Abstract:
A cover reel assembly for laying or retrieving a ground cover comprising a first frame attachable to a prime mover, the first frame having pivotal support arms attached rotatably to a cover reel and attached fixedly to a second frame, with a hydraulic device between the first frame and pivotal support arms to raise and lower the cover reel and second frame, the second frame being attached to a third frame having a brush/guide mechanism. The prime mover pushes the cover reel assembly forward with downward pressure from the hydraulic device on the cover reel to unwind a ground cover from the cover reel onto the ground, simultaneously laying cables from cable reels as retainers on the ground cover, with the cable reels attached to the first frame. The ground cover and cables are rewound by a reverse procedure pushing the cover reel assembly forward. In an alternate embodiment the three frames are arranged so that the prime mover can pull the cover reel assembly for laying or retrieving the ground cover and retaining cables.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to machines for laying down and taking up ground covers using reels and particularly to a machine that lays down a ground cover on a road, secures the cover to the road, and takes up the cover for reuse. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Numerous machines have been described which use reel mechanisms to lay down covers on the ground and take them up. Some of these have been for covering baseball fields, football fields, new-laid concrete, winter recreation surfaces, and land fills. Some machines have been described for laying down or taking up plastic piping or grass turf. In those machines, the cover reels cannot raise or lower the cover reel, do not operate with the cover reel on the ground, or do not have a means of pressing the cover reel on the ground. In addition, they may have no means to secure the cover on the ground. Some of these machines may have a high degree of mechanical complexity or require a built-in prime mover. 
     There exists a need for a practical cover reel assembly that can apply and fasten a cover to a road construction site quickly to protect it from weather and other environmental conditions, and retrieve the cover for reuse. The cover needs to be aligned accurately on the road by uniformly pressing the cover onto the road as the cover is unwound from a reel. The present invention provides a novel, practical means for meeting these needs. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The present invention is an apparatus for laying down or retrieving a ground cover. The apparatus is useful for laying a cover over a road or highway to protect the road or highway from weather and other exposure. It is also useful for protecting road construction sites, road preparation sites, and excavation sites, and road beds prior to laying asphalt or concrete. The cover can then be retrieved by the apparatus when there is no longer a need to cover the road or highway. In one embodiment, the invention has a first frame which can be attached to a prime mover such as a forklift or tractor. The first frame has pivotal support arms which are attached to a second frame and a cover reel. Hydraulic means are also connected between the first frame and pivot support arms to raise and lower the cover reel and second frame. Alternatively, the hydraulic means are positioned between the prime mover and first frame. Cable reels with a motor/transmission assembly are located on the first frame. A third frame is attached to the second frame and contains a brush and guide mechanism for the cover. 
     The cover on the reel can be lowered to the ground and laid onto the road by the action of the prime mover pushing the cover reel forward, freely unwinding the cover. The cables will unwind freely from behind the unit and serve to hold the cover in a fixed position on the ground. A downward pressing force can be applied to the cover reel by the action of the hydraulic means to facilitate unwinding and alignment of the cover on the ground. The cover can be rewound and taken up through the brush/guide mechanism and onto the cover reel by a reverse process. The cover is passed through the brush/guide mechanism and attached to the cover reel. The cover reel is then pushed forward by the prime mover, winding up the cover as the cover reel rotates. Simultaneously, the cables are rewound on the cable reels by action of the cable reel motor/transmission assembly. In both procedures of laying down or taking up the cover, downward pressing force can be applied to the cover reel by the hydraulic means to facilitate winding, unwinding, and alignment of the cover on the ground or on the cover reel. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the invention has a first frame which can be attached to a prime mover. A second frame is attached rotatably to the first frame and a third frame is attached rotatably to the second frame. Hydraulic means are connected between the first and second frames to raise and lower the second frame. The second frame contains a cover reel with a cover which is wound or unwound by a motor/transmission assembly connected to the first frame. The second frame also contains a brush/guide mechanism. The third frame contains a motor/transmission assembly which winds or unwinds cables from cable reels connected to the third frame. There is a hydraulic means between the first and third frames to raise and lower the third frame. In this embodiment, the cover is laid down by pulling the unit on the ground behind the prime mover. The cover and cables are attached to one end of the ground and unwind freely as the unit is pulled away. The cover is taken up through the brush/guide assembly by pulling the unit behind the prime mover. The cables are taken up by activating the motor/tansmision assembly. The cover can also be taken up by activating the cover reel motor/transmission assembly. In both procedures of laying down or taking up the cover, downward pressing force can be applied to the cover reel by the hydraulic means to facilitate winding, unwinding, and alignment of the cover on the ground or on the cover reel. 
     The downward pressing force of the present invention makes it possible to lay the cover quickly and accurately. 
     One object of the present invention is to provide a cover reel assembly that can apply and fasten a cover to the ground at a rate not less than 1,000 feet per minute. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a cover reel assembly that can take up a cover and fastening means from the ground at a rate not less than 1,000 feet per minute. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a cover reel assembly that employs a cover reel on the ground and that can apply a downward pressing force on the reel to facilitate winding, unwinding and alignment of the cover on the ground or on the cover reel. 
     A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a cover reel assembly that can lay down the cover and fastening means by pushing the cover reel. 
     Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a cover reel assembly that can lay down and take up the cover and fastening means by pulling the cover reel. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first frame of the cover reel apparatus attached to a prime mover. 
     FIG. 2 shows a second frame of the cover reel apparatus attached to the first frame, including the cover reel and hydraulic means to lift the cover reel. 
     FIG. 3 shows the first and second frames with the cable reel assembly. 
     FIG. 4 shows a third frame attached to the second frame with a brush/guide assembly attached to the third frame. 
     FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b  show another embodiment of a cover reel apparatus where the hydraulic means for applying downward pressure on the cover reel are located between the cover reel apparatus and the prime mover. 
     FIGS. 6 a  and  6   b  show one embodiment of the method of laying down and taking up a cover and fastening means, whereby laying down of the cover is produced by pushing the cover reel on the ground. 
     FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of a cover reel apparatus in the lay down position whereby the cover reel apparatus is pulled on the ground. 
     FIG. 8 shows the same embodiment in FIG. 7, but in the take up position whereby the cover reel apparatus is pulled on the ground. 
     FIGS. 9 a ,  9   b , and  9   c  show various aspects of a removable cover reel end assembly. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     While the following description details the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of the parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced in various ways. The preferred embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus for applying and retrieving ground coverings by pushing a cover reel as shown in FIGS. 1-6 or pulling a cover reel as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. 
     FIG. 1 shows a first frame  11  of the cover reel assembly  1  attached to a prime mover  10  which can push the assembly. First frame  11  has pivotal support arms  12 , having a proximal end  34  and a distal end  35 . In between frame  11  and pivotal support arm  12  are means  13  for raising and lowering pivotal support arms  12 . Preferably, the raising and lowering means are hydraulic means, but may also include pneumatic means and other mechanical means such as various motor and shaft assemblies known in the art. 
     FIG. 2 shows one half of the cover reel assembly, since the assembly is symmetrical. Proximal end  34  of pivotal support arm  12  is attached rotatably to first frame  11 . At distal end  35  of pivotal support arm  12 , a cover reel  21  is rotatably mounted by means of removable cover reel end assembly  26  in bushing assembly  61 . Bushing assembly  61  is a split bushing assembly where FIG. 2 shows only a bottom portion. Distal end  35  of pivotal support arm  12  has means for attaching an upper portion of the bushing assembly  61  (not shown) such that roller bearing  52  (shown in FIG. 5) of removable cover reel end assembly  26  is completely removably encased in bushing assembly  61 . 
     A second frame  20  is connected by rigid attachment to pivotal support arm distal end  35 . Second frame  20  extends above cover reel  21 . When the pivotal arms are raised or lowered by hydraulic means  13 , second frame  20  and cover reel  21  are also raised and lowered simultaneously. Cover reel motor and transmission  22  are mounted on second frame  20 , with a common shaft  23  extending to either end of the frame and supported by pilar blocks  25 . Sprockets  36  are mounted on both ends of shaft  23 , and connect to sprockets  51  on removable cover reel end assembly  26  by chains  27  or other driving means. Cover reel motor and transmission  22  have a means for disengaging shaft  23  so that cover reel  21  may rotate freely. 
     FIG. 3 shows additionally cable reels  30  rigidly mounted on either end of frame  11 . The cable reels  30  have guide spools  31 . The second frame  20  also has guide spools  31 . A cable reel motor and transmission  33  is mounted on first frame  11  with a common shaft  28  extending to each cable reel  30  and supported by pilar blocks  24 . Cable reel motor and transmission  33  have a means for disengaging shaft  23  so that cable reel  30  may rotate freely. 
     FIG. 4 shows a third frame  40  rigidly attached to second frame  20  at proximal end  43  and extending outward from second frame  20  to distal end  44 . Brush/guide mechanism  41  is attached to third frame  40  at distal ends  44 . Cover  42  can be inserted through brush/guide mechanism  41  during rewinding and uptake of cover  42 . The brush/guide mechanism  41  helps align cover  42  onto cover reel  21  and removes debris from cover  42  during retrieval and uptake of cover  42 . 
     FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b  show another embodiment of the present invention. In this simplified version, cover reel assembly  1  is attached rotatably to prime mover  10  by brace extensions  9 . Raising and lowering means  13 , preferably hydraulic means, are positioned between prime mover  10  and cover reel assembly  1 . Hydraulic means  13  are rotatably attached to frame  11  and pivotal support arms  12  are attached fixedly to frame  11  so that when hydraulic means  13  are extended, frame  11  rotates forward and downward, applying a downward pressure on cover reel  21 . This embodiment otherwise incorporates all the features shown and described in FIGS. 1 through 4. 
     FIGS. 6 a  and  6   b  show how the embodiments of the present invention described in FIGS. 1-5 can be used to lay down and take up a cover  42  on a road surface  14 . In FIG. 6 a , cover  42  and cables  32  (see FIG. 3) are attached to the ground and prime mover  10  (see FIG. 1) is on the surface of cover  42 . Cover reel  21  is lowered to road surface  14  by hydraulic means  13  (see FIGS. 1 and 2) attached to pivotal arms  12 . The prime mover  10  pushes the cover reel  21  forward, shown by the dashed arrow, unwinding cover  42  freely, shown by the solid arrow, and laying it onto road surface  14 . Downward pressure on the cover reel facilitates a rapid, even, uniform, and aligned laying-down of the cover on the ground. The weight of the cover reel itself may provide this downward pressing force. Additional downward, pressing force can be applied by the hydraulic means  13  to forcibly press the cover reel  21  onto the road surface  14 . Simultaneously, cables  32  are freely unwinding from cable reels  30  (see FIG. 3) from behind first frame  11  (see FIG.  3 ). As the cables  32  unwind they lay on the surface of cover  42  and serve to hold cover  42  in a secured fixed retained position on road surface  14 . 
     FIG. 6 b  shows how cover  42  is taken up and rewound on cover reel  21 . A free end of cover  42  is inserted through brush/guide mechanism  41  and then attached to cover reel  21 . Cables  32  are threaded through guide spools  31  on second frame  20  and cables  32  are attached to cable reels  30 . The prime mover  10  pushes cover reel  21  forward, shown by the dashed arrow, thereby winding cover  42  onto cover reel  21 , shown by the solid arrow. Additional downward, pressing force can be applied by the hydraulic means  13  to forcibly press the cover reel  21  onto the road surface  14 . Simultaneously, cable reel motor and transmission  33  are activated to turn shaft  28  and cable reels  30  thereby winding cables  32  onto cable reels  30  (See FIG.  3 ). 
     FIG. 7 shows yet another embodiment of the present invention whereby the cover reel assembly  1  is pulled by the prime mover  10  to lay down the ground cover  42 , facilitated by ground support wheels  71 . The first frame  11  is connected to a prime mover  10 . The first frame  11  has a cover reel motor and transmission  22  with a common shaft  23  extending to either end of first frame  11 . Sprockets  36  are mounted on both ends of shaft  23 , and connect to sprockets  51  on removable cover reel end assembly  26  by chains  27  or other driving means. Cover reel motor and transmission  22  have a means for disengaging shaft  23  so that cover reel  21  may rotate freely. First frame  11  has a second frame  20  mounted rotatably to first frame  11 . In between first frame  11  and second frame  20  are hydraulic means  13  to raise and lower second frame  20 . Cover reel  21  is mounted rotatably to second frame  20  by means of removable cover reel end assembly  26  seated removably in bushing assembly  61 . Second frame  20  also has a brush/guide mechanism  41  mounted rotatably to second frame  20 . A third frame  40  is mounted rotatably to second frame  20  and has cable reels  30  with cables  32  and guide spools  31 . Third frame  40  also has a cable reel motor and transmission  33  with a common shaft  28  extending to each cable reel  30 . Cable reel motor and transmission  33  have a means for disengaging shaft  28  so that cable reels  30  may rotate freely. A hydraulic means  70  is located between first frame  11  and third frame  40  to raise and lower third frame  40 . To lay down ground cover  42  cover reel  21  is laid on the ground by hydraulic means  13 . Additional downward force can be applied by hydraulic means  13  to forcibly press cover reel  21  onto the road surface  14 . Prime mover  10  pulls the cover reel  42  forward, unwinding cover  42  freely and laying it onto road surface  14 . Additional downward force by hydraulic means  13  facilitates and ensures an even, uniform and aligned laying down of cover  42  on road surface  14 . Simultaneously, cables  32  are freely unwinding from cable reels  30  from third frame  40 . As the cables  32  unwind they lay on the surface of cover  42  and serve to hold cover  42  in a secured fixed retained position on road surface  14 . 
     FIG. 8 shows the cover reel assembly of FIG. 7 in the take up position. One end of cover reel  42  is passed through brush guide mechanism  41  and attached to cover reel  21 . Cables  32  are passed through guide spools  31  on first frame  11  and on cable reel  30  and attached to cable reel  30 . Prime mover  10  is on the surface of ground cover  42  and pulls cover reel assembly  1  towards the free end of cover  42  in order to rewind cover  42  on cover reel  21 . In order to facilitate alignment of rewinding cover  42  on cover reel  21 , cover reel  21  is placed on the ground and a downward pressing force is applied to cover reel  21  by hydraulic means  13 . In addition, prime mover  10  may have a mirror assembly  73  which visualizes a yellow center line  72  on the surface of cover  42  and a roller guide  75  which can be made to follow yellow center line  72  to ensure proper alignment of cover  42  on cover reel  21  during take up. Simultaneously, third frame  40  is elevated by hydraulic means  70  above cover reel  21 , and cable reel motor and transmission  33  is activated to wind up cables  32  on cable reel  30 . 
     Alternatively, cover reel  21  may be elevated above ground  14  and activated by cover reel motor and transmission  33  to take up cover  42 , as prime mover  10  pulls cover reel assembly  1  towards the free end of cover  42 . 
     FIG. 9 a  shows a disassembled view of removable cover reel end assembly  26 . Reel end insert  50  fits into cover reel  21 . Attached to reel end insert  50  is an end assembly tube insert  58  which extends away from cover reel  21  when reel end insert  50  is inserted into cover reel  21 . Reel end insert  50  can be fixed permanently or removably in cover reel  21  by pin  60  which is driven through cover reel  21  and reel end insert  50 . End tube assembly  53  removably fits over end assembly tube insert  58  and can be removably fixed by inserting pin through a hole  56  that traverses both end tube assembly  53  and end assembly tube insert  58 . End tube assembly  53  has a sprocket  51  and roller bearing  52  with collar  57  rigidly attached. Cover  42  may be inserted into cover reel  21  through cover insert slot  59  using a flexible insert  55  attached to cover  42 . FIG. 9 b  shows the components of removable cover reel end assembly  26  assembled. FIG. 9 c  shows how roller bearing  52  sits in the bottom portion of bushing assembly  61  at the distal end  35  of pivotal support arm  12 . Not shown are attachment means for an upper portion of busing  61  which when joined with bottom portion of bushing  61  will completely reversibly encase roller bearing  52 . In this manner, cover reel  21  can rotate freely by means of its connections to reel end insert  50 . 
     The foregoing description has been limited to specific embodiments of this invention. It will be apparent, however, that variations and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art to the disclosed embodiments of the invention, with the attainment of some or all of its advantages and without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, belts and pulleys, or gears and drive shafts, may be used instead of chains and sprockets to wind or unwind the cover reel. The cover may be made of different kinds of materials including cloth or plastic. The cover reel assembly may be used to lay down materials other than covers such as barriers or mesh. Various combinations of pushing or pulling in conjunction with activation of the cover reel motor and transmission may be used. Various components of the cover reel assembly may be made of a variety of materials including metals and plastic. 
     It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials, and arrangements of the parts which have been described and illustrated above in order to explain the nature of this invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the principle and scope of the invention as recited in the following claims.