Abstract:
A gas tiller including a frame defining a first pivot axis and a second pivot axis spaced a distance from the first pivot axis, a motor coupled to the frame, a set of rotary tines coupled to the frame and operatively coupled to the motor, a swing arm pivotably coupled to the frame and rotatable about the first pivot axis between a first and second arm positions corresponding to travel and tilling configurations, respectively, of the tiller, the swing arm including one or more wheels coupled thereto, and a drag stake pivotably coupled to the frame and rotatable about the second pivot axis between first and second stake positions. Movement of the swing arm between the arm positions moves the drag stake between the stake positions.

Description:
FIELD 
     The present invention relates to gas tillers and, more particularly, to a gas tiller with transportation and tilling configurations. 
     SUMMARY 
     Rotary tillers can be difficult to transport to and from a work site because the guide wheels and tines are set up to engage the soil at depth during normal operation. As such, in order to make sure that the tines do not inadvertently engage the ground during transportation, the user generally has to hold the handles of the tiller in an awkward position (e.g., very close to the ground or very high in the air) to lift the tines. 
     In one independent embodiment, a gas tiller may generally include a frame, the frame defining a first pivot axis and a second pivot axis spaced a distance from the first pivot axis. The gas tiller also includes a motor coupled to the frame, a set of rotary tines coupled to the frame and operatively coupled to the motor, a swing arm pivotably coupled to the frame and rotatable about the first pivot axis between a transport position and a tilling position, the swing arm including one or more wheels coupled thereto, and a drag stake pivotably coupled to the frame and rotatable about the second pivot axis between a transport position and a tilling position. Where movement of the swing arm between the transport position and the tilling position moves the drag stake between a transport position and a tiling position. 
     In another independent embodiment, a gas tiller may generally include a frame, a motor coupled to the frame, a set of rotary tines coupled to the frame and driven by the motor, a swing arm pivotable with respect to the frame over a first angle between a transport position and a tilling position, the swing arm having one or more wheels coupled thereto, and a drag stake pivotably coupled to the frame and rotatable over a second angle between a transport position and a tilling position. Where the first angle is different from the second angle, and where pivoting the swing arm between the transport position and the tilling position pivots the drag stake between the transport position and the tilling position. 
     In yet another independent embodiment, a gas tiller may generally include a frame, a motor coupled to the frame, a set of rotary tines coupled to the frame and driven by the motor, a swing arm pivotably coupled to the frame and moveable between a transport position and a tilling position, the swing arm having one or more wheels coupled thereto and defining a slot, and a drag stake pivotably coupled to the frame and disposed within the slot such that rotation of the swing arm between the transport position and the tilling position rotates the drag stake between a transport position and a tilling position. 
     In a further independent embodiment, a gas tiller may generally include a frame, a motor coupled to the frame, a set of rotary tines coupled to the frame and driven by the motor, a swing arm pivotably coupled to the frame and moveable between a transport position and a tilling position, the swing arm having one or more wheels coupled thereto, and a drag stake defining a plurality of pivot axes along its length, the drag stake being pivotably coupled to the frame at one of the plurality of pivot axes whereby it may be pivoted between a transport position and a tilling position. Where moving the swing arm between the transport position and the tilling position pivots the drag stake between the transport position and the tilling position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a side view of a rotary tiller in a travel configuration. 
         FIG. 1B  is a side view of the rotary tiller shown in  FIG. 1A  in a tilling configuration. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the frame of the tiller in the travel configuration as shown in  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of the frame of the tiller in the travel configuration as shown in  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the frame of the tiller in the tilling configuration as shown in  FIG. 1B . 
         FIG. 5  is a rear perspective view of the frame of the tiller in the tilling configuration as shown in  FIG. 1B . 
     
    
    
     Before any independent embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other independent embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1-5  illustrate a rotary tiller  10  used in gardening, farming, etc., to till or otherwise work the soil. In the illustrated construction, the tiller  10  includes a frame  14 , a motor  18  coupled to the frame  14 , and a set of tines or blades  22  rotatably mounted on the frame  14  and driven by the motor  18 . In the illustrated construction, a swing arm  30  is pivotally connected to the frame  14 , and wheels  32  support the tiller  10  for movement over ground during transport of the tiller  10 . A drag stake  34  is engageable with the ground during tilling, and, during tilling operations, the motor  18  rotates the tines  22  causing the soil to be pulverized and cultivated, for example, in anticipation of planting crops, flowers, etc. 
     In the illustrated construction, the tiller  10  is adjustable between a travel configuration (see  FIG. 1A ), in which the wheels  32  are in supporting engagement with the ground and the tines  22  are spaced a distance from the soil (when the handles  24  are held at a normal operating height), and a tilling configuration (see  FIG. 1B ), in which the wheels  32  are not in supporting engagement with the ground and the tines  22  are positioned to engage the soil (again, when the handles  24  are held at a normal operating height). Also, in the travel configuration, the drag stake  34  is positioned out of engagement with the ground, and, in the tilling configuration, the drag stake  34  engages the ground. The two modes allow the user to easily transport the tiller  10  between work sites without sacrificing performance while tilling. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2-5 , the illustrated frame  14  includes a substantially pan shaped body  36  providing a mounting location for the motor  18 . The body  36  also includes a protrusion  38  extending downwardly proximate the front end  42  to provide a mounting location for the tines  22 . In the illustrated construction, the protrusion  38  is hollow, and a driveshaft and/or gear set extends therethrough to transmit torque between the motor  18  and the tines  22 . The protrusion  38  may also be sealed to contain oil or other lubricants. 
     In other constructions (not shown), the frame  14  may include another mounting location for the motor  18  (e.g., on the vertically-extending arm members). Also, in still other constructions, the motor  18  may transmit torque to the tines  22  by any one of a chain drive, a belt system, etc. (not shown). 
     The body  36  also includes a first mounting location  46  opposite the protrusion  38  and defining a recess (not shown). The recess defines a first axis  54  and is sized to receive at least a portion of an axle  58 . The body  36  also includes a second mounting location  62  opposite the protrusion  38  outwardly beyond the mounting location  46 . The second mounting location  62  includes a pair of plates  66 , each of which define an aperture  70  co-axial with a second axis  74 . The second axis  74  is generally parallel to and spaced a distance from the first axis  54 . In the illustrated construction, the plates  66  are spaced a distance from one another substantially corresponding to the width of the drag stake  34 . When assembled, the drag stake  34  is positioned between and pivotably coupled to the two plates  66  by a pin  78 . 
     The swing arm  30  is substantially rectangular in shape, having a first pair of co-axial mounting lugs  82  at one end and a second pair of co-axial mounting lugs  86  at the opposite end. The first pair of mounting lugs  82  are axially aligned with and pivotably coupled to the first mounting location  46  by the axle  58  (see  FIGS. 3 and 5 ). Once assembled, the swing arm  30  may pivot about the first axis  54  through an arm angle {acute over (α)} 1  between a first arm position, generally corresponding to the travel or transportation configuration (see  FIG. 2 ), and a second arm position, generally corresponding to the tilling configuration (see  FIG. 4 ). 
     A set of (e.g., two) wheels  32  are rotatably mounted on the second pair of mounting lugs  86  by a second axle (not shown). As such, when the swing arm  30  rotates between the arm positions corresponding to the travel and tilling configurations, the position of the wheels  32  with respect to the frame  14  and the tines  22  changes. More specifically, when the swing arm  30  is in the first arm position (corresponding to the travel configuration (see FIG.  1 A)), the wheels  32  are positioned in supporting engagement with the ground (in a forward and lowered position), which positions the tines  22  a distance from the soil or ground when the handles  24  are held in the same standard operating position described above. This allows the user to move the tiller  10  to and from the work site without the tines  22  contacting the ground. In contrast, when the swing arm  30  is in the second arm position (corresponding to the tilling configuration (see FIG.  1 B)), the wheels  94  are positioned in a rearward and up position, thus allowing the tines  22  to engage the soil when the handles  24  of the tiller  10  are held in the standard operating position. 
     Best illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 5 , the swing arm  30  also includes a stop  98  configured to engage the body  36  when the swing arm  30  is in the first and second arm positions. More specifically, the first portion  102  of the stop  98  contacts the body  36  when the swing arm  30  is in the first arm position (see  FIG. 2 ), and the second portion  106  of the stop  98  contacts the body  36  when the swing arm  30  is in the second arm position (see  FIG. 4 ). As such, the stop  98  is configured to limit the overall travel of the swing arm  30 . In the illustrated construction, the stop  98  also bears at least a portion of the weight of the tiller  10  during operation. 
     The swing arm  30  also defines a slot  110 , and the drag stake  34  is arranged to extend therethrough. The slot  110  acts as a guide for the drag stake  34 , pivoting the drag stake  34  about the second axis  74  in response to rotation of the swing arm  30  about the first axis  54 . The drag stake  34  slides in the slide  110  during pivoting movement of the swing arm  30 . 
     Illustrated in  FIGS. 2-5 , the drag stake  34  is substantially elongated and includes a tip  114  configured to engage the ground. The drag stake  34  defines a plurality of apertures  118  each spaced at varying distances from the tip  114 . Each aperture  118  is alignable with the pin  78  at the second axis  74  to selectively set the depth of the drag stake  34 . The drag stake  34  is coupled to the second mounting point  62  by the pin  78  engaging a selected one of the apertures  118 . The drag stake  34  then pivots about the pin  78  in response to movement of the swing arm  30 . In the illustrated construction, the drag stake  34  is pivotable over a stake angle {acute over (α)} 2 , different than the arm angle {acute over (α)} 1 , between a first stake position (corresponding to the travel configuration (see FIG.  2 )), in which the drag stake  34  out of engagement with the ground, and a second stake position (corresponding to the tilling configuration (see FIG.  4 )), in which the drag stake  34  engages the ground. 
     To transport the rotary tiller  10  between work sites, the tiller  10  is placed in the travel configuration. To do so, the user pivots the swing arm  30  about the first axis  54  until the first portion  102  of the stop  98  contacts the body  36 , and the swing arm  30  is in the first arm position (see  FIGS. 1A ,  2  and  3 ). In this position, the wheels  32  are placed in supporting engagement with the ground (see  FIG. 1A ). As the swing arm  30  pivots, a side wall of the slot  110  contacts the drag stake  34 , causing the drag stake  34  to also pivot (about the second axis  74 ) into the first stake position and out of engagement with the ground. The user may then roll the tiller  10  over ground without the tines  22  or the drag stake  34  contacting the ground (see  FIG. 1A ). 
     To place the tiller  10  into the tilling configuration, the user pivots the swing arm  30  about the first axis  54  until the second portion  106  of the stop  98  contacts the body  36 , and the swing arm  30  is in the second arm position (see  FIGS. 1B ,  4  and  5 ). As the swing arm  30  pivots about the first axis  54 , an opposite side wall of the slot  110  engages the drag stake  34 , causing the drag stake  34  to also pivot (about the second axis  74 ) into the second stake position to engage the ground. The wheels  32  are positioned such that the drag stake  34  and the tines  22  can engage the ground and work the soil (see  FIG. 1B ). 
     If the user wants to adjust the depth to which the drag stake  34  engages the soil, the user removes the pin  78  from the apertures  70  of the second mounting location  62  and from the selected aperture  118  in the drag stake  34 . The user then re-positions the drag stake  34  to align the desired aperture  118  with the apertures  70  of the plates  66  along the second axis  74 . The user then re-inserts the pin  78  to set the depth of the drag stake  34 . The drag stake  34  will now pivot at the selected aperture  118  about the second axis  74 . 
     One or more independent features and advantages of the invention may be set forth in the following claims.