Turf Plug Collecting Sled

Abstract

A turf plug collecting sled 14 suitable for mounting at a multi-head mower (fig 1) or other turf treatment prime mover includes a sole plate 18 provided at an optional collection canopy 19 with the so

Description

Field of invention The present concept relates to a turf plug collecting sled capable of being advanced over the ground to collect turf plugs, and in particular, although not exclusively, to a sled adapted for mounting at a multi-head mower to form a set of turf plug collecting sleds. Background Ground aeration is a reasonably regular treatment of golf course fairways and greens to help create healthy and lush turf. As will be appreciated, due to weather, rolling and use, golf courses in particular greens, tend to become compacted. Compacted soil significantly reduces oxygen penetration and nutrient flow to the grass which is important for maintaining healthy turf and avoiding the turf becoming less tolerant to stress and more susceptible to insect infestation, disease and weed ingrowth. Core aeration is a process by which small cylindrical cores or plugs are removed from the uppermost 60cm of soil leaving behind regular spaced holes that allow the turf space to expand and breath. A variety of aerator machines are available, all comprising sets of mechanical core extractors provided at operating heads to penetrate into the soil and extract the cores plugs. Such core-aeration machines may be self-propelled, pulled or pushed by a secondary vehicle, multipurpose mower, tractor and the like. Core aeration machines typically extract the cores and then discharge them as a trail behind the machine as it travels over the turf. The cores may then be scooped up with a shovel for disposal, mulching or other secondary uses. More recently, soil core collectors have been developed to increase the efficiency of core collection. US 6,253,858 Bl describes a soil core collector having a series of interconnected platelets that form a sole plate. A canopy extends over the sole plate and as the collector is advanced over the ground, the sole plate scrapes the cores resting on the ground surface that are then accumulated on top of the plate and within the canopy. US 2013 / 0048320 Al similarly describes a device for collecting and removing soil cores from golf green. A set of interconnected shovels extend under a housing and may be advanced across the grass to scrape and collect the cores. However, there is a continued need for improved soil core collectors to facilitate the process of maintaining healthy turf as part of an aeration treatment process. Summary of the Invention It is an objective to of the present concept to provide a turf plug collector suitable to scrape soil cores from a turf surface and to collect the cores effectively and efficiently for subsequent discharge, removal and / or onward processing. It is a further specific objective to provide a collector and in particular a set of collectors suitable for mounting at a multihead prime mover such as a multi-head mower, for example a triple mower. It is a further specific objective to provide a turf plug collector sled or unit to form a set of units that may be mounted at a multi-head prime mover (tractor, vehicle, mower) to provide a collective modular unit extending widthwise across the prime mover. It is a further specific objective to provide a plurality of turf plug collecting sleds capable of pivoting with separate respective link arms provided at a prime mover / mower. A turf plug collecting sled is provided that is adapted specifically for mounting at a multi-head / link-arm mower or other prime mover so as to form a set of collectors. Each turf plug collecting sled is sized and configured to be positionable in a widthwise direction across a mower to provide a modular turf plug collector, where each unit forms a component part of a collector assembly that extends across (and beyond) the full working width of the mower (between laterally outermost flanks). The present modular sled set is particularly advantageous to provide a turf plug collecting unit with independently pivoting sleds (attached to each of a plurality of mounting arms or yokes) typically provided at a forward position of a multi-head mower. In particular, the present concept provides an aeration core collector attachment for attachment to a ride-on mower. The attachment is provided as a set of ground engaging units referred to herein as sleds. Via the independent pivoting action of each sled, coupled to each link arm (yoke), as the mower is turned, for example at the end of a pass over a green surface, each sled pivots at its respective link arm to ensure a continued turf collecting action (at the perimeter region of the green). The present sled and collection unit is specifically advantageous to avoid loss of turf plugs from each collector unit as the mower is turned at the green perimeter. The present concept is further advantageous to avoid unintentional loss and embedding of turf plugs into the soil / green surface that may otherwise occur with loss of turf plugs from the collector and then the passage of a mower or other prime mover over the discharged plugs. Accordingly, the present concept provides an effective and efficient device for the collection of turf plugs resultant from ground aeration processes. According to a specific aspect of the present concept there is provided a turf plug collecting sled comprising: a plug retainer having a rear wall portion and flanking lateral sidewall portions; a sole plate extending forward of the rear wall portion and laterally across the sled between the sidewall portions, the sole plate having a leading edge; and at each sidewall portion comprises a lead part that is positioned beyond and forward relative the leading edge in a direction extending from the rear wall portion to either lead part. Preferably, at least a portion of each lead part is positioned generally co-planar with the sole plate so as to be ground engaging with the sole plate when the sled is positioned on ground. Preferably, the sled further comprises a canopy having a roof, the sidewall and the rear wall portions forming part of the canopy and extending upwardly in height direction of the sled between the sole plate and the roof. Optionally, a depth of the sole plate extending forward from the rear wall portion is half or less of a full depth of the sled measured from a rearwardmost part of the rear wall portion and one of the lead parts. Optionally, a depth of the sole plate extending forward from the rear wall portion is half or more of a full depth of the sled measured from a rearwardmost part of the rear wall portion and one of the lead parts. Optionally, in a direction between the rear wall portion and one of the lead parts, the leading edge of the sole plate is provided at a position being any one of: closer to the rear wall portion relative to each lead part; closer to each lead part relative to the rear wall portion; in a range 1 to 50%, 1 to 40%, 1 to 30%, 1 to 20%, 1 to 10%, or 4 to 10% of a full depth of the sled as measured between a rearwardmost part of the rear wall portion and one of the lead parts. Such configurations are effective to ensure turf plugs are collected internally within the collection chamber of the sled and do not escape and pass below respective underside ground engaging surfaces of the sled. Such an arrangement is particularly advantageous for the effective and reliable capture of turf plugs when the sled is advanced over ground that includes moderate and minor surface undulations. Optionally, the sole plate is integral, non-integral or detachably mounted at the rear wall portion and / or the sidewall portions. Optionally, the sled may further comprise at least one weighted body mounted at the sled and under gravity to apply a downward force to the sled to increase a ground engaging contact of the sole plate when placed on ground. The weighted body may be positioned at a roof of the canopy. Optionally, a plurality of weighted bodies may be provided at different regions of the sled for example at a rear wall, sidewalls, the front / tip, rear end or lateral side of the ground engaging skis. Preferably, the sled further comprises at least one mounting attachment to attach the sled to a link arm of a mower. Optionally, the sled comprises a single mounting attachment to attach the sled to a corresponding single mounting attachment provided at a mower link arm. Optionally, the sled may comprise at least a first mounting attachment and a second mounting attachment provided at or towards each widthwise end of the sled. Optionally, the mounting attachment may comprise a first half of a male / female coupling for the releasable attachment of the sled to a yoke and / or link / lift arm provided at a multi-head mower / prime mover. The present sled is compatible for operation with a plurality of different types of mounting attachment, yokes and link / lift arms as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. Optionally, a maximum width of the sled in a direction along the length of the leading edge of the sole plate as defined between laterally outermost regions of the sidewall portions is in a range 40 to 80cm, 45 to 80cm, 45 to 75 cm, 45 to 70cm or 50 to 65cm. The present sled is particularly adapted to form part of a set of sleds that extend in a widthwise direction across a mower. The present sleds are typically adapted for attachment to a triple-head mower comprising a pair of forward positioned lateral flanking ground treatment units and a third treatment unit positioned in a widthwise direction between and rearwardly of the two forward flanking treatment units. According to a preferred implementation, a length of each sled is configured such that when attached to a conventional triple mower, the sleds overlap in a widthwise direction so as to provide a continuous core plug capture zone extending widthwise from one lateral side of a first sled and a second and opposite lateral side of an oppositely positioned sled (at a second lateral side of the mower). In one implementation, a combined width of the sleds between the outermost lateral sides of the combined collecting sled assembly is approximately 1.5 meters. Optionally, the sidewall portions comprise respective skis configured to support a sliding action of the sled in contact with the ground. Preferably, a width of each of the skis is greater than a width or thickness of a main body of each sidewall portion extending upwardly from each ski. Such an arrangement is advantageous to maintain effective and reliable ground engaging contacts between the lateral sides of each sled and to avoid undesirable loss of captured turf plugs. Preferably, a tip of each ski defines each respective lead part of the sled. Accordingly, the forwardmost region of the sled is represented by the ski tips. Optionally, the sole plate is non-integral with the rear wall and sidewall portions and is pivotally mounted at each of the sidewall portions to enable the sole plate to pivot and a portion of the sole plate to swing downwardly below the sidewall portions. Optionally, the sled may further comprise pivot mountings positioned between each sidewall portion and lateral sides of the sole plate, the lateral sides of the sole plate extending generally perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the leading edge. Optionally, the sled may comprise at least one bias actuator to bias the sole plate to a raised position in which the sole plate is configured for sliding in contact with the ground. Optionally, the sled may further comprise at least one counterweight attached to the sole plate via at least one swing arm and configured to act under gravity and provide a return force to the sole plate when in a downward pivoted position and impart a return pivoting of the sole plate to the raised position. Optionally, the sled may further comprise at least one bias actuator. Optionally the bias actuator may comprise a spring and optionally a torsion spring. Preferably, the bias actuator is mounted at a position so as to act on the sole plate when in a downward pivoted position and provide a biased return pivoting of the sole plate to the raised position. According to further specific implementation of the present concept there is a provided a set of turf plug collecting sleds as described and claimed herein. According to a further aspect of the present concept there is provided a mower having a plurality of forward mounted link arms to mount respective ground treatment units; and the set of turf plug collecting sleds as described and claimed herein, each sled of the set attached respectively to each of the link arms. Optionally, each sled of the set is sized and positioned so that their respective working widths overlap in a widthwise direction across the mower. Preferably, a combined width of each sled measured between laterally outermost parts of each of the respective sidewall portions defines a working width of the mower in a widthwise direction across the mower. Preferably, the working width is in a range 1.2 to 1.8m, 1.3 to 1.7m or 1.4 to 1.6m. Brief description of drawings A specific implementation of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure lisa perspective view of a multi-head greens mower comprising a set of turf plug collecting sleds according to one aspect of the present concept; Figure 2 is a front perspective view of one of the turf plug collecting sleds of figure 1; Figure 3 is a partial cut-away side view of the sled of figure 2 with a sole plate ground engaging blade in a raised in-use position; Figure 4 is a partial cut-away side view of the sled of figure 2 with a sole plate ground engaging blade in a downward pivoted position to empty collected turf plugs; Figure 5 is a cross sectional view through a turf plug collecting sled attachable to a multihead mower according to a further specific implementation of the present concept; Figure 6 is an underside view of the turf plug collecting sled of figure 5. Detailed description of preferred embodiment of the invention Referring to figure 1, a turf plug collecting sled 14 is configured specifically to be pushed in ground engaging contact at a forward region of a ride-on mower 10. Mower 10 being a conventional multi-head device comprises a seat 16 for an operator 17. A motor 15 is mounted rearwardly at a chassis 40 that also amounts a set of three wheels 11 (with a rear wheel being directionally controlled by operator 17). A set of lift arms 12 are provided at a forward region of mower 10 according to conventional designs and comprise individual yokes 13. Each yoke 13 comprises at least one mounting attachment to removably attach and mount a suitable ground treatment unit. According to the described embodiment, each yoke 13 comprises a pair of laterally spaced mounting attachments. Each of turf plug collecting sleds 14 comprises a sole plate extending laterally across sled 14. A canopy 19 provides a housing (or enclosure) extending in height direction upwardly from both the lateral sides and rear of sole plate 18. Accordingly, canopy 19 together with sole plate 18 define a turf plug collection container having a hollow internal chamber for the accumulation and temporary storage of turf plugs. Referring to figure 2, sled 14, according to the specific embodiment, comprises canopy 19 formed from sidewalls 25 and rear wall 27 extending in a height direction upwardly from the ground engaging sole plate 18 (that represents a lowermost component of sled 14). Sole plate 18 extends laterally across sled 14 continuously between sidewalls 25 and in a direction forward from rear wall 27. Canopy 19 comprises a roof 28 that extends forwardly from rear wall 27 and laterally between sidewalls 25 to define an enclosure for the collection and containment of the turf plugs. A pair of attachment arms 31 project upwardly from canopy 19. A cross beam 30 extends laterally across the full width of sled 14 between arms 31 for the releasable attachment to one of the yokes 13. As will be appreciated, alternative mounting attachments may be provided at or towards the upper region of sled 14 for releasable attachment with a variety of different types of mounting mechanism provided at mower 10. Such alternative mounting attachments include balljoint, single-mounting couplings and the like. A pair of parallel skis 21 are provided at a lowermost edge 25a of each sidewall 25. Each ski 21 comprises an enlarged ground engaging surface 21a (figure 5) upon which sled 14 may sit on the ground. Each ski 21 extends in the forward / rearward direction of travel 32 between a forwardmost end or tip 22 and a rearwardmost trailing end 23. Sole plate 18 comprises a forward-facing leading edge 20 also extending laterally across sled 14 between sidewalls 25 and skis 21. Leading edge 20, in combination with a leading edge 19a of canopy 19, and sidewall leading edges 26 define a mouth 33 of sled 14 into which turf plugs are guided and enter chamber 34 (figure 3). In particular, as sled 14 is advanced forwardly in direction 32, turf plugs resting on a greens surface are guided into mouth 33 via ski tips 22, over sole plate 18 to be collected in chamber 34 and accumulate against rear surface 24 of rear wall 27 and on top of an upward facing surface 35 (figure 3) of sole plate 18. To enhance the ground engaging force of sled 14, a weighted stack or body 29 is provided on roof 28. This is effective to maintain a ground engaging downward force though a downward facing surface 18a (figure 3) of sole plate 18 and ski surfaces 21a (figure 3) as sled 14 is pushed in a forward direction 32. As the ski tips 22 are positioned forward of sole plate leading edge 20, and due to the force through ground engaging surfaces 18a and 21a, turf plugs, scooped into chamber 34, cannot pass underneath sole plate 18, sidewalls 25 or rear wall 27. Referring to figures 2 and 3, sled 14 comprises a pair of swing arms 36 provided at each lateral sidewall 25. Each swing arm 36 comprises a first end region 36a mounted at a forwardmost region of sole plate 18 and a second end region 36b provided with a weighted body. Each swing arm 36 is pivotally mounted to each respective sidewall 25 via a pivot mounting 37. Accordingly, sole plate 18 is formed non-integrally with sidewalls 25 and rear wall 27 so as to be capable of pivoting between a raised ground engaging orientation as illustrated in figure 3 (in which sole plate underside surface 18a is positioned co-planar with skis downward facing surface 21a) and a deployed downward pivoted position illustrated in figure 4. Referring to figure 4, a pair of bias actuators in the form of torsion springs 38 are provided at each pivot mounting 37. Springs 38 are configured to provide a biasing return force to sole plate 18 from the downward pivoted position of figure 4 (in which a rearward trailing edge 18b of sole plate 18 extends below each ski underside surface 21a) to be returned upward to the in-use orientation of figure 3, in which at least a portion of sole plate underside surface 18a is aligned co-planar with ski surface 21a. The sole plate 18 in the downward pivoted orientation of figure 4, any turf plugs collected with chamber 34 are dispensed in direction 39 as sled 14 is raised from the ground (via an operator 17 raising each of the yokes 13 provided at each mechanical lift arm 12). A further embodiment of the present concept is illustrated in figures 5 and 6. The majority of the features and function of the embodiment to figures 1 to 4 are common to the further embodiment of figures 5 and 6 with the exception of the specific configuration of sole plate 18 and its mounted position and configuration as part of sled 14. According to the further embodiment, sole plate 18 is non-pivotally mounted at sled 14 and is either rigidly secured at or forms an extension of sidewalls 25 and rear wall 27. Accordingly, sole plate underside surface 18a is permanently positioned in co-planar alignment with each ski downward facing surface 21a. Accordingly, as turf plugs are fed into mouth 33, they collect at sole plate upward facing surface 35 and against internal surface 24 of rear wall 27. According to the embodiments of figures 1 to 4, leading edge 20 is positioned rearward of each ski tip 22 that also extend forward of the sled mouth 33 as defined by a vertical plane extending downwardly immediately below canopy leading edge 19a (figures 2 and 6). According to the further specific embodiment, sole plate leading edge 20 is positioned at an approximate mid-region in a forward / rearward direction sled 14 between ski tip 22 and rearward end 23. That is, a depthp of sole plate 18 as defined between leading edge 20 and rearward trailing edge 18b (at the junction with rear wall 27) is approximately half a full maximum depth 5 of sled 14 as defined between each ski tip rearward end 23. The position of sole plate leading edge 20 relative to each of the forwardmost ski tips 22 provides the reliable capture of turf plugs within chamber 34 particularly as the collected volume of plugs increases and as sled 14 reaches collection capacity. Additionally, the positioning of leading edge 20 in the forward direction of travel relative to the weighted body 29 and / or the approximate mass centre of sled 14 ensures sole plate 18 is maintained in maximum ground engaging contact. This further enhances the turf plug collection effectiveness and efficiency of sled 14 and specifically avoids undesirable passage / loss of the plugs under surfaces 21a and 18a. According to further embodiments, the positioning of leading edge 20 relative to mouth 33, sidewall leading edges 26 and / or ski tips 22 may be within predefined ranges to achieve the effective and reliable capture of turf plugs within chamber 34. 5

Claims

1. A turf plug collecting sled comprising:a plug retainer having a rear wall portion and flanking lateral sidewall portions;a sole plate extending forward of the rear wall portion and laterally across the sled between the sidewall portions, the sole plate having a leading edge; andat each sidewall portion comprises a lead part that is positioned beyond and forward relative the leading edge in a direction extending from the rear wall portion to either lead part.

2. The sled as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least a portion of each lead part is positioned generally co-planar with the sole plate so as to be ground engaging with the sole plate when the sled is positioned on ground.

3. The sled as claimed in claims 1 or 2 further comprising a canopy having a roof, the sidewall and the rear wall portions forming part of the canopy and extending upwardly in height direction of the sled between the sole plate and the roof.

4. The sled as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a depth of the sole plate extending forward from the rear wall portion is half or less of a full depth of the sled measured from a rearwardmost part of the rear wall portion and one of the lead parts.

5. The sled as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a depth of the sole plate extending forward from the rear wall portion is half or more of a full depth of the sled measured from a rearwardmost part of the rear wall portion and one of the lead parts.

6. The sled as claimed in any preceding claim wherein in a direction between the rear wall portion and one of the lead parts, the leading edge of the sole plate is provided at a position being any one of:• closer to the rear wall portion relative to each lead part;• closer to each lead part relative to the rear wall portion;• in a range 1 to 50%, 1 to 40%, 1 to 30%, 1 to 20%, 1 to 10%, or 4 to 10% of a full depth of the sled as measured between a rearwardmost part of the rear wall portion and one of the lead parts.

7. The sled as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the sole plate is integral, nonintegral or detachably mounted at the rear wall portion and / or the sidewall portions.

8. The sled as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising at least one weighted body mounted at the sled and under gravity to apply a downward force to the sled to increase a ground engaging contact of the sole plate when placed on ground.

9. The sled as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising at least one mounting attachment to attach the sled to a link arm of a mower.

10. The sled as claimed in claim 9 comprising a single mounting attachment to attach the sled to a corresponding single mounting attachment provided at a mower link arm.

11. The sled as claimed in claim 9 comprising at least a first mounting attachment and a second mounting attachment provided at or towards each widthwise end of the sled.

12. The sled as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a maximum width of the sled in a direction along the length of the leading edge of the sole plate as defined between laterally outermost regions of the sidewall portions is in a range 40 to 80cm, 45 to 80cm, 45 to 75 cm, 45 to 70cm or 50 to 65cm.

13. The sled as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the sidewall portions comprise respective skis configured to support a sliding action of the sled in contact with the ground.

14. The sled as claimed in claim 13 wherein a width of each of the skis is greater than a width or thickness of a main body of each sidewall portion extending upwardly from each ski.

15. The sled as claimed in claims 13 or 14 wherein a tip of each ski defines each respective lead part of the sled.

16. The sled as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the sole plate is non-integral with the rear wall and sidewall portions and is pivotally mounted at each of the sidewall portions to enable the sole plate to pivot and a portion of the sole plate to swing downwardly below the sidewall portions.

17. The sled as claimed in claim 16 comprising pivot mountings positioned between each sidewall portion and lateral sides of the sole plate, the lateral sides of the sole plate extending generally perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the leading edge.

18. The sled as claimed in claims 16 or 17 comprising at least one bias actuator to bias the sole plate to a raised position in which the sole plate is configured for sliding in contact with the ground.

19. The sled as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 18 comprising at least one counterweight attached to the sole plate via at least one swing arm and configured to act under gravity and provide a return force to the sole plate when in a downward pivoted position and impart a return pivoting of the sole plate to the raised position.

20. A set of turf plug collecting sleds as claimed in any preceding claim.

21. A mower having a plurality of forward mounted link arms to mount respective ground treatment units; andthe set of turf plug collecting sleds as claimed in claim 20, each sled of the set attached respectively to each of the link arms.

22. The mower as claimed in claim 21 wherein each sled of the set is sized and positioned so that their respective working widths overlap in a widthwise direction across the mower.

23. The mower as claimed in claim 22 wherein a combined width of each sled measured between laterally outermost parts of each of the respective sidewall portions defines a working width of the mower in a widthwise direction across the mower.5 24. The mower as claimed in claim 23 wherein said working width is in a range 1.2 to 1.8m.

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