Title: Soil aerating machine
Abstract: A soil aerating machine includes in combination a skid-steer and a basket resembling a loader bucket adapted for attachment to the skid-steer boom. An air pressure tank, an elongate air nozzle pipe, an air hammer, and air control valves for the air nozzle pipe and air hammer are carried within the basket. The elongate air nozzle is attached to the basket using a pivotal bearing surface, which permits controlled motion therebetween. The air hammer is used to assist with the driving of the elongate air nozzle pipe into an earthen medium. A blast of air is then released through the air nozzle pipe into the earth, to loosen and aerate packed or clogged soil. A method of restoring a septic system using the preferred apparatus is also described, as are various alternative apparatus and method steps.
Patent Number: 6,939,085 Issued on 09/06/2005 to Posch
| Inventors:
|
Posch; Gregory J. (39725 County Rd. 3, Holdingford, Stearns County, MN 56341)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
719160 |
| Filed:
|
November 21, 2003 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
405/269; 405/128.3; 405/128.1; 405/128.25; 405/128.15; 172/21 |
| Intern'l Class: |
B09C 001/00 |
| Field of Search: |
405/1281,128.15,128.25,128.3,269
172/21
111/118
|
References Cited [Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
| 1677153 | Jul., 1928 | Spencer.
| |
| 1755445 | Apr., 1930 | Irish.
| |
| 1814445 | Jul., 1931 | Irish.
| |
| 1814446 | Jul., 1931 | Irish.
| |
| 2083153 | Jun., 1937 | Irish.
| |
| 2306165 | Dec., 1942 | Irish.
| |
| 2323773 | Jul., 1943 | Irish.
| |
| 2789522 | Apr., 1957 | Barton.
| |
| 3148643 | Sep., 1964 | Mussett et al.
| |
| 3450073 | Jun., 1969 | Baker.
| |
| 3546886 | Dec., 1970 | Jones et al.
| |
| 3608318 | Sep., 1971 | Levy et al.
| |
| 4233915 | Nov., 1980 | Kordon.
| |
| 4429647 | Feb., 1984 | Zinck.
| |
| 4566543 | Jan., 1986 | Kotani.
| |
| 4570553 | Feb., 1986 | Ito.
| |
| 4624194 | Nov., 1986 | Zinck.
| |
| 4658738 | Apr., 1987 | Zinck.
| |
| 4660480 | Apr., 1987 | Zinck.
| |
| 4839061 | Jun., 1989 | Manchak Jr. et al.
| |
| 4903618 | Feb., 1990 | Blair.
| |
| 4945988 | Aug., 1990 | Payne et al.
| |
| 5006017 | Apr., 1991 | Yoshida et al.
| |
| 5032042 | Jul., 1991 | Schuring et al.
| |
| 5061119 | Oct., 1991 | Balthaus et al.
| |
| 5101745 | Apr., 1992 | Podevels et al.
| |
| 5107895 | Apr., 1992 | Pattison et al.
| |
| 5115750 | May., 1992 | White et al.
| |
| 5119744 | Jun., 1992 | Comer.
| |
| 5123782 | Jun., 1992 | Yoshida et al.
| |
| 5131472 | Jul., 1992 | Dees et al.
| |
| 5133625 | Jul., 1992 | Albergo et al.
| |
| 5135058 | Aug., 1992 | Millgard et al.
| |
| 5160220 | Nov., 1992 | Yoshida et al.
| |
| 5178078 | Jan., 1993 | Pendergrass.
| |
| 5207168 | May., 1993 | Comer.
| |
| 5217327 | Jun., 1993 | Nakanishi.
| |
| 5306104 | Apr., 1994 | Witherspoon.
| |
| 5370069 | Dec., 1994 | Monroe.
| |
| 5460106 | Oct., 1995 | Crockett et al.
| |
| 5487346 | Jan., 1996 | Taylor.
| |
| 5511907 | Apr., 1996 | Tabasco.
| |
| 5560737 | Oct., 1996 | Schuring et al.
| |
| 5570973 | Nov., 1996 | Hunt.
| |
| 5623886 | Apr., 1997 | Marangi.
| |
| 5624635 | Apr., 1997 | Pryor.
| |
| 5631160 | May., 1997 | Bruso.
| |
| 5678639 | Oct., 1997 | Golden.
| |
| 5741090 | Apr., 1998 | Dunning et al.
| |
| 5802996 | Sep., 1998 | Baxter.
| |
| 5810514 | Sep., 1998 | Suchecki, Jr.
| |
| 5830752 | Nov., 1998 | Bruso.
| |
| 5868523 | Feb., 1999 | Nickell et al.
| |
| 5888021 | Mar., 1999 | Kawabata.
| |
| 5908267 | Jun., 1999 | Schuring et al.
| |
| 5944454 | Aug., 1999 | Melegari.
| |
| 6012517 | Jan., 2000 | Schuring et al.
| |
| 6017169 | Jan., 2000 | Toor et al.
| |
| 6049942 | Apr., 2000 | Johnson.
| |
| 6050337 | Apr., 2000 | Melegari.
| |
| 6182586 | Feb., 2001 | Hunt et al.
| |
| 2001/0002970 | Jun., 2001 | Pizzorni et al.
| |
| 2001/0027869 | Oct., 2001 | Vought.
| |
Primary Examiner: Lagman; Frederick L.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Watkins; Albert W.
Parent Case Text
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser.
No. 60/428,789 filed Nov. 21, 2002 entitled "Soil Aerating Machine" and invented
by the present inventor.
Claims
1. An soil aerating machine, comprising:
a loader having a wheeled base for traveling over earth, a motive power plant
providing motive power to said wheeled base, a loader boom also driven by power
derived from said motive power plant and operatively moveable with respect to said
wheeled base, and means for operatively attaching loader buckets and other attachments
to said loader boom;
a source of pressurized air;
a pneumatic pressure tank having an inlet receiving pressurized air from said
pressurized air source and having an outlet;
an air nozzle having an air inlet receiving pressurized air from said pneumatic
pressure tank and having an air outlet that is operatively inserted into the earth
and being operative to conduct said pressurized air from said air inlet into said
earth adjacent said air outlet; and
a basket coupled to said attaching means and supporting said air nozzle.
2. The soil aerating machine of claim 1 further comprising a pneumatic hammer
for driving said air nozzle into the earth, said pneumatic hammer journalled to
said basket and supporting said nozzle therefrom.
3. The soil aerating machine of claim 1, wherein said air nozzle is coupled to
said basket and moveable relative thereto.
4. The soil aerating machine of claim 3, wherein said air nozzle has an axis
of rotation perpendicular to said air nozzle and transverse to said loader.
5. The soil aerating machine of claim 1, wherein said basket further comprises
a base, a generally angularly offset back wall, and two side walls.
6. The soil aerating machine of claim 5, wherein said generally angularly offset
back wall is attached to said boom.
7. The soil aerating machine of claim 1, wherein said pneumatic pressure tank
is supported by said basket.
8. The soil aerating machine of claim 1, wherein said source of pressurized air
further comprises an air line coupled to a remote compressor.
9. The soil aerating machine of claim 1, wherein said source of pressurized air
further comprises an air compressor deriving power from motive power plant.
10. The soil aerating machine of claim 1, wherein said loader further comprises
a front-end loader.
11. The soil aerating machine of claim 10, wherein said front-end loader further
comprises a skid steer.
12. A self-propelled land vehicle having a motive power source, a base, a boom
arm, and a coupling connected to said boom arm to which attachments may be engaged,
wherein the improvement comprises:
an air tube pivotally coupled to said boom arm adjacent a first end and insertable
into the earth at a second end distal to said first end;
an air tank supported by said boom arm and adjacent said air tube;
a means for providing a high pressure, high volume impulse of air to said air
tube;
a means for controlling an extent of insertion of said air tube into the earth;
and
a means for controlling the providing of said high pressure, high volume impulse
of air to said air tube.
13. The self-propelled land vehicle of claim 12, further comprising a pneumatic
hammer having a work axis axially aligned with an air tube longitudinal axis.
14. A method of restoring a septic system comprising the steps of:
locating buried septic components;
coupling a gas injection tube to a loader boom arm;
inserting said gas injection tube into the earth adjacent said located buried
septic components;
mounting an air pressure tank on a basket coupled to said loader boom arm, and
thereby providing a high pressure gas to said gas injection tube;
withdrawing said gas injection tube from the earth;
repositioning said loader boom arm to a new position adjacent said located buried
septic components; and
repeating said inserting, providing, and withdrawing steps subsequent to said
repositioning step.
15. The method of restoring a septic system of claim 14, further comprising the
step of engaging a power driver with said gas injection tube.
16. The method of restoring a septic system of claim 15, wherein said power driver
further comprises an air hammer.
17. The method of restoring a septic system of claim 14, wherein said coupling
is pivotal.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains generally to the field of septic system maintenance,
and more specifically to an apparatus useful in the restoration of failed or weakened
septic systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
Septic systems are provided in many residences and businesses to safely manage
solid and liquid wastes that may be produced. According to modern requirements,
these systems are located relatively close to the top surface of the earth, in
order to most efficiently utilize purification which is present in nature. A typical
system may include a solids or settling tank, followed by a relatively expansive
drain field. The drain field, depending upon local requirements, may be buried
within a few feet of the surface of the ground. The drain field allows liquid wastes
to be filtered by the soil and safely decomposed by natural soil micro-organisms.
Unfortunately, over time a drain field may become ineffective. This
may be a result of the type of soil, and may be further aggravated by the wastes
being generated by a source such as a household or business. The end result is
normally highly compacted soil which is impervious to the passage of liquid, or
which is sufficiently impervious that the drain field can no longer adequately
drain at the rate at which liquid waste is being delivered. Heretofore, this would
require the installation of new drain field components in virgin soil, or the removal
of the drain field components, excavation of failed soil, and replacement of both
soil and components. This is an expensive and disruptive process which would desirably
be avoided where possible.
A number of patents illustrate systems, some which are related to the present
invention
and some which may not be, but all which nevertheless may offer various teachings
of value in the implementation of the present invention and all which are incorporated
herein by reference for those teachings, including U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,677,153; 1,755,445;
1,814,445; 1,814,446; 2,083,153; 2,306,465; 2,323,773; 2,789,522; 3,148,643; 3,546,886;
4,233,915; 4,429,647; 4,566,543; 4,570,553; 4,624,194; 4,658,738; 4,660,480; 4,903,618;
5,006,017; 5,101,745; 5,107,895; 5,115,750; 5,123,782; 5,160,220; 5,178,078; 5,217,327;
6,050,337; and 6,182,586. What is desired in the present invention is a system
which avoids the replacement of drain fields where possible, and which instead
extends the longevity of the existing system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a first manifestation, the invention is a soil aerating machine. According
to this manifestation, a loader has a wheeled base for traveling over earth. A
motive power plant provides motive power to the wheeled base. A loader boom is
also driven by power derived from the motive power plant, and is operatively moveable
with respect to the wheeled base. A means is provided for operatively attaching
loader buckets and other attachments to said loader boom. A pneumatic pressure
tank has an inlet receiving pressurized air from a pressurized air source and has
an outlet. An air nozzle has an air inlet receiving pressurized air from the pneumatic
pressure tank and has an air outlet that is operatively inserted into the earth
and conducts pressurized air from air inlet into the earth adjacent the air outlet.
A basket coupled to the attaching means and supporting said air nozzle.
In a second manifestation, the invention is a self-propelled land vehicle. The
vehicle includes a motive power source, a base, a boom arm, and a coupling connected
to the boom arm to which attachments may be engaged. According to this manifestation,
the improvement comprises an air tube pivotally coupled to the boom arm and insertable
into the earth at a second end distal to the boom arm coupling. A means provides
a high pressure, high volume impulse of air to the air tube. A means controls an
extent of insertion of said air tube into the earth. A further means controls the
providing of said high pressure, high volume impulses of air to the air tube.
In a third manifestation, the invention is a method of restoring a septic system.
According to the method, the steps include locating buried septic components; coupling
a gas injection tube to a loader boom arm; inserting the gas injection tube into
the earth adjacent the located buried septic components; providing a high pressure
gas to the gas injection tube; withdrawing the gas injection tube from the earth;
repositioning the loader boom arm to a new position adjacent the located buried
septic components; and repeating the inserting, providing, and withdrawing steps
subsequent to the repositioning step.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention solve inadequacies of the
prior art by providing a compact attachment to a skid steer or other loader which
is attached to the loader boom arm.
A first object of the invention is to reduce the initial investment and unnecessary
equipment required to aerate soil. A second object of the invention is to substantially
enhance maneuverability and control over the placement of an earth penetrating
air tube in the earth. Another object of the present invention is to provides high
volume, high pressure air immediately adjacent a pivotally mounted earth penetrating
air tube for optimal performance. A further object of the invention is to provide
an improved method for the restoration of septic systems. Yet another object of
the present invention is to provide the foregoing in a compact apparatus requiring
minimal space.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing and other objects, advantages, and novel features of the present
invention can be understood and appreciated by reference to the following detailed
description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,
in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment combination skid steer and boom attachment
from a projected plan view.
FIG. 2 illustrates the preferred boom attachment of FIG. 1 in a ground-resting
position from a projected plan view.
FIG. 3 illustrates by schematic block diagram the relationship of many of the
components of the preferred embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In a most preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1, a soil
aerating machine
1 includes in combination a small self-propelled vehicle
10 of the type adapted to manipulate and raise and lower a loader bucket,
commonly referred to as a skid-steer, an air pressure tank
40, an elongate
air nozzle tube or pipe
30, an air control valve
45, and an air hammer
36 used to assist with the driving of the elongate air nozzle pipe
30
into an earthen medium
50. In the preferred embodiment, air control valve
45 will be a low-voltage electrically controlled valve which may be actuated
by movement of electric blast switch
4, which might typically be located
within the operator's compartment or cage of self-propelled vehicle
10.
Low voltage electrical actuation permits air control valve
45 to be driven
from the electrical power normally available from a skid steer electrical system.
Other techniques of actuating a valve, including in particular various pneumatic
or hydraulic approaches that will utilize the sources of energy readily available
with the preferred machine may be implemented as well.
Most preferably, valve
45 will actuate rapidly, to create a substantial
impulse of air pressure and flow resembling an explosion of air pressure within
air nozzle pipe
30. Fast activation will produce a wide-spread loosening
of earth
50 far more consistently and with much better result than a slow
and gradual increase in pressure and flow. Slow activation is unacceptable in the
present application, since it will lead to unwanted channeling in earth
50,
rather than widespread loosening. In this vein, the inclusion of air pressure tank
40 most nearly adjacent to air nozzle pipe
30 is highly preferred,
since larger hose
46 may reasonably be used over this short distance and,
owing to the short distance and larger hose diameter, there will be only minor
restriction provided. Straps
42 or other method of anchoring may be provided
to attach air pressure tank
40 to back wall
26 or at other suitable-location
within attachment
20.
Adjacent the end of air nozzle pipe
30 closest to attachment base
22, in a position which in use will be above air nozzle pipe
30,
is a pneumatic hammer
36. Pneumatic hammer
36 will most preferably
act as a linear motor, alternately applying force on air nozzle pipe
30
and removing the force therefrom. This hammering effect greatly facilitates desired
penetration of air nozzle pipe
30 into earth
50, and requires only
a source of air available from the air tank and low power electricity available
from the skid steer electrical system. Electricity is used in the preferred embodiment
to control actuation of pneumatic hammer
36 remotely via an electrical hammer
switch
3, but other techniques or alternatives to control such actuation
may also be provided, as would be known in the control arts, including but not
limited to pneumatic and other actuators. Air is provided from a distribution pipe
44 through electrically actuated valve
47 into hose
48, and
finally to pneumatic hammer air inlet
38 to pneumatic hammer
36.
While pneumatic hammer
36 is air powered in the preferred embodiment, it
will be understood by those skilled in the art that other means of powering the
hammer may also or alternatively be selected. Among these are of course hydraulically
or electrically actuated hammers, in view of the ready availability of hydraulic
and electrical connections on most skid steers. Furthermore, the use of an air
conduit or pipe
44 common to both valve
45 and
47 may not
be the most preferable arrangement, depending upon the size of pipe
44,
the volumes of air required, and the like. Separate outlet ports may instead be
provided in tank
40 for one or more of the various outlets and air inlets
used in a particular design. Finally, where required or appropriate, either valve
45 or valve
47 may additionally include pressure regulators, flow
controls, or other like components.
Pneumatic hammer
36 will most preferably be journalled to attachment
base
22 through a pivotal mount
29, so that air nozzle pipe
30
may be driven into earth
50 at different angles relative to attachment base
22, as may be required or preferred during use. This permits the preferred
attachment
20 to effect soil aeration at angles other than normal to the
surface, the selection of the angle which is entirely under the control of an person.
Consequently, when an obstacle or fixture must be avoided or circumnavigated, the
present attachment
20 may still be used.
Attachment
20 is, in the preferred embodiment, configured to resemble
a typical loader bucket. This configuration permits ready attachment to a boom
16, with the typical manipulation of tilt between attachment
20 and
boom
16 controllable with standard equipment such as hydraulic cylinder
18. Furthermore, attachment
20 may be rested upon base
20
as shown in FIG. 2 when not in use, enabling ready connection and disconnection
from boom
16. Since attachment
20 is not intended for the storage
or raising of material, base
22 may, though does not have to be, fabricated
from an open framework. A gap
24 will preferably be provided therein which
will accommodate both the placement and pivotal motion of pneumatic hammer
36.
Back wall
26 is formed at a fairly conventional angle to permit the standard
attachment and placement illustrated in FIG.
2 and described above, and
sides
28 may be provided to add strength and rigidity, while also protecting
the high pressure pneumatic components from unintended impact with foreign objects.
As should be apparent, the shape and extent of these side walls
28, as well
as the base
22, back wall
26, and gap
24, will all be selected
by a designer in accord with the objectives of a particular design, and, as such,
may vary greatly from the present illustrations.
This combination of components found in soil aerating machine
1 permits
the mobile aeration of soil or earthen areas in a small and compact vehicle, which
is of relatively low cost and which is commonly available to many users who may
benefit from soil aeration. Soil aerating machine
1 may be readily transported
from location to location upon a trailer or the like, or, when locations are relatively
close, the preferred soil aerating machine
1 may be driven using the internal
power plant
6 within self-propelled vehicle
10.
This preferred soil aerating machine
1 may be used for agricultural,
horticultural or landscaping purposes, where the soil may, for exemplary purposes
and not limited thereto, be loosened in preparation for planting. Once the soil
is loosened by aeration, the formation of the hole, the penetration of moisture
and nutrients, and the expansion of roots during future growth by the plant are
each improved. Additionally, the present invention may be applied to the introduction
of other solids, liquids or gases other than or in addition to air into the soil,
or even mixtures thereof. A preferred application of soil aerating machine
1
is in the restoration or rejuvenation of a septic system drain field. In this application,
the drain field will most preferably be marked to identify the location of drain
pipes and other buried septic components. Self-propelled vehicle
10 will
then be positioned between the pipes and buried components using motive controls
2 to control drive train
5 and thereby convert motive power from
power source
6 into physical movement and positioning. When self-propelled
vehicle
10 is properly positioned, elongate air nozzle pipe
30 is
driven into earth
50 by actuating hammer switch
3, in turn actuating
pneumatic hammer
36 through valve
47. Next, blast switch
4
is triggered, and air valve
45 is thereby activated to enable a high volume,
high pressure blast of air to pass into air nozzle pipe
30. This blast of
pressurized air will tend to loosen the adjacent soil, permitting improved drainage
from the drain field, thereby restoring or extending the life of an existing drain
field without requiring the expensive digging and replacement of the existing drain
field. Because a typical drain field encompasses a large area, and will therefore
require a large number of insertions and associated air blasts to adequately cover
the entire land area within the field, a source of pressurized air will be required
to maintain adequate pressure within air pressure tank
40. In one embodiment,
a separate air hose may be provided and coupled to a source of high pressure air,
such as an air compressor
8 or the like. In a second embodiment, power
6
provided from self-propelled vehicle
10, which may be mechanically, hydraulically,
electrically or otherwise provided, may be used to drive air compressor
8,
the output of which is then input into air pressure tank
40. When an air
hose is used, air pressure tank
40 is not a necessity, but is strongly preferred.
Air pressure tank
40 offers relatively consistent high pressure and large
volumes of air without restriction. When a hose is used to deliver the large blasts
of air, the hose diameter must be great to provide high volume relatively unrestricted.
Since the pressures are also very high, such large diameter high pressure hose
is extremely heavy, expensive, and very cumbersome to use. Furthermore, such hose
may present an obstacle to the maneuvering of soil aerating machine
1. Consequently,
air pressure tank
40 is most highly preferred, acting as an accumulator
and storage receptacle for large volumes of high pressure air.
The relatively small size and moderate weight of a skid steer make such machine
well suited for drain field restoration. A drain field may not be traversed with
excessively heavy vehicles, since the subterranean components may become overloaded
and collapse. Consequently, a smaller and more nimble machine offers significant advantage.
The preferred soil aerating machine may be manufactured from a variety of materials,
including metals, resins and plastics, glasses, ceramics or cementitious materials,
or even combinations of the above. The specific material used for the various components
will vary in accord with the requirements of a particular design, as will be recognized
by those skilled in the art.
A variety of designs have been contemplated for the soil aerating machine illustrated
herein. For example, while the most preferred embodiment uses a support structure
for the air tank, air hammer, valves and air nozzle pipe which resembles a loader
bucket, other geometries and structures may be used Other variations are also contemplated
herein with regard to alternative embodiments. Consequently, while the foregoing
details what is felt to be the preferred and additional alternative embodiments
of the invention, no material limitations to the scope of the claimed invention
are intended. The possible variants that would be possible from a reading of the
present disclosure are too many in number for individual listings herein, though
they are understood to be included in the present invention. Further, features
and design alternatives that would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art
are considered to be incorporated also. The scope of the invention is set forth
and particularly described in the claims hereinbelow.
*
