초록 ▼

A hollow tine for a self-propelled lawn aeration machine is formed by a U-shaped metal plate having a stud projecting internally of the plate and welded thereto at one end. The U-shaped metal plate has an oblique cutting edge at the end remote from the stud, includes side edges parallel to each othe

A hollow tine for a self-propelled lawn aeration machine is formed by a U-shaped metal plate having a stud projecting internally of the plate and welded thereto at one end. The U-shaped metal plate has an oblique cutting edge at the end remote from the stud, includes side edges parallel to each other to define a narrow slot extending from the cutting edge to the stud. The cutters where the oblique cutting edges meet the side edges of the U-shaped metal plate are pinched in to reduce the cross-section of the hollow tine formed thereby to facilitate the release of a plug cut from the turf during penetration of the tine into the turf. The handle assembly pivotably mounted to a lawn aeration machine platform at one end has a wheel rotatably mounted thereto, and the handle is rotated and adjustably locked in a first position in which the chassis end is raised to in turn raise a tine support and drive mechanism above the turf to prevent tine penetration of the turf, and a second locking position with the tine support and drive mechanism is lowered to effect penetration of a plurality of tines in sequence into the underlying turf and to effect plug removal therefrom after tine retraction.

대표청구항 ▼

In a lightweight, compact self-propelled lawn aeration machine including: a generally horizontal chassis platform, an internal combustion engine mounted on said platform, at least one tine support and drive mechanism mounted to said platform, means operatively coupling said at least one mechanism to

In a lightweight, compact self-propelled lawn aeration machine including: a generally horizontal chassis platform, an internal combustion engine mounted on said platform, at least one tine support and drive mechanism mounted to said platform, means operatively coupling said at least one mechanism to said engine, said at least one tine support and drive mechanism including a plurality of tines for cyclic movement downwardly of said platform to effect penetration of the underlying turf for aeration thereof and retraction therefrom, the improvement comprising: means for mounting at least one wheel to one end of said chassis platform for rotation of said at least one wheel about its axis below said platform and at a fixed axis of rotation position relative to said platform, a rigid steering handle assembly having one end portion pivotably mounted to said platform at a second end thereof opposite that of said at least one wheel and adjacent to said tine support and drive mechanism, at least one other wheel rotatably mounted for rotation about its axis on said rigid steering handle assembly, and means for adjustably locking said handle assembly alternatively in a first locking position in which the chassis second end is raised such that the at least one tine support and drive mechanism is raised above the turf such that cyclic movement of the tines is incapable of effecting penetration of the underlying turf, and in a second locking position where the tine support and drive mechanism is lowered to effect penetration of a plurality of tines into the underlying turf to a predetermined degree and plug removal therefrom.