AU612723B2

AU612723B2 - Land levelling machine

Info

Publication number: AU612723B2
Application number: AU25483/88A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Kenneth James Bigham
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-10-02
Filing date: 1988-09-30
Publication date: 1991-07-18
Anticipated expiration: 2008-09-30
Also published as: NZ226359A; CN1032562A; AU2548388A; WO1989002955A1

Description

WOL INELCULPOERYOGNZTO AU-AI-25483/88 PC~T WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ORGANIZATION International Bureau INTERNATIONAL APPLICATI UISE D U DEi' HE n PENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT) (51) International Patent Classification 4 (11) International Publication Number: WO 89/ 02955 E02F 3/76,3/815 A l (43) International Publication Date: 6 April 1989 (06.04.89) (21) International Application Number: PCT/AU88/00385 (22) International Filing Date: 30 September 1988 (30.09.88) (31) Priority Application Numbers: PI 4690 PI 8196 (32) Priority Dates: (33) Priority Country: 2 October 1987 (02.10.87) 12 May 1988 (12.05.88)

AU

(81) Designated States: AT, AT (European patent), AU, BB, BE (European patent), BG, BJ (OAPI patent), BR, CF (OAPI patent), CG (OAPI patent), CH, CH (European patent), CM (OAPI patent), DE, DE (European patent), DK, FI, FR (European patent), GA (OAPI patent), GB, GB (European patent), HU, IT (European patent), JP, KP, KR, LK, LU, LU (European patent), MC, MG, ML (OAPI patent), MR (OA- PI patent), MW, NL, NL (European patent), NO, RO, SD, SE, SE (European patent), SN (OAPI patent), SU, TD (OAPI patent), TG (OAPI patent), US.

Published With international search report.

Before the expiration of the time limitfor amending the claims and to be republished in the event of the receipt of amendments.

1 JUN 1989 (71)(72) Applicant and Inventor: BIGHAM, Kenneth, James [AU/AU]; 13 Oak Avenue, r, ronia, VIC 3155 (AU).

(74) Agents: SMEETON, Anthony, R. et al.; Davies Collison, 1 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000

(AU).

(54)Title: LAND LEVELLING MACHINE -46 (57) Abstract A machine for levelling a surface, the machine being movable over the surface in a normal direction of travel and comprising a main frame ground working means (10) operatively connected to the main frame so as to be capable of vibratory or oscillatory motion relative thereto. The ground working means (10) includes at least one ground engaging member (11) which extends laterally with respect to the normal direction of travel of the machine The ground working means (10) is suspended from the main frame by links (24) so that the ground working means (10) move under the influence of an eccentric (16) mounted on a rotatable shaft (19) that is driven by a belt drive (43) which in turn is actuated via a power take-off shaft (41).

I:

J.

-1- LAND LEVELLING MACHINE This invention relates generally to levelling machines suitable for levelling surfaces such as for example, earth or ground. Whilst one application of the present invention relates to the levelling of eath the machine would also be suitable for levelling snow for example, on sid slopes or the like.

Currently known earth levelling machines generally comprise d large heavy blade which is adapted to be moved across the ground being levelled.

Generally these devices are relatively heavy and difficult to manoeuvre and cannot be used in confined areas.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved levelling machine which alleviates one or more of the aforementioned problems.

••According to the present invention there is provided a machine for levelling a surface, the machine being movable over the surface in a normal direction of travel and comprising a main frame, ground working means 1 operatively connected to said main frame for vibratory or oscillatory motion relative thereto, said ground working means including at least one elongated ground engaging levelling member having a longitudinal axis which extends laterally with respect to the normal direction of travel of the machine said vibratory or oscillatory motion causing said elongated ground engaging 0 20 member to move generally back and forth in the normal direction of travel of the machine.

*0s -r 4 Qeoe 910S02,arsspe.056,25483,1 WO 89/02955 I i PCT/AU88/0038-5 -2-

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thereto said ground working mea including at least one ground enag i ng member which extends laterl- with respect to the normal Preferably the ground working means comprise a plurality of ground engaging members which are generally parallel to one another and extend generally laterally with respect to the normal direction of travel of the machine and are in spaced relation one behind the other with respect to the normal direction of travel of the machine. The or each said ground engaging member may have a substantially flat ground engaging surface which, when the machine is in use, is inclined with respect the surface being worked, the forward edge of the surface being at a greater height above the surface being worked than the trailing edge. Preferably the ground engaging members are arranged in a plane which is, in use, inclined with respect to the surface being worked with the most forward ground engaging member being at a greater height above the surface being work than the most rearward ground engaging member.

The vibratry or oillatory motion pr-e causes the ground working means to move _Dxa--yback and forth rela.tie--tt-6e main frame in th direc--n of tr-ee-ma In one preferred embodiment the ground working means is operatively connected to the main frame by a plurality of links, one end of each link being pivotally connected to the main frame and the other end of each -f /35 \Q 7, i WO 89/02955 PCT/AU88/00385 -3link being pivotally connected to the ground working means. The arrangement is such that the ground working means is suspended by the links which permit the oscillatory or vibratory movement of the ground working means relative to the main frame.

Preferably vibration or oscillation generating means is provided which is operatively connected to the ground working means. The generating means may include an eccentric mounted on a rotatable shaft and a connecting member operatively connecting the ground working means to the eccentric.

A ground engaging roller may be mounted on the main frame rearwardly of the ground working means with respect to the normal direction of travel of the machine.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will hereinafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic side elevation of a machine according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a front elevation of the machine shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of one form of the ground working means suitable for use in the machine according to the present invention; Figure 4 is a side elevation of the ground working means shown in figure 3; and Figures 5 and 6 are detailed views of one manner of mounting the ground working means to the main frame.

Referring to the drawings the machine generally indicated at 1 comprises a main frame 3 which is adapted to be moved over 4 WO 89/02955 PCT/AU88/00385 -4the ground being worked and ground working means 10 operatively connected to the main frame and being capable of vibratory motion relative thereto. The arrangement is such that in use the vibratory motion of the ground working means 10 as the machine is moved over the ground being worked tends to cause the ground to be levelled and tamped down and loose material to be distributed relatively evenly.

In the form of the machine shown it is adapted to be operatively connected to a vehicle such as a tractor, a backhoe or the like so that it can be drawn across the ground to be worked. It will be appreciated however that the machine could be self powered so that it can be driven over the ground to be I worked.

As shown, the main frame 3 comprises a substantially rectilinear box-like structure having side members 4 and cross members with an open top side and bottom side. The main frame 3 can be manufactured from any suitable material such as metal or the like.

As shown, the ground working means 10 is mounted within the box-like main frame 3.

The ground working means 10 comprises a plurality of substantially parallel spaced apart ground engaging members 11 each extending laterally of the normal direction of travel of the machine. The or each member 11 includes a ground engaging surface 12 or edge which is adapted to engage the ground being worked.

As shown, the ground engaging surface 12 is inclined with respect to the ground so that

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i WO 89/02955 PCT/AU88/00385 material tends to be directed downstream, and furthermore, the members are arranged in a plane which is inclined relative to the ground again to direct material downwardly.

The vibratory motion is in the form of oscillations applied to the ground working means 10 which cause it to move generally back and forth in the direction of travel of the machine. A vibration generating means 15 is provided and includes eccentric bearings 16 or bushes operatively connected to a rotatable shaft 19 so that rotation of the shaft causes eccentric movement of the bearings or bushes.

Connector arms 17 operatively connect the bearings 16 to the ground working means As shown, the ground working means 10 comprises the ground engaging members 11 and framework members 13 arranged to form a sub-frame 14 which is suspended from the main frame by a plurality of pivotal links 24 mounted on pivot pins 25 and 26, the links permitting swinging movement of the sub-frame 14 relative to the main frame 3 back and forth in the direction of travel of the machine. Alternatively the ground working means 10 may be mounted to the main frame so that it can slide relative thereto forwards and backwards to achieve the vibratory or oscillatory motion.

As shown, the drive for rotating the shaft 19 is obtained from the power and drive sources on a tractor and is transmitted to the shaft via transmission 40. The transmission comprises a power take-off shaft 41 which is operatively connected to a drive on the WO 89/02955 PCT/AU88/00385 -6tractor, a gear box 42 and a belt drive 43 which includes pulleys 44 and 45 and belt 46. It will be appreciated that alternatively to the above, the drive means may be in the form of a motor mounted to the main frame of the machine.

A blade member 8 may be mounted to a trailing edge portion of the main frame rearwardly of ground engaging roller 7 so as to provide a final levelling operation.

Damping devices (not shown) are provided for operatively interconnecting the ground working means and the main frame. These damping devices tend to reduce the shocks to the machine resulting from the vibratory motion.

Finally, it is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and or additions may be incorporated into the various constructions and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit and ambit of the invention.

1 i -i.

Claims

1. A machine for levelling a surface, the machine being movable over the surface in a normal direction of travel and comprising a main frame, ground working means operatively conrected to said main frame for vibratory or oscillatory motion relative thereto, said ground working means including at least one elongated ground engaging levelling member having a longitudinal axis which extends laterally with respect to the normal direction of travel of the machine said vibratory or oscillatory motion causing said elongated ground engaging member to move generally back and forth in the normal direction of travel of the machine.

2. A machine according to claim 1 wherein said ground working means S, comprises a plurality of ground engaging members which are generally parallel e. 15 to one another and extend generally laterally with respect to the normal p direction of travel of the machine and are in spaced relation one behind the other with respect to the normal direction of travel of the machine.

3. A machine according to claim 2 wherein each said ground engaging 20 member includes a substantially flat ground engaging surface which, when the machine is in use, is inclined with respect the surface being worked, the forward edge of the surface being at a greater height above the surface being worked than the trailing edge. 25

4. A machine according to claim 3 wherein said ground engaging members are arranged in a plane which is, in use, inclined with respect to the surface being worked with the most forward ground engaging member being at a greater height above the surface being worked than the most rearward ground engaging member.

A machine according to claim 4 wherein said ground working means is 910502msdat.095,466290.1et,1 operatively connected to said main frame by a plurality of links one end of each link being pivotally connected to said main frame and the other end of each link being pivotally connected to said ground working means so that said ground working means is suspended by said links which permit the oscillatory or vibratory movement of said ground working means relative to said main frame.

6. A machine according to claim 5 further including vibration or oscillation generating means operatively connected to said ground working means said generating means including an eccentric mounted on a rotatable shaft and a connecting member operatively connecting said ground working means to said eccentric.

7. A machine according to claim 6 further including a ground engaging roller 15 mounted on said main frame rearwardly of said ground working means with respect to the normal direction of travel of the machine.

8. A machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 2nd day of May, 1991 SKENNETH JAMES BIGHAM by his Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON

9.* 9qOSGnrsdat.09,466290.Iet2 L. i L~ L