Patent ID: 8640784
Filing Date: 2014-02-04
Classification: A01B

Abstract:
1. A turf aerator for penetrating and loosening soil adjacent the surface of the ground comprising a frame for mounting to a tractor and movable in a forward direction, a rectilinear non-circular drive shaft supported by said frame extending laterally of said forward direction and rotatable about its longitudinal axis, a plurality of rotary hoes mounted on said drive shaft and freely rotatable about said drive shaft, each of said rotary hoes including a bearing assembly surrounding said drive shaft, and a plurality of tines extending radially outwardly from said bearing assembly for penetrating the soil over which said drive shaft is moved by the frame and for rotating about said drive shaft in response to movement of said rotary hoes along the ground surface, drive means for rotating said drive shaft independently of the rotation of said rotary hoes about said drive shaft, the improvement therein of said bearing assemblies each comprising: a two row roller bearing including a central cylindrical opening surrounding said drive shaft, a bearing adapter including a bearing support sleeve defining an interior rectilinear surface rotatable in unison with said drive shaft and including an axis of rotation coincident with the axis of rotation of said drive shaft, said bearing support sleeve including a cylindrical exterior rectilinear surface in engagement with said central cylindrical opening of said bearing and having a longitudinal axis that is angled with respect to said axis of rotation of said bearing support sleeve and the axis of rotation of said drive shaft, said bearing support sleeve including a proximal end positioned at one side of said roller bearing and a distal end extending through and beyond the other side of said roller bearing, a radial protrusion extending from said proximal end of said bearing support sleeve for maintaining said proximal end of said bearing support sleeve at the roller bearing, and an adapter collar surrounding said drive shaft and engaging said distal end of said bearing support sleeve for maintaining said bearing support sleeve in said roller bearing, said bearing support sleeve and said adapter collar each including timing shapes that engage each other when said bearing support sleeve and said adapter collar are aligned in predetermined rotary positions on said drive shaft for aligning said adapter collar with said bearing support sleeve, so that when the drive shaft is rotated, the rotary hoes wobble and the tines of the rotary hoes move in the soil.