GB2288716A

GB2288716A - Debris-removing device for rollers

Info

Publication number: GB2288716A
Application number: GB9407921A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Murphy; John Murphy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-04-21
Filing date: 1994-04-21
Publication date: 1995-11-01
Also published as: GB9407921D0

Abstract

A debris removing device (1) for preventing debris from accumulating on roller(s) (11) provided on a roller apparatus such as grass mowers and grounds maintenance apparatus; the device (1) comprising means for scraping debris off the roller(s) (11) including a debris removing member (6), means for moving the debris removing member between an operational position in which the member is located close to the roller (11) and is capable of removing debris from the roller (11) and an inoperational position in which the member is located away from the roller. The device (1) includes means for tensioning the wire debris removing member and also includes means for moving the wire between the operational and inoperational positions. The latter means comprises a bolt provided at opposite ends of the roller, the bolt having a hole provided eccentrically to the centre line of the bolt to mount the wire therein. <IMAGE>

Description

DEBRIS-REMOVING DEVICE The present invention relates to debris-removing devices and in particular debris removing devices for preventing material and debris building up on the rollers of roller apparatus such as grass mowers and grounds maintenance equipment.

In the claims the term "wire is to be understood as including a strong, elongate member of narrow diameter.

The present invention accordingly provides a debris removing device for preventing debris from accumulating on roller(s) provided on a roller apparatus forming part of grass mowers and grounds maintenance apparatus and the like, the device comprising means for scraping debris off the roller(s) including an elongate debris removing member of narrow cross-sectional area, means for moving the debris removing member between an operational position in which the member is located close to the roller and is capable of removing debris from the roller and an inoperational position in which the member is located away from the roller, whereby in the operational position, the debris removing member is arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the roller and spaced close thereto where it is effective for removing debris therefrom.

Advantageously, the means for scraping debris off the roller(s) comprises a debris removing member including a length of wire and means for placing the wire under tension whereby when said tensioning means is activated, the wire is placed under tension and is effective for removing debris collecting on the roller(s).

Conveniently, the means for placing the wire under tension and the means for moving the wire between an operational position and an inoperational position are one and the same means.

Preferably, means for tensioning the wire and moving the wire between the operational and inoperational positions, comprise a bolt provided at opposite ends of the roller, the bolt having a hole provided eccentrically to the centre line of the bolt to mount the wire therein.

Preferably the tension in the wire can be varied as desired for particular applications.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the debris removing device of the invention The invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawing, which shows, by way of example only, one embodiment of the device in accordance with the present invention.

The debris removing device is indicated generally by the reference number 1 and comprises an aperture 3 drilled in the head of a hexagonal headed bolt 5, the aperture 3 being located eccentrically in relation to the centre of the bolt S. Wire tensioning nuts 8 for putting scraper wire 6 under tension and locking nuts 9 are also included.

To assemble the device, a portion of scraper wire 6 is cut to an appropriate length and threaded through the eccentric aperture 3 in the hexagonal head of the bolt 5. A loop 7 is made at each end of the scraper wire 6 and each end of the portion of wire 6 is pushed back into each aperture 3.

This will result in each loop 7 being locked in each aperture 3 at each end of the scraper wire 6 when the scraper wire 6 is put under tension.

The scraper wire is then tensioned to the extent desirable by tightening the wire tensioning nuts 8. When the desired tension is achieved, the locking nuts 9 are tightened against the plate 10 on the roller apparatus to which the debris removing device 1 is affixed in order to maintain the tension in the scraper wire 6. Then the head of the hexagonal headed bolt S is gripped, using a suitable tool and the bolt 5 is twisted in towards the roller 11 of the roller apparatus. This action in turn causes the scraper wire 6 to move in towards the roller 11. The scraper wire 6 may be set as close to the roller 11 of the roller apparatus as desired, thereby removing any material and debris which may accumulate on the roller(s) of the roller apparatus.

The scraper wire device 1 has two main uses, namely to achieve the desired tension of the scraper wire 6 and to adjust the scraper wire 6 as close to the roller of a roller apparatus as desired by the user.

The use of scraper wire devices to prevent material and debris from building up on machines, especially rollers and roller apparatus, is generally known. However, the principle of boring a hole in the head of a bolt, eccentrically to the centre line of the bolt, to mount a scraper wire therein, as described above is not known.

Providing a hole in this position in the bolt head, and mounting a scraper wire in this hole, provides distinct advantages over known scraper wire devices namely, the desired tension in the scraper wire is achieved by simply tightening the bolt as described above, and at the same time, the precise setting of the scraper wire as close to the roller apparatus as desired by the user, is made possible, as described above.

However, it must be understood that this invention is not solely limited to using a hexagon heated bolt in the scraper wire system; the invention is intended to encompass any bolt, not just a hexagon headed bolt, which has a hole bored eccentrically in its head for the purposes of mounting a scraper wire in, to provide the user with the two main advantages of tensioning and adjustment of the scraper wire system as described above.

It will of course be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details described herein, which are given by way of example only, and that various modifications and alterations are possible within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A debris removing device for preventing debris from accumulating on roller(s) provided on a roller apparatus forming part of grass mowers and grounds maintenance apparatus and the like, the device comprising means for scraping debris off the roller(s) including an elongate debris removing member of narrow cross-sectional area, means for moving the debris removing member between an operational position in which the member is located close to the roller and is capable of removing debris from the roller and an inoperational position in which the member is located away from the roller, whereby in the operational position, the debris removing member is arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the roller and spaced close thereto where it is effective for removing debris therefrom.

2. A debris removing device according to claim 1, wherein the means for scraping debris off the roller(s) comprises a debris removing member including a length of wire and means for placing the wire under tension whereby when said tensioning means is activated, the wire is placed under tension and is effective for removing debris collecting on the roller(s).

3. A debris removing device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the means for placing the wire under tension and the means for moving the wire between an operational position and an inoperational position are one and the same means.

4. A debris removing device according to claim 3 wherein the means for tensioning the wire and moving the wire between the operational and operation positions, comprise a bolt provided at opposite ends of the roller, the bolt having a hole provided eccentrically to the centre line of the bolt to mount the wire therein.

5. A debris removing device substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing and/or a roller apparatus forming part of a grass mower or grounds maintenance apparatus and the like, comprising a debris removing device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.