Abstract: A soil aeration apparatus can include an aeration rotor comprising at least one set of aeration tines configured for movement in a planetary motion about an axis. The apparatus can further include the aeration rotor being configured to remove soil plugs from a ground surface and break the soil plugs into soil particles when the aeration rotor is rotated.

Abstract: An apparatus for extracting and collecting particulate infill from an infilled artificial turf field. A vehicle has a first forward end and a second rearward end. An infill extractor is located at the first end of the vehicle and adapted to extract infill from a strip of infilled athletic turf. Extracted infill falls into a bottom section of the infill extractor. An infill mover is secured to the vehicle and adapted to move the extracted infill from the bottom section of the infill extractor toward the second end of the vehicle. An infill collector is connected to the second end of the vehicle and operable to cooperate with the infill mover to collect the moved infill. The infill collector includes a frame that is laterally movable relative to the vehicle from an operative “in use” position to a stowed position.

Abstract: Soil treating systems and shearing assemblies for use in forestry operations are described. Embodiments of soil treating systems include a movement assembly having a front end and a back end, a shearing assembly mounted on the front end of the movement assembly, and leveling assembly mounted on the back end of the movement assembly. In some embodiments shearing assemblies are inverted V-type shearing assemblies. Further aspects described are directed towards methods for using soil treating systems and shearing assemblies for preparing land for interplanting an energy crop with a primary crop.

Abstract: An improved turfplaner system for leveling an area to a predetermined height is described. The turfplaner system includes a device capable of being transported over an area. The device includes a rotational elongated cutter with a first side and a second side and a control mechanism capable of independently altering a height of the first side of the rotational cutter and the second side of the rotational cutter relative to a predetermined height over the area.

Abstract: The machine of the invention includes a separator comprising rotary transport means and sorting means for sorting the soil and the stones collected when digging a trench and for re-depositing them in a desired manner in said trench.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to soil treating systems and shearing assemblies for use in forestry operations. Embodiments of soil treating systems according to the disclosure include a movement assembly having a front end and a back end, a shearing assembly mounted on the front end of the movement assembly, and leveling assembly mounted on the back end of the movement assembly. In some embodiments shearing assemblies are inverted V-type shearing assemblies. Further aspects of the disclosure are directed towards methods for using soil treating systems and shearing assemblies for preparing land for interplanting an energy crop with a primary crop.

Abstract: The machine of the invention includes a separator comprising rotary transport means and sorting means for sorting the soil and the stones collected when digging a trench and for re-depositing them in a desired manner in said trench.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating rocks and debris from dirt is presented. The apparatus includes a shovel including a round pointed base, a plurality of holes disposed throughout the base including dimensions smaller than the rocks and debris where, when a user of the shovel digs into the dirt, the user can shake the shovel such that the dirt is sifted through the holes with the rocks and debris remaining on the base and a handle for the user to operate the shovel to dig into the dirt and shake the shovel.

Abstract: A sprig harvester for harvesting sprigs. The sprig harvester includes a mainframe and at least one turf cutting head mounted on a front portion of the mainframe. Disposed rearwardly of the turf cutting head is a shredder. Extending between the turf cutting head and the shedder is a conveyor that conveys the swath or pieces of turf from the cutting head into the shredder. Once deposited within the shredder, the swath of turf is shredded into sprigs that are discharged from the shredder onto a conveyor and are conveyed therefrom to a discharge area.

Abstract: A core destroying machine utilizes a single processing rotor cooperable with an arcuate screen member to disintegrate aeration cores therebetween. The arcuate screen member is configured to discharge thatch from the single processing rotor in a generally vertical direction into engagement with a rotating fluff roll. The fluff roll is configured with a pair of opposing rigid bats affixed to a central shaft for rotation around an axis of rotation. A plurality of extruded flexible plastic cords extend from the rigid bats into the direction of rotation of the fluff roll to engage the thatch portions discharged from the processing rotor and urge the thatch portions rearwardly into a collection hopper. The flexible plastic cords yield to any earthen pieces of aeration cores that might be discharged from the processing rotor to permit the discharged earthen pieces to be recycled back toward the processing rotor.

Abstract: A core destroying machine utilizes a single processing rotor cooperable with an arcuate screen member to disintegrate aeration cores therebetween. The arcuate screen member is configured to discharge thatch from the single processing rotor in a generally vertical direction into engagement with a rotating fluff roll. The fluff roll is configured with a pair of opposing rigid bats affixed to a central shaft for rotation around an axis of rotation. A plurality of extruded flexible plastic cords extend from the rigid bats into the direction of rotation of the fluff roll to engage the thatch portions discharged from the processing rotor and urge the thatch portions rearwardly into a collection hopper. The flexible plastic cords yield to any earthen pieces of aeration cores that might be discharged from the processing rotor to permit the discharged earthen pieces to be recycled back toward the processing rotor.

Abstract: A core harvesting machine that can be mounted to the rear of a conventional aeration machine to receive green cores directly from the aeration machine without having the cores discharged to the ground. The core harvesting machine has a rotating brush core capturing system that collects green aeration cores directly from an aeration machine to which the core destroying machine is attached. The collected green cores are discharged from the brush collector system and received by a core destroying apparatus including three rotary paddle assemblies co-operating with corresponding arcuate screens to separate the earthen material from the root thatch before discharging the thatch into a collector vessel. The core harvesting machine includes paddle members having overlapping arcs of rotation that have a relatively flat side and an opposing bent side to enhance the operation of the machine is either mode of operation.

Abstract: A core harvesting machine that can be mounted to the rear of a conventional aeration machine to receive green cores directly from the aeration machine without having the cores discharged to the ground. The core harvesting machine has a rotating brush core capturing system that collects green aeration cores directly from an aeration machine to which the core destroying machine is attached. The collected green cores are discharged from the brush collector system and received by a core destroying apparatus including three rotary paddle assemblies co-operating with corresponding arcuate screens to separate the earthen material from the root thatch before discharging the thatch into a collector vessel. The core harvesting machine includes paddle members having overlapping arcs of rotation that have a relatively flat side and an opposing bent side to enhance the operation of the machine is either mode of operation.

Abstract: An earth mover provided with a continuous bucket-type loader which lifts earth onto a screen on the earth mover which vibrates in order to separate soil from rocks and other debris with the soil being collected in the earth mover as the earth mover moves along and the rocks and other debris being discharged from the rear of the earth mover on ground over which the earth mover has just moved.

Abstract: An aeration machine is provided with a split tine assembly having a movable spoon portion that disengages from the tine to discharge a wet core therefrom. The movement of the spoon portion is controlled by a cam mechanism that controls the point of discharge of the core from the tine. A core destroying machine is connectable to the aeration machine to receive wet cores directly therefrom or is operable independently of the aeration machine. The core destroying machine is provided with a stepped screen member that is cooperable with a linearly reciprocating scrubbing mechanism to scrub the aeration cores against the stepped screen in a manner to remove the earthen portion thereof and convey the organic thatch thereof to the discharge end of the screen member for reception in a collection vessel for subsequent remote disposal. A sweep mechanism can be provided to gather aeration cores lying on the ground and convey the aeration cores into the scrubbing mechanism.

Abstract: A new loader bucket vibrational sifting system for separating rock and other abrasive material from dirt extracted from a trench for a pipe line, thereby allowing the user to fill in the trench after laying the pipe with the sifted dirt eliminating contact by rock or other abrasive material with the pipeline and, thereby, preclude rusting, corrosion, or like damage. The inventive device includes a sifting structure formed to pivotally enclose a conventional loader bucket, a vibrating means secured near the pivoting end of the sifting structure for vibrating the sifting structure, and a hydraulic releasing means pivotally secured at one end to the sifting structure and pivotally secured at the opposite end to the conventional loader bucket manipulating the sifting structure to allow rocks to be released.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a rigid frame having two rectangular openings therein that are covered with sections of expanded metal grating material. The frame has front and rear angled or sloping cutting edges that can cause some of the soil being leveled to be pushed onto the upper side of the grating sections, a tilting of the apparatus increasing the amount. The elevated soil can be sifted downwardly through the grating openings if of small enough size or retained on the sections if oversized. Whatever chunks or clods of soil too large to be sifted can be dumped onto the ground and pulverized by a back and forth movement of the apparatus over the large material with the apparatus appropriately tilted. Rocks and debris can be transported to a disposal location. Replaceable wear strips are employed. However, the edges of the grating sections are welded to the frame at an elevation above the wear strips to reduce the amount of wear on the underside of the sections.

Abstract: The invention relates to a landscape conditioning assembly for use in grooming and cleaning dirt and grass sufaces, such as a baseball field. The assembly includes frame means (12) defining a plane to be moved over the landscape. The frame means (12) includes first and second side rails (14, 16) and first and second crossbar supports (18, 20) extending therebetween. First and second cutting blades (26, 28) extend between the first and second side rails (14, 16) and are adjustably mounted to the first and second crossbar supports (18, 20) by adjustment means for selectively adjusting the distance the first and second cutting edges (34, 36) extend below the plane to establish any one of various depths of cut. The assembly also includes a fixed cutting blade (44) which extends between the first and second side rails (14) and is fixedly secured thereto ahead of the adjustable cutting blades.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for pulverizing aggregate masses of frangible materials deposited on and below earth surfaces, the apparatus having a frame; a power driven, substantially cylindrical rotor mounted on the frame and providing a plurality of radially extended teeth about its periphery; a mounting assembly attached on the frame and adapted to be connected rearwardly on a prime mover for forward earth traversing movement of the apparatus in towed relation thereto, the mounting assembly being selectively operable to elevate and lower the frame relative to an earth surface; and a porous grid hingedly mounted on the frame, the grid providing an anvil portion adapted operatively to be disposed below the rotor obliquely relative to the path of travel of the apparatus to urge materials engaged by the anvil portion into impacting engagement with the rotor periphery.

Abstract: An improvement is presented in an apparatus for processing soil for planting wherein a separator are provided for initially separating rocks and other large objects from soil prior to crushing thereof, the separator comprising a plurality of respectively upwardly and downwardly directed pins which cooperate in the removal of said rocks and other large objects from the soil. Also provided is a vertical rotatable power driven shaft centrally located in said apparatus wherein a plurality of radially extending arms are fixed thereto and are rotatable with the shaft. Some of said separating pins are fixed to the arms and some cooperating separating pins are fixed to a disc plate also mounted about said power driven shaft. A rotating plurality of discs crush said soil to reduce large particles and destroy weed seeds, insects, and larvae.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a soil stabilizer machine with a recycler screen. The soil stabilizer machine includes a horizontal rotor having a plurality of teeth along a periphery thereof. In operation, the machine moves along the ground and the rotor rotates to dig soil material. The soil dug by the rotor is comminuted by the rotor within a housing surrounding the rotor. Inside the housing and behind the rotor a screen is positioned to selectively permit particles of soil of less than a predetermined size to be dispensed on the ground behind the rotor and to selectively return particles of soil or rock greater than the predetermined size to the rotor to be further comminuted by the rotor. In a preferred embodiment, the screen is pivotably mounted within the housing between first and second positions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rock extractor apparatus and method of using the rock extractor for removing rocks embedded in the ground and/or for removing rocks partially embedded in the ground. The invention is particularly directed to removing rocks from soil suitable for farming. The rock extractor consists essentially of a digger unit, a grate unit and a conveyor unit, all of which cooperate to efficiently and effectively extract rocks from the soil and to render the soil suitable for cultivation. The rock extractor is attached to a draft machine such as a tractor and pulled through the soil.The tractor pulling the extractor through the soil causes rock and soil to be dug up and moved over the digger unit. The grate unit and conveyor unit cooperate to forcefully drive the conveyor unit downwardly and forwardly into the pile of rock and soil that is moved from the digger unit onto the grate unit and to rapidly move the rock and soil rearwardly along the grate unit.

Abstract: A cultivating machine has groups of soil working tines that are mounted on an elongated support that is driven to rotate about a horizontal axis. The tines are mounted in spaced apart groups and guide members converge at the rear of the groups to form ridges of worked soil. Each group includes tine units that are formed by opposing bracket portions clamped to the support. Strikers can be mounted on the support between groups of tines and the strikers are pivotable about respective horizontal axes spaced from the support's axis of rotation. The strikers are positioned to excise crop leaves or emerged growth on the ridges. Hoods and a grating ensure that the top layer of worked soil is free of debris. Screening plates having obliquely upwardly and inwardly inclined inner edges are located at the lower, front, outer corners of the hood to prevent the rearwardly adjacent time groups from displacing soil too far laterally.

Abstract: A cultivating machine has tines mounted on an elongated horizontal support that is driven to move the tines forwardly through the soil towards the normal direction of travel. The tines are in groups along the length of the support and each group has a number of pairs of opposing units. Each unit includes bracket portions having two rims and a tine is fastened to each rim. Opposing portions are bolted together to form a whole bracket that mounts four tines around the support. Each tine is a strip-shaped member that is hook-like in configuration with an inner straight portion and an outer soil working portion having a pointed tip. The inner portion has a series of holes along its length which can be releasably fastened to a respective rim in any one of a plurality of positions that change the working length of the tine. A front hood partially surrounds the tines and support and a rod grating is positioned at the rear of the tines. A rear hood is connected to the machine and located behind the grating.

Abstract: A cultivating implement has one or more forward cultivating rotors that are driven to work the top soil. During this working, stones and debris are unearthed. At the rear of the cultivating members, one or more rows of soil working members are moved through the soil and these members are soil engaging members with edges that contact the stones and push the stones down into the subsoil. The soil engaging members can be discs with edges having projections and the discs can be driven to rotate in the same or opposite direction as the rotor. Alternatively, the soil engaging members can be bars that extend down into the soil. In either case, a sieve of rods or bars can be positioned behind the rotor to allow fine soil to pass while stones are guided downwardly in front of the fine soil. The lower ends of the soil engaging members can be interconnected with a horizontal shaft on which the discs are mounted. A protective hood overlies the rotor as well as the soil engaging discs or bars.

Abstract: This invention is concerning a machine for rock removal and soil cultivation of newly broken or established farming areas. The machine picks up soil and rocks to a significant depth, and by a mixing and grinding process, breaks up sod, roots, and lumps of soil and by a classification process returns the size reduced material and small rocks to the ground, and retains the larger rocks.

Abstract: An apparatus for pulverizing debris in land clearing operations, or the like, including: a frame; a ground engaging drum rotatably mounted on the frame and carrying generally radial teeth, and specifically conventional sheeps feet; and a forwardly facing debris pickup and breaker assembly carried by the frame for feeding debris to the rotor teeth in response to forward movement of the frame, and cooperating with the rotor teeth to break up the debris.

Abstract: A machine for treating soil which includes a holding structure supported on two wheels mounted centrally of the rear of said structure and two other wheels mounted on arms connected to independent hydraulic means on the sides of the front end of said structure, gang plows mounted between said wheels on said front end of said structure having weirs leading to a vibratable screen, windlasses with transversal vanes mounted above said screen to smash, crush and send backwards the soil received from the plows, breaker discs mounted in front of said plows and a side duct mounted between the rear end of said screen and the rear wheels for discarding material to the side of the machine.

Abstract: A rock gathering machine for picking rocks up off the ground comprises a vehicle movable over land. A conveyor mounted on the vehicle transports rocks from the front of the vehicle to an elevated point at the rear of the vehicle. A rock catcher mounted at the front of the vehicle picks up rocks lying in the path of the vehicle and deposits them on the conveyor. A removing device mounted at the rear of the vehicle removes rocks from the conveyor and deposits them in a desired area relative to the vehicle.