Abstract:
An earth handling apparatus operable in a trailered manner behind an ATV includes a rolling framework containing a tiltable accumulating bowl having a pivotable front door. Winch devices operated by the electrical system of the ATV control the tilting of the framework, the bowl and the front door to enable the bowl to accumulate, transport and controllably discharge earth, sand, gravel, snow or other surface substrate.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention concerns apparatus for handling earth and related substrates such as gravel and snow by way of scraping, leveling and transporting operations, and more particularly relates to earth handling apparatus adapted for use in small or confined areas. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   Various types of large scale industrial earth handling machines are widely employed in operations such as highway and airfield construction, land clearing, and various digging, filling and grading procedures. The soil-contacting components of the apparatus are either incorporated into a wheeled vehicle or are trailered behind a towing vehicle. The very large size and considerable cost of such equipment causes ownership and operation to be affordable only by large corporations. 
   In earth moving operations on small farms, and applications involving bicycle trails, residential landscaping, forest trails, walking paths and golf courses, relatively small, highly maneuverable equipment is necessary, and its cost must be affordable for ownership by private parties or small municipalities. 
   All terrain vehicles (ATV) are widely employed for recreational and work purposes, and have been used to trailer carts in confined areas requiring high maneuverability. However, manipulative interaction between the ATV and a towed unit has been minimal. 
   It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a relatively inexpensive small earth handling apparatus which can be trailered behind an ATV and operated by controls associated with said ATV. 
   It is another object of this invention to provide in combination a small earth handling apparatus towable by an ATV, and control means installable onto said ATV for manipulating said apparatus. 
   These objects and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The above and other beneficial objects and advantages are accomplished in accordance with the present invention by an earth handling apparatus operated by an ATV, said apparatus comprising:
     a) a rolling framework comprised of elongated rigid front and rear frame members and paired side frame members, said four frame members being joined in a coplanar rectangular configuration defining an interior region and with portions of said side frame members extending as rearward extensions behind said rear frame member, and a trailer hitch bar extending forwardly from the center of said front frame member,   b) a wheel journaled to each rearward extension of said side frame members, and adapted to rotate in a vertical plane, thereby supporting said framework for rolling movement upon underlying terrain,   c) an accumulating bowl positioned within the interior region of said framework and bounded by floor, rear and paired side retaining surfaces and a front door pivotable between an upper, open state and lower, closed state, said floor surface having a forwardly directed cutting edge, said bowl being supported by said framework by way of pivot means interactive between said side retaining surfaces and corresponding side frame members to permit tilting movement of said bowl in a vertical path parallel to said side frame members,   d) tilting means comprised of a first electrically operated winch associated with said front frame member, a rigid boom attached to said front frame member and extending above said bowl, and a pulling cable interactive between said winch and rear retaining surface and guided by said boom to achieve said tilting movement of said bowl between a horizontally disposed state which permits earth to enter and be transported by said bowl, and an obliquely angled state which permits dumping of earth from said bowl,   e) a second electrically operated winch for moving said front door to its open state to permit earth to enter said bowl and to its closed state to secure the earth during transport, and   f) a third electrically operated winch interactive between said hitch bar and ATV to control the elevation of said bowl above said terrain.   

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawing: 
       FIG. 1  is a fragmentary top and front perspective view of an embodiment of the earth handling apparatus of the present invention, shown in its transport mode of operation. 
       FIG. 2  is a top view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  including a third winch. 
       FIG. 3  is a front view taken in the direction of the arrows upon the line  3 — 3  of  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 4  is a sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows upon the line  4 — 4  of  FIG. 1 , and showing the apparatus in its dumping mode of operation. 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view similar to  FIG. 1  including a third winch and showing a loading mode of operation. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1–5 , an embodiment of the earth moving apparatus of this invention is shown comprised of rolling framework  10  carrying an accumulating bowl  11  which can be tilted in a vertical path, and tilting means  12  interactive between framework  10  and bowl  11 . 
   Framework  10  is comprised of elongated rigid front and rear frame members  13  and  14 , respectively, and paired side frame members  15 . Said four frame members are shown to be straight and joined in a coplanar rectangular configuration defining an interior region  16 . Portions of side frame members  15  extend as rearward extensions  17  behind rear frame member  14 . A trailer hitch bar  18  extends forwardly from the center of front frame member  13 , and terminates in hitching socket  19 . 
   A wheel  20  is journaled to each rearward extension  17  and adapted to rotate in a vertical plane, thereby supporting the apparatus for rolling movement upon the underlying terrain  21  which may be earth, gravel, snow or ice. The wheels further serve to permit pivoting movement of the framework  10  in a vertical path about the center axles  22  of said wheels. The diameter of the wheels is a critical factor. In the exemplified embodiment, the wheels must having diameters between 14 and 18 inches in order that framework  10  be substantially horizontally disposed when the apparatus is attached to a towing ATV. Wheels of too small a diameter, may cause the rear portion of the framework to impinge upon a load of soil dumped by the apparatus. Wheels of small diameter also sink undesirably into muddy soil. 
   Bowl  11  is positioned within interior region  16  of said framework, and is bounded by floor and rear retaining surfaces  24  and  25 , respectively, paired side retaining surfaces  26 , and front door  27  attached by paired pivot means  42  to said side surfaces  26 . Floor surface  24  has a forwardly directed cutting edge  28 . The bowl  11  is supported by framework  10  by way of pivot paired pivot pins  29  outwardly directed from side retaining surfaces  26  and interactive with corresponding side frame members  15 . By virtue of said configuration and manner of interaction, the bowl is permitted tilting movement in a longitudinal vertical path parallel to said side frame members, as indicated by the curved arrow in  FIG. 4 . Lateral adjustment means may be employed to permit laterally angled adjustment of the position of the bowl, thereby enabling the apparatus to remove or deposit tapered layers of earth. 
   Tilting means  12  is comprised of a first electrically operated winch  31  and associated spool  35  secured upon rigid boom  32  mounted upon front frame member  13  which extends rearwardly and obliquely above the bowl, and a pulling cable  33  interactive between said spool and rear retaining surface  25 . The path of cable  33  is guided by guide means  34  positioned atop boom  32 . Said guide means may be a pulley wheel or stationary guide. When winch  31  is activated so as to wind a portion of cable  33  upon spool  35 , the bowl is tilted, as shown in  FIG. 4 . When winch  31  is deactivated, the weight of the bowl causes it to return to its horizontal position. 
   Front door  27  is opened and closed by the action of second winch  36  comprised of spool  45  driven by reversible motor  46 . A first cable  47  extends from spool  45  to lever peg  48  rearwardly directed from the top edge  49  of said front door. A second cable  50  extends from spool  45  to the lower edge  51  of front door  27 . By appropriate rotational movement of spool  45 , as shown by the arrowed line in  FIG. 4 , door  27  can be rotated about pivots  42  between its closed position shown in  FIG. 1  and its open position, shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     FIGS. 2 and 5  show the inclusion of a third electric winch mechanism  40  interactive between the rear of an ATV towing vehicle, and hitching socket  19 . Said third winch mechanism is adapted to controllably raise or lower hitch bar  18  with attendant pivoting movement of bowl  11 . The raising of said bowl is particularly useful in dumping operations, as shown in  FIG. 4 . Such action, in conjunction with forward movement of the apparatus, causes the cutting edge to serve as a scraper edge to provide a layer of dumped earth of calibrated thickness. When the bowl is lowered and front door  27  is opened, as shown in  FIG. 5 , cutting edge  28  engages the earth, causing the earth to enter bowl  11  with forward movement of the ATV. Operational controls for the three winches may be conveniently located upon or adjacent the steering handles of the ATV. Winch motors  31  and  36  are coupled by way of connectors  51  to the electrical system of the ATV. 
   While particular examples of the present invention have been shown and described, it is apparent that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention in its broadest aspects. The aim of the appended claims, therefore, is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.