Applied Design Technology, Ltd.

Other

William L Figura

Daniel Selleck

The invention is directed to a vehicle drive/suspension system that has a chassis having a front and rear portion and a pair of sides. A drive axle has opposed end portions and extends between the sides. Each side has a pivotally mounted elongated rocker arm that is connected to the corresponding end portion of the drive axle. Pivot mounts and pivot plates are used for this attachment. The rocker arms have sprockets mounted to each end. These sprockets are chain driven by drive sprockets located at each end of the drive axle. Tension sprockets are slidably mounted onto each rocker arm. Also associated with each rocker arm is a damper, and a rubber stop member. It is preferred that the pivot location of each pivot mount is away from the center point of the rocker arm.

Vehicle drive/suspension system

The invention discloses apparatus for grooming, leveling and conditioning athletic fields comprised of a leveling trowel having beveled ends. Soil is worked using elastomeric flails disposed into contact with the surface by a rigid weight bar pivotally mounted on the upper surface of the independently pivotable flails. The grooming apparatus may be mounted with a two or three-point hitch assembly or towed by a drawbar from any utility tractor or other landscape vehicle.

Apparatus for grooming fields

A powered brushing system can be mounted on triplex mowers, front mowers, utility tractors and other motor vehicles for use in conjunction with the aeration and maintenance of golf courses, particularly tee areas and greens. The holes left by core or spike aerators used to condition turf must be filled with sand or other topdressing. Elongated rotary brushes extend radially in a horizontal plane from a vertical axis about which they rotate. Vertical bristles extend downward and touch the ground while rotating to stir the topdressing and sweep it to evenly fill aeration holes. The preferred embodiment is comprised of five rotary brushes having overlapping swept areas and synchronous rotation. The swirling motion of the bristles of the counter-rotating rotary brushes may also be used effectively to remove grain which has developed in turf. The brushing system can, in this manner, greatly improve the evenness with which mowing of fine turf areas is performed. Rotary power is provided to the brush system by hydraulic or hydrostatic drive motor, power take-off, or independent engine.

Growing community of inventors

Rice Lake, WI, United States of America

William L Figura