Snow compacting tool

• US 6,607,330 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2001
• Issued: 08/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Patrick L. Philpott
• Original Assignee: Patrick L. Philpott
• Inventors: Philpott, Patrick L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hartmann, Gary S.
• Application Number:
  US09/951,430
• Publication Number:
  US 20020034419A1
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 404/122, 404/125, 404/126, 404/127, 404/128, 404/132, 372/19, 372/23, 372/24, 372/31
• US Class Current: 404/132
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/27 with elastically-deformable rolling elements, e.g. pneumatic tyres E01C19/231 takes precedence ; vibrating or impacting E01C19/28
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 4/00 Working on surfaces of snow or ice in order to make them suitable for traffic or sporting purposes, e.g. by compacting snow production of artificial snow F25C3/04

Abstract

A multi-wheeled vehicle for compacting loose snow and frost comprises a frame structure having a rack portion for supporting extra weight. Each wheel of the vehicle is provided with a torsion spring arrangement such that each wheel can move independently in a vertical direction. A towing tung is connected to the frame structure so that the vehicle may be towed.

Claims

1. A vehicle for compacting loose snow and frost, said vehicle comprising:

a frame structure having a front end, a rear end and an upper surface, said frame structure including a pair of spaced parallel frame members, each frame member of said pair having a front face and a rear face;

a weight rack supported on and spaced above said upper surface adjacent said rear end;

a plurality of pivot plates, each pivot plate of said plurality of pivot plates secured to said rear face of each frame member;

a plurality of arm members including four outside arm members, each arm member of said plurality of arm members having a first end pivotally secured to a respective pivot plate;

a first row of wheels attached to said frame structure and positioned beneath said frame structure between said front end and said rear end;

a second row of wheels attached to said frame structure and spaced from said first row of wheels at a position beyond said rear end; and

a backstop member positioned on each of said four outside arm members for limiting the vertical movement of said four outside arm members, each said backstop member comprising an open structure having spaced side walls and a plurality of plates spanning the space between said sidewalls and attached to said side walls, each said backstop member being welded to the frame structure adjacent a respective outside arm member.

2. A vehicle for compacting loose snow and frost as recited in claim 1, including an axle mounted on each wheel of said first row of wheels and said second row of wheels;

each arm member of said plurality of arm members terminating in a second end, wherein each said second end is rotatably mounted to a respective axle.

3. A vehicle for compacting loose snow and frost as recited in claim 1, including means for biasing said first row of wheels and said second row of wheels in a direction away from said frame structure.

4. A vehicle for compacting loose snow and frost as recited in claim 3, wherein said means for biasing comprises a torsion spring mounted on each of said plurality of arm members.

5. A vehicle for compacting loose snow and frost as recited in claim 1, including a series of tensioning devices welded to each frame for adjusting the tension of the torsion spring.

6. A vehicle for compacting loose snow and frost as recited in claim 1, wherein each row of said first row of wheels and said second row of wheels consists of seven wheels.

7. A vehicle for compacting loose snow and frost as recited in claim 1, including a towing tung pivotally attached to one of said pair of spaced parallel frame members.