Abstract:
Disclosed is mobile mechanical xeriscape gravel cleaner which is delivered to the site of the xeriscaping to be cleaned by a wheel/axle assembly, leveled with adjustable jack stands mounted on the metal frame. Xeriscape material to be cleaned is collected and deposited in a hopper with slide plate to control flow of material into the receiving chamber. Using an external power system, the auger/screener device rotation begins and picks up and carries forward the material, passing through the transition plate to the auger/cleaner chamber where foreign material passes through the screen. The cleaned material proceeds to the discharge chamber where it is collected and returned to the original xeriscaped site. The mobile mechanical xeriscape gravel cleaner can clean xeriscape gravel at a lower cost, with improved quality and a higher rate of speed than was previously possible, with significantly reduced burden to the ecosystem.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a Continuation in Part of application Ser. No. 13/757,751 filed Feb. 2, 2013 of Thomas R. Hill for a MOBILE MECHANICAL XERISCAPE GRAVEL CLEANER. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED R&amp;D 
       [0002]    None. 
       NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    None. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0005]    The present invention relates to the cleaning of xeriscape gravel utilizing a mobile mechanical cleaner to allow for an on-site process. It is a rotating auger screen assembly powered by a variable speed external power driven motor or engine, hydraulic and/or gear, chain and sprocket system. If hydraulics are utilized the motor or engine will additionally provide activation of a hydraulic jack leveling system, a hydraulic movable hopper to allow for lower loading positions and hydraulic operation of the wheel/axle assembly to manage mobility of the entire cleaner device from the control panel. Xeriscape gravel is collected from the site and loaded into a hopper which feeds it into a receiving chamber where it is picked up by the rotating auger screen assembly and feed through the cleaning chamber where dirt and debris fall through the screen for disposal and on to the discharge chamber where the cleaned xeriscape gravel is collected and returned to the site. The entire device can be sized to facilitate accessing most areas of residential and commercial properties without difficulty and screen can be easily changed to accommodate cleaning of varied sizes of xeriscape gravel by releasing the screen clamps. 
         [0006]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0007]    Previous efforts to clean xeriscape gravel has been labor intensive and marginally effective either using a handheld shaker screen box cleaning very small quantities or using a front end loader device and dumping the xeriscape onto a larger screen to allow some of the dirt and debris to filter through. Both systems have only partially cleaned the gravel in a single process. Currently, xeriscape gravel is not often commercially cleaned due to the time required, the quality of cleaning and the labor costs associated. Rather the gravel is collected and hauled to a landfill and the property owner buys new gravel to replace it at significant cost. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,506; Name of Patentee—Shakeri; Date of Patent—Oct. 8, 1991: A rock and gravel cleaner is disclosed. The rock and gravel cleaner includes a tank having a frame, a water heater connected to the tank, a motor containing an idler pulley arrangement and a fan belt, and a revolving cylinder having a reel at each end revolves via the energy transported from the motor to the reel by the fan belt so that the cylinder revolves on the frame. 
         [0009]    This device is intended to extract oil and other pollutants utilizing hot water spray into a hollow screened tube and collecting said extraction for recycling of the oil rather than for the purpose of cleaning the gravel or rock for recycling. This is not a mobile device and would not be appropriate for the cleaning of commercial or residential xeriscape gravel. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The mobile mechanical xeriscape gravel cleaner is a mobile machine which can be taken to a property with xeriscape gravel, clean and replace the existing gravel faster, cleaner and more economically than previously methods. Further, it is environmentally friendly in that uncleaned gravel is not going to a landfill and the cleaned xeriscape gravel reduces soil erosion and deters the growth of weeds on the property. Due to drought conditions, particularly in the southwestern states, many communities are requiring a percentage of all urban properties to be xeriscaped to reduce water consumption. It is a rotating auger screen assembly powered by a variable speed external power driven motor or engine, hydraulic and/or gear, chain and sprocket system. If hydraulics are utilized the motor or engine will additionally provide activation of a hydraulic jack leveling system, a hydraulic movable hopper to allow for lower loading positions and hydraulic operation of the wheel/axle assembly to manage mobility of the entire cleaner device from the control panel. Xeriscape gravel is collected from the site and loaded into a hopper which feeds it into a receiving chamber where it is picked up by the rotating auger screen assembly and fed through the cleaning chamber on to the discharge chamber where the cleaned xeriscape gravel is collected and returned to the site. The entire device can be sized to facilitate accessing most areas of residential and commercial properties without difficulty and screen can be easily changed to accommodate cleaning of varied sizes of xeriscape gravel by releasing the screen clamps. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1A  is the auger with end shafts, auger support bar plates, auger support bars, and screen support bands. 
           [0012]      FIG. 1B  is the screen support bar. 
           [0013]      FIG. 1C  is the screen support bands and screen. 
           [0014]      FIG. 1D  is the end view of the auger support plates to be applied to the end shaft at the end of the discharge chamber. 
           [0015]      FIG. 1E  is the end view of the auger flights notched to receive the auger support bars. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2A  is an isometric view of the welded metal frame to receive the auger assembly. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2B  is an isometric view of the drilled end plate to be mounted to the end of the discharge chamber and the front of the cylindrical material. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2C  is an isometric view of the transition plate with mounting tabs for cylindrical material and mounting angle support braces which will be mounted at the end of the receiving chamber and the front of the cleaning chamber. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3A  is a top view of the welded metal frame, auger assembly, lubricated bearings, adjustable roller wheel assembly, the receiving chamber, cleaning chamber and discharge chamber and the cylindrical material of the receiving chamber. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4A  is an enlarged end view of the adjustable roller wheel assembly detail. 
           [0021]      FIG. 4B  is an enlarged side view of the adjustable roller wheel assembly detail. 
           [0022]      FIG. 5A  is a top view of the slide gate hopper assembly without the hopper. 
           [0023]      FIG. 5B  is an end view of the slide gate hopper assembly including the hopper. 
           [0024]      FIG. 6A  is an end view of the first step in the slide gate hopper assembly. 
           [0025]      FIG. 6B  is a top view of the first step in the slide gate hopper assembly. 
           [0026]      FIG. 6C  is the end view of the second step in the slide gate hopper assembly. 
           [0027]      FIG. 6D  is the top view of the second step in the slide gate hopper assembly. 
           [0028]      FIG. 6E  is the end view of the third step in the slide gate hopper assembly. 
           [0029]      FIG. 6F  is the top view of the third step in the slide gate hopper assembly. 
           [0030]      FIG. 7A  is the side view of the welded metal frame including the auger assembly and cylindrical material, divided into receiving, cleaning and discharge chambers with location of the variable speed external power drive and chain and sprocket drive, control panel and hopper. 
           [0031]      FIG. 7B  is the cover plates to be fastened and hinged to the top of the welded metal frame and the engine mounting plate to be fastened to the welded metal frame. 
           [0032]      FIG. 7C  is the side panels to be applied to the lateral sides of the welded metal frame. 
           [0033]      FIG. 8A  is an end view of the adjustable independent support jack. 
           [0034]      FIG. 8B  is a side view of the adjustable independent axle with wheel and flotation tire. 
           [0035]      FIG. 8C  is a side view of the adjustable independent axle with wheel and flotation tire. 
           [0036]      FIG. 9A  is the side view of the application of a square receiver tubing to accept a common receiver hitch. 
           [0037]      FIG. 9B  is an end view of the square receiver tubing to accept a common receiver hitch. 
           [0038]      FIG. 10A  is a side view of the auger with end shafts auger support plates, auger support bars and screen support bands of the hydraulic design mobile mechanical gravel cleaner according to the present invention. 
           [0039]      FIG. 10B  is the screen support bar of the hydraulic design mobile mechanical gravel cleaner according to the present invention. 
           [0040]      FIG. 10C  is the rolled screen of the hydraulic design mobile mechanical gravel cleaner according to the present invention. 
           [0041]      FIG. 11A  is an isometric view of the welded metal frame to receive the auger assembly of the hydraulic design mobile mechanical gravel cleaner according to the present invention. 
           [0042]      FIG. 11B  is an isometric view of the drilled end plate to be mounted to the end of the discharge chamber of the hydraulic design mobile mechanical gravel cleaner according to the present invention. 
           [0043]      FIG. 11C  is an isometric view of the drilled end plate to be mounted to the end of the beginning of the receiving chamber of the hydraulic design mobile mechanical gravel cleaner according to the present invention. 
           [0044]      FIG. 12A  is a top view of the welded metal frame, auger assembly including the metal screws and shoulder washers attaching the screen, lubricated bearings, adjustable roller wheel assembly, the extended metal frame to accommodate the hydraulic reservoir and hydraulic motor pump assembly, the receiving chamber, cleaning chamber and discharge chamber of the hydraulic design mobile mechanical gravel cleaner according to the present invention. 
           [0045]      FIG. 13A  is a top view of the gravity flow shoot with the shaft guard and the extended auger shaft in the receiving chamber of the hydraulic design mobile mechanical gravel cleaner according to the present invention. 
           [0046]      FIG. 13B  is an end view of the transition plate from cleaning chamber side with the gravity flow shoot and shaft guard of the hydraulic design mobile mechanical gravel cleaner according to the present invention. 
           [0047]      FIG. 13C  is a side view of the transition plate and the gravity flow shoot and extended auger shaft in the receiving chamber of the hydraulic design mobile mechanical gravel cleaner according to the present invention. 
           [0048]      FIG. 13D  is an end view of the transition plate from the receiving chamber side of the hydraulic design mobile mechanical gravel cleaner according to the present invention. 
           [0049]      FIG. 13E  is a bottom view of the transition plate, the gravity flow shoot and extended auger shaft in the receiving chamber of the hydraulic design mobile mechanical gravel cleaner according to the present invention. 
           [0050]      FIG. 14A  is a side view of the extended welded metal frame including the auger assembly divided into receiving, cleaning and discharge chambers with the extended area to accommodate the hydraulic reservoir and hydraulic motor pump assembly, the hydraulically powered drag chain and hopper assembly and the control panel of the hydraulic design mobile mechanical gravel cleaner according to the present invention. 
           [0051]      FIG. 14B  is the cover plate to be bolted to the extended welded metal frame over the discharge chamber of the hydraulic design mobile mechanical gravel cleaner according to the present invention. 
           [0052]      FIG. 14C  is the side panels to be applied to the lateral sides of the extended welded metal frame enclosing the receiving chamber, cleaning chamber and discharge chamber of the hydraulic design mobile mechanical gravel cleaner according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0053]    1. Best Mode of Invention 
         [0054]    Drawings  1 / 9  through  9 / 9  show the best mode contemplated by the inventor of the mobile mechanical xeriscape gravel cleaner according to the concepts of the present invention. 
         [0055]    2. How to Make the Invention 
         [0056]    As can be amply seen from the  FIG. 1A to 1E  of the mobile mechanical xeriscape gravel cleaner auger  1  is a single or double flight design to move landscape gravel to be cleaned through its entire length and equipped and bolted to auger end shaft  2  which will be inserted into the lubricated bearings  30  ( FIG. 3A ) located and mounted on the auger support bar plate  3  ( FIG. 1D ). The auger flights are notched equal distance around its circumference to accept the auger support bars  4  ( FIG. 1B ) along its length from the front of the cleaning chamber to the end of the discharge chamber and then welded in place ( FIG. 1E ). The auger support bar plate  3  ( FIG. 1D ) is then mounted on the end of auger tube at the end discharge chamber and welded to the tube, flighting and support bars. The screen support bands  5  are then welded to the front of the cleaning chamber and the end of the cleaning chamber and screen support  6  is welded midway in the cleaning chamber. The screen support bands  7  are welded on top of the previously placed screen support bands  5  and  6 , flush with the outer edge of screen support bands  5  and centered on screen support band  6 . Two sections of screen  8  ( FIG. 1C ) are rolled and mounted on the outside of the auger  1  overlapping the inner screen support bands  5  and  6  and secured with clamping bands  9 . The screen  8  grid size is determined by the size of the material to be cleaned. 
         [0057]    As can be amply seen from  FIG. 2A to 2D , an isometric view, and  FIG. 3A , a top view of the mobile mechanical xeriscape gravel cleaner a welded metal frame  10  consists of rectangular tubing  11  with vertical and horizontal supports  12  spaced equally along its distance of sufficient length to accommodate auger assembly. Both end structures are surfaced with angle iron  13  to mount end plates  14 . The end plates  14  serve as the mounting structure for the lubricating bearings  30  and dimensions of end plates  14  are determined by the height and width of the welded metal frame  10 . The end plates  14  are drilled to receive the lubricated bearings  30  ( FIG. 3A ) which are then bolted in place. The discharge chamber end plate  14  is then bolted to the ends of the welded metal frame  10  with the lubricated bearing  30  ( FIG. 3A ) facing out. Locate the discharge chamber  15  end of the auger  1  and insert it first into the receiving chamber  16  end of the welded metal frame  10  and slide the entire auger  1  toward the discharge end of the welded metal frame  10  and insert the end shaft  2  of the auger into the lubricated bearing  30  on the discharge chamber  15  end of the welded metal frame. Insert the receiving chamber  16  end shaft  2  into the lubricated bearing  30  on the end plate  2  and bolt into place on the end of the welded metal frame  10  and check to see auger  1  rotates freely. Angle braces  17  are welded to the welded metal frame  10  flush with the top and bottom at the end of the receiving chamber  16  before the cleaning chamber  18  to facilitate mounting of a split transition plate  19 . The split transition plate  19  size is determined by the dimensions of the welded metal frame  10  and the size of auger  1  used. The split transition plate  19  is cut horizontally at its vertical midline and bolted to the aforementioned angle braces  17 . Additional support angle braces  20  are bolted vertically to each half of the split transition plate  19  on the receiving chamber  16  side of the plate. A section of cylindrical material  32  of sufficient diameter to accommodate the rotation of the auger  1  assembly is placed in the receiving chamber  16 , flush with the split transition plate  19  and the end plate  14  of the receiving chamber  16 . A rectangular section  31  is cutout of the top of the cylindrical material  32  sufficient to receive material to be cleaned from the hopper  34 . Mounting tabs  21  for the cylindrical material  32  are first welded to the receiving chamber  16  end plate  14  and the receiving chamber  16  side of the split transition plate  19  at intervals and bolted to the cylindrical material  32 . ( FIG. 3A ) is a top view including the welded metal frame  10 , the receiving chamber  16  (including the cylindrical material  32 ), cleaning and discharge chambers  18  and  15  and the auger screen assembly. 
         [0058]    As can be amply seen from the  FIG. 4A and 4B  of the mobile mechanical xeriscape gravel cleaner, two adjustable roller wheel assemblies are required, each composed of a bracket  22  with a hole to allow attachment to the wheel  29 . A hinge  23  is welded to the bracket  22  at the inside edge of the bracket  22 , welded to a channel iron  24  and placed over the middle horizontal support  12  ( FIG. 2A ). Angle iron tabs  25  are welded to the outer edge of the channel iron  24  with a flat bar underneath the horizontal support  12  ( FIG. 2A ) located at midpoint of the welded metal frame  10 . A nut  27  is welded to the outer edge of the bracket  22 . A bolt and locking nut  28  is placed in the nut  27  to facilitate adjustment of the adjustable roller wheel assemblies to support the middle auger support band  7  on both sides of the auger assembly. 
         [0059]    As can be amply seen from  FIG. 5A, 5B and 6A through 6F  of the mobile mechanical xeriscape gravel cleaner the frame is a welded metal frame  10  using rectangular tubing  11  with vertical and horizontal supports  12  spaced equally along its distance of sufficient length to accommodate auger assembly. A rectangular hopper  34  is constructed of flat metal, sides reinforced with angle iron supports  35 , of sufficient top size to receive material to be cleaned from a device of the operators choosing and the bottom size to open over the entire rectangular cutout section of the cylindrical material in the receiving chamber. A box is constructed of four vertical flat metal bars  37  to support the slide gate hopper assembly  36  ( FIG. 6A and 6B ). At each outer corner of the box a vertical piece of angle iron  38  is welded to the welded metal frame  10  and bolted to the box to support the box placement.  FIG. 6C and 6D  demonstrate additional flat bars  39  are welded horizontally on center across the length of the aforementioned vertical flat metal bars  37  of the supporting box.  FIG. 6E and 6F  demonstrate additional, more narrow flat bars are welded to the aforementioned horizontal flat bars  39 , flush with the outer edge to serve as the outer edge slide gate guide  40 . A flat piece of metal, slightly thinner than the last flat bars applied, is welded across the back end of the existing box opening to serve as the slide gate stop  42 . In  FIG. 7A  A receiver box  43  is assembled of flat metal welded at the corners at an angle consistent with the angle of the hopper  34 . The box  43  is then welded to the top of the slide gate hopper assembly  36   FIG. 6A through 6F . The hopper  34  is bolted to top of receiver box  43 . In  FIG. 6E and 6F  the slide gate  41  is a piece of flat metal with an attached handle  44 , the dimension of which are determined by the opening of the slide gate guides  40  for the purpose of regulating the flow of material from the bottom of the hopper  34  to the receiving chamber  16 . 
         [0060]    As can be amply seen from the  FIG. 7A, 7B and 7C  of the mobile mechanical xeriscape gravel cleaner the auger  1  rotation is achieved by way of a variable speed external power drive  45  mounted on the fixed motor plate  46  bolted to the welded metal frame  10 , connected to the auger by a chain and sprocket drive  47 . The variable speed external power drive  45  is managed at the control panel  48  mounted on the welded metal frame  10 . Side panels  49  of solid thin gauge metal are fastened to the welded metal frame  10  on the interior of the both horizontal surface. There are three cover plates  50  hinged and fastened to the top of the welded metal frame  10  for the purpose of inspection, maintenance and worker safety. 
         [0061]    As can be amply seen from the  FIG. 8A, 8B and 8C  of the mobile mechanical xeriscape gravel cleaner at the receiving chamber end and mounted to the each side of the welded metal frame are adjustable independent support jacks to add stability and allow leveling of the device during operation. The adjustable independent support jacks are constructed from a length of square tubing  51 , pre-drilled for slide adjustment. Two length of angle iron  56  are welded to the upper and lower edge of larger square tubing  51  for bolt mounting to the welded metal frame  10 . A length of inner square tubing  52  of slightly smaller dimension, also pre-drilled for slide adjustment is inserted into the aforementioned larger square tubing  51 . A bolt  54  suitable to fit through the pre-drilled holes in the square metal tubing  51  and  52  is used to secure the inner and outer square tubing  51  and  52  at adjustment height. A flat plate is welded to the bottom of the inner tube  52  with edges bent up to form a foot plate  53  for the adjustable independent support jack stand. The adjustable independent support jack stand is mounted on the receiving chamber end of the welded metal frame  10 . The adjustable independent axle with wheel and floatation tire will be constructed as the adjustable independent support jack stand, however in place of a foot plate a standard spindle and hub  55  will be attached to the bottom of the inner tubing  52  and a flotation wheel/tire  57  assembly of appropriate size to facilitate mobility of the mobile mechanical xeriscape gravel cleaner will be attached to the aforementioned hub  55  with lug nuts. The angle iron  56  of the adjustable independent axle with wheel and floatation tire will be welded to the larger square metal tubing  51  and bolted to the rectangular tubing  11  of the welded metal frame  10  at sixty percent of the length of the welded metal frame  10  from the receiving chamber  16  end. 
         [0062]    As can be amply seen from the  FIG. 9A and 9B  of the mobile mechanical xeriscape gravel cleaner a length of square tubing  58  is welded to the existing lower surface angle irons  13  and  17  on receiving chamber end of the mobile mechanical xeriscape gravel cleaner which will accept a common receiver hitch for the purpose of towing the mobile mechanical xeriscape gravel cleaner when desired. 
         [0063]    As can be amply seen from  FIG. 10  A to E of the hydraulic design annotated sheet the clamping bands  9  have been removed and, as shown in  FIG. 12 , have been replaced with metal screws and shoulder washer  65  to secure the screen  8  to the support bars  4  and provide for easy removal/replacement to accommodate variable size of material to be cleaned. 
         [0064]    As can be amply seen from  FIG. 11  A to C of the hydraulic design annotated sheet the angle iron  13  has been added to the support structure  12  to facilitate the mounting of the end plate  14  and provide for the redesigned extended welded metal frame  10  to create a hydraulic equipment space  59  and the split transition plate  19 , the angle iron  38  have been removed. 
         [0065]    As can be amply seen from  FIG. 12A  of the hydraulic design annotated sheet the welded metal frame  10  has been extended creating a hydraulic equipment space  59 , metal screws with shoulder washers  65  have been added in place of clamping bands  9  and the receiving chamber  16  is redesigned with removal of the slide gate  41  and the cylindrical material  32  and extension of the auger shaft  64  addition of a one piece transition plate  61 , a gravity flow shoot  62  with shaft guard  63 . 
         [0066]    As can be amply see from  FIGS. 13  A to  13  E of the hydraulic design annotated. sheet the shaft guard  63  is positioned over the shaft opening in the gravity flow shoot  62  and welded in place ( FIG. 13  A and B and C). The gravity flow shoot  62  is preformed metal in a “U” shape with a 40 degree slope and a hole for passage of the extended auger shaft  64  which is welded to the one piece transition plate  61  from the top of the transition plate  61  down and around the outer edge of the opening in the transition plate  61 . 
         [0067]    As can be amply seen from  FIG. 14  A to C of the hydraulic design annotated sheet the hopper  34  and three of the four cover plates  50  are absent and replaced with the hydraulically powered drag chain hopper  60  which is bolted to the top surface of the welded metal frame  10  over the cleaning chamber  18  and in  FIG. 14 b    the single cover plate  50  remains to be positioned over the discharge chamber  15 . The hydraulically powered drag chain hopper is constructed of heavy gauge metal plate welded to contain the hydraulically powered drag chain  60 , bolted to the welded metal frame  10  over the cleaning chamber  18  to contain soiled material as it is flow regulated into the receiving chamber  16 .