Tilling machine, method of use and method of gardening

• US 6,338,209 B1
• Filed: 04/11/2000
• Issued: 01/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David McClure
• Original Assignee: David McClure
• Inventors: McClure, David
• Primary Examiner(s): BATSON, VICTOR D
• Application Number:
  US09/547,254
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: 373/52, 373/55, 373/57, 373/66, 373/67, 373/68, 371/425, 371/39, 374/62, 374/65, 373/47, 371/95, 374/03, 374/04, 374/10, 172/42, 172/107, 172/817, 172/329, 172/245, 172/247
• US Class Current: 37/142.5
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 33/028 of the walk-behind type walk-type tractors B62D51/04
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 33/16 with special additional arrangements A01B49/00 takes precedence; for sowing or fertilising A01B49/06
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 51/02 propelled by a motor
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 79/02 combined with other agricultural processing, e.g. fertilising, planting

Abstract

A trenching machine having independently driven wheels. Trenching machine comprises digging chain that moves between a raised position and a lowered position, a housing that is carried by a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear casters, a motor that independently drives front wheels to propel housing, and a guide wheel that aligns trenching machine with trench upon a second pass. Trenching machine also has a front plow and a rear plow that collect and deposit the dirt surrounding the trench into the trench. A method of gardening/landscaping wherein a trench is dug by a first pass, soil amendments are added to the trench, and then on the second pass, the excavated dirt is plowed back into the trench and then mixed with the amendments. A method of gardening/landscaping wherein vegetation cover between trenched rows is maintained thus utilizing only the ground area that is needed for planting.

Claims

1. A trenching machine comprising:

a housing having a front end and a rear end;

digging means carried by said housing for digging a trench into the ground, said digging means positioned near said front end of said housing;

propelling means carried by said housing for moving said housing;

a first plow carried by said front end of said housing; and

a second plow carried by said rear end of said housing, said first plow and said second plow collecting dirt surrounding the trench and depositing the dirt into the trench.

2. The trenching machine of claim 1, further comprising a right wheel and a left wheel carried by said housing, said propelling means capable of independently driving said left without driving said right wheel.

3. The trenching machine of claim 1, further comprising a right wheel and a left wheel carried by said housing, said propelling means capable of independently driving said right without driving said left wheel.

4. The trenching machine of claim 1, further comprising a right wheel and a left wheel carried by said housing, said propelling means capable of independently driving said left wheel such that said housing is rotated in a horizontal plane in a clock-wise direction.

5. The trenching machine of claim 1, further comprising a right wheel and a left wheel carried by said housing, said propelling means capable of independently driving said right wheel such that said housing is rotated in a horizontal plane in a counter clock-wise direction.

6. The trenching machine of claim 1, further comprising a guide capable of being received by the trench.

7. The trenching machine of claim 1, further comprising a handle assembly, said handle assembly capable of rotating in a horizontal plane.

8. A trenching machine comprising:

a housing having a front end and a rear end;

digging means carried by said housing for digging a trench into the ground, said digging means positioned near said front end of said housing;

propelling means carried by said housing for moving said housing;

a first plow carried by said front end of said housing, said first plow and a second plow collecting dirt surrounding the trench and depositing the dirt into the trench;

a second plow carried by said rear end of said housing, said second plow collecting dirt surrounding the trench and depositing the dirt into the trench;

a handle assembly, said handle assembly capable of rotating in a horizontal plane; and

a guide capable of being received by the trench.

9. The tilling machine of claim 8, further comprising a right wheel and a left wheel carried by said housing, said propelling means capable of independently driving said left without driving said right wheel.

10. The tilling machine of claim 8, further comprising a right wheel and a left wheel carried by said housing, said propelling means capable of independently driving said right without driving said left wheel.

11. The tilling machine of claim 8, further comprising a right wheel and a left wheel carried by said housing, said propelling means capable of independently driving said left wheel such that said housing is rotated in a horizontal plane in a clock-wise direction.

12. The tilling machine of claim 8, further comprising a right wheel and a left wheel carried by said housing, said propelling means capable of independently driving said right wheel such that said housing is rotated in a horizontal plane in a counter clock-wise direction.

13. A tilling machine comprising:

a housing;

digging means carried by said housing for digging a trench into the ground;

propelling means carried by said housing for moving said housing, said propelling means capable of rotating said housing in a horizontal plane;

a first plow carried by said housing; and

a second plow carried by said housing, said first plow and said second plow for filling the trench.

14. The tilling machine of claim 13, further comprising a right wheel and a left wheel carried by said housing, said propelling means capable of independently driving said left without driving said right wheel.

15. The tilling machine of claim 13, further comprising a right wheel and a left wheel carried by said housing, said propelling means capable of independently driving said right without driving said left wheel.

16. The tilling machine of claim 13, further comprising a right wheel and a left wheel carried by said housing, said propelling means capable of independently driving said left wheel such that said housing is rotated in a horizontal plane in a clock-wise direction.

17. The tilling machine of claim 13, further comprising a right wheel and a left wheel carried by said housing, said propelling means capable of independently driving said right wheel such that said housing is rotated in a horizontal plane in a counter clock-wise direction.

18. The tilling machine of claim 13, further comprising a guide capable of being received by the trench.

19. The tilling machine of claim 13, further comprising a handle assembly, said handle assembly capable of rotating in a horizontal plane.

20. A method of gardening, comprising the steps of:

a. obtaining a tilling machine comprising a housing having a front end and a rear end;

digging means carried by said housing for digging a trench into the ground, said digging means positioned near said front end of said housing;

propelling means carried by said housing for moving said housing;

a first plow carried by said front end of said housing; and

a second plow carried by said rear end of said housing, said first plow and said second plow collecting dirt surrounding the trench and depositing the dirt into the trench; and

b. digging at least one elongated trench in an untilled ground area utilizing said trenching machine.