Implement for preparing seedbeds

[0001] This invention relates to an implement towed by a towing vehicle for preparing lawns and seedbeds. Reference is made to my prior U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,413,181 and 5,515,625.

[0002] Preparation of lawns and seedbeds, particular around new construction, requires a greater deal of soil preparation, which heretofore has been accomplished manually, often at substantial expose. Vegetation, small rocks, twigs, etc. must be removed from the seed bed, the soil must be scarified, and the seed bed or lawn must be graded and worked into the final grade prior to planting or seeding. Furthermore, it is often necessary to move soil from one area to another, to fill in low places. These low places are common around sidewalks, driveways, and other concrete work, and care must be taken to assure that any power equipment is not driven on or across the sidewalks, particularity if the concrete is not yet fully cured.

[0003] The present invention provides an implement for grading, working and scarifying the soil. The implement is towed behind a small tractor or other vehicle and is connected to the tractor by a common three point hitch, so that the implement may be raised and lowered and the angle of the implement may be adjusted relative to the ground. The implement includes a main frame upon which scarifying teeth extend at a soil penetrating angle and are distributed across the width of the implement. A main frame also supports tined members which extend parallel to the direction of travel to work and provide a final grade to the soil. The scarifying teeth are rigidly attached to the frame and thus scarify soil when the tractor is moved in either the forward or backward directions. When the implement is moved backward, the member on which the scarifying teeth and tines are mounted scoop up soil which can be transferred and accurately placed in low places, particularly around walks and driveways. Finally, a blade is mounted on a subframe which is pivotally mounted on the main frame. The blade follows the contour of the ground and when the tractor is driven over the ground, removes vegetation, small rocks, etc. before the ground is scarified. The subframe on which the blade is mounted can be locked in a raised position when the blade is not used or the blade can be locked in a lowered position in which the scarifying teeth and tines are raised off of the ground so that the implement may also be used for rough grading.

[0012] Referring now to drawings, an implement generally indicated by the numberal 10 includes a main frame generally indicated by the numeral 12 which includes a pair of substantially parallel main frame members 14 and 16 which extend transversely across the path along which the implement 10 is pulled by a tractor indicated in phantom at 18. A pair of side frame members 20, 22 interconnect the main frame members 14 and 16. The main frame member 14 is provided with a conventional three point hitch assembly generally indicated by numeral 24, consisting of hitch points 26, 28 and 30, which are adapted to be connected to corresponding hitch points on tractor 18 in a manner well known to those skilled in the art. A reinforcing member 25 connects the hitch assembly to main frame member 16. Tractor 18 is provided with hydraulic cylinders that raise and lower the implement 10 and are also able to adjust the angle of the implement 10 relative to ground.

[0013] The main frame member 16 includes a pair of lips 32, 34 which are connected together such that the lip 34 extends from the lip 32 at substantially right angles. A tined member generally indicated by the numeral 36 is mounted to the lip 32 and includes tines 38 which project from the lip 32 in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of travel of the implement 10. The tines 38 are relatively closely spaced, and when engaged with the soil, work and level the soil to provide a final grade as will hereinafter be explained. The tines 38, and the lips 32 and 34, cooperate to define a scoop for capturing soil to permit soil to be transferred as will also be hereinafter explained.

[0014] Transversely spaced sockets generally indicated by the numeral 40 are secured, for example, by welding, to the side of the lip 34 opposite the side from which the lip 32 extends. Each of the sockets 40 slidably receive a scarifying tooth 442. Each of the scarifying teeth 42 are made of a strong, solid material such as steel and has a cross-section comparable to the cross-section of the sockets 40 so that the scarifying teeth 42 are slidably received within the sockets 40. Each of the sockets 40 and teeth 42 as provided with cooperating, transversely extending apertures 44. A clinch pin 46 is installed in one of the apertures 44 and extends through the corresponding scarifying tooth 42 to hold the tooth 42 in the socket 40. Because a series of aligned openings 44 are provided, the distance that the scarifying teeth extends from the corresponding socket, and, therefore, the distance that the scarifying teeth penetrate into the ground, is adjustable. Since the scarifying teeth 42 wear, the scarifying teeth 42 also may be extended from their corresponding sockets 40 to compensate for wear while maintaining penetration of the tooth into the ground at a predetermined distance. Since the sockets 40 are welded to the lip 34, the teeth 42 are rigidly attached to the main frame member 16 so that the scarifying teeth 42 may be used to scarify soil during movement of the implement 10 either forward or backward. For proper scarifying, the teeth must not be too close together, or the teeth will merely pull soil instead of scarifying the soil, and must not be spaced too far apart, or scarifying will be inadequate. It has been found that placing the sockets 40 about every eight inches (on center) is about the optimum spacing.

[0015] Brackets 48 secured along the length of the main frame member 14 and are provided with an aperture 50 for receiving a pivot pin 52 for pivotally connecting subframe members 54 to the main frame member 14. The subframe members 54 are components of a subframe generally indicated by the numeral 56 and are secured to transverse subframe member 58 through bracket 60 which provides a rigid connection between the subframe members 54 and the transverse subframe member 58. A grading blade 60 is secured to the transverse subframe member 58 and is adapted to engage the soil as will hereinafter be explained. The subframe members 54 adjacent the side frame members 20 and 22 are provided with extensions 62 which are slidably received in a gap 64 defined between a first set of spaced apart channel members 66, which extend upwardly from main frame member 16 and are secured to the lip 34 adjacent the side frame member 22, and a second set of channel members 68, which are similarly secure to the lip 34 of main frame member 16 adjacent the side frame member 20. The channel member 66, 68 are each provided with registering apertures 70, which receive a removable clinch pin 72 as will hereinafter be described. The width of the gap 64 is sufficient to permit the extensions 62 to move up and down within the gap 64 while the channel members restrains transverse movement of the subframe members 54.

[0016] In operation, and referring to FIG. 4, the implement 10 is illustrated as being used in the normal manner. Because of the pivotal connection between the subframe 56 and the main frame 12, the blade 60 is permitted to “float” as the implement is pulled along a path over the ground. In this condition, the blade 60 knocks down vegetation as at 74 and collections small rocks and stones 76, and grades lightly but does not penetrate the ground to any appreciable extent. The scarifying teeth 42 are set to penetrate the ground to scarify and break up the soil, and are followed by the tines 38, which work the soil and provide a final grade, the angle of the implement 10 being set by the operator such that the scarifying teeth 42 penetrate the ground and the tines 38 engage the surface of the ground while the tines are effective in working and grading the soil. The pin 72 is placed in the uppermost of the apertures 70 to thereby limit upward movement of the subframe 56. If it is descried the movement flotation of the blade 60 to a greater extent, the pin 72 may be placed in the aperture just below the uppermost aperture.

[0017] There are situations in which it is necessary to use the blade 60 to provide a deeper penetration to level off high spots in the soil. Accordingly, the main frame 12 is raised relative to the subframe 56 such that the upper edges of the extension 62 are below the lower most of the apertures 70. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the pin 72 is placed through the normal apertures, and locks the blade 60 in the lowered position with both the scarifying teeth 42 and tines 38 raised above the surface of the soil. Accordingly, grading can be effected on an initial pass over the seedbed, which may be followed by passes in which the seedbed is scarified, worked and leveled, as indicated in FIG. 6.

[0018] In FIG. 6, an initial grade has been provided and the vegetation and rocks have been removed beforehand. The subframe 56 is raised relative to the main frame 12 and the pins 72 are placed in the uppermost apertures 70 such that the lower surfaces of 78 are engaged with the pins, thus locking the blade 60 in a position where it does not engage the soil, the main frame 12 having been set at an angle that permits the scarifying teeth to penetrate the soil and the tines 38 to engage the soil for working and providing a final grade.

[0019] There are times during landscape work when soil must be moved to fill in low spots, particularly along concrete work such as along driveways and sidewalks. Particularly with new construction, care must be taken that no substantial weight be placed on the concrete which has not yet fully cured. Accordingly, it is not permissible to drive heavy equipment, such as tractors, on or over the concrete work. Referring to FIG. 7, the lips 32, 34 of the main frame member 16, along with the tines 38 define a scoop in which soil is caught and can be transferred to fill in low places, particularly low places adjacent concrete work generally indicated by the numeral 80. After the soil has ben deposited in the low place, the soil may be worked into a final grade by using the tines 38 as above described. Accordingly, soil may be positioned accurately to fill in low places, all without driving the tractor over adjacent concrete driveways and sidewalks.