pivotally moving the scraper blade 6 about a longitudinal axis of the scraper blade 6. This is particularly useful for adjusting the orientation of the scraper blade 6 to cope with the camber normally provided on road surfaces. Fig. 5 shows the scraper blade 6 in a flat position and Fig. 6 shows the scraper blade 6 in a tilted position.

Referring now in particular to Fig. 7 a ram 50 extends between the support frame 3 and a side 21 of the scraper blade 6 and is operable to tilt the scraper blade 6 about a transverse axis of the scraper blade 6 thereby to adjust the angle at which the bottom of the scraper blade 6 rises away from the road surface.

The cutting disc 5 is rotatably mounted on a support arm 55, attached to and extending forwardly of one of the side walls 21.

A discharge conveyor 58 is mounted at an upper discharge end 59 of the conveyor 10. This discharge conveyor 58 is pivotally mounted on a support bracket 60 for rotation about a vertical axis. A brush 61 depends from the support frame 3 beneath the conveyor 10 to sweep the road surface where the turf has been lifted.

Mounted at the rear end of the support frame 3 is a hydraulic pump 66 for the rams and hydraulic motors which drive the shaft 8 and conveyors 10, 58, the pump 66 drivably engageable in conventional manner with a power take off 67 on the tractor 2.

A control unit (not shown) is provided for controlling flow of hydraulic fluid for operation of the hydraulic motors and for raising and lowering the scraper blade 6 and conveyor 10 by means of the rams.

In use, the verge trimming apparatus 1 is mounted on the tractor 2 and the power take-off 67 of the tractor is connected to drive the hydraulic pump 66. With the apparatus 1 in a lowered position, the tractor 2 is driven along a road verge as shown in Fig. 10, the cutting disc 5 cutting turf at the road edge and the scraper blade 6 lifting the cut turf away from the road surface. The arms 9 are rotated by the motor 27 to engage and move the turf rearwardly of the scraper blade 6 onto a bottom end of the conveyor 10. Turf is delivered by the conveyor 10 and laterally extending discharge conveyor 58 into a trailer (not shown) drawn behind the tractor 2.

Alternatively the discharge conveyor 58 can be swivelled through 1800 to direct turf to the side of the road.

It will be appreciated that the telescopic arms 9 prevent jamming of the rotatable shaft 8 if turf or stones for example get caught between an outer end 31 of the arms 9 and the scraper blade 6. This also helps to prevent damage to the outer ends 31 of the arms 9.

It will be further appreciated that there will be considerable wear and tear on the outer ends 31 of the arms 9 during use and these can readily easily and quickly be replaced without having to dismantle and/or replace the whole shaft 8 unit.

It is also envisaged, however, that in some cases rigid arms with hardened tips may be provided on the rotatable shaft 8.

It will be noted also that the outer ends 31 of the arms 9 may be in any suitable configuration, for example they may have a conical outer tip for improved grip with sods of turf, or may have a sharp knife edge formed at an outer end to further cut up turf removed from the roadway prior to delivery to the conveyor.

It will also be appreciated that the scraper blade 6 can be quickly and easily positioned to match the camber of the road and to adjust the pick-up angle at which the scraper blade 6 rises away from the road.

The verge trimming apparatus may be of any suitable materials of construction.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in both construction and detail.

Claims

PT.T,

1. A verge trimming apparatus for mounting on or towing by a tractor vehicle, the apparatus comprising a support frame, cutting means to cut turf at a road verge, a scraper blade to lift the turf away from the road surface and means to engage and move turf rearwardly of the scraper blade to a conveyor to deliver cut turf away from the verge.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means comprises a rotatable shaft mounted above the scraper blade and substantially parallel to the scraper blade, having one or more radial turf engaging members.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the turf engagement members comprise a number of spaced-apart radial arms on the shaft, the arms being telescopic.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein each arm is of two-part construction and having a fixed inner portion attached to the shaft and an outer portion movable on the inner portion between an extended position and a retracted position of reduced arm length.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein biasing means is provided to urge the outer portion towards the extended position.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the biasing means is a spring extending between the inner and outer portions.

7. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the scraper blade is height adjustable on the support frame.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the scraper blade is height adjustable by means of a ram or rams.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8 wherein the scraper blade is pivotally mounted on the support frame for longitudinal and transverse pivotal movement of the scraper blade.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein rams are provided between the support frame and scraper blade for pivotal movement of the scraper blade.

11. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein discharge means is provided at a discharge end of the conveyor to deliver the cut turf away from the conveyor.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein the discharge means is a discharge conveyor mounted on the support frame and extending beneath the discharge end of the conveyor.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the discharge conveyor is pivotally mounted on the support frame for pivoting about a vertical axis to allow turf be directed either rearwardly or to the side of the conveyor.

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein the discharge means is a discharge chute extending beneath the discharge end of the conveyor.

15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein the chute is pivotally mounted for rotation about a vertical axis.

16. An apparatus as claimed in claimed in any preceding claim wherein the conveyor and rotatable shaft are hydraulically driven.

17. A verge trimming apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

18. A vehicle incorporating a verge trimming apparatus as claimed in any preceding claims.