Soil leveling apparatus

• US 4,448,258 A
• Filed: 01/12/1981
• Issued: 05/15/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Orlan H. Mork
• Original Assignee: Orlan H. Mork
• Inventors: Mork, Orlan H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stouffer, Richard T.
• Application Number:
  US06/224,458
• Time in Patent Office: 1,219 Days
• Field of Search: 172/196, 172/197, 172/199, 172/200, 172/393, 172/445.1, 172/684.5, 172/699, 172/780, 172/784, 172/785, 172/799.5, 37/41, 37/48, 37/50, 52/730, 52/732, 404/106, 404/118, 404/119, 404/120
• US Class Current: 172/197
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 31/00 Drags graders for field cultivators graders in general E02F
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 49/027 with a rotating, soil working support element, e.g. a roller
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/7604 Combinations of scraper blades with soil loosening tools working independently of scraper blades soil loosening attachments fixed on blades E02F3/8152, E02F3/8155
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/7622 Scraper equipment with the scraper blade mounted on a frame to be hitched to the tractor by bars, arms, chains or the like, the frame having no ground supporting means of its own, e.g. drag scrapers

Abstract

A soil leveling apparatus (10) is disclosed which includes a frame (11) having ground-engaging members (12a, 12b, 12c, 13) disposed transverse to the direction of motion, side rail members (14, 15) in which the ends of the ground-engaging members are secured, and upstanding connecting means (20) for operatively attaching the apparatus (10) to the draft vehicle. A scarifying means (50) for breaking up and loosening the soil prior to the leveling operation can be mounted near the forwardmost area of the apparatus (10). The scarifying means (50) includes a cross-shaft (51), connector arms (52) for pivotally connecting the cross-shaft (51) to the frame (11), scarifiers (55) extending downwardly from the cross-shaft (51) and a hydraulic cylinder (61) for lowering and raising the scarifying means (50) into and out of the soil.

Claims

1. Apparatus for leveling soil and the like comprising:

a frame including a plurality of elongated ground-engaging members fixedly attached with the longitudinal axes of said members extending generally transverse to the direction of motion, said members having lower surfaces lying generally in the same plane, and a scraper member attached to the forwardmost part of said frame, said scraper member having a lower surface lying generally in the same plane as said ground-engaging member lower surfaces;

said frame further including a pair of side rail members, each said side rail member being of continuous construction extending along and connected to said scraper member and said ground-engaging members substantially normal thereto;

each said side rail member including a top surface sloping in a downward direction from the area of attachment with said scraper member, a short inner leg, and a longer outer leg, both legs extending downwardly from said top surface, the bottom edges of said legs generally having no slope and lying substantially in the direction of motion; and

connecting means rigidly attached to said frame for fastening said frame to a draft means for operation of said apparatus.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said ground-engaging members are secured within said side rail member construction, said ground-engaging members each having two ends whereby each end is welded flush against a respective side rail member outer leg thereby forming a butt-joint arrangement, said securement further including a portion of each ground-engaging member connected to the respective side rail member inner leg portion by means including a notched-fit between said member portions.

3. Apparatus for leveling soil and the like comprising:

a frame including a plurality of elongated ground-engaging members fixedly attached in longitudinally spaced-apart relationship with the longitudinal axes of said members extending generally transverse to the direction of motion, said members having lower surfaces lying generally in the same plane;

a pair of opposite side rail members connected to said ground-engaging members, each said side rail member being of continuous construction and extending along a side of said frame, substantially normal to said ground-engaging members;

each said side rail member having a top portion overlying portions of the ground engaging members, and leg portion with a lower edge extending in the direction of motion generally parallel to the plane of the lower surfaces of said ground engaging members;

connecting means rigidly attached to said frame for fastening said frame to a draft means for operation of said apparatus;

scarifying means mounted for vertical movement on said frame for breaking up and loosening the soil, said scarifying means comprising a plurality of depending scarifiers individually pivotal relative to said frame;

the scarifiers of said scarifying means being commonly supported in laterally spaced apart relationship and depending adjacent to one of said ground engaging members which is positioned relative to said scarifiers to limit pivotal movement thereof; and

means for selectively raising and lowering said scarifying means relative to the plane of said lower surfaces of said ground engaging members.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said scarifying means includes:

a cross-shaft proximate one of said ground-engaging members;

a pair of connector arms, each arm having first and second ends, means for pivotally connecting said first end to said ground-engaging member, and means for connecting said second end to said cross-shaft;

a plurality of scarifiers downwardly depending from said cross-shaft; and

actuating means for lowering said cross-shaft to an operative position whereby said scarifiers are engaged and for raising said cross-shaft to an inoperative position whereby said scarifiers are not engaged.

5. The scarifying means according to claim 4 wherein said actuating means includes a hydraulic cylinder having an upper end connected to said frame and a lower end attached to said cross-shaft.

6. Apparatus for leveling soil and the like comprising:

a frame including a plurality of elongated ground-engaging members fixedly attached with the longitudinal axes of said members extending generally transverse to the direction of motion, said members having lower surfaces lying generally in the same plane;

a pair of opposite side rail members connected to said ground-engaging members, each said side rail member being of continuous construction and extending along a side of said frame, substantially normal to said ground-engaging members;

each said side rail member having an upper surface sloping in a direction downward from the forwardmost area of said side rail member, each said side rail member further having a short inner leg and a longer outer leg each extending downwardly from said sloping upper surface with said outer legs each having a free bottom edge extending in the direction of motion generally parallel to said plane of said lower surfaces;

connecting means rigidly attached to said frame for fastening said frame to a draft means for operation of said apparatus;

scarifying means for breaking up and loosening the soil comprising a plurality of scarifiers movably attached to said frame; and

means for raising and lowering said scarifying means above and below the plane of said lower surfaces of said ground engaging members.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said ground-engaging members each have two opposing ends, each end being welded to a respective portion of one said side rail member outer leg, and a portion of each said ground-engaging member being welded in a notched-fit relationship with a respective portion of one said side rail member inner leg.

8. Apparatus for leveling soil and the like comprising:

a frame including a plurality of elongated ground-engaging members fixedly attached with the longitdinal axes of said members extending generally transverse to the direction of motion, said members having lower surfaces lying generally in the same plane;

a pair of opposite side rail members connected to said ground-engaging members, each said side rail member being of continuous construction and extending along a side of said frame, substantially normal to said ground-engaging members;

connecting means rigidly attached to said frame for fastening said frame to a draft means for operation of said apparatus;

scarifying means for breaking up and loosening the soil comprising a plurality of scarifiers movably attached to said frame;

said scarifying means including;

a cross-shaft proximate one of said ground-engaging members;

a pair of connector arms, each said arm having first and second ends, means for pivotally connecting said first end to said ground-engaging member, and means for connecting said second end to said cross-shaft;

a plurality individually pivotal of scarifiers downwardly depending from said cross-shaft adjacent to one of said ground engaging members, which one of said ground engaging members is positioned relative to said scarifiers to limit pivotal movement thereof;

said scarifiers each including an elongated central portion having at one end a tooth element for engaging the soil and having at its other end a tubular member through which said cross-shaft passes whereby said scarifier is pivotally retained upon said cross-shaft;

means for raising and lowering said scarifying means relative to the plane of said lower surfaces of said ground engaging members.

9. Apparatus for leveling soil and the like comprising:

a frame including a plurality of elongated ground-engaging members fixedly attached with the longitudinal axes of said members extending generally transverse to the direction of motion, said members having lower surfaces lying generally in the same plane;

a pair of opposite side rail members connected to said ground-engaging members, each said side rail member being of continuous construction and extending along a side of said frame, substantially normal to said ground-engaging members;

connecting means rigidly attached to said frame for fastening said frame to a draft means for operation of said apparatus;

scarifying means for breaking up and loosening the soil comprising a plurality of scarifiers movably attached to said frame;

said scarifying means including;

a cross-shaft proximate one of said ground-engaging members;

a pair of conductor arms, each arm having first and second ends, means for pivotally connecting said first end to said ground-engaging member, and means for connecting said second end to said cross-shaft;

a plurality of individually pivotal scarifiers downwardly depending from said cross-shaft adjacent to one of said ground engaging members, which one of said ground engaging members is positioned relative to said scarifiers to limit pivotal movement thereof;

said scarifiers being pivotally mounted on said cross-shaft, and wherein means are provided to block rearward movements of said scarifiers about said shaft when said scarifiers are engaged;

means for raising and lowering said scarifying means relative to the plane of said lower surfaces of said ground engaging members.

10. Apparatus for leveling soil and the like comprising:

a frame including a plurality of elongated ground-engaging members fixedly attached in longitudinal axes of said members extending generally relationship with the longitudinally spaced-apart generally transverse to the direction of motion, said members having lower surfaces lying generally in the same plane;

a pair of opposite side rail members connected to said ground-engaging members, each side rail member being of continuous construction and extending along a side of said frame, substantially normal to said ground-engaging members;

connecting means rigidly attached to said frame for fastening said frame to a draft means for operation of said apparatus;

scarifying means mounted for vertical movement on said frame for breaking up and loosening the soil, said scarifying means comprising a plurality of scarifiers individually and freely pivot relative to said frame;

said scarifying means including;

a cross-shaft proximate one of said ground-engaging members;

a pair of connector arms, each arm having first and second ends, means for pivotally connecting said first end to said ground-engaging member, and means for connecting said second end to said cross-shaft;

a plurality of scarifiers downwardly depending from said cross-shaft;

actuating mean for selectively lowering said cross-shaft to an operative position whereby said scarifiers are engaged with the soil, and for raising said cross-shaft to an inoperative position whereby said scarifiers are not engaged;

said scarifiers being pivotally mounted on the cross-shaft; and

means for blocking rearward movements of said scarifiers about said shaft when said scarifiers are engaged;

said blocking means consisting of said scarifiers being positioned to contact one of said ground-engaging members to block said rearward movements thereof.

11. Apparatus for leveling soil and the like comprising:

a frame including a plurality of elongated ground-engaging members fixedly attached with the longitudinal axes of said members extending generally transverse to the direction of motion, said members having lower surfaces lying generally in the same plane;

a pair of opposite side rail members connected to said ground-engaging members, having lower surfaces lying generally in the same plane;

a pair of opposite side rail members connected to said ground-engaging members, each said side rail member being of continuous construction and extending along a side of said frame, substantially normal to said ground-engaging members;

connecting means rigidly attached to said frame for fastening said frame to a draft means for operation of said apparatus;

scarifying means for breaking up and loosening the soil comprising a plurality of scarifiers movably attached to said frame;

said scarifying means including;

a cross-shaft;

means for mounting said cross-shaft on said frame to permit generally upward and downward movement thereof;

a plurality of downwardly depending scarifiers individually pivotally mounted on said cross-shaft;

a portion of said frame spaced from said cross-shaft being positioned relative to said scarifiers to block rearward movements of said scarifiers about said cross-shaft; and

means for raising and lowering said scarifying means relative to the plane of said lower surfaces of said ground engaging members.

12. Apparatus for leveling soil and the like comprising:

a frame including a plurality of elongated ground-engaging members fixedly attached with the longitudinal axes of said members extending generally transverse to the direction of motion, said members having lower surfaces lying generally in the same plane;

a pair of side rail members, each side rail member being of continuous construction connected to said ground-engaging members and extending substantially normal thereto;

each said side rail member being of generally channel-like configuration with a top surface which slopes downwardly from the forwardmost ground engaging member, and downwardly depending inner and outer legs, the outer leg being substantially coplanar at its lower edge with the lower surfaces of said ground-engaging members, the lower edges of said outer legs generally having no slope relative to said forwardmost ground engaging member; and

connecting means rigidly attached to said frame for fastening said frame to a draft means for operation of said apparatus.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 further including a scarifying means for breaking up and loosening the soil comprising a plurality of scarifiers attached to said frame and extending below the plane of said lower surfaces of said ground-engaging members.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said scarifying means includes:

a cross-shaft;

a pair of connector arms, each arm having first and second ends, means for pivotally connecting said first end to said scraper member, and means for pivotally connecting said second end to said cross-shaft;

a plurality of scarifiers downwardly depending from said cross-shaft; and

actuating means for lowering said cross-shaft to an operative position whereby said scarifiers are engaged, and for raising said cross-shaft to an inoperative position whereby said scarifiers are not engaged with the soil.

15. The scarifying means according to claim 14 wherein said actuating means includes a hydraulic cylinder having an upper end connected to said frame and a lower end connected to said cross-shaft.

16. Apparatus for leveling soil and the like comprising:

a frame including a plurality of elongated ground-engaging members fixedly attached with the longitudinal axes of said members extending generally transverse to the direction of motion, said members having lower surfaces lying generally in the same plane;

a pair of side rail members, each said side rail member being of continuous construction connected to said ground-engaging members and extending substantially normal thereto;

each said side rail member comprising a channel member having a top surface, a short inner leg, and a longer outer leg extending downwardly from said top surface and generally in the direction of motion;

a majority of said ground-engaging members being secured within said side rail channel members, said secured ground-engaging members each having two opposing ends welded flush against a respective side rail member outer leg in a butt-joint relationship, further having a portion connected to a portion of the inner leg of said respective side rail member by means including a notched-fit between said member portions; and

connecting means rigidly attached to said frame for fastening said frame to a draft means for operation of said apparatus.

17. Apparatus for leveling soil and the like comprising:

a frame including a plurality of elongated ground-engaging members fixedly attached with the longitudinal axes of said members extending generally transverse to the direction of motion, said members having lower surfaces lying generally in the same plane;

a pair of side rail members, each said side rail member being of continuous construction connected to said ground-engaging members and extending substantially normal thereto;

each said side rail member comprising a channel member having a top surface, a short inner leg, and a longer outer leg extending downwardly from said top surface and generally in the direction of motion;

said side rail members each having a top surface which slopes downwardly from the connection of said side rail member to the forwardmost ground-engaging member, said forwardmost ground-engaging member being a scraper member having a cross-sectional area substantially larger than the other ground-engaging members, and further, each said longer outer leg of said side rail members having a free edge extending generally parallel to said plane of ground-engaging member lower surfaces; and

connecting means rigidly attached to said frame for fastening said frame to a draft means for operation of said apparatus.

18. Apparatus for leveling soil and the like comprising:

a frame including a plurality of elongated ground-engaging members fixedly attached with the longitudinal axes of said members extending generally transverse to the direction of motion, said members having lower surfaces lying generally in the same plane;

a pair of side rail members, each said side rail member being of continuous construction connected to said ground-engaging members and extending substantially normal thereto;

scarifying means for breaking up and loosening the soil comprising a plurality of scarifiers attached to said frame and extending below the plane of said lower surfaces of said ground-engaging members;

said scarifying means including;

a cross-shaft;

a pair of connector arms, each arm having first and second ends, means for pivotally connecting said first end to said frame, and means for pivotally connecting said second end to said cross-shaft;

a plurality of scarifiers downwardly depending from said cross-shaft;

actuating means for lowering said cross-shaft to an operative position whereby said scarifiers are engaged, and for raising said cross-shaft to an inoperative position whereby said scarifiers are not engaged with the soil;

said scarifiers each including an elongated central portion which contacts the ground-engaging member immediately rearward said scarifying means whereby rearward swinging movement of said scarifiers is substantially limited when said scarifiers are engaged, a tooth element for engaging the soil at the lower end of each scarifier, and a tubular member at the upper end through which said cross-shaft passes whereby said scarifier is retained upon said cross-shaft; and

connecting means rigidly attached to said frame for fastening said frame to a draft means for operation of said apparatus.

19. Apparatus for leveling soil and the like comprising;

a rigid frame including a forwardmost cross member adapted to be attached to a draft means and at least one elongated ground-engaging member, with the longitudinal axes of said members extending generally transverse to the direction of motion, and a pair of continuous side rails connected to said members substantially normal thereto;

scarifying means for breaking up and loosening the soil comprising a plurality of scarifiers movably attached to said frame and extending between said members;

said scarifying means including;

a cross-shaft extending generally transverse to the direction of motion;

a plurality of connector arms, each arm having first and second ends, means for pivotally connecting said first end of said cross member, and means for connecting said second end to said cross-shaft;

a plurality or scarifiers pivoted to and downwardly depending from said cross-shaft between an adjacent pair of said cross and ground-engaging members which are positioned relative to said scarifiers to limit pivotal movement of said scarifiers in at least one direction about said cross-shaft;

said scarifiers each including an elongated central portion being adapted at one end for engaging the soil and having at its other end a tubular member through which said cross-shaft passes whereby said scarifier is pivotally retained upon said cross-shaft and

means for raising and lowering said scarifying means.

20. Apparatus for leveling soil and the like comprising;

a rigid frame including a forwardmost cross member adapted to be attached to a draft means and at least one elongated ground-engaging member, with the longitudinal axes of said members extending generally transverse to the direction of motion, and a pair of continuous side rails connected to said members substantially normal thereto;

scarifying means for breaking up and loosening the soil comprising a plurality of scarifiers movably attached to said frame and extending between said members;

said scarifying means including;

a cross-shaft extending generally transverse to the direction of motion;

a plurality of connector arms, each having first and second ends, means for pivotally connecting said first end to said cross member, and means for connecting said second end to said cross-shaft;

a plurality of scarifiers downwardly depending from said cross-shaft between said cross and ground-engaging members;

said scarifiers being individually pivotally mounted on said cross-shaft, and wherein said cross and ground-engaging members are relatively positioned such that said ground-engaging members block rearward movements of said scarifiers about said shaft when said scarifiers are engaged;

actuating means for lowering said cross-shaft to an operative position whereby said scarifiers are engaged with the ground and for raising said cross-shaft to an inoperative position whereby said scarifiers are not engaged; and

means for raising and lowering said scarifying means relative to said frame.

21. Apparatus for leveling soil and the like comprising;

a rigid frame including a forwardmost cross member adapted to be attached to a draft means and at least one elongated ground-engaging member, with the longitudinal axes of said member extending generally transverse to the direction of motion, and a pair of opposite side rails connected to said members substantially normal thereto;

each said side rail being of continuous construction and including a top portion overlying portions of the ground-engaging members, and a leg portion substantially coplanar at its lower edge with the lower surface of said ground-engaging member;

scarifying means for breaking up and loosening the soil comprisiing a plurality of scarifiers movably attached to said frame and extending between said members; and

means for raising and lowering said scarifying means;

said scarifying means including;

a cross-shaft extending generally transverse to the direction of motion;

a plurality of connector arms, each arm having first and second ends, means for pivotally connecting said second end to said cross-section;

a plurality of scarifiers downwardly depending from said cross-shaft between said cross and ground-engaging members;

said scarifiers being pivotally mounted on said cross-shaft; and

means for blocking rearward movements of said scarifiers about said shaft when said scarifiers are engaged with the soil;

said blocking means consisting of said scarifiers being positioned to contact said ground-engaging member to block said rearward movements thereof.