Outboard Marine Corporation

Boyd D Clements

Charles E Hines

James J Kubat

Disclosed herein is a turf aerating device including a cylindrical drum rotatably supported from a frame for rolling travel over the surface of the turf to be aerated, a plurality of circumferentially-spaced, core-forming elements or tines mounted on the outer periphery of the drum in laterally-spaced, generally parallel rows, and a plurality of guard members mounted on the frame rearwardly of the drum axis. Each of the guard members extends toward the outer periphery of the drum to a location adjacent one of the rows of tines and has a surface located to travel closely adjacent the turf surface and thereby positively restrain the turf from being pulled upwardly by the tines as they are withdrawn from the turf after penetration. The guard members terminate in a generally straight edge closely spaced from the outer periphery of the drum so as to serve as a scraper from removing debris collecting on the drum.

Turf aerating device

Disclosed herein is a soil aerating device which is adapted for connection to a powered vehicle, which includes a first frame rotatably supporting a drum carrying a plurality of core-forming tines adapted to penetrate the ground or turf to be aerated and remove a plug of soil and/or grass as the drum is rolled over the surface of the ground or turf, and which further includes a second frame having forward and rear portions. The first frame is pivotally connected to the rear portion of the second frame for limited relative pivotal movement between the two frames and the forward portion of the second frame is pivotally connected to the vehicle for pivotal movement of the two frames relative to the vehicle between a raised position wherein the drum and tines are disengaged from the ground or turf and a lowered position wherein the drum is in engagement with the ground or turf. An actuator, such as a double-acting, hydraulically-actuated ram, connected between the vehicle and the second frame moves the two frames between the raised and lowered positions and applies a downward force on the second frame, when the two frames are in the lowered position, to thereby transfer a portion of the weight of the vehicle to the drum through the second frame, the pivotal connection between the first and second frames, and the first frame. The pivotal connection between the two frames permits the first frame and the drum to pivot relative to the second frame, thereby assuring full penetration of the tines as the drum rolls over hills and down into valleys in the ground or turf with a minimal effect on the ground-engaging traction of the vehicle wheels.

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Elmwood, NE, United States of America

Boyd D Clements