Patent ID: 6655467
Filing Date: 2003-12-02
Classification: A01B,E01H

Abstract:
A ground clearing machine comprising a ground engaging mobile frame adapted for forward movement along a determined path of travel on a ground surface for the clearing of the surface, a support frame, means mounting said support frame on said mobile frame for vertical adjustment relative to said mobile frame and the ground, means for moving said support frame to vertically adjusted positions relative to said mobile frame and releasably fixing said support frame in said adjusted positions, a power driven clearing implement for engaging, lifting, pulverizing and redistributing ground debris, said implement being mounted on said support frame for vertical adjustment therewith between a raised transport position and selected lower debris gathering positions, said clearing implement comprising a hollow drum positioned on said frame transversely of the path of travel, said drum having a semi-cylindrical inner wall, a pair of parallel side panels mounting said drum therebetween, aligned bearing means on said panels receiving and rotatable mounting said shaft, and means for vertically adjusting said bearing means and said shaft relative to said side panels, an elongate rotatable shaft extending through said drum coaxially with said wall, a plurality of spaced rigid blades mounted on and along the length of said shaft and at circumferentially spaced points thereabout, said blades having outer ends proximate said wall, said drum having a debris passing mouth extending axially therealong and opening downwardly forwardly along the path of travel substantially at the ground surface, said blades, upon rotation of said shaft, moving across said mouth and inducing a forward and upward flow of debris into and about said drum for pulverization of the debris as said machine moves along said path of travel.