Turf aerators and assemblies for same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11716916-B2
Application number	US-202117528951-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 17, 2021
Priority date	Mar 23, 2018
Publication date	Aug 8, 2023
Grant date	Aug 8, 2023

Abstract

A turf aerator includes a retracting tine assembly and an input mechanism. The tine assembly includes a plurality of tines, a pair of swing arms, and a linkage for selectively moving the pair of swing arms and the plurality of tines from the operating position to the retracted position. The pair of swing arms support the plurality of tines and are configured to rotate the plurality of tines between an operating position to a retracted position. The input is coupled to the linkage and the input is operable to active the linkage to move the pair of swing arms and the plurality of tines from the operating position to the retracted position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A turf aerator, comprising:
a retracting tine assembly comprising:
a plurality of tines;
a pair of swing arms supporting the plurality of tines and configured to rotate the plurality of tines between an operating position and a retracted position;
a linkage for selectively moving the pair of swing arms and the plurality of tines from the operating position to the retracted position; and
a latch for engaging a keeper bar when the pair of swing arms and the plurality of tines are in the retracted position;

a first input coupled to the linkage, the first input operable to activate the linkage to move the pair of swing arms and the plurality of tines from the operating position to the retracted position; and
a second input coupled to the latch and configured to disengage the keeper bar from the latch to allow the pair of swing arms and the plurality of tines to move from the retracted position to the operating position;
wherein a first end of the linkage terminates at the first input and a second end of the linkage is coupled to the keeper bar.

2. The turf aerator of claim 1 , wherein the first input comprises a foot pedal operable by a foot of an operator.

3. The turf aerator of claim 1 , wherein the second input comprises a hand lever operable by a hand of an operator.

4. The turf aerator of claim 1 , wherein the second input comprises a release handle operable by a hand of an operator.

5. The turf aerator of claim 1 , wherein the first input comprises a foot pedal operable by a foot of an operator and the second input comprises a release handle operable by a hand of the operator.

6. A turf aerator, comprising:
a frame;
a tine shaft rotatably supported by the frame;
a plurality of tines coupled to the tine shaft;
a swing arm supporting the plurality of tines, the swing arm rotatably supported by the frame and configured to rotate the plurality of tines between an operating position and a retracted position;
a linkage for selectively moving the swing arm and the plurality of tines from the operating position to the retracted position; and
an input for (i) actuating the linkage to transition the plurality of tines from the retracted position to the operating position and (ii) activating the tine shaft to move the plurality of tines;
wherein the linkage includes a driving link and a driven link operable by the driving link, the driving link defining a linkage first end, the driven link having a sliding slot, a distal end of the driving link having a sliding element passing through the sliding slot and interacting with the driven link.

7. The turf aerator of claim 6 , wherein a first end of the linkage terminates at a pedal, and wherein the linkage is configured to allow an operator's hands to remain engaged with handles of the turf aerator when the swing arm and the plurality of tines are moving from the operating position to the retracted position.

8. The turf aerator of claim 7 , wherein a second end of the linkage is rotatably coupled to the swing arm.

9. The turf aerator of claim 7 , wherein a second end of the linkage is indirectly rotatably coupled to the swing arm.

10. The turf aerator of claim 6 , wherein the tine shaft is a tine crank shaft, and wherein when the input is not engaged the tine crank shaft is inactive.

11. The turf aerator of claim 6 , wherein the input includes a cable and a release handle.

12. The turf aerator of claim 6 , wherein the tine shaft is configured to rotate when the plurality of tines is in the operating position and the retracted position.

13. A turf aerator, comprising:
a frame;
a tine shaft rotatably supported by the frame;
a plurality of tines coupled to the tine shaft;
a pair of swing arms supporting the plurality of tines and configured to rotate the plurality of tines between an operating position and a retracted position; and
a linkage for selectively moving the pair of swing arms and the plurality of tines from the operating position to the retracted position, a first end of the linkage terminating at a pedal;
wherein the linkage includes a driving link and a driven link operable by the driving link, the driving link defining a linkage first end, the driven link having a sliding slot, a distal end of the driving link having a sliding element passing through the sliding slot and interacting with the driven link.

14. The turf aerator of claim 13 , wherein the linkage is configured to allow an operator's hands to remain engaged with handles of the turf aerator when the pair of swing arms and the plurality of tines are moving from the operating position to the retracted position.

15. The turf aerator of claim 13 , further comprising an input coupled to the linkage, the input comprising a release handle that is configured to be selectively engaged by an operator to (i) actuate the linkage to transition the pair of swing arms and the plurality of tines from the retracted position to the operating position and (ii) activate the tine shaft to move the plurality of tines.

16. The turf aerator of claim 13 , wherein a second end of the linkage is coupled to a keeper bar.

17. The turf aerator of claim 16 , further comprising a latch for engaging the keeper bar when the pair of swing arms and the plurality of tines are in the retracted position.

18. The turf aerator of claim 17 , further comprising a second input coupled to the latch and configured to disengage the keeper bar from the latch to allow the pair of swing arms and the plurality of tines to move from the retracted position to the operating position.

19. The turf aerator of claim 18 , wherein the second input comprises a release handle operable by a hand of an operator.

20. The turf aerator of claim 18 , wherein the second input comprises a hand lever operable by a hand of an operator.

Assignees

• Briggs & Stratton Llc

Inventors

• King Brandon
• Coates William

Classifications

• A01B45/023 Primary

  Perforators comprising spiking tools actively driven in a reciprocating movement through a crankshaft or eccentric mechanism · CPC title