Abstract:
A sod laying self propelled apparatus having a mobile frame mounted on front and rear wheels. The frame has front and rear sections that are articulated to allow the wheels to follow rough terrain. The frame front section has a U-shaped opening to allow receipt of a roll of sod therein without lifting the roll. The frame includes sod lifting arms with a two way hydraulic cylinder to raise the roll once in the roll is in the opening and in such a manner as to generally evenly distribute weight of the roll to each of the wheels. The front wheels are swingable between outside and inside positions relative to front frame arms to change the configuration thereof and include a locking mechanism to lock the configuration. The sod lifting arms are also engageable with a cross bar on a transport truck to allow the apparatus to be rotated relative to the sod raising arms and lifted from the ground for transport. A removable forklift is mountable on the frame for removing sod from a transport truck. Each of the wheels includes a hydraulic motor and the front wheel motors may be reversed depending on their configuration to allow all the wheels to drive in the same rotational direction.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a mechanized apparatus to assist a crew in laying cut sod in residential yards, commercial establishments, athletic fields and the like. 
     In new construction, grass surrounding the construction is normally destroyed by the construction or ground shaping associated with the construction. Even without construction, grass sometimes dies or is absent from an area for some reason. Because grass often takes a long time and a great amount of work to grow from seed and, further, because the area where seed is growing is often muddy and is subject to severe washing, it is often desirable to place sod grown elsewhere on such areas to provide immediate grass coverage, erosion and mud control and to substantially improve the appearance of the area. 
     Consequently, transfer of sod from a growing site or sod farm to a region needing sod, especially residential housing, has become commonplace. With ever increasing demand for such sod, it has become practical for sodding crews to try to improve the efficiency of sod laying. This is accomplished by mechanizing the procedure and by substantially increasing the size of the rolls of sod to reduce the number of individual rolls that must be handled. Therefore, the present invention is designed to assist in the laying of rolls of sod, especially large, heavy rolls that weigh 2000 pounds or more. 
     Sod is often laid on uncovered dirt, which easily turns to mud when it has rained recently. Such mud makes sod laying difficult or halts it completely because the laying apparatus sinks into the mud. Also in the past, such sod laying has often been accomplished by a forklift or tractor which lifts the roll either to the front or rear of the device. This produces a very uneven distributing of the weight such that the wheels of the associated end tend to be driven deeply into mud or soft dirt. Therefore, a mechanized apparatus is desirable that is mechanically driven, unrolls the sod at the location where the sod is needed and spreads the weight of the sod and apparatus somewhat evenly over the apparatus and over a large area to prevent miring in mud. 
     Furthermore, sod laying machines must be able to traverse uneven ground and yet maintain ground contact with the wheels to provide traction and reduce the likelihood of miring or producing deep tracks. The present invention provides for articulation of the frame to help insure that all of the wheels remain in contact with uneven ground. 
     It is also desirable that the sod laying apparatus be able to be driven to the sod and that the sod be quickly loaded and easily raised by the apparatus. In order to accomplish this, the front wheels must be spaceable at least enough for sod rolls to pass through, since the rolls are too heavy to easily lift to the center of the apparatus. Unfortunately, when the wheels are so spaced, the apparatus will not pass through many gates and certain other obstructions. Consequently, it is desirable that the wheels be swingable between loading and gate traversing positions. Further, it is desirable that a driver be able to control such swinging from the driver&#39;s seat. 
     Another problem associated with a sod laying apparatus of this type is getting the apparatus to the worksite. The present invention is designed to provide for simple and quick securement of the apparatus to the rear of a transport truck using hydraulic sod roll lift arms without need for additional equipment or parts. Further, it is desirable that the sod layer have the ability to also unload sod from the truck to reduce the need for a separate forklift. The ability to unload is provided by a forklift attachment for the apparatus that can be easily attached and disconnected and which can be operated by a driver by simple swinging of the driver&#39;s chair. To reduce the weight of the apparatus during sod laying, it is desirable for the forklift attachment to be easily detached. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A sod laying apparatus is provided for raising, transporting and laying sod rolls of different sizes, especially large rolls weighing a ton or more. The sod laying apparatus includes an open ended frame that allows the apparatus to drive to and surround a roll of sod, such that the roll is generally between the wheels of the apparatus. 
     The apparatus includes a frame that has front and rear sections which pivot relative to each other. In particular, the front section includes front wheels and the rear section includes rear wheels with the two sections being pivotal about a front to rear axis to allow all four of the wheels to remain in engagement with the ground when traversing rough terrain. 
     The frame front section includes a pair of elongate arms which are positioned on opposite sides, and each of the arms has one of the front wheels near a distal end thereof. The front wheels are mounted on a vertical pivot that allows them to pivot relative to arms from a sod loading position wherein the wheels are outside the arms to a gate clearing position wherein the wheels are located between the arms. A hydraulic locking system allows an operator to secure the wheels in either configuration from a drivers seat. 
     The apparatus also includes sod lifting arms pivotally mounted at one end to the frame and being controlled by a hydraulic cylinder. The sod lifting arms raise and elevate the rolls of sod during laying and also are sized and shaped to join with a bar on a transport truck to raise the apparatus off the ground during transport. 
     An easily attached and detached forklift is selectively used to remove sod rolls from a transport truck. 
     The apparatus includes a gasoline motor that operates a hydraulic system. The hydraulic system includes units to drive the front and rear wheels, and cylinder to operate the front wheel locks, the position of the forklift, steering, the tilt of the forklift, and telescoping of the frame arms which can all be controlled from the drivers seat. The hydraulic system also allows for reverse rotation of the front wheels when moving between the two configurations thereof. 
     OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, the objects of the present invention are to provide a sod laying apparatus that easily loads sod into the apparatus and traverse ground while laying such sod; to provide such an apparatus that allows an operator to control most of the operation of the apparatus from a driver&#39;s seat; to provide such an apparatus having an articulated frame that allows the apparatus to effectively traverse uneven ground; to provide such an apparatus wherein weight of both sod and apparatus are distributed over a large area and that has wide tires to improve traction in mud and reduces rutting; to provide such an apparatus having front wheels that can be manipulated between a wide body configuration to load sod and a comparatively narrow gate traversing configuration to allow the apparatus to pass through narrow gates and the like; to provide such an apparatus that is adapted to be mounted on a transport truck by operation of sod lifting arms; to provide such an apparatus that may be cooperatively joined to a forklift mechanism to allow offloading of sod from a transport truck; to provide such an apparatus including a telescoping frame to operably allow the frame to be shortened for transport; and to provide such an apparatus that is comparatively easy to operate and especially well adapted for the intended usage thereof. 
     Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. 
     The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sod laying apparatus in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the sod laying apparatus. 
     FIG. 3 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the sod laying apparatus, showing articulation of a frame of the apparatus on uneven ground. 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged and fragmentary cross-sectional view of the sod laying apparatus, taken along line  4 — 4  of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged and fragmentary top plan view of the frame and a front wheel assembly of the sod laying apparatus showing a front wheel in a sod loading configuration and a locking mechanism in a locked position. 
     FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 except with the locking mechanism in an unlocked position. 
     FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 except with the wheel shown in a gate traversing configuration. 
     FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the sod laying apparatus in conjunction with a transport truck with the apparatus in an unloaded configuration. 
     FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the sod laying apparatus and truck with the apparatus in a transport configuration. 
     FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the sod laying apparatus showing a forklift attachment mounted on the apparatus. 
     FIG. 11 is a simplified schematic view of a motor and hydraulic system of the sod laying apparatus. 
     FIG. 12 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a rear wheel control for the sod laying apparatus, taken from the circle  12  of FIG.  2 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. 
     The reference numeral  1  generally represents a sod laying apparatus in accordance with the present invention. 
     The apparatus  1  includes a frame  10 , front wheels  11  and  12 , rear wheels  13  (FIG. 3) and  14 , a motor and hydraulic system  15 , a driver&#39;s seat  16  and a pair of hydraulic operated sod lifting arms  17  and  18 . A forklift apparatus  20  (FIG. 10) is removably securable to the rear of the apparatus  1 . The apparatus  1  is conveyed by a truck  21  (FIGS. 8 and 9) to a site of operation. 
     The frame  10  is articulated and includes a rectangular rear portion  25  pivotally joined to a rectangular front portion  26 . A pair of left and right (as seen from the drivers seat position in FIG. 1) elongate arms  27  and  28  are attached to and extend forward from front portion  26  to form a generally forwardly open U-shaped structure in a generally horizontal frame. 
     The frame rear portion  25  and front portion  26  are abutting and joined by a pivot  30  (as seen in FIG.  4 ). The pivot  30  includes an inner pivot shaft  31  slideably mounted in a sleeve  32 . The shaft  31  is held in the sleeve  32  by an end cap  33 . The shaft  31  is welded to the frame rear portion  25 , and the sleeve  32  is welded to the frame front portion  26 . The pivot  30  allows the frame portions  25  and  26  to articulate about a roll axis A that extends from front to rear of the apparatus  1  along the center thereof, such that the frame portion  25  and  26  can pivot relative to each other, as seen in FIG. 3, to allow all four wheels  11 ,  12 ,  13  and  14  to remain in engagement with the ground when on uneven terrain. 
     Each front wheel  11  and  12  is mounted on a vertically aligned spindle  39  pivotally received in a respective sleeve  40 . Each of the sleeves  40  are welded to a front end of respective frame arms  27  and  28 . 
     Each front wheel  11  and  12  also includes a locking assembly  44  (FIGS. 5-7) to secure the wheels  11  and  12  in a selected configuration. Each locking assembly  44  includes a bidirectional acting hydraulic cylinder  46  secured to a respective arm  27  or  28  and having a shaft  47 , and a pin  48  pivotally connected to the shaft  47  and a guide  49  secured to a respective arm  27  or  28 . The pins  48  are aligned with bores  51  in the sleeves  40  and are selectively alignable from opposite sides with bores  52  in the spindles  39 . In particular, each pin  48  is positioned in respective bores  51  and  52  to lock the wheels  11  and  12  in either of the configurations thereof, as seen in solid lines in FIGS. 5 and 7. FIG. 5 shows the pin  48  in the bores  51  and  52 . FIG. 6 shows the pin  48  withdrawn from the bores  51  and  52 , so as to allow the wheel  11  to rotate. The locked and unlocked configurations of each pin  48  are positioned by the cylinder  46 . A stop  53  limits and positions the wheels  11  and  12  as the wheels  11  and  12  swing inwardly, such as is shown in FIG.  7 . 
     The left and right elongate arms  27  and  28  telescope in order to decrease length for transport, as described below, or to increase length for sod laying. The arms  27  and  28  each include a forward section  35  (FIG. 2) that is slideably received in the remainder of each arm  27  and  28 . The relative position of the sections  35  and, consequently, the length of the arms  27  and  28  is controlled by hydraulic cylinders  36 . 
     The front wheels  11  and  12  are position adjustable, see FIG. 5,  6  and  7  relative to the arms  27  and  28 . In particular, each of the front wheels  11  and  12  is pivotal between a narrowed or gate traversing configuration (solid lines in FIG. 7) and a widened or sod roll engaging configuration (FIGS. 1 and 6) that allows for the distribution of weight of the apparatus  1  over the greatest ground area. In the narrowed configuration the wheels  11  and  12  are located between the arms  27  and  28 , whereas in the sod roll engaging position, the wheels  11  and  12  are laterally positioned outside the arms  27  and  28 . 
     Each of the wheels  11  and  12  is attached to a respective arm  27  and  28  by the vertically aligned pivot shaft or spindle  39  received in a respective sleeve  40  welded to a respective arm  27  and  28 . Associated with each wheel  11  and  12  is a hydraulic drive motor  42  that pivots with a respective wheel  11  or  12  and operably rotates or drives the wheels  11  and  12  under control of an operator. Such hydraulic drives are commonly used on zero turning radius mowers and similar devices familiar to those who have skill in the art. 
     The rear wheels  13  and  14  are pivotally mounted on the frame rear portion  26  for steering purposes, whereas the front wheels  11  and  12  are normally locked in position except when the changing configuration. The rear wheels  13  and  14  are pivotal under control of a steering wheel  55 . In particular, each of the rear wheels  13  and  14  has a vertical axle, shaft or spindle  57  received in a bearing sleeve  58  with the sleeve  58  being welded to the frame rear portion  26  (see FIG.  12 ). The position and controllability of the rear wheels  13  and  14  allow the apparatus  1  to turn upon a relatively small radius to allow good overall control of direction of movement of the apparatus  1  by an operator. 
     A cuff  59  is fixed to and rotates with the spindle  57  associated with wheel  14 . The cuff  59  is attached to a perpendicularly extending crank arm  60 . The crank  60  is in turn attached to a hydraulic cylinder  63 , that is secured at one end to the frame rear portion  26 . The cylinder  63  is hydraulically connected to and operated by the steering wheel  55  to allow an operator to turn and control the direction of the rear wheels  13  and  14 . A tie rod  66  (FIG. 3) joins the rear wheels  13  and  14  and assures that both are aligned. Each of the rear wheels  13  and  14  also include a hydraulic drive motor  65 . 
     The motor and hydraulic system  15  is shown schematically in FIG.  11 . The system includes a fuel powered internal combustion motor  70  mounted on the frame  10 . The motor  70  drives a hydraulic system  71  that discharges hydraulic fuel under pressure into a supply conduit  73  and hydraulic fluid is returned to the system  15  by return conduit  74 . The hydraulic system  15  is of a conventional type including a hydraulic fluid pump and a reservoir  75  (FIG.  1 ). 
     The hydraulic system  71  supplies hydraulic fluid to a number of different systems within the apparatus  1 , including the front wheel locking cylinders  46 , the arm telescoping cylinders  36 , the rear wheel drives  65 , the front wheel drives  42 , sod roll arm cylinders  77  (FIG.  2 ), a fork lift control cylinder  78  (FIG.  10 ), the steering control cylinder  63  and a fork lift tilt cylinder  79 . 
     Forward and reverse acting valves  81  and  82  control flow to and rotational direction of the front wheel locking cylinder  46 , and a similar set of valves  83  and  84  control flow to and direction of the telescoping cylinders  36 . Valves  85  and  86  control rotational direction and speed of the rear wheel drives  65  and front wheel drives  42 , while cross over valves  87  and  88  allow reversing control and speed of the front wheel drives  42 . The valves  85  and  86  are part of a hand controller associated with the hydraulic pump and allow an operator to simultaneously and directly control direction and speed of all four wheels  11 ,  12 ,  13  and  14 . Up and down valves  89  and  90  raise and lower the position of the distal ends of sod roll arms  17  and  18  through operation of the sod roll arm cylinder  77 . 
     Valves  91  and  92  raise and lower the position of the fork lift fork  111  (FIG. 10) through the forklift control cylinder  78 . Valves  93  and  94  control the operation of the steering control cylinder which are in turn controlled by position of the steering wheel  55 . And valves  95  and  96  control the position of the fork lift tilt cylinder  79  which controls the tilt of the fork  111 . All of the valves  81  through  96  are within the operator control and steering system  98  generally identified by the dashed box in FIG.  11  and generally positioned in and around the driver&#39;s seat  16  to allow easy access thereto by an operator during operation of the apparatus  1 . 
     The sod roll lifting arms  17  and  18  are best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 and have two major functions. The first function of the arms  17  and  18  is to raise a roll of sod  100  for transport to the site of laying and then support the roll  100  as the roll  100  is unrolled and spread on the ground. The second function of the arms  17  and  18  is to lift the apparatus  1  off the ground so as to be supported by a transport truck  21 , as seen in FIG.  9 . 
     The arms  17  and  18  are elongate and each is pivotally joined at one end to the frame  10 . An opposite end of each arm supports a sod bar attachment  102  with a shield. The arms  17  and  18  are joined near the frame  10  by a cross bar  103 . The sod roll control cylinders  77  are secured at one end to the frame  10  and at an opposite end to the arms  17  and  18 . The sod roll control cylinder  77  pivots the arms  17  and  18  through an arc and about the connection thereof to the frame  10  so as to selectively raise or lower the distal ends of the arms  17  and  18 . 
     Positioned in and extending between the bar attachment  102  is a sod roll support bar  104 . The bar  104  is received through a larger tube (not shown) upon which the roll  100  is rolled. 
     The fork lift apparatus  20  is shown in FIG.  10  and is easily removable. The purpose of the fork lift apparatus  20  is to remove sod rolls from the transport truck  21 , and the forklift apparatus is removed thereafter to reduce the overall weight of the apparatus  1  during sod laying. The fork lift apparatus  20  is of conventional type having a generally vertically aligned frame  110  upon which is supported a fork  111  that is tracked to move up and down the frame  110 . The vertical position of the fork  111  is controlled by the fork lift control cylinder  78 . The fork lift frame  110  includes an open channel rear mount  112  that is pivotally received over a rear bar  113  secured to the rear of the frame  10  to hold the forklift apparatus  20  and allow same to rotate relative to the frame  10 . Also pivotally attached to the rear of the frame  10  is a fork lift brace  116 . The brace  116  extends downwardly from the frame  10  and is connected to the fork lift tilt cylinder  79  that in turn controls the amount of tilt of the brace  116  which then controls the tilt of the fork lift apparatus  20  as the apparatus  20  pivots relative to the frame  10  about the rear bar  113 . 
     The frame  10  also includes a footrest  117  secured to the frame front portion  25  behind where a sod roll  100  is received. The driver seat  16  is mounted on a pivot  118  that allows the seat  16  and part of the associated control system  98  to swing 180° so the operator can visually watch operation of the forklift apparatus  20 . Also mounted on the frame  10  is a gas tank  119  and battery  115  to support the motor  70 . 
     In use, the apparatus  1  is normally operated by an operator from the seat  16 . The apparatus  1  is driven with the front wheels  11  and  12  in the sod roll engaging position up to a roll of sod  100  such that the roll  100  passes between the frame arms  27  and  28 . The sod bar  104  is placed through the roll  100  and the sod roll arms  17  and  18  are positioned to receive the bar  104  in the distally positioned bar attachments  102 . The cylinder  77  is then activated to swing the arms  17  and  18  to raise the roll  100 . 
     The roll  100  is transported to the location where sod is to be laid and the operator leans forward to remove pins (not shown) from the sod roll  100  to allow it to unroll and to initially place the end of the roll  100 . Therefore, the operator normally moves forward although sod can be laid in either direction until the sod roll  100  is completely unrolled. Thereafter, the process is repeated. 
     If during use the apparatus  1  must traverse a tight passage, such as a gate, the front wheels  11  and  12  are swung inwardly, as seen in FIG. 7, by unlocking the locking assemblies  44 , swinging the wheels  11  by simply moving forward and then relocking the locking assemblies  44 . The procedure is reversed to swing the wheels  11  and  12  outwardly. 
     To use the forklift apparatus  20 , the operator places the forklift rear mount  112  over the bar  113  and connects the cylinder  78  to the hydraulic system  15 . The fork raises and lowers under control of the cylinder  78  and tilts under control of the cylinder  79 . 
     To transport the apparatus  1 , the arms  27  and  28  are normally shortened by operation of the cylinders  36 , and the apparatus is positioned under the rear of the bed of the transport truck  21 . The truck  21  includes a rear engagement bar  120  and a stop  121 . The bar  120  depends from and extends across the rear of the truck  21 . The bar  120  is sized, shaped and positioned to receive distal ends of the sod lifting arms  17  and  18  when in a raised position thereof. The distal ends of the arms  17  and  18  are then lowered by operation of the cylinder  77  to raise the apparatus  1  from the ground (see FIG.  9 ). The stop  121  engages the front of the apparatus arms  27  and  28  to position the apparatus  1  in a transport position thereof. To use the apparatus  1 , this procedure is reversed. 
     It is noted that the various hydraulic cylinders used in operation of the described apparatus are dual acting motors, that is the cylinders are drivable in both directions and could be equivalently replaced by other devices providing an equivalent function such as an electric motor. 
     It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangement of parts described and shown.