Snow groomer having an improved variable geometry tiller assembly

• US 20030051376A1
• Filed: 09/05/2002
• Published: 03/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Prinoth Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Camoplast Industrial Inc.
• Inventors: Pelletier, Michel, Lassonde, Jean-Philippe
• Granted Patent: US 6,810,609 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 37/348
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 4/02 for sporting purposes, e.g. preparation of ski trails; Construction of artificial surfacings for snow or ice sports construction of ice skating rinks E01C13/102; Trails specially adapted for on-the-snow vehicles, e.g. devices adapted for ski-trails production of snow or ice for winter sports or similar recreational purposes F25C3/00

Abstract

A snow tiller (10) suitable for grooming ski hills, trails, or other areas, provides an adjustable profile tiller assembly. The snow tiller (10) is preferably pulled by a tracked vehicle (12) and has a tiller assembly formed of a plurality of tiller subassemblies (56, 58). By varying the respective orientation of the tiller subassemblies (56, 58), the snow tiller (10) can selectively provide concave, level, convex, or more complex snow profiles depending upon the tiller configuration, snow conditions, and the intended uses. The snow tiller (10) also provides a control system to substantially maintain a selected snow profile while selectively permitting individual tiller subassemblies to float, thereby reducing the possibility of damage. The assembly can simultaneously provide an automatic release mode to protect the equipment from damage.

Claims

1. A tiller assembly, comprising:

a main frame with a power connection to a power source;

a ground shaping element carried by the main frame, wherein the ground shaping element has a longitudinal axis and includes a plurality of subassemblies, each having outer ends and being connected to each other by an articulated joint;

a profile control element connected to the ground shaping element that selectively applies a force to the ground shaping element so as to raise and lower the outer ends of each of the subassemblies of the ground shaping element with respect to the articulated joint; and

a controller in communication with the profile control element that controls the application of force by the profile control element to the ground shaping element.

2. The tiller assembly of claim 1, wherein the profile control element is a hydraulic cylinder.

3. The tiller assembly of claim 2, wherein the hydraulic cylinder is supported by the main frame and has a movable end connected to the ground shaping element adjacent to the articulated joint.

4. The tiller assembly of claim 2, further comprising a gear box adjacent to the articulated joint for driving the ground shaping element, the movable end of the hydraulic cylinder being connected to the gear box.

5. The tiller assembly of claim 2, wherein the hydraulic cylinder is disposed at an angle substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

6. The tiller assembly of claim 1, where there arm two subassemblies and a single profile control element.

7. The tiller assembly of claim 1, wherein there are more than two subassemblies and more than one articulated joint, wherein there are a plurality of profile control elements, each supported on the main frame adjacent to each articulated joint.

8. The tiller assembly of claim 1, wherein the profile control element comprises a pair of hydraulic cylinders, with each hydraulic cylinder having one and connected to a subassembly and another end supported at the articulated joint and extending in opposed directions generally coplanar with the longitudinal axis.

9. The tiller assembly of claim 1, further comprising a lifting mechanism connected to the main frame that lifts the ground shaping element from the ground surface.

10. The tiller assembly of claim 1, wherein the mound shaping element is a rotatable cutting drum with a cover.

11. The tiller assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a finishing element supported by the ground shaping element disposed behind the ground shaping element so as to trail on the ground when the tiller is driven.

12. The tiller assembly of claim 1, wherein the finishing element comprises a flexible mat with a finishing formation disposed along its longitudinal length to create a texture in the ground.

13. The tiller assembly of claim 11, wherein the finishing element includes a trailing support bar connected to the ground shaping element with hydraulically controlled finisher cross beams so that the angle of the finishing element with respect to the surface of the ground can be varied about an axis generally parallel to the common longitudinal axis.

14. The tiller assembly of claim 1, wherein the tiller assembly is a snow tiller and the ground shaping element is a rotatable drum with a cover, and further including a flexible finishing mat supported by the cover so as to form a snow chamber in the space between the rotatable drum, cover, flexible mat and the ground.

15. The tiller assembly of claim 1, wherein the controller includes a hydraulic system connected to the profile control element.

16. The tiller assembly of claim 15, wherein the hydraulic system includes an enabling valve mechanism coupled to the profile control element that selectively energizes the profile control element and disables the profile control element.

17. The tiller assembly of claim 15, wherein the hydraulic system includes a relief mechanism that releases pressure from the system to allow the ground shaping element to automatically respond to obstacles encountered on the ground.

18. The tiller assembly of claim 1, further comprising a switch coupled to the controller to select the position of the ground shaping element.

19. The tiller assembly of claim 18, wherein the switch is at least a two position switch, wherein one position selects a concave profile and one position selects a convex profile.

20. The tiller assembly of claim 1, wherein the profile control element includes a potentiometer connected to the controller, whereby the controller controls the application of force based on information provided by the potentiometer.

21. The tiller assembly of claim 1, further comprising sensors coupled to the ground shaping element and in communication with the controller, wherein the controller automatically controls positioning of the ground shaping element based on information from the sensors.

22. The tiller assembly of claim 1, in combination with a vehicle.

23. The tiller assembly of claim 22, wherein the vehicle is a tracked vehicle and the tiller is a snow tiller.

24. A ground working vehicle, comprising:

a frame with an operator platform;

a drive unit supported by the frame;

a ground engaging assembly supported by the frame and driven by the drive unit;

a tiller assembly supported by the frame and powered thereby, including a main tiller frame and a ground shaping element carried by the main tiller frame, wherein the ground shaping element has a longitudinal axis and includes a plurality of subassemblies each having outer ends and being connected to each other by an articulated joint;

a profile control element connected to the ground shaping element that selectively applies a force to the ground shaping element 80 as to move the outer ends of each subassembly with respect to the articulated joint; and

a controller in communication with the operator platform and the tiller assembly, wherein the controller selectively controls the profile control element to apply a force thereby changing the position of each of the subassemblies with respect to the ground.

25. The ground working vehicle of claim 24, wherein the profile control element is a hydraulic unit with a movable rod connected to the ground shaping element adjacent to the articulated joint.

26. The ground working vehicle of claim 24, wherein the hydraulic unit is a single hydraulic cylinder disposed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

27. The ground working vehicle of claim 24, wherein the profile control element comprises a pair of hydraulic units, each having a movable end connected to a subassembly.

28. The ground working vehicle of claim 27, wherein the hydraulic units are substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis and extend outwardly from a central point adjacent to the articulated joint.

29. The ground working vehicle of claim 24, wherein the operator platform is an enclosed cab and the ground engaging assembly includes a rotating track.

30. The ground working vehicle of claim 24, wherein the tiller assembly includes a rotating cutting drum.

31. The ground working vehicle of claim 24, wherein the tiller assembly is a snow tiller and includes a surface finishing element connected to trail behind the rotating cutting drum.

32. The ground working vehicle of claim 24, wherein the tiller assembly is connected to the main frame by an articulated joint with a power connection.

33. The ground working vehicle of claim 24, wherein the tiller assembly includes a lifting mechanism connected to the main frame, wherein the lifting mechanism selectively lifts the ground shaping element off the surface of the ground.

34. The ground working vehicle of claim 24, wherein the controller includes a hydraulic system having a relief mechanism that releases pressure within the hydraulic system to accommodate obstacles and an enabling mechanism that selectively actuates and disables the profile control element.

35. A snow tiller, comprising:

a main frame connectable to a drive source,

a rotatable cutting drum and a drum cover disposed over the drum carried by the main frame, wherein the rotatable cutting drum is divided into two subassemblies connected at an articulated joint and wherein the subassemblies have a common longitudinal axis;

a flexible finishing element supported by the main frame adjacent to the rotatable cutting drum to drag behind the rotatable cutting drum when the main frame is driven by the drive source;

a hydraulic unit coupled to the articulated joint perpendicular to the common longitudinal axis, wherein the hydraulic unit has a movable end;

a power connection for connecting to a power source, the power connection in communication with the rotatable cutting drum and the hydraulic unit; and

a controller in communication with the hydraulic unit that controls movement of the hydraulic unit to effect a change in profile of a lower edge of the snow tiller whereby moving the movable end of the hydraulic unit with respect to the subassemblies selectively provides a concave or convex snow profile.

36. The snow tiller of claim 35, wherein the hydraulic unit includes a single hydraulic cylinder that selectively applies a force to the articulated joint by moving the movable end toward and away from the ground surface.

37. The snow tiller of claim 35, wherein the hydraulic unit includes a pair of hydraulic cylinders that each selectively apply a force to the drum cover of each subassembly.

38. The snow tiller of claim 35, wherein the controller includes a hydraulic system coupled to the hydraulic unit that has a relief mechanism that releases pressure and an enabling mechanism that selectively actuates the profile control element.

39. The snow tiller of claim 35, wherein the main frame includes a support beam generally parallel to the common longitudinal axis with hydraulically movable cross beams connected to a structural beam attached along a length of the drum cover so that the main frame can lift the rotating cutting drum and drum cover with the structural beam from the surface of the ground.

40. The snow tiller of claim 35, wherein the finishing element includes a trailing bar connected to the main frame with hydraulically controlled finisher cross beams so that the angle of the finishing element with respect to the surface of the ground can be varied about an axis generally parallel to the common longitudinal axis.

41. The snow tiller of claim 35, in combination with the drive source that is a tracked vehicle.

42. A method of working the surface of the ground, comprising:

providing a tiller assembly having a ground shaping element, wherein the tiller assembly is formed of at least two subassemblies, each subassembly being connected to an adjacent subassembly by an articulated joint;

providing a profile control element connected to the tiller assembly adjacent to the articulated joint;

controlling the profile control element to tilt each adjacent subassembly in opposed directions, thereby changing the angle that each subassembly is disposed with respect to the surface of the ground; and

driving the tiller assembly across the surface of the ground.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the profile control element 16 is a driven rod connected to the tiller assembly and the step of controlling the profile control element includes moving the rod toward or away from the surface of the ground.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the driven rod is a hydraulic cylinder and moving the rod includes selectively energizing a hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic cylinder.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the step of controlling includes relieving hydraulic pressure above a predetermined amount to allow the tiller subassemblies to move in response to the ground surface.

46. The method of claim 42, wherein the step of providing the profile control element includes providing a single hydraulic element.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the step of providing the profile control element includes positioning the hydraulic element substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the ground shaping element.

48. The method of claim 46, wherein the step of providing the profile control element includes providing a pair of hydraulic elements.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the step of providing the profile control element includes positioning each hydraulic element substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the ground shaping element.

50. The method of claim 42, wherein the step of controlling includes moving the tiller assembly into a convex profile.

51. The method of claim 42, wherein the step of controlling includes moving the tiller assembly into a concave profile.

52. The method of claim 42, wherein the step of controlling includes inputting signals to control movement of the profile control element.

53. The method of claim 42, wherein the step of controlling includes sensing conditions of the tiller assembly and inputting instructions so that the profile control element is automatically moved based on the sensed conditions and the input instructions.

54. The method of claim 42, wherein the tiller assembly includes more than two subassemblies and controlling the profile control element includes forming the tiller assembly into a compound curve profile.

55. The method of claim 42, wherein the method includes grooming a snow surface on the ground and the ground shaping element comprises a rotating cutting drum and surface finishing element.

56. The method of claim 42, wherein the step of driving includes towing the tiller assembly from a vehicle.

57. The method of claim 42, wherein when driving the tiller assembly, the tiller assembly is positioned in a float mode or a set position.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein when the tiller assembly is positioned in a set position, the tiller assembly automatically reacts to obstacles on the ground by moving from the set position.

59. The method of claim 53, wherein after reacting to an obstacle, the tiller assembly automatically returns to the set position.

60. The method of claim 45, wherein after the subassemblies have moved in response to the ground surface, the step of controlling further comprises controlling the profile control element to move the tiller subassemblies back to their original position.

61. A method of working the surface of the ground, comprising:

providing a tiller assembly having a ground shaping element, wherein the tiller assembly is formed of at least two subassemblies, each subassembly being connected to an adjacent subassembly by an articulated joint;

providing a profile control element connected to the tiller assembly adjacent to the articulated joint;

controlling the profile control element to tilt adjacent subassemblies with respect to each other and lock the subassemblies into a profile;

driving the tiller assembly across the surface of the ground;

automatically releasing the subassemblies from the locked profile when an obstacle on the ground is encountered; and

controlling the profile control element to return the subassemblies to the locked profile.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the step of controlling the profile control element to return the subassemblies to the locked profile occurs automatically.

63. The method of claim 61, further comprising to step of grooming ice or snow on the surface of the ground.

64. A tiller assembly, comprising

a main frame;

a ground shaping element carried by the main frame, wherein the ground shaping element has a longitudinal axis and includes a plurality of subassemblies, each being connected to each other by an articulated joint;

a profile control element connected to the ground shaping element that selectively applies a force to the ground shaping element so as to move adjacent subassemblies with respect to each other; and

a controller in communication with the profile control element that controls the application of force by the profile control element to the ground shaping element to move the subassemblies into a locked position, wherein the controller includes an automatic release mechanism to release the subassemblies from the locked position and a reset mechanism to reset the subassemblies into the locked position.

65. The tiller assembly of claim 64, wherein the plurality of subassemblies includes more than two subassemblies.

66. The tiller assembly of claim 64, wherein the profile control element comprises a hydraulic cylinder.

67. The tiller assembly of claim 64, wherein the ground shaping element is a snow tiller.