Patent Publication Number: US-10787861-B2

Title: Vehicular auger implement

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application: (a) is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 14/155,287, filed Jan. 14, 2014; and (b) claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application, Ser. No. 62/441,220, filed Dec. 31, 2016. The disclosure of each of these applications is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The disclosure relates generally to the field of augers. More specifically, the disclosure relates to the field of mobile auger implements. 
     SUMMARY 
     The following presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is not intended to identify critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented elsewhere. 
     According to an embodiment, a vehicular auger implement configured to be operated by a single operator comprises an auger having a bit. The implement includes a four bar linkage comprising a first bar, a second bar, a third bar, and a fourth bar. The first bar is coupled to each of the second bar and a hydraulically actuated arm. The auger is operably coupled to the fourth bar. The four bar linkage is configured to convert a rotational motion of the second bar to a vertical motion of the auger. A vehicle to which the auger implement is coupled is configured to remain stationary while a hole is bored using the vertical motion of the auger. 
     According to another embodiment, a method for eliminating a lateral motion of a vehicle of a vehicular auger implement during operation of an auger comprises the step of providing the auger implement. The auger implement includes a Hoeckens linkage having a first bar, a second bar, a third bar, and a fourth bar. The first bar is coupled to the second bar. The fourth bar is coupled to each of the second bar and the third bar. The auger is operably coupled to the fourth bar. The method includes the step of causing the second bar to rotate about the first bar to cause the fourth bar to move in a D-shaped path. The method comprises the step of using a vertical leg of the D-shaped path to drill a hole with a bit of the auger. The auger implement is configured to be operated by a single operator. 
     According to yet another embodiment, a vehicular auger implement comprises an auger having a bit. The implement has a four bar linkage comprising a first bar, a second bar, a third bar, and a fourth bar. The first bar is coupled to the second bar. The auger is operably coupled to the fourth bar. The four bar linkage is configured to convert a rotational motion of the second bar to a vertical motion of the auger. A vehicle to which the auger implement is coupled is configured to remain stationary while a hole is bored using the vertical motion of the auger. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  show a prior art two-man auger; 
         FIG. 2  shows a prior art auger connected to a three-point hitch on the rear of a tractor having a mechanical power take-off shaft; 
         FIG. 3A  is a side view of an auger implement, according to an example embodiment; 
         FIG. 3B  is a side view of a gimbal joint incorporated into the auger implement of  FIG. 3A , according to an example embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a rear perspective view of the vehicular auger implement of  FIG. 3A  mounted to an ATV; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the vehicular auger implement of  FIG. 3A  mounted to the ATV; 
         FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of the vehicular auger implement of  FIG. 3A  mounted to the ATV; 
         FIG. 7  is a front perspective view of the vehicular auger implement of  FIG. 3A  mounted to a tow receiver of a UTV; 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of the vehicular auger implement of  FIG. 3A  mounted to the UTV; 
         FIG. 9  is a front perspective view of the vehicular auger implement of  FIG. 3A  mounted to the UTV; 
         FIGS. 10A and 10B  collectively illustrate the workings of a central articulating section of the vehicular auger implement of  FIG. 3A ; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of example outdoor power equipment for mounting the auger implement of  FIG. 3A ; 
         FIG. 12  shows a side view of an alternate embodiment of the auger implement of  FIG. 3A ; 
         FIG. 13  shows a perspective view of a PRIOR ART walk-behind mower that may be retrofitted for the mounting of the auger implement of  FIG. 12 ; and 
         FIGS. 14A-14E  schematically represent successive movement of arms of a linkage of the auger implement of  FIG. 12 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     High power augers that provide an output torque of about 200 to 300 ft. lbs. are traditionally operated by two people. These are the earth augers that drive long and large diameter large auger bits with, for example, a 1¼ in. square female snap connection, a 1⅜ in. hex male pinned connection, or other robust connector. These augers are usually heavy, gasoline powered, and require two people to manually position and operate. The operators must also attempt to keep the auger drilling vertically by sight. These types of augers are dangerous for the operators and are exhausting to use.  FIG. 1  depicts a typical two-man auger being manipulated by hand and driven by a hydraulic circuit. 
     Another style is to have a self-contained “one man” operated unit that is mounted on wheels. These are more expensive and really require at least two people if the ground is not flat as these units are very heavy and are virtually impossible to keep positioned by one person on a slope. 
     In other cases, the auger is theoretically enabled for one-man operation by being partially supported by a telescoping “torque tube” that is attached to a trailer hitch or other anchored object. In use, however, the torque tube pivots about its end connections and the operator must strive to adjust the relative angle of the auger in order to move the auger straight up and straight down. 
     In another prior art arrangement as shown in  FIG. 2  (i.e. on the back of a tractor), the auger is connected to a 3-point hitch and driven by a mechanical power take-off. As shown, the auger is pivoted about on a heavy-duty support member such that the auger bit tends to rotate around the support members pivot point as it drills down into the earth. In typical operation, this still requires two people—a spotter and a driver. The spotter guides the driver in order to position the point of the auger bit over the desired bore and then the team bores the hole with the auger bit. As the auger bit advances into the soil, the gear box begins to pivot away from the tractor around the link and, because of this, the driver inches forward to prevent the auger tip from moving toward the tractor&#39;s original location. 
     Vehicular auger mounts have been developed for mounting augers to vehicles, including smaller vehicles such as all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). A typical ATV is a small open single-rider vehicle having four wheels and is generally designed for off-road use on various types of terrain or rough ground. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) defines an ATV as a vehicle that travels on low-pressure tires, with a seat that is straddled by the operator, along with motorcycle-like handlebars for steering control. ATVs usually do not have windshields. 
     Other vehicles of similar size, power, and all-terrain capability have different names. For example, a UTV (utility task vehicle), sometimes called a “side-by-side,” is a four-wheel drive vehicle that usually is slightly larger than an ATV, usually has a conventional steering wheel, and provides seating for 2 or 4 people in a side-by-side arrangement. UTVs sometimes have windshields. UTVs often have small truck beds and, as a result, are popular among golf course maintenance personnel, parks and recreation departments, and any other users who need to travel over uneven terrain with people and materials. 
     ATVs and UTVs are traditionally sold by well-known manufacturers such as HONDA®, KAWASAKI®, ARCTIC CAT®, YAMAHA®, CAN-AM®, SUZUKI®, and POLARIS®. For the sake of simplicity, this application will refer to vehicles in this general class as “ATVs.” 
     An ATV is usually powered by an internal combustion engine that runs on gasoline or other suitable fuel (e.g. propane, diesel fuel, etc.). For moving the ATV, the engine is usually coupled to a pair of rear-drive wheels via the engine&#39;s drive shaft and an intermediate transmission. Some ATVs even include four wheel drive power train. 
     ATVs are often used for recreational purposes, but ATV manufacturers are also making models that are well-suited for use as general purpose work vehicles or utility vehicles (e.g. on a farm or other large property, for military purposes, etc.). 
     Due to the ever increasing demand to use ATVs as work vehicles, various implements have been designed to convert ATVs into more useful vehicles, such as lawn mowers, log splitters, electric generators, etc. However, these attachments normally come with significant drawbacks in that duplicate engines are needed to run the separate implements that may or may not be pulled by the ATV. Such is very costly and needlessly weighs down the ATV. Conventional implements are custom installed and are cumbersome and time consuming to utilize because they are required to be bolted onto the ATV engine and have to be completely unbolted and disassembled to operate the ATV in a normal function when not using the implement. 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,284,625 and 7,600,594 disclose a unique hydraulic power take-off (PTO) system for use with an ATV. The two patents more specifically disclose a quick connect/disconnect assembly for allowing a power transfer unit to be connected to and disconnected from an ATV. The power transfer unit detachably connects to an output shaft associated with the rotation of the ATV&#39;s engine (usually the engine&#39;s drive shaft) and then powers an implement connected to, carried by, or located near the ATV. The power transfer unit beneficially eliminates the need to have separate engines for the implements. 
     The power transfer unit may be a hydraulic pump that forces fluid through a hydraulic circuit and drives a hydraulic motor associated with the implement. The exemplary implements that could be driven with the hydraulic power transfer unit included a lawn mower, a water sprayer, a snow blower, an air compressor, a water pump, a post-hole digger, an electric generator, a wood chipper, and a log splitter. 
     In the typical ATV, the engine includes an engine case and a drive shaft or other engine shaft that extends from the engine case. Typically, the engine&#39;s drive shaft is accessible beneath the drive shaft cover or starter cover that is historically associated with a so-called “Recoil Starter.” In earlier ATVs, the drive shaft cover sometimes included a pull handle to permit the operator to hand start the engine in the event that the electrically-driven starter was inoperable. In more recent ATVs, however, the drive shaft cover often does not include a pull handle and the cover is just a cover. 
     In one commercial embodiment made according to the &#39;625 and &#39;594 patents, designed for retrofitting a hydraulic power take-off unit to a BRUTE FORCE® model ATV manufactured by KAWASAKI®, the starter cover is removed and a drive plate that carries a female coupler is retrofitted to the drive shaft. Then, the starter cover is replaced with a quick connect case that provides suitable quick connect features along its periphery and has a central aperture that exposes an outward face of the female coupler. Using a suitable quick connect/disconnect mechanism that mates with the features on the case, the hydraulic pump is connected to the quick connect case and, inside of the case, the hydraulic pump&#39;s input shaft and associated male coupler are mated with the female coupler. 
     The quick connect assembly and hydraulic power transfer unit disclosed in the &#39;625 and &#39;594 patents advantageously allows an ATV owner to power various implements by using the ATV&#39;s own engine—without requiring a duplicate engine on the implement. 
     Auger mounts have been developed for all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) as shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,836,402, 6,681,470 and 8,397,835. In the vehicular auger mounts disclosed in the foregoing patents, however, the auger-holder has been based on a less than optimal slide-like mechanism that makes it somewhat difficult to position the auger and maintain a vertical path in a wide variety of circumstances. 
     Accordingly, a need has been developed in the art to provide a vehicular auger implement that allows the operator to easily position the auger and which keeps the auger bit vertical as it goes deeper and deeper into the soil. 
     According to an example embodiment, an auger implement  100  for a vehicle such as an ATV  10  ( FIGS. 4 to 6 ) or UTV  10 ′ ( FIGS. 7 to 9 , plus  10 A and  10 B) comprises a central articulating section  120  formed from a spring or gas shock counter balanced double 4 bar linkage that pivotally mounts onto a vehicular mount  110  that provides a 2 axis base or, alternatively, a full gimbal base. This complete unit is then mounted to a mobile power source such as an ATV, UTV, or tractor having a power source, e.g. a hydraulic power take-off arrangement, or for that matter any vehicle, allowing for a single operator to drill vertical holes independent of the slope of the terrain the vehicle is on. 
       FIG. 3A  is a side view of the vehicular auger implement  100 . As shown, the implement  100  comprises four portions; specifically, the implement  100  includes a vehicular mount  110  that provides an adjustable base  160 , a central articulating section  120  formed from a double 4 bar linkage, an auger support and control section  130 , and an auger  140 .  FIGS. 4 to 6  show the vehicular auger implement  100  attached to the rear of an ATV  10 , while  FIGS. 7 to 9  show the vehicular auger implement  100  attached to the front of a UTV  10 ′.  FIGS. 10A and 10B  illustrate the motion constraint provided by the overall implement  100 , particularly by the central articulating section  120 . 
     The vehicular mount  110  has the adjustable base  160  which comprises a two axis base or a full gimbal base.  FIG. 3A  depicts the case of an adjustable base  160  provided as a two axis base, one where suitable mechanical arrangements are made to provide a pivotal connection  161  about one axis (e.g. about the longitudinal axis relative to the vehicle or “roll”) and a pivotal connection  162  about another axis (e.g. about the lateral axis relative to the vehicle, or “pitch”). 
       FIG. 3B  shows an alternative embodiment where a single connecting mechanism provides a full gimbal base  164 . In such case, the full gimbal base permits simultaneous rotation in any direction and about any desired axis when released, and then locks in place using, for example, a foot pedal arrangement. 
       FIG. 4  shows two arcuate double-arrowed arcs R, P to identify the “roll” and “pitch” motions to be provided by the two-axis base formed by pivotal connections  161 ,  162 , respectively. The pivotal connections  161 ,  162  can be provided by simple mechanical arrangement involving plates, bolts, etc., or with a more sophisticated arrangement that does not require tools for adjustment. Through this unique arrangement, even when the vehicle is parked on a slope and is not level relative to the earth, an operator can reposition the adjustable base  160  and compensate for that fact before beginning to manipulate the auger bit  142  and bore a vertical hole notwithstanding the slope. 
     The mount  100  further comprises a proximal tongue  111  that extends horizontally and is sized and shaped (made e.g. of 2″×2″ tubing) for sliding and pinned attachment to a vehicle&#39;s tow hitch receiver (although other methods of attachment may be employed, including essentially permanent attachment), a vertical section  112 , and a distal end  115  that supports the central articulating section  120  and provides a third connection  163  that permits rotation about a third axis (i.e. about a vertical axis relative to the vehicle, or “yaw”). 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the distal end  115  is formed from a support plate  116  welded to the vertical section  112  and two parallel plates  117  that extend from the support plate  116 . The parallel plates  117 ,  117  provide aligned apertures for pivotally receiving a shaft extending from the central articulating section  120 . The result is a pivoting connection  163 . The central articulating section  120  in turn supports, at its distal end, an auger support and control section  130  including a mounting plate  131  and a handle  132 . The mounting plate  131  in turn supports an auger  140  including a hydraulic motor  141  and an auger bit  142 . 
     The central articulating section  120  may be formed from a double 4-bar linkage. The first 4-bar linkage is generally designated as item  121 , and the second 4-bar linkage is generally designated as item  122 . As further shown, the first 4-bar linkage is formed by two elongated members connected to a base link  123  and a central link  124 . The second 4-bar linkage, in turn, is formed by two elongated members connected between the central link  124  and a distal link  125 . In an embodiment, the two 4-bar linkages  121 ,  122  share the central connecting link  124 . In addition, suitable springs or gas shocks  151 ,  152  are installed, as shown, to aid in the movement of the overall mechanism created by the first and second 4-bar linkages  121 ,  122 . 
     In some 4-bar linkages, parallel bars remain parallel to one another as the linkage is moved. Consequently, if a “base” bar of some 4-bar linkages is held vertical, the parallel bar will also remain vertical throughout the entire range of motion of the overall linkage. Here, in this dual 4-bar linkage arrangement  120 , the linkage is movable throughout a predetermined range of motion that is a function of the geometry chosen and, of significance, will tend to guide the auger bit vertically if properly adjusted before drilling. 
     It is contemplated that when the vehicle (ATV, tractor, etc.) is parked on a slope, the auger implement  100  would be prepared for use by coarsely manipulating the mechanism  130  to roughly position the tip of the auger bit  142  over the intended hole, and then manipulating the adjustable base  160  to compensate for the slope. In one possible approach to readying the implement  100  for use, the operator would place a bubble level (not shown) on the flat top of the common link  124  (see  FIG. 4 ), and manipulate the adjustable base  160  until the link  124  is level relative to the earth. The operator may then finely re-position the auger tip. At that point, the pre-positioned, pre-leveled link system  120  will inherently guide the auger bit  142  vertically into and out of the soil—all under the guidance of a single operator—as suggested by  FIGS. 10A and 10B . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4, 6, 7, and 9 , the auger support and control section  130  comprises a two-way hand control  133  and suitable linkage  134  to permit the operator to control the speed and/or direction of the hydraulic motor  141 . In an embodiment, the hydraulic motor  141  is reversible in order to make it easier to withdraw the auger bit  142  from the soil or other substrate. 
     The central articulating section  120  movably connects to the mount&#39;s distal pivot connection  115  and, in an embodiment, features a spring or gas shock counter balanced double 4 bar linkage. The spring or gas shock counter balanced arrangement beneficially relieves the single operator from heavy lifting. Moreover, owing to the double 4 bar linkage, the single operator can easily position the auger implement  100  within its range and then keep the auger bit  142  vertical as the bit  142  goes deeper and deeper into the soil (see  FIGS. 10A and 10B ).  FIGS. 10A and 10B  show the auger implement  100  being used to bore a vertical hole while the vehicle  10 ′ is on level ground. If the vehicle  10 ′ were parked on a slope, the operator would simply reposition the adjustable base  160  (as suggested by the multi-axis or gimbal arrangement of  FIGS. 3A and 3B , or other suitable mechanism) in order to compensate for the slope before boring the hole. 
     The unit  100  being mounted to a vehicle (e.g. ATV  10  or UTV  10 ′) makes for much safer operation in that the torque induced by the hydraulic motor  141  is resisted by the weight of the vehicle and not the operator. This also allows for the safe use of more powerful hydraulics. The auger implement  100  is cheaper than a comparable powered auger, safer to use, and much easier to use alone. The auger implement  100  is a one man operational machine and allows the single operator to work for much long periods as it is less demanding on the operator. 
     While the disclosure above discusses ATV  10  and the UTV  10 ′ as specific examples of vehicles that may support the auger implement  100 , the artisan will appreciate that the auger implement  100  may be supported also by other vehicles (e.g., by outdoor power equipment).  FIG. 11 , for example, shows the auger implement  100  being supported by walk-behind outdoor power equipment  170 . 
     Attention is directed now to  FIG. 12 , which shows an alternate embodiment  200  of the auger implement  100 . The embodiment  200  may be similar to the embodiment  100 , except as specifically noted and/or shown, or as would be inherent. Further, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiment  200  (and the embodiment  100 ) may be modified in various ways, such as through incorporating all or part of any of the previously described embodiments, for example. For uniformity and brevity, corresponding reference numbers may be used to indicate corresponding parts, though with any noted deviations. 
     The auger implement  100  guides the auger bit  142  in a straight line (i.e., vertically) using two four-bar linkages  121  and  122  that operate in tandem (see  FIG. 3A ). The auger implement  200  may also guide the auger bit  142  in a straight line (i.e., vertically up and down in directions A and B, respectively), but may do so by employing a solitary four-bar linkage. The auger implement  200  may therefore be cheaper to manufacture and maintain as compared to the auger implement  100 . The auger implement  200 , like the auger implement  100 , may be movably supported by the ATV  10 , the UTV  10 ′, a tractor, or another vehicle. In embodiments, the auger implement  200  may be movably supported by outdoor power equipment, such as the walk-behind machine  170  ( FIG. 11 ). In an embodiment, a prior art walk-behind mower  300  may be modified to movably support the auger implement  200  (e.g., a front end  302  thereof, see  FIG. 13 , may be retrofitted to allow the mower  300  to support the implement  200 ). 
     The solitary four-bar linkage of the auger implement  200  may be of a type that converts rotational motion into vertical motion, such as a Hoeckens linkage, a Chebyshev&#39;s Lambda linkage, etc.  FIG. 12  shows the auger implement  200  employing a Hoeckens linkage  202 , according to an example embodiment. The Hoeckens linkage, named after Karl Hoecken, is a cognate linkage of the Chebyshev linkage, and has been known now for close to a hundred years. This notwithstanding, prior art auger implements have not employed the Hoeckens linkage (or another solitary four-bar linkage that converts rotational motion into vertical motion as disclosed herein). In embodiments, the auger implement  100 , by virtue of the linkage  202  thereof, may allow for the auger bit  142  to drill a hole by moving in the vertical plane without causing or necessitating lateral movement of the vehicle to which the implement  100  is coupled. Such may allow the implement  100  to be operated by a single operator, which may be desirable. 
     In more detail, the Hoeckens linkage  202  may comprise a first bar  204 A, a second bar  204 B, a third bar  204 C, and a fourth bar  204 D. The second bar  204 B may be rotatably coupled to the first bar  204 A at a pivot point  206 ; the third bar  204 C may be coupled to each of the first bar  204 A and the fourth bar  204 D; and, the fourth bar  204 D have the auger  140  operably coupled thereto. During operation of the auger  140 , the first bar  204 A may remain stationary whereas the second bar  204 B, the third bar  204 C, and the fourth bar  204 D may move relative to the first bar  204 A. Specifically, where the fourth bar  204 D (and therefore the auger bit  142 ) is moving vertically downward in direction B, the second bar  204 B may rotate in a clockwise direction (i.e., in direction C) and the third bar  204 C may move outward in direction D.  FIGS. 14A-14E , on a left side thereof, illustrate successive movement of the linkage bars  204 B- 204 D and the auger bit  142  as the bit  142  is used to bore into the ground. Unlike prior art vehicular auger implements (e.g., a three point hitch in  FIG. 2  discussed above), the fourth bar  204 D—and thus the auger bit  142 —may be capable of moving vertically in directions A and B while the vehicle supporting the auger implement  200  remains stationary. 
       FIGS. 14A-14E , on the right sides thereof, further represent the range of motion of the auger  140  coupled to the fourth bar  240 D as the second bar  204 B rotates in the direction C. As can be seen, rotation of the second bar  204 B may cause the fourth bar  240 D (and the auger  140 ) to move in a path  208 . The path  208 , as shown, may be generally D-shaped and have a vertical leg  210  and a curved leg  212 . The vertical leg  210  may begin at point  210 A and end at point  210 B (see  FIG. 14B ). In embodiments, the auger implement  200  may (but need not necessarily) be configured on a vehicle (e.g., ATV  10 , UTV  10 ′, walk-behind equipment  170  and  300 , etc.) such that auger bit  142  contacts the ground or other surface when the fourth leg  204 D is at or proximate point  210 A in the path  208 . Such may allow for the bit  142  to bore vertically downwards into the ground for the entire vertical leg  210  of the fourth leg path  208 . 
     The first leg  204 A, which, as noted, may remain stationary during operation of the auger  140 , may, in embodiments, be selectively movable to allow for proper orientation of the auger bit  142  for operation. Specifically, the first leg  204  may be coupled to a hydraulically actuated arm  214  ( FIG. 12 ), which may be lengthened or shortened in direction E to orient the auger bit  142  as required. Lengthening of the arm  214  may cause the first leg  204 A to rotate clockwise in the direction F, and shortening of the arm  214  may cause the first leg  204 A to rotate in the opposite direction. Where the surface on which the vehicle supporting the auger implement  200  rests is uneven and/or where the surface being bored using the bit  142  is uneven, the arm  214  may be lengthened or shortened to appropriately orient the bit  142  for operation. The first leg  204 A may then be locked in position (using, e.g., a nut and bolt or other locking mechanism) and the bit  142  may thereafter be used to drill vertically into the ground. 
     The auger  140  may, in embodiments, be operated from a single location. For example, in embodiments, the auger  140  may be hydraulically coupled to a vehicle and include a handle (e.g., handle  132 , see  FIG. 4 ) that a user may use to operate the auger  140 . Or, for example, the vehicle may comprise an auger control panel accessible by the driver of the vehicle from the driver&#39;s seat, and the driver may use this control panel to operate the auger while he is seated in the driver&#39;s seat. In other embodiments still, the auger  140  may be controllable remotely using, e.g., a portable control panel that may be wired or wireless. In embodiments, the auger  140  may be operated from one of two or more locations. 
     In the prior art, after an auger (e.g., the auger  140 ) operably coupled to a vehicle is used to bore a hole, the auger (or a portion thereof, e.g., the auger bit  142 ) must be detached from the vehicle for transport and then reattached thereto to bore the next hole. Such may cause much inconvenience and wastage of time. In embodiments, the auger implement  200  may be configured on a vehicle (e.g., the ATV  10 , the UTV  10 ′, the walk-behind machines  170 ,  300 , etc.) such that the auger  140  can be transported using the vehicle while the auger  140  is operably coupled to the vehicle. For example, in an embodiment, the auger  140  may be operably coupled to the vehicle such that the tip of the auger bit  142  is some distance away from the ground, which may allow the vehicle to be driven while the auger is operably connected thereto. 
     When the auger  140  is operating, it may be desirable for the vehicle supporting the auger  140  to be stable so that the auger  140  is properly supported while the bit  142  drills into the ground (or other surface). To this end, during auger operation, it may be desirable for all wheels (e.g., all four wheels) of the vehicle on which the auger implement  200  is mounted to be in contact with the ground. In an embodiment, each wheel of the vehicle (e.g., the vehicle  170 , the vehicle  300 , or other vehicle) on which the auger implement  200  is mounted may be raised or lowered independently (e.g., using wheel height adjusters, hydraulics, etc.); such may ensure that all wheels of the vehicle are in contact with the ground surface during auger operation even where the ground surface is uneven. In some embodiments, a portion of the vehicle (e.g., the front end  302  of the vehicle  300  modified for the mounting of the auger implement  200 ) may be moveable with respect to another portion (e.g., the rear end of the vehicle  300 ) to allow for all vehicle wheels to contact the ground surface during auger operation. 
     Many different arrangements of the various components depicted, as well as components not shown, are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Embodiments of the present disclosure have been described with the intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not depart from its scope. A skilled artisan may develop alternative means of implementing the aforementioned improvements without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims.