Rut filling equipment

Abstract

Equipment (100) is provided for filling an elongate hole in the ground, such as a rut formed by the wheel of an irrigation pivot. A sled (108) includes a pair of ground engaging skids (116) with an opening (118) therebetween and a chute (122) above the opening (118). A bottom discharge hopper (106) with a controlled door arrangement (138) at an outlet (120) is provided on a wheeled trailer chassis (104) to feed filling material into the chute (122). The sled (108) has a pulling beam (110) pivotably fastened to an underside of the chassis (104). A grading shoulder (134) provides a back edge of the opening to level the material deposited into the hole.

Description

[0001] RUT FILLING EQUIPMENT

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The invention relates to equipment used to deposit a filling material (usually including gravel, rock, sand and / or soil) into a rut or other (usually elongate) hole in the ground.

[0004] BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0005] The problem of ruts is well known in the agricultural industry. In particular, these ruts result where the supporting wheels of irrigation pivots run and press a track into the ground. There are also many other examples of where a hole or trench is formed in the ground that needs to be filled.

[0006] The depositing or laying of a filling material may involve manual labour and mechanized equipment. Generally, this operation requires that a visual assessment be made. The correct amount of material must be put down to achieve the required level to close the hole. A measured amount of material is required for the proper and desired result. This can be time consuming, and results may be inconsistent unless an appropriate level of experience / skill is applied.

[0007] OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0008] It is an object of the invention to provide equipment which will at least partially alleviate the difficulties of filling a rut or other hole in the ground.

[0009] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] In accordance with the invention there is provided equipment for filling a hole in the ground comprising: a sled with a pair of spaced apart ground engaging skids and an opening therebetween; a chute provided above the opening; a grading shoulder providing a back edge of the opening; the sled sized for the skids to straddle a hole to be filled; and a filling material hopper supported with a controlled outlet located above the sled for gravity discharge from the outlet into the chute.

[0011] The invention further provides for the hole in the ground to be elongate and, more specifically to be a rut [of the kind formed by the wheels of an irrigation pivot],

[0012] A further feature of the invention provides for the chute to be provided by two side guide-walls that extend from the skids connected by a rear guide-wall that extends between the skids at the back of the opening.

[0013] Further features of the invention provide for the skids to be provided along opposite sides of a box structure having an open bottom, with side and rear members of the box structure supporting the side and rear guide-walls of the chute; and for the guide-walls to be tapered inwardly to the box structure. [The box structure and guide-wall components may be an assembly or provided as integral parts.]

[0014] A further feature of the invention provides for a trailing bottom edge of the chute extending between the skids to provide the grading shoulder.

[0015] Further features of the invention provide for the hopper to be a bottom discharge hopper supported above the sled; for the outlet from the hopper to have a controlled door arrangement; and for the controlled door arrangement to provide a variable size, adjustable flow passage at the outlet.

[0016] Further features of the invention provide for the hopper to be provided on a wheeled trailer chassis; for the sled to have pulling beam with a front end pivotably fastened to an underside of the chassis; and for a back end of the pulling beam to be hingedly connected to the sled. Further features of the invention provided for the trailer to include a lifting mechanism that is releasably engageable with the sled, for engagement and lifting of the sled into an inoperative condition and lowering and releasing of the sled into a ground engaging, working condition.

[0017] The lifting mechanism is preferably connected to the pulling beam of the sled by a chain with the chain being tensioned to lift the sled and slackened to release the sled for independent movement in the working condition.

[0018] Further features of the invention provide for the lifting mechanism to be a hydraulic cylinder and for the chain arrangement to run from the pulling beam over a pulley mounted to the hydraulic cylinder with an end of the chain arrangement anchored to the chassis. The hydraulic cylinder is preferably mounted on the hopper.

[0019] A further feature of the invention provides for a back end of the sled to be restrained for limited lateral movement relative to the trailer by at least one chain connection between the trailer and the sled.

[0020] The use of the chains may be replaced by alternative, suitable elongate flexible elements such as steel cable or suitable linkages that afford the required degree of movement.

[0021] Further features of the invention provide for the pulling beam to be of a Y- shaped construction with two hinge connections adjacent the skids respectively and a single forward beam component pivotably fastened to the chassis. The chain arrangement has two bottom legs fastened to opposite sides of the pulling beam and the legs are connected to a single, top chain component that runs over the pulley.

[0022] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description of embodiments, made by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0023] Figure 1 shows a front perspective view of a sled in accordance with the invention;

[0024] Figure 2 shows a rear perspective view of the sled in Figure 1 ;

[0025] Figure 3 shows a side view of a hopper trailer and sled in accordance with the invention with the sled in a lowered position and a controlled door arrangement at the hopper outlet is closed;

[0026] Figure 4 shows a cross-section taken along line 4-4 from Figure 3;

[0027] Figure 5 shows a partial view of the same cross-section as Figure 4 but with the door arrangement open (as in Figure 5);

[0028] Figure 6 shows a rear view of the equipment with the sled lowered and the door arrangement open;

[0029] Figure 7 shows a cross-section taken along line 7-7 from Figure 6; and

[0030] Figure 8 shows a side view of the equipment with the door arrangement closed and the sled lifted into an inoperative, travel condition.

[0031] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] Referring to Figures 3 to 8 of the drawings, equipment (100) for filling a hole in the ground is shown. The equipment of the invention is provided as a trailer (102) and is particularly suited to filling ruts formed by wheels of irrigation pivots with a suitable filling material. The trailer (102) will preferably be tractor drawn.

[0033] The trailer (102) includes a wheeled chassis (104) that carries a hopper (106) for the filling material. The equipment (100) includes an underslung sled (108) shown separately in Figures 1 and 2.

[0034] The sled (108) has a pulling beam (110) with a front end pivotably fastened at (112) to an underside of the chassis (104). A back end of the pulling beam is hingedly connected at (114) to either side of the sled (108). The sled (108) has pair of spaced apart ground engaging skids (116). A pivoting connection and hinge connections will be designated by (112) and (114).

[0035] The sled (108) is sized for the skids (116) to straddle the rut to be filled and is drawn along the ground under the chassis (104) when in use. The hinge connections (114) accommodate movement of the sled (108) as it travels. The sled (108) is provided with an opening (118) between the two skids (116) which will be moved along the rut and the filling material hopper (106) has a controlled outlet (120) located above the opening (118) of the sled (108) for gravity discharge from the outlet (120) into the opening (118). The outlet (120) is most clearly visible in the cross-section of Figure 7.

[0036] The skids (116) are provided along opposite sides of a chute (122) which is arranged around the opening (118) between the skids. The chute (122) in this embodiment is provided by box structure (124) having an open bottom, with side (126) members and a rear member (128) of the box structure supporting side guide-walls (130) and a rear guide-wall (132). The two side guide-walls (130) that extend from the skids (116) are connected by the rear guide-wall (132) that extends between the skids (116) at a back of the opening. The three guide-walls (130; 132) are tapered inwardly to the box structure (124). The assembly provides the chute (122) construction which serves to funnel or direct filling material into the rut via the opening (118). The box structure (124) and guide-wall components (130; 132) may be an assembly or provided as integral parts (which may be bent or folded as required).

[0037] The assembly further provides for a trailing bottom edge (134) of the chute (122) to extend between the skids (116), over a front side of the rear member (128). This edge (134) which is most visible in the view of Figure 1 and crosssection of Figure 7 provides a grading shoulder (134).

[0038] The grading shoulder (134) may be provided at a level slightly above the ground engaging surfaces of the skids. The arrangement will provide for a levelling effect on the deposited filling material. The material that is above the bottom edge of the grading shoulder (134) will be pushed forward inside the chute (122). The sled (108) will have a suitable mass to substantially maintain travelling contact of the skids (116) on the ground to either side of the rut. This serves to support the grading shoulder (134) at a suitable level or at least within a range that is acceptable for levelling of the filling material as the sled passes over that which has been deposited.

[0039] It will be appreciated that the grading shoulder as required at the back edge of the opening may be provided by an alternative construction, which may include some other cross-member at the bottom of or below the chute (122).

[0040] In the illustrated embodiment, the box structure (124) also provides a front member (136) that braces the skids (116) and provides rigidity to the sled (108). The skids (108) will preferably include replaceable ground engaging liners along (not shown) an underside and on the upwardly curved front and rear regions of the skids (116).

[0041] The hopper (106) in this embodiment is of a bottom discharge type and supported above the sled (108) by the trailer (102). The outlet (120) from the hopper (106) includes a controlled door arrangement (138) which is used to provide a variable size, adjustable flow passage at the outlet (120).

[0042] The door arrangement (138) includes a pair of hinged gates (140) that are each controlled by a hydraulic cylinder (142). The speed of the tractor and the flow of material that is provided by the degree to which the door arrangement (138) is held open will be matched to a particular size or depth of rut. A maximum discharge will be defined by the size of the outlet (120) in the bottom of the hopper (106) and variations in this may be required depending on the type of filling material that is used.

[0043] The pulling beam (110) in this embodiment is provided as a Y-shaped component with two hinge connections (114) adjacent the skids (116) respectively and a single forward beam pivotably fastened to the chassis. The trailer (102) includes a lifting mechanism (144) that is releasably engageable with the sled (108), for engagement and lifting of the sled into an inoperative condition (as shown in Figure 8) and lowering and releasing of the sled into a ground engaging, working condition.

[0044] The lifting mechanism is preferably provided as a hydraulic cylinder (144) mounted at a suitable, elevated position on the hopper and connected to the pulling beam (110) of the sled (108) by a chain arrangement (146). The chain arrangement (146) is tensioned to lift the sled (108) and once the sled is lowered to sit on the ground, further lowering of the lifting mechanism (144) introduces a suitable but limited amount of slack to afford the sled (108) independent movement as it is drawn along in the working condition.

[0045] In this embodiment, the chain arrangement (146) has two bottom legs (146.2) fastened to opposite sides of the pulling beam (110). The legs (146.2) converge and are connected to a single, top chain component (146.1 ) that runs over a pulley (147) provided on the end of the hydraulic cylinder (144). The end of the chain component (146.1 ) is anchored to the trailer chassis (104). It will be understood that, by using the chain arrangement (146), the lifting mechanism (144) remains fastened to the sled (108) through the slack chain when lowered but not engaged with the sled as it is when lifting under a taut chain condition. An alternative lifting mechanism may be fastened to the sled and then unfastened and disconnected therefrom once the sled is lowered for use.

[0046] A back end of the sled (108) is restrained for limited lateral movement relative to the trailer by at least one chain (148) connected between the trailer and the sled. An arrangement of two chains (148) extending across each other is provided to serve this purpose as shown in the drawings. A suitable amount of slack allows a limited degree the sideways movement of the sled (108) and this prevents contact with the wheels.

[0047] The use of the chains (146; 148) may be replaced by alternative, suitable elongate flexible elements such as steel cable or suitable linkages that afford the required degree of movement. The operation of the hydraulics to lower and lift the sled and to open and close the door arrangement will be handled from the tractor. The trailer and sled will be drawn along a rut with the contents of the hopper deposited into the rut. The operation allows for a controlled discharge and the sled directs the fall of the material as required into the rut.

[0048] As the sled is pulled forward the material settles into the rut at a front region of the opening. The rear grading shoulder of the chute will push excess filling material forward at the rear region of the opening and serve to level the deposited filing material over as the sled is pulled forward.

[0049] The filling material may be selected to provide a track that resists the further formation of a rut under subsequent use of the irrigation pivot in this example. This may be achieved by having a suitable stone or crushed rock component included in the filling material.

[0050] It will be appreciated that the configuration of the sled and its components, which will include the shape and size of the opening, may be subject to variation depending on the design considerations and requirements of a skilled person looking to achieve a workable construction.

[0051] It will also be appreciated that the invention may find application (with or without modification) where other types of holes or trenches need to be filled.

[0052] A person skilled in the art will further appreciate that a number of changes can be made to the features of the embodiment described without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Equipment for filling a hole in the ground comprising: a sled with a pair of spaced apart ground engaging skids and an opening therebetween; a chute provided above the opening; a grading shoulder providing a back edge of the opening; the sled sized for the skids to straddle a hole to be filled; and a filling material hopper supported with a controlled outlet located above the sled for gravity discharge from the outlet into the chute.

2. Equipment as claimed in claim 1 in which the chute is provided by two side guidewalls that extend from the skids connected by a rear guide-wall that extends between the skids at the back of the opening.

3. Equipment as claimed in claim 2 in which the skids are provided along opposite sides of a box structure having an open bottom, with side and rear members of the box structure supporting the side and rear guide-walls of the chute.

4. Equipment as claimed in claim 3 in which the guide-walls are tapered inwardly to the box structure.

5. Equipment as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 in which a trailing bottom edge of the chute extending between the skids provides the grading shoulder.

6. Equipment as claimed in claim 1 in which the hopper is a bottom discharge hopper supported above the sled with the outlet from the hopper having a controlled door arrangement.

7. Equipment as claimed in claim 6 in which the controlled door arrangement provides a variable size, adjustable flow passage at the outlet.

8. Equipment as claimed in claim 1 in which the hopper is provided on a wheeled trailer chassis.

9. Equipment as claimed in claim 8 in which the sled has a pulling beam with a front end pivotably fastened to an underside of the chassis and a back end hingedly connected to the sled.

10. Equipment as claimed in claim 9 in which the trailer includes a lifting mechanism that is releasably engageable with the sled, for engagement and lifting of the sled into an inoperative condition and lowering and releasing of the sled into a ground engaging, working condition.11 . Equipment as claimed in claim 10 in which the lifting mechanism is connected to the pulling beam of the sled by a suitable elongate flexible element that is tensioned to lift the sled and slackened to release the sled for independent movement in the working condition.

12. Equipment as claimed in claim 11 in which the lifting mechanism is a hydraulic cylinder and the elongate flexible element runs from the pulling beam over a pulley mounted to the hydraulic cylinder with an end of the elongate flexible element anchored to the chassis.

13. Equipment as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 12 in which a back end of the sled is restrained for limited lateral movement relative to the trailer by at least one elongate flexible element connection between the trailer and the sled.

14. Equipment as claimed in claim 9 in which the pulling beam has a Y-shaped construction with two hinge connections adjacent the skids respectively and a single forward beam component pivotably fastened to the chassis.

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