Drive apparatus

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for displacement or advancement of implements (1-3), for example ball collectors or har­ vesters, lawnmowers etc., in which a forward beam (4) is provided with at least two spaced-apart pivotal wheels (11, 12) and with coupling means (5, 6, 7) for coupling of a number of implements (1-3), and the beam (4) is connected to a frame (15) which is pro­ vided with at least one steerable drive wheel (21) spaced at such a distance from the beam (4) that the number of implements (1-3) has room between the frame (4) and the steerable drive wheel (21).

Description: The present invention relates to an apparatus for displacement or advancement of implements, for example ball collectors (so-called ball harvesters), lawnmowers, etc. In many contexts, it is desirable to be able to displace or advance various types of implements and, at the same time, to be able to steer and turn the implements in small spaces and with small turning radii. However, prior art apparatuses for this purpose suffer from many drawbacks which limit their applicability. Such prior art apparatuses are disclosed in US-A-4819738 and US-A-3843838. US-A-3823838 shows a ball collector according to the preamble of claim 1, while US-A-4819738 essentially shows a large ground-working apparatus. The prior art apparatuses are often of extremely complicated design and construction, which entails high manufacturing costs and high running and maintenance costs. Moreover, because of their complicated nature, prior art apparatuses have proved to suffer from a certain degree of unreliability. A further express wish in this art is that the total vehicle, implying the apparatus for displacement or advancement in combination with the implement or implements, must be readily adaptable to the substrate or ground over which it is driven and, as it were, 'soak up' possible unevenness in the terrain without limiting the efficiency or terrain index of the implement or implements. The object forming the basis of the present invention is to obviate or at least reduce the drawbacks inherent in prior art apparatuses of the type contemplated herein and to satisfy the established desiderata. This object is attained according to the present invention in that the apparatus disclosed by way of introduction is characterised in accordance with the claims: The present invention realises a displacement or advancement apparatus of an extremely simple and uncomplicated design and construction which, moreover, will permit advancement or displacement of implements disposed thereon in a highly efficient and gentle manner. Since the advancement force and requisite pivotal force act in substantially the same direction, a very small turning radius will be achieved and, above all, relatively slight forces will act on the implements and the various parts of the apparatus. To a considerable extent, this feature makes possible the simple design and construction of the apparatus. Since the implement or implements may be placed between the forward support wheels and the rear drive wheel, the peripheral speed of the implement or implements will be greatly reduced in different turning radii, which is often of considerable advantage for the function of the implement or implements and gives improved operational results. The nature of the present invention and its aspects will be more readily understood from the following brief description of the accompanying Drawings, and discussion relating thereto. In the accompanying Drawings: Fig. 1 is a schematic side elevation of one embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the embodiment of Fig. 1. The embodiment of the present invention shown on the Drawings will be described in connection with employment of the apparatus for displacement or advancement of a number (or cluster) of golf ball harvesters 1, 2, 3 of per se conventional design. The harvesters 1, 2 and 3 are coupled to a beam 4 by means of a bolt 5 which extends through lugs 6 and 7 protruding from the beam 4, and a sleeve 8 which is fixedly welded on the forward portion of the harvesters 1, 2 and 3. The bolt 5 runs freely through the sleeve 8, whereby the harvesters 1-3 will be pivotal about the bolt 5. The harvesters 1 and 3 are pivotally secured to the beam 4 at the ends thereof, while the harvester 2 is secured centrally on the beam 4. A drawbar 9 is also disposed centrally on the beam 4 and may be utilised for other types of implements or for towing the apparatus shown on the Drawings. The beam 4 is supported from a substrate 10 by means of two spaced-apart pivotal wheels 11 and 12. The wheels 11 and 12 are advantageously of the castor or swivel type which are secured on mounting brackets or plates 13 and 14 projecting forwardly from the beam 4. The beam 4 is interconnected with a frame 15 by means of two bolts 16 and 17 extending in parallel with the frame 4, these bolts extending through lugs which are secured on the beam 4 and the leading ends of the frame 15. Thus, the beam 4 and the frame 15 are pivotal relative to one another about a horizontal axis. The frame 15 is provided with a forward cross strut 18 and a substantially centrally disposed carrier plate 19 extending from the cross strut 18 to the rear portion of the frame 15. The frame 15 includes a further cross strut 20 for rigidifying and stabilising the frame 15 and for carrying various details and fittings. If desired, the frame 15, the cross struts 18 and 20 and the carrier plate 19 may be wholly or partly covered by a chequered plate (not shown). A drive wheel 21 is pivotally or rotatably disposed at the rear portion of the frame 15. The drive wheel 21 is journalled in a substantially U-shaped bracket 22 whose bottom shank is provided with a shaft which pivotally extends through the plate 19 and, on the opposing side of the plate 19, carries a wheel 24. The shaft 23 is ideally journalled in the plate 19 in some suitable manner. The bracket 22 and the drive wheel 21 are thus pivotal in the frame 15 about a shaft, with the aid of the wheel. The wheel is included in a steering arrangement which, in the present embodiment, consists of a drive chain or drive belt which, via a guide wheel, extends to a wheel turnable by means of a steering wheel 27. Since the belt or chain is cross-laid between the wheels, the drive wheel 21 will be caused to turn in a direction opposite to the direction in which the steering wheel 27 is turned, whereby the beam 4 and the harvesters 1-3 will be turned in the same direction as the direction of turn of the steering wheel. Naturally, the steering arrangement need not, as in this case, be mechanical but could just as well be hydraulic or operative in any other manner as intimated in Figs. 1 and 2. Ideally, the drive wheel 21 is provided, in its hub, with a per se known hydraulic motor which, via hoses 29 and 30 and a three-way valve 35, is connected to a per se known hydraulic pump via a hydraulic tank 31. The hydraulic pump is driven by a suitable type of motor which, in the present embodiment, is illustrated in the form of an internal combustion engine 32. A seat 34 is further provided on the frame 15 and possibly also a cab intimated by broken lines on the Drawings. Furthermore, other protective plating and hoods may be provided as intimated by broken lines. A pedal 33 is further provided on the frame for switching the valve 35 between its neutral position, forward position and reverse position, and corresponding driving of the hydraulic motor in the drive wheel 21. In addition, a suitable brake device may be provided if desired, this being optionally hand-operated or foot-operated by a pedal. The apparatus and arrangements described in the foregoing are, naturally, not restricted to the displacement or advancement of the illustrated golf ball harvesters 1-3, but may of course be employed, without any major modifications, for advancement or displacement of, for instance, cylinder lawnmowers or the like. By lengthening the beam 4, this may be rendered capable of accepting five such harvesters or even more. In addition, the frame 15 may be superstructured by a cab 36. The present invention should not be considered as restricted to that described above and shown on the Drawings, many modifications being conceivable without departing from the subject-matter as disclosed in the appended claims.

Claims: An apparatus for displacement or advancement of a number of implements (1-3), e.g. ball collectors or harvesters, lawn mowers, etc, wherein a structure (4) is provided at a forward -relative to a forward operational direction- end of the apparatus, a frame (15) is extending freely over the number of implements (1-3), at least two pivotal wheels (11,12) are provided on said structure (4) spaced apart from each other, coupling means (5,6,7) are provided for coupling of said number of implements (1-3) to the structure (4), at least one drive wheel (21) is provided on the frame (15) at the rear portion thereof, and the structure (4) is connected to the frame (15) at a position so as to provide sufficient space between the frame (15), the structure (4) and the drive wheel (21) to accumulate said number of implements (1-3) between the pivotal wheels (11,12) and the drive wheel (21), characterised in that said structure is formed by a beam (4) supporting said forward end of the apparatus from a substrate (10) by said pivotal wheels (11, 12); and in that said at least one drive wheel (21) is steerable by being included in a steering arrangement for steering during operation in said forward operational direction. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the beam (4) is pivotally connected with the frame (15) such that the beam (4) and the frame (15) are pivotal in relation to one another about a horizontal axis (16, 17). The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the pivotal wheels (11, 12) on the beam (4) are freely rotary, such as castors or swivels. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the drive wheel (21) is journalled in a generally U-shaped bracket (22) which is pivotal in the frame (15). The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that the drive wheel (21) is connected to a hydraulic motor. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that the hydraulic motor is placed in the hub of the drive wheel (21). The apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1-3, characterised in that the drive wheel (21) is of considerably larger diameter than the pivotal wheels (11, 12) on the beam (4); and that the frame (15) slopes from the drive wheel (21) towards the beam (4). The apparatus as claimed in the preceding claims, characterised in that a seat (34) and the steering arrangement (24, 25, 26, 27, 28) are disposed on the frame (15). The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that the steering arrangement (24-28) is disposed, by turning of a steering wheel (27) in that direction in which the number of implements (1-3) is to be displaced or advanced, to realise a drive wheel response throw in the opposite direction.

Inventors: KNEZ J, KNEZ, J.
Applicants: KNEZ AB J, J KNEZ AB
Application year: 1990
Main classification: A01B51
IPC codes: A01B51