The Toro Company

Benjamin A Street

David J Scherbring

Cal N Kosieracki

Miguel Angel Pizano

Jeremy John Tate

Daniel Mark Treu

Benjamin A Bricko

Andrew J Kjolhaug

Joseph P Thelen

Keith A Goetz

Casey Lee Adkins

A debris management vehicle is disclosed that has a vehicle frame and a fan assembly coupled to the vehicle frame. The fan assembly has a rotor axis oriented obliquely to a horizontal plane. A nozzle defines a nozzle inlet and a nozzle outlet. The nozzle inlet is in fluid communication with an outlet of the fan assembly. The nozzle outlet is rotatable about a nozzle axis that is orthogonal to the horizontal plane.

Debris management vehicle

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to underground horizontal directional drills and, more particularly, to aspects of drill operation, ground anchoring, and operator assistance features. In some embodiments, a drill is provided that includes an anchor assembly and/or a rear stabilizer that may pivot relative to a carriage frame of the drill. In other embodiments, a roller bearing system that permits the carriage to translate along the carriage frame is provided. In still other embodiments, rests to support the drill rod during makeup and breakout are described.

Underground horizontal directional drill

A groomer for turf surfaces includes a groomer frame that mounts a first style of grooming brush for use on an artificial turf surface and a second style of grooming brush for use on a natural turf surface. The first style of grooming brush comprises a brush formed by spaced brush walls with each brush wall having a substantially single row of brush bristles with no bristles being placed between the brush walls. The second style of grooming brush is that similar to a push broom where the brush bristles are packed across the width of the brush head. When configured for artificial turf surfaces, a front row of scarifying spring tines helps the trailing brushes to level out the infill material and the attitude of the groomer frame can be tilted tail down to put more downpressure on the infill material. A debris remover attached to the rear of the frame can pick up and hold metallic debris that is often found in the turf surface.

Turf groomer for natural and artificial turf surfaces

A turf edger is attached to a traction unit in the form of a self-propelled turf grooming or working vehicle. The turf edger has a narrow U-shaped edging blade carried on an edger frame. The edging blade oscillates to cut and free a strip of material along a boundary between a turf surface and a non-turf surface. When this strip of material is brushed away, a clean edge is provided along the boundary without the need for any manual hoeing. Side walls of the edging blade at least partially nest around a ground engaging roller on the edger frame to more easily cut horizontal grass runners in the turf surface. The edger frame is selectively movable between a lowered edging position and a raised transport position by the operator. Limited ground following action is provided for the edger frame when the edger frame is in the edging position.

Turf edger for cutting a clean edge along a boundary between a turf surface and a soft non-turf surface

A vehicle for grooming sand or the like includes a quick attachment for connecting a front bulldozer blade or other implement to a steerable front wheel of the vehicle. When the front wheel pivots while steering, the front blade pivots with the front wheel to minimize catching the front blade on the lip or edge of a golf course bunker. The front blade is pivotal relative to the quick attachment against the bias of springs to minimize the tendency of the blade to dig into the sand. The pivotal motion of the front blade can be locked out if desired. The quick attachment is connected by a four bar linkage to the vehicle.

Powered sand grooming vehicle with yieldable front bulldozer blade attached to steerable front wheel

A line marker has a wheeled frame on which an outrigger arm is pivotally carried. The outrigger arm carries a spray nozzle. The spray nozzle can be placed in a rear spray position or in a front spray position depending upon whether the outrigger arm extends rearwardly or forwardly from a pivot hub therefor. The outrigger arm can be placed in the front or rear spray positions along either side of the frame. The line marker includes a reservoir for holding a marking liquid that is sprayed from the spray nozzle. The reservoir includes a drain outlet that is positioned to drain unused marking liquid back into a standard five gallon paint bucket.

Line marker with reservoir drain into paint bucket and mult-position spray nozzle with a rear spray position

A sand grooming vehicle comprises a vehicle having zero radius turn capability. The vehicle includes a front caster wheel, two independently driven rear wheels, and twin control sticks for allowing spin turning of the vehicle by driving the outboard drive wheel and stopping or reversing the inboard wheel. A trailing brush rake is towed behind the vehicle to groom the sand. The brush rake includes a center brush and two pivotal side brushes connected to opposite ends of the center brush. The pivots connecting the side brushes and the center brush are elevated above the plane of engagement of the bristles of the side brushes and the sand. Thus, during a spin turn of the vehicle, the side brush on the inside of the turn lifts to avoid pushing a ridge of sand behind that side brush. This permits the vehicle and the brush rake to groom the sand surface without leaving any ungroomed teardrops at the inside of turns and without leaving ridges of sand on the sand surface.

Growing community of inventors

Northfield, MN, United States of America

Benjamin A Street