Ground roller

Abstract

A ground roller for compacting and leveling ground, includes a frame having a front and a rear with one or more cylindrical rollers rotatably journaled to a plurality of roller supports affixed to a bottom portion of the frame. A hitch structure is affixed to the front of the frame for connecting to a three point hitch of a tractor.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates to landscape maintenance equipment and more specifically to a roller for ground leveling.[0003]2. Discussion of the Related Art[0004]Landscaping can be found around and in all developed areas. While landscaping can include a variety of flower beds and clumps of shrubs, trees, and other greenery, one aspect of landscaping is central to almost every development, a well maintained lawn or turf. Areas of well groomed turf provide a pleasant area on which people can walk or recreate to enjoy a variety of activities, and for many, a soft, cool, green turf improves their physical and emotional health. Many sports such as golf, baseball, soccer, football and others are played on fields of natural turf. In many cases these areas are expansive and subject to very hard use and extreme weather. In order to maintain beauty and functionality, the turf must be maintained and repaired on a frequent and reg...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]Other aspects of the present invention include a bed for carrying additional weight to increase the compacting force delivered by the ground roller. The bed can be partially constructed of a metal mesh to permit particulates to fall through thereby preventing the buildup of dirt and other undesired material on the bed. A roller brush can be pivotally mounted to the frame proximate to each roller for removing soil adhering to said cylindrical roller during operation. Further, the hitch can be configured to attach to a standard three point hitch system on a tractor.

Problems solved by technology

In many cases these areas are expansive and subject to very hard use and extreme weather.

And, while a well established turf provides a firm but relatively resilient foundation on which to recreate, environment effects such as weather and the freeze-thaw cycle, as well as heavy use, can have very severe and detrimental effects on the turf.

In particular, sports fields can become torn up and bumpy after just one game, particularly if the ground is saturated from heavy rain.

For example, a smooth football field can be quickly damaged and transformed into a surface of ridges, dips, holes, and bumps during the course of a game.

When the turf's original condition becomes untenable it can present a danger to athletes in subsequent games, particularly if the ground freezes after becoming damaged with holes, bumps and ridges.

Triplex attachment rollers are designed to be mounted on triplex mowers in place of the reels and have a similar weight resulting in light compaction.

Insects, earthworms and burrowing animals such as moles, can all be detrimental to the integrity of the turf surface.

Further, in northern climates frost occurring as a result of the winter freeze-thaw cycles can seriously disrupt the turf surface, and leaves the surface of the turf uneven and in need of smoothing.

Many of the turf or ground rollers in use are relatively small for use on smaller areas of turf such as the greens of a golf course, and are not efficient when used on larger areas.

Other ground rollers in use do not allow for easy adjustment in ground pressure or compacting force by changing the weight of the roller.

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