Means For Varying Contour Of Path Of Blade Patents (Class 172/89)
  • Patent number: 7669667
    Abstract: A walk aerator comprises a frame supported by a plurality of ground engaging wheels, the frame carrying a coring head having a plurality of side-by-side tine assemblies. The wheels define a wheelbase which is substantially equal to or less than the width of a coring swath and the wheels are located in advance of the coring head to keep the wheels from passing over the holes or soil cores left in any preceding coring swathes formed by the aerator. The vertical position of the coring head is adjustable up and down as the ground contour changes to keep hole depth substantially constant. The tine assemblies are reciprocated by a single crankshaft driven by a single pulley, the crankshaft being assembled from multiple crank arms that are splined and bolted together. Sealed bearings connect drive arms that drive the tine assemblies to the crankshaft. The crankshaft can be disassembled to allow the sealed drive arm bearings to be replaced. Integral core deflectors are used on the drive arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Walter J. Petersen, Michael J. Gilberg, Gerald J. Pomerening
  • Patent number: 6253136
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for controlling a work implement in order to enable an earth moving machine to move to a service area after a failure within an implement control system occurs. The method includes the steps of detecting the failure of the implement control system, enabling a limp home mode in response to the failure, and controlling the implement into a limp home position through operator interaction using a display and either an associated keypad or a touch screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Stratton, Brian G. Funke, Steven R. Genseal, Steven R. Kruase, Richard J. Skiba
  • Patent number: 5172768
    Abstract: The process serves for the loosening of soil in the subsoil and topsoil areas and for introduction of fertilizers as well as subsoil loosening and/or for soil cultivation as well as the introduction of other additives with the use of digging tools 2, 2', and 2" by which the soil is broken up. In this case, the digging edge of digging tool 2, 2', and 2" is guided in an elliptical motion and this motion is superimposed by a straight motion, i.e., the driving motion. A cycloid is therefore produced for the digging edge. The longer axis of the ellipse in this case is directed from the soil surface into the soil in this manner and exhibits an angle to the travel direction. The additive, such as, for example, fertilizers, can be blown into the fissure forming behind tool 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1992
    Inventor: Reinhold Straus
  • Patent number: 4411321
    Abstract: A cultivating implement to be carried by a vehicle comprises a frame (10) having spaced and opposed members (11, 12) between which a tine-carrying bar (13) is supported for gyratory motion the direction of which is counter to the direction of forward rotation of the ground wheels of the carrying vehicle and which derives from and is centered on the axis of axially-aligned stub shafts (14,15) adapted to be driven from a prime mover and supported in bearings mounted in or on said opposed members of the frame. Preferably the mutually-opposed ends of the stub shafts (14, 15) are cranked in mirror-image fashion and the tine-carrying bar (13) is supported between bearing arrangements (28, 29) centered on the crank arms. The angle of presentation of the tines to the ground is preferably selectable to accord with the nature of the work to be done and the tine sweeps or shovels to be used therefor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1983
    Inventor: Allan Riach