Reseeding device

• US 9,814,177 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2014
• Issued: 11/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eliet NV (Feltron)
• Original Assignee: Eliet NV (Feltron)
• Inventors: Lietaer, Frederic
• Primary Examiner(s): TORRES, ALICIA M
• Application Number:
  US15/029,315
• Publication Number:
  US 20160227702A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,124 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 45/00 Machines for treating meadows or lawns , e.g. for sports grounds
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 45/026 Scarifiers comprising a knife reel actively driven around a substantially horizontal shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 49/04 Combinations of soil-working tools with non-soil-working tools, e.g. planting tools
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 49/06 for sowing or fertilising
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 49/065 the soil-working tools being actively driven
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/064 with rotating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/008 Sod or grassland seeding A01C7/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/082 Ducts, distribution pipes or details thereof for pneumatic seeders
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/205 comprising pressure regulation means

Abstract

The present invention relates to a reseeding device (1) configured for introducing grass seeds into an existing turf, comprising a rotatable shaft (2) which is provided with a number of blades (3) along its length which are at right angles to the shaft (2) and which are configured for cutting furrows into the turf and loosening and removing parts of the turf, a seed distributor (4) configured for spreading grass seeds at least in the furrows produced, in which the device (1) is configured, in use, to discharge the material loosened by the blades (3) over the shaft (2) and the seed distributor (4), along a direction (A) opposite to the direction of travel, so that the scattered grass seeds are at least partly covered by the loosened material. A reseeding device (1) of such design has the significant advantage that the loosened material does not form an impediment during reseeding.

Claims

1. Reseeding device (1) configured for introducing grass seeds into an existing turf, comprising a rotatable shaft (2) which is provided with a number of blades (3) along its length which are arranged at right angles to the shaft and which are configured for cutting furrows into the turf and loosening and removing turf material, a grass seed reservoir (13) and a seed distributor (4) configured for spreading grass seeds from the grass seed reservoir (13) at least into the furrows produced, wherein the grass seed reservoir (13) is detachable from the seed distributor (4), wherein the device (1) is configured, in use, to discharge the material loosened by the blades (3) over the shaft (2) and over the seed distributor (4), along a direction (A) opposite to the direction of travel, so that the spread grass seeds are at least partly covered by the loosened material, and wherein the seed distributor (4) comprises a number of outlet openings (6) for grass seeds, and at least one conveyor screw (7, 8) which is configured to convey the grass seeds through the seed distributor (4) along said openings (6).

2. Reseeding device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the device (1) is configured, in use, to discharge the material loosened by the blades (3) in a zone which extends at least partly underneath the grass seed reservoir and above the seed distributor.

3. Reseeding device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the shaft (2) is rotatable counter to the direction of travel.

4. Reseeding device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the device (1) comprises a curved front wall (5) which is configured to guide at least a part of the material loosened by the blades (3) in a direction opposite to the direction of travel.

5. Reseeding device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the seed distributor (4) comprises adjacent first (7) and second (8) conveyor screws, in which the first screw (7) is configured to convey the grass seeds over the outlet openings (6) from one side of the seed distributor (4) to the other side, and in which the second screw (8) is configured to transport grass seeds which have not been spread back.

6. Reseeding device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the seed distributor (4) comprises a fan (9) configured to generate an air flow which is capable of projecting the grass seeds in the direction of the turf.

7. Reseeding device (1) according to claim 1, wherein said outlet openings (6) are provided in seed funnels (10) extending towards the turf.

8. Reseeding device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the grass seed reservoir (13) comprises a partition wall (15) so that a part of the reservoir can be used for storing grass seeds and another part of the reservoir can be used for storing a different material.

9. Reseeding device (1) according to claim 8, wherein said wall (15) is displaceable.

10. Reseeding device (1) according to claim 1, wherein said device (1) is provided with a pressure-exerting roller (11) configured to tamp down the spread seeds.

11. Reseeding device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the seed distributor (4) has a width which at least corresponds to the working width of the blades (3).

12. Reseeding device (1) configured for introducing grass seeds into an existing turf, comprising a rotatable shaft (2) which is provided with a number of blades (3) along its length which are arranged at right angles to the shaft and which are configured for cutting furrows into the turf and loosening and turf material, a grass seed reservoir (13) and a seed distributor (4) configured for spreading grass seeds from the grass seed reservoir (13) at least into the furrows produced, wherein the device (1) is configured, in use, to discharge the material loosened by the blades (3) over the shaft (2) and over the seed distributor (4), along a direction (A) opposite to the direction of travel, so that the spread grass seeds are at least partly covered by the loosened material, wherein the rotatable shaft (2) furthermore comprises a number of carrier bodies along its length which are provided with a number of radially extending wing elements (12) on their periphery which, in use, generate an air displacement.