GROUND CONTOURING APPARATUS
First Claim
1. An apparatus for contouring particulate material on a ground surface, the apparatus having a centerline corresponding to an axis along which the apparatus is moved for contouring, the apparatus comprising:
- a frame extending laterally with respect to the centerline;
at least one drum rotatably mounted on the frame such that the drum rotates substantially freely with respect to the frame about a central longitudinal axis of the drum, the at least one drum having opposite inboard and outboard ends and an outer surface therebetween;
at least one blade extending about the drum and protruding outwardly from the outer surface of the drum, the at least one blade having an outer edge with a radius measured from the central longitudinal axis in a plane oriented in perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the drum to the outer edge;
wherein the outer edge of the at least one blade has a helical shape and the radius of the outer edge is less at the outboard end of the drum than the radius of the outer edge at the inboard end of the drum.
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Abstract
An apparatus for contouring particulate material may include a frame and at least one drum rotatably mounted on the frame such that the drum rotates substantially freely with respect to the frame about a central longitudinal axis. The drum may have opposite inboard and outboard ends and an outer surface therebetween. At least one blade may extend about the drum and protrude outwardly from the outer surface of the drum, and the blade may have an outer edge with a radius measured from the central longitudinal axis in a plane oriented in perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the drum to the outer edge. The outer edge of the blade may have a helical shape and the radius of the outer edge may be less at the outboard end of the drum than the radius of the outer edge at the inboard end of the drum.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An apparatus for contouring particulate material on a ground surface, the apparatus having a centerline corresponding to an axis along which the apparatus is moved for contouring, the apparatus comprising:
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a frame extending laterally with respect to the centerline; at least one drum rotatably mounted on the frame such that the drum rotates substantially freely with respect to the frame about a central longitudinal axis of the drum, the at least one drum having opposite inboard and outboard ends and an outer surface therebetween; at least one blade extending about the drum and protruding outwardly from the outer surface of the drum, the at least one blade having an outer edge with a radius measured from the central longitudinal axis in a plane oriented in perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the drum to the outer edge; wherein the outer edge of the at least one blade has a helical shape and the radius of the outer edge is less at the outboard end of the drum than the radius of the outer edge at the inboard end of the drum. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for contouring a road surface, the system comprising:
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a vehicle; an apparatus for contouring particulate material on the road surface, the apparatus having a centerline corresponding to an axis along which the apparatus is moved for contouring, the apparatus comprising; a frame extending laterally with respect to the centerline; at least one drum rotatably mounted on the frame such that the drum rotates substantially freely with respect to the frame about a central longitudinal axis of the drum, the at least one drum having opposite inboard and outboard ends and an outer surface therebetween; a plurality of blades each extending about the at least one drum, the blades each having an outer edge with a radius measured from the central longitudinal axis in a plane oriented in perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the drum to the outer edge; wherein the outer edge of each of the blades has a helical shape and the radius of the outer edge is less at the outboard end of the drum than the radius of the outer edge at the inboard end of the drum. - View Dependent Claims (6, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification