Driven tine wheel type aerator having improved tine geometry

Abstract

A core-type walk-behind aerator includes a chassis movable along a turf surface and having a tine wheel assembly rotatable about an axis transverse to the direction of movement of the aerator. The tine wheel assembly is positively driven by power means and carries a plurality of tubular coring tines selectively positioned about the periphery of the tine wheel such that the tines define forward rake angles. The number of tines, their rake angles, the diameter of the tine wheel assembly and weight of the aerator acting on the tine wheel assembly have predetermined relation so as to effect substantially axial penetration of said tines into the turf and substantially axial withdrawal of the tines from the same surface openings made upon penetration as the tine wheel undergoes rotation about an instant rotational center spaced below the surface of the turf. The tines continually compress the soil so as to remove cores of thatch and subsoil without lifting the turf peripherally of the openings made by the tines. In the illustrated embodiment, each tine has a forward rake angle of approximately 41.degree..