Patent ID: 8800677
Filing Date: 2014-08-12
Classification: A01B

Abstract:
1. An aerator hole spacing control with lockout, comprising: an aerator having a traction drive and at least three wheels, a neck extending therefrom with an upwardly and forwardly extending handle assembly including operator controls so that an operator may walk ahead of the aerator and steer the aerator by using the handle assembly to pivot one of the wheels about a vertical pivot axis; a coring head mounted on the rear of the aerator carrying a plurality of tine assemblies that reciprocate up and down by rotation of a crankshaft; each tine assembly having a plurality of coring tines that are driven into the ground and produce holes for the purpose of aerating the turf; an operator actuated speed control lever on the handle assembly; the operator actuated speed control placing the traction drive in a position between a minimum coring speed and a maximum coring speed to change the hole spacing while the aerator moves forward and the coring head is operating; an electrical sensor that senses the position of the speed control; and a controller electrically connected to the electrical sensor and to the coring head, the controller locking out operation of the coring head except if the electrical sensor is at a preset position.