Rotary mechanical ditch cleaner

Claim 1

A ditch cleaner comprising frame means, means to attach said frame means to the rear portion of a pulling vehicle for pivoting action on a transverse horizontal axis, a pair of depending substantially parallel longitudinal outwardly convex supporting skid members secured to said frame means, said skid members having main body portions contained in a common cylindrical surface, said skid members being adapted to slidably and supportingly engage on the bottom of a ditch, longitudinal shaft means journaled in said frame means substantially coaxially with respect to said skid members, a rotor secured on said shaft means rearwardly adjacent said frame means, said rotor comprising a disc provided with diametrically opposite radial scraper blades and spaced peripheral axially directed arcuate cutting blades located on opposite sides of the scraper blades, the arcuate cutting blades and the outer edges of the scraper blades being normally located substantially in said common cylindrical surface and said blades projecting forwardly from said disc toward said frame means, said frame means including a vertical transverse platelike guard member forwardly adjacent said blades, said guard member projecting laterally from said frame means and being provided at its top with an upwardly and rearwardly inclined deflection flange overlying said blades and acting to deflect upwardly thrown material rearwardly and laterally from said frame means, and means to adjust the rotor vertically from a normally centered position relative to said common cylindrical surface.