Earth grading and soil compaction tractor with water spray capability

• US 5,199,196 A
• Filed: 06/16/1992
• Issued: 04/06/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Paul M. Straley
• Original Assignee: Paul M. Straley
• Inventors: Straley, Paul M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Corbin, David H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): OLSEN, ARLEN
• Application Number:
  US07/899,280
• Time in Patent Office: 294 Days
• Field of Search: 37/118 A, 37/227, 37/228, 37/117.5, 37/71, 239/172, 239/289, 239/722, 111/118
• US Class Current: 37/442
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 21/00 Apparatus or processes for surface soil stabilisation for road building or like purposes, e.g. mixing local aggregate with binder recycling in place or on the road involving soil stabilisation E01C23/065 ; stabilising soil under existing surfacing E01C23/10; soil-conditioning or soil-stabilising materials C09K17/00; soil consolidation in general E02D3/12
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 2301/50 Methods or devices for preventing dust by spraying or sucking
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/962 Mounting of implements directly on tools already attached to the machine E02F3/404 and E02F3/8152 take precedence

Abstract

An improved tractor for earth grading and soil compaction having a hydraulically operated bucket mounted on the front and including a water tank and water spray nozzle. The water spray nozzle is positioned on the bucket so that it can add water to soil as it is moved by the bucket and also can be raised and aimed by the tractor operator. This permits the tractor operator to use the water spray to wet down a load of soil in a truck.

Claims

1. An improved tractor for earth grading and soil compaction of the type having a tractor frame and body with a hydraulically operated bucket mounted on the front for moving soil and a centrally located cab and at least two front wheels and at least two rear wheels, wherein the improvement comprises:

a water tank supported by said tractor frame and positioned behind said cab, said water tank having a water tight interior volume;

a pump having an inlet from the interior of the tank and said pump having an outlet;

a water outlet hose connected at one end to the outlet of said pump and said outlet hose directing water forward of said tractor, said outlet hose having at least an end portion thereof fabricated from a flexible material, said end portion being positioned near the bucket of said tractor; and

a nozzle affixed to said bucket and said nozzle being fed by said water outlet hose whereby when said water tank supplies water to said pump which, in turn, supplies water through said water outlet hose to said nozzle, the resulting water spray from said nozzle can be directed by an operator of said tractor to the soil which is being moved by said bucket to result in a mixed combination of soil and water of a predetermined and desired moisture content for compaction and wherein the water in said tank increases the weight on said wheels to further increase the soil compaction by said tractor.

2. The improved tractor for earth grading and soil compaction of claim 1 wherein said bucket has a top edge, two side edges and a bottom edge, and said nozzle is supported by the top edge of said bucket.

3. The improved tractor for earth grading and soil compaction of claim 2 wherein said portion of said hose which is fabricated from flexible material is sufficient in length to permit the bucket to be raised to its maximum height and still be able to conduct water to said nozzle.

4. The improved tractor for earth grading and soil compaction of claim 1 wherein said water tank is in the shape of an inverted "U", each arm of said inverted "U" having a base.

5. The improved tractor for earth grading and soil compaction of claim 4 wherein there are a pair of outlet lines, one from each base of said inverted "U," and each outlet line has a shut-off valve.

6. The improved tractor for earth grading and soil compaction of claim 5 wherein the shut-off valve in each outlet line from each base is linked together to be turned on or off simultaneously.

7. The improved tractor for earth grading and soil compaction of claim 1 wherein said pump is a hydraulically driven pump.

8. An improved tractor for earth grading and soil compaction of the type having a tractor frame and body with a hydraulically operated bucket having a top, two sides and a bottom, said bucket being mounted on the front for moving soil, and a centrally located cab, and at least two front wheels, and at least two rear wheels, wherein the improvement comprises:

an inverted "U" shaped water tank supported by said tractor frame and positioned behind said cab, said water tank having a watertight interior volume and each of the arms of said inverted "U" shaped water tank has a base;

a pump having a pair of inlets, one from each base of said arms of said tank, said pump having an outlet;

a water outlet hose connected at one end to the outlet of said pump, and said outlet hose directing water forward of said tractor, said outlet hose having at least an end portion thereof fabricated from a flexible material, said end portion being positioned near the bucket of said tractor; and

a nozzle affixed to the top of said bucket, and said nozzle being fed by said water outlet hose whereby when said water tank supplies water to said pump which, in turn, supplies water through said water outlet hose to said nozzle, the resulting water spray from said nozzle can be directed by an operator of said tractor to the soil which is being moved by said bucket to result in a mixed combination of soil and water of a predetermined and desired moisture content for compaction and wherein the water in said tank increases the weight on said wheels to further increase the soil compaction by said tractor.

9. The improved tractor for earth grading and soil compaction of claim 8 wherein said outlet hose is located between the two front wheels and the two rear wheels.

10. The improved tractor for earth grading and soil compaction of claim 9 wherein the entire length of said outlet hose is fabricated from reinforced rubber.

11. The improved tractor for earth grading and soil compaction of claim 8 wherein said inverted "U" shaped tank is supported on a separate removable tank frame on said tractor.