Method and apparatus for removing protective cover from golf course greens
An apparatus for removing a protective cover from the green of a golf course and for placing a cover on the green mounts to the front of a maintenance tractor on either the bucket of the tractor or the three point hitch of the tractor. The frame of the apparatus has two hydraulic motors mounted thereto are controlled and powered by the hydraulic system of the tractor. By mounting the roller bar to couplings on the motor with lynch pins a wrapped cover can easily be removed from the apparatus for storage.
This application is related to Thurman et al., U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/504,771, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Removing Protective Cover from Golf Greens” filed on Sep. 22, 2003 and is incorporated by reference herein, with priority claimed for all commonly disclosed subject matter.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present disclosure generally relates to removing a protective cover from a green of a golf course or replacing the cover on the green. The apparatus provides removing and replacing functions that require less manpower than traditional techniques and in addition reduces the amount of time required to complete either of the functions.
RELATED ARTGreens of a golf course must frequently be covered for protection from damaging weather conditions and then uncovered for play when the conditions no longer exist. Traditionally these functions of covering and uncovering are achieved manually. The uncovering or removing of a protective cover, such as a tarp, from a green usually requires a crew of around six workers. The workers usually fold and roll the cover and then move the rolled cover to a place that will not interfere with play. If there is a chance that changing weather or other circumstance could damage the greens it usually desirable to replace the covers on each green as quickly as possible. The conventional covering procedure, typically replacing a cover that had previously been removed, comprises placing the cover on or near the green and then unrolling, unfolding and positioning the cover. As might be expected, the covering procedure typically requires a work crew of around six.
In general each green of a golf course has a different size and shape so that each green has a corresponding or custom shaped cover. Because of the differences in size and shape of the covers there may be considerable variations in their weight.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSUREGenerally, the present invention provides an apparatus and method for removing covers from and replacing covers on the greens of a golf course. The disclosed apparatus and method provides techniques for removing and replacing covers that require less time and manpower than traditional techniques.
In one disclosure for removing a cover, a torque source is provided for rotating a roller bar wherein the cover is wrapped about the roller bar. The torque source preferably is one or more hydraulic motors connected to the hydraulic system of a maintenance tractor or similar vehicle. The tractor then transports the wrapped cover to another location for storage and in addition provides a means for lowering and placing the wrapped cover at the storage location.
In another embodiment the disclosed apparatus for removing a cover comprises a frame adapted to mount on the bucket of a maintenance tractor. The apparatus has one or more motors coupled the frame and the motors have receiver cups for coupling to a roller bar. The roller bar fits in receiver cups and is secured in place with lynch pins.
A disclosed method for removing a cover comprises the steps of placing one end of the cover on a roller bar, applying torque to the roller bar using one or more motors, stopping the one or more motors when the cover is wrapped about the roller bar, and then placing the wrapped cover at a storage location.
Various features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent to one skilled in the art upon examination of the following detailed description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is intended that all such features and advantages be included herein within the scope of the present invention and protected by the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily to scale relative to each other, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the invention. Furthermore, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
Because the novel and patentable features of the present invention can be shown with block and other diagrams, conventional elements such as bolts, pins, connectors, hydraulic couplers and hoses well-known to those skilled in the are not shown. A person skilled in the art could readily understand the diagrams illustrating embodiments of the present invention. The diagrams show specific details that are pertinent to the present invention and do not obscure the disclosure with details that would readily be apparent to those skilled in the art.
Preferably the maintenance tractor has a bucket that may be raised or lowered using the tractor's hydraulic system. The bucket of a tractor is generally used to move materials such as gravel, dirt, sand or any materials that fit within the bucket. Typically a maintenance tractor also has a hydraulic system available to furnish power for a variety of maintenance attachments. Connections to the hydraulic power system are typically made with conventional hydraulic couplers and hoses.
As seen in
A view B-B of the right side 115 of the bracket is shown in
Hydraulic lines (high pressure hoses with couplings) preferably are routed inside the steel tube of the frame 102 as shown in
A second preferred embodiment of the cover removal apparatus 100 is illustrated in
When either the first embodiment of
To better understand how the cover removal apparatus wraps a cover about the roller bar 112 refer now to
A preferred method for removing a cover is shown in the flow chart 200 of
A preferred method for replacing a cover is illustrated by the flow chart 300 of
It should be further emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present invention, particularly, any “preferred” embodiments, are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments of the invention without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the present invention and protected by the following claims.
Claims
1. An apparatus for removing a cover from a green of a golf course comprising:
- a frame adapted for coupling to a vertical motion apparatus, the frame having mounting brackets for one or more motor;
- one or more motors connected to the mounting bracket of the frame, each motor having a connector assembly; and
- a roller bar coupled to the connector assemblies, the roller bar receiving torque from the motor for wrapping the cover about the roller bar.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the motor is a hydraulic motor.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the vertical motion apparatus is the bucket of a maintenance tractor.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the roller bar is removed from the connector assembly after the cover has been wrapped about the roller bar.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the to the roller bar is comprised of a sleeve and an insertable bar.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more motors are electrical motors.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the connector assemblies secure the roller bar with lynch pins.
8. A method for removing a cover from a green for a golf course, the method comprising the steps of:
- placing the cover on a roller bar;
- applying torque to the roller bar;
- wrapping the cover about the roller bar until it forms a wrapped cover; and
- placing the roller bar having the wrapped cover at desired location.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the roller bar receives torque for the wrapping step from a hydraulic motor.
10. A method for placing a cover on a green for a golf course, the method comprising the steps of:
- placing a roller bar having a wrapped cover to a location adjacent to the green;
- unwrapping the cover from about a roller bar; and
- unfolding and positioning the cover on the green.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein torque by a hydraulic motor to unwrap the cover.
12. The method of claim 11 one end of the tarp is pulled away from the green with a wheeled vehicle.
13. The method of claim 10 wherein the roller bar is mounted on a frame.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the frame is coupled to a maintenance tractor.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein the coupling to the tractor is a frame to tractor bucket connection.
16. A cover removal apparatus for removing a cover from a green and for placing a cover on a green, the apparatus adapted for utilization with a maintenance tractor where the tractor has a means for lower and raising the apparatus and the tractor has a power sources that is coupled to the apparatus, the apparatus comprising;
- a frame with left side and a right side that is adapted for bolting to the bucket of the tractor and the bucket services as the lowering and raising means, the frame further having one or more mounting plates for securing one or more motors;
- one or more hydraulic motors mounted to the mounting plates and for receiving hydraulic power from the tractor, the hydraulic motors having connector assembly coupled to the shaft of each of the motors; and
- a roller bar coupled to the connector assemblies, the roller bar further being adapted to receive and wrap a cover.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the roller bar is comprised of a sleeve and an insertable bar wherein the insertable bar is removable when the cover is wrapped about the roller bar.
18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the width of the frame is adjustable.
19. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the frame is modified to fit on a three point hitch of the maintenance tractor.
20. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the frame is adapted to connect to a trailer.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 17, 2004
Publication Date: Apr 7, 2005
Inventors: David Thurman (Fayetteville, TN), David Chastain (Arab, AL)
Application Number: 10/944,492