Patents by Inventor Ralph W. Andrews

Ralph W. Andrews has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5762146
    Abstract: A nursery plant digger apparatus designed to be pulled behind a typical tractor and used to harvest bare root plants grown in long, parallel rows in a field. The digger apparatus includes a horizontally aligned tool bar attached to the rear of the tractor. Extended laterally from one side of the tool bar is an adjustable, U-shaped scoop which is dragged in the soil as the tractor is driven in a forward direction on the field. The angle and position of the scoop relative to the tool bar may be adjusted to control the digging depth of the scoop. During normal use, the scoop is adjusted to travel under the plant's deepest root. A shaking grate is pivotally attached to the rear edge of the scoop. During use, a hydraulic motor is connected to an eccentric which causes the grate to shake downward to dislodge soil delivered to the grate as the tractor moves in a forward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Inventor: Ralph W. Andrews