Method and apparatus for unrolling fabric

Abstract

An apparatus and method for unrolling geotextile fabric across a surface comprising wherein the apparatus comprises a base body having an outer surface grippable between a bucket and corresponding thumb attachment of a motorized vehicle and a roll support member supported by and extending form the base body. The method comprises gripping the base body between a bucket and a thumb attachment of a motorized vehicle, locating a roll of geotextile fabric on the roll support member and utilizing the motorized vehicle, geotextile fabric roll in a desired direction.

Description

BACKGROUND1. Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates generally to geotechnical construction and in particular to a method and apparatus for unrolling geotechnical fabric.2. Description of Related Art

[0002] In the field of construction, geotechnical fabric is frequently required to be rolled or distributed across or within a ground surface to stabilize and / or reinforce the soil. Geotextile fabrics are commonly provided in a rolled form and are thereafter unrolled across the ground surface by workers.

[0003] One disadvantage with current methods of installing geotextile fabric is that it is required to be unrolled at site by workers. Such unrolling is commonly performed by hand by a plurality of workers.SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0004] According to a first embodiment, there is disclosed an apparatus for unrolling geotextile fabric across a surface comprising a base body having an outer surface grippable by a bucket and thumb attachment of a motorized vehicle and a roll support member supported by and extending form the base body.

[0005] The base body main include end stops for retaining the bucket and thumb attachment. The end stops may comprise plates extending away from the outer surface of the base body. The end stops may be spaced apart by a distance selected to be greater than the width of the bucket. The base body may have a substantially rectangular cross section. The base body may have first and second gripping sides.

[0006] The roll support member may be received within a bore in the base body. The bore may be angularly oriented relative to the first and second gripping sides. The roll support may comprise an elongate cylindrical member. The roll support may be slidably received within the bore. The roll support may include a collar on one side thereof and a pin on an opposite side of the base body operable to retain the roll support within the bore with the base support therebetween.

[0007] The roll support has a length selected to span through a center bore of a roll of geotextile fabric. The roll support may include an end collar to retain a roll of geotextile fabric thereon. The collar may be retained by a removable pin passing through the collar and the roll support. The collar may be located on a telescoping end connector locatable within a distal end of the roll support member.

[0008] The base body may comprise a gripping portion and a spacing portion. The spacing portion may extend perpendicularly from the gripping portion. The roll support member may be securable to the spacing portion.

[0009] The gripping portion may comprise a central portion and first and second telescoping portions. The central portion may include end stops. The central portion may include an attachment plate engagable upon a motorized vehicle adaptor plate. Each of the telescoping portion may include a spacing portion at a distal end thereof. Each spacing portion may include a roll support member extending towards each other.

[0010] According to a further embodiment, there is disclosed a method for unrolling geotextile fabric across a surface comprising gripping a base body between a bucket and a thumb attachment of a motorized vehicle, locating a roll of geotextile fabric on a roll support member extending from the base body and utilizing the motorized vehicle, geotextile fabric roll in a desired direction.

[0011] Other aspects and features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying figures.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The accompanying drawings constitute part of the disclosure. Each drawing illustrates exemplary aspects wherein similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in each view,

[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an excavator holding an apparatus for distributing geotechnical fabric across a soil surface according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

[0015] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

[0016] FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the base body of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

[0017] FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 2.

[0018] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an apparatus for supporting and distributing geotechnical fabric across a soil surface according to a further embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0019] FIG. 7 is a top plan view of an apparatus for supporting and distributing geotechnical fabric across a soil surface according to a further embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0020] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an apparatus for supporting and distributing geotechnical fabric across a soil surface according to a further embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0021] FIG. 9 is a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 8 in a loaded position.

[0022] FIG. 10 is a front side view of the apparatus of FIG. 8 in an open or unloaded position.

[0023] FIG. 11 is a front view of a system for holding an apparatus for distributing geotechnical fabric across a soil surface having a connecting upright according to a further embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0024] FIG. 12 is a top view of the system of FIG. 11 with two roll holding apparatuses connected to each other with the connecting upright.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] Aspects of the present disclosure are now described with reference to exemplary apparatuses, methods and systems. Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary apparatus for supporting a roll of geotechnical fabric 8 according to a first embodiment is shown generally at 10. As illustrated, the apparatus 10 may be gripped or otherwise held between a bucket 7 and thumb attachment 5 of an excavator. It will be appreciated that the apparatus 10 may also be held by the bucket and thumb attachment of another machine, including without limitation a skid steer or loader.

[0026] Turning now to FIGS. 2 through 5, the apparatus 10 comprises a base body 12 and an elongate roll support member 50 extending therefrom. The base body 12 comprises a structure sized and shaped to be gripped or otherwise retained between a thumb attachment 5 and a bucket 7 of the mobile vehicle. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the base body 12 may comprise a substantially rectangular cross section body extending between first and second ends 14 and 16 and having first and second side surface 18 and 20. The base body 12 has a distance between the first and second sides 18 and 20 selected to be grippable between a thumb attachment 5 and a bucket 7 as are commonly known.

[0027] With reference to FIG. 4, the base body 12 includes a bore 22 extending therethrough at a position proximate to the first end 14. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the bore 22 may include a sleeve 24 therearound and may be angularly oriented relative to the first and second sides 18 and 20 by an angle generally indicated at 26 in FIG. 5. In operation, the angle may be selected to be between 0 and 90 degrees. The bore 22 is sized to receive the rod supporting member 50 therein and may pass completely through the base member 12.

[0028] The first side 18 of the base body 12 may include end stops 30 extending perpendicularly therefrom. The end stops 30 may comprise planar members and may be spaced apart by a distance generally indicated at 32 adapted to span the bucket 7 with which the apparatus is designed to operate.

[0029] The roll support member 50 comprises an elongate cylindrical member extending between first and second ends, 52 and 54, respectively having a diameter selected to be receivable within the bore 22. The roll support member 50 may include a positioning collar 56 proximate to the first end 52 adapted to abut against the sleeve 24 and prevent further movement of the roll support member therethrough. The roll support member may include a transverse bore 58 between the positioning collar 56 and the first end 52 wherein the distance between the transvers bore and the positioning collar is selected to correspond to the length of the sleeve 24 so that a pin 60 may be passed through the transverse bore after the roll support member 50 is passed through the sleeve 24. The roll support member may be hollow or solid as required by the weight of the roll of geotextile fabric to be supported. Other types of fasteners for securing the roll support member 50 within the bore 22 may also be utilized including, but not limited to fasteners, connectors, threading or the like.

[0030] The second end 54 of the roll support member may include a telescoping connector 70 sized to telescope into the roll support member 50. The telescoping connector may include a collar 72 sized to retain a roll of geotextile fabric on the roll support member 50. The telescoping connector may be securable within the roll support member 50 at one or a plurality of locations so as to be operable to adjust the length of the roll support member and may be secured thereto by any commonly known means, including fasteners, pins, threading or the like.

[0031] Turning now to FIG. 6, a further embodiment of the apparatus 10 is illustrated. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the base body 12 may be formed of a gripping portion 40 and a spacing portion 42. As illustrated, the gripping portion 40 may include the first and second sides 18 and 20 and the end stops adapted to be gripped by a bucket and finger attachment of a vehicle. The spacing portion 42 may extend perpendicularly away from the gripping portion 40 and includes the bore 22 and sleeve 24 such that the roll support member 50 is extended along a plane parallel to a plane of the gripping portion 40. In operation, such an embodiment will orient the roll of fabric across the path of travel of the vehicle such that forward or backward movement thereof may pull or unroll the fabric behind or under the vehicle.

[0032] Turning now to FIG. 7, a further embodiment of the apparatus 100 is illustrated. The apparatus comprises a base body 102 and a pair of opposed roll supporting members 120. The base body 102 comprises a central portion 104 and a pair of telescoping side portions 106 received therein. The central portion may include first and second side gripping surfaces as set out above or an optional quick attachment plate 105 as are commonly utilized with excavators, skid steer loaders or the like. It will be appreciated that the quick attachment plate 105 may be applied to any of the embodiments disclosed herein and may be selected to be of any known type including, without limitation, for attachment to a skid steer loader, excavator or any other piece of equipment. The first and second side portions 106 include extensions 108 extending perpendicularly therefrom. One or more of the extensions 106 may include a socket 110 sized to receive one of the roll support members 120 therein at a distal end thereof. One or more of the extensions may include a bore therethrough sized to pass one of the roll support members 120 therein at a distal end thereof.

[0033] In operation, the side portions 106 may be adjusted to have a width between the extensions 108 corresponding to the length of the fabric roll. Thereafter, the roll may be placed on the roll supports so as to suspend the roll therebetween. Once thus supported, a skid steer loader, excavator or the like may be connected to the base body and pull or move the apparatus and therefore the roll of fabric behind or underneath the vehicle as it traverses the surface over which the fabric is to be placed.

[0034] Optionally, as illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12, the apparatus may include ore than one base body 102 each having a rotatable upright member 140 extending therefrom. The rotatable upright member 140 supports an adjusting receiver 142 perpendicularly thereto. With reference to FIG. 12, each adjusting receiver 142 receives an adjusting member 144 therein wherein. In operation, the rotatable upright member 140 may be rotated to be angularly offset form the base body 102 and the spacing between the rotatable upright members 140 set so as to locate each base body 102 offset form and spaced relative to each other so as to permit two or more rolls of fabric to be unrolled at one time with an amount of overlap set by a user.

[0035] Turning now to FIG. 8, a further embodiment of the apparatus 200 is illustrated having a griping portion 202 and a spacing portion 210 at one end thereof. The gripping portion 202 may also include a quick attachment plate 205 as set out above. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the roll support member 50 may be affixed to the spacing portion 210 proximate to the distal end thereof and may have a length corresponding substantially to the length of the gripping portion 202. The gripping portion 202 extends between first and second ends, 204 and 206 wherein the spacing portion extends form the first end 204. The second end 206 of the gripping portion includes an end brace 220 rotatably connected thereto. The end brace 220 extends between first and second ends, 222 and 224, respectively, and includes a downwardly oriented v-shaped opening 230 proximate to the second end 224. The end brace is pivotally connected to the gripping portion at a first end 206 thereof. The v-shaped opening 230 is positioned and received to receive a distal end of the support member 50 therein. The end brace 220 includes a latch member 240 pivotally connected to the end brace 220 proximate to the v-shaped opening and includes a latching recess 242 adapted to be displaced out of alignment with the v-shaped opening 230 as the support member 50 passes therethrough and thereafter be rotated back to cover the v-shaped opening 230 and retain the support member 50 with in the v-shaped opening as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10. The end brace 220 may be supported at a position extending form the base portion 202 so as to prevent rotating lower than the spacing portion 210 such that when a support member is supported within the v-shaped opening 230, both ends of the support member are supported at a common height relative to the base portion 202.

[0036] It will be appreciated that any one or more of the connections and adjustable orientations of any of the embodiments of the present disclosure may include an actuator for moving or adjusting such connection. By way of non-limiting example, such actuators may include hydraulic, pneumatic or electric cylinders or motors.

[0037] While specific embodiments have been described and illustrated, such embodiments should be considered illustrative only and not as limiting the disclosure as construed in accordance with the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus for unrolling geotextile fabric across a surface comprising:a base body having an outer surface grippable between a bucket and corresponding thumb attachment of a motorized vehicle; anda roll support member supported by and extending form the base body.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base body includes end stops for retaining the bucket and thumb attachment thereon.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the end stops comprise plates extending away from the outer surface of the base body.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the end stops are spaced apart by a distance selected to be greater than the width of the bucket.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base body has a substantially rectangular cross section.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the base body has first and second gripping sides.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the roll support member is received within a bore in the base body.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the bore is angularly oriented relative to first and second gripping sides of the base body.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the roll support comprises an elongate cylindrical member.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the roll support is slidably receivable within the bore.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the roll support may include a collar positioned to bear against the bore and a pin towards an end of the roll support positioned to removably contain the bore between the collar and pin.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the roll support has a length selected to span through a center bore of a roll of geotextile fabric.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the roll support includes an end collar to operable to retain a roll of geotextile fabric thereon.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the collar is retained on the roll support by a removable pin passing through the collar and the roll support.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the collar may be located on a telescoping end connector locatable within a distal end of the roll support member.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base body comprises a gripping portion and a spacing portion.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the spacing portion extends perpendicularly from the gripping portion.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the roll support member is securable to the spacing portion.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the roll support member extends substantially parallel to the gripping portion.

20. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the gripping portion comprises a central portion and first and second telescoping portions.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein each of the telescoping portion includes a spacing portion at a distal end thereof.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein each spacing portion includes a roll support member extending towards each other.

23. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the gripping portion extends to a selectably engagable end brace at an end opposite to the spacing portion wherein the end brace is operable to be selectably engaged upon a free end of the roll support member.

24. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the gripping portion includes an attachment plate engagable upon a motorized vehicle adaptor plate.

25. A method for unrolling geotextile fabric across a surface comprising:gripping a base body between a bucket and a thumb attachment of a motorized vehicle;locating a roll of geotextile fabric on a roll support member extending from the base body; andutilizing the motorized vehicle, geotextile fabric roll in a desired direction.

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