Ridge former

Claim 2

A ridge forming machine including a. a frame having a longitudinal axis, the frame being adapted to be moved over the ground, and including a front frame section adapted for connection to a towing vehicle, and a rear frame section pivotally interconnected with the front frame section, the rear frame section including laterally spaced apart, elongated right and left beams extending rearwardly away from the front frame section, the beams being in substantially the same plane and each being disposed at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the frame, b. elongated right and left slide bar sleeves fitted around the right and left beams, respectively, each sleeve being slidable lengthwise on its respective beam, c. a rotatable right disc carried centrally by the right slide bar sleeve, the right disc being rotatable relative to the right slide bar sleeve about a central axis through the sleeve and the right beam to cut into the ground and scrape dirt as the frame is moved over the ground, the right disc also being slidable with the right slide bar sleeve along the length of the right beam, d. a rotatable left disc carried centrally by the left slide bar sleeve, the left disc being rotatable relative to the left slide bar sleeve about a central axis through the sleeve and the left beam to cut into the ground and scrape dirt as the frame is moved over the ground, the left disc also being slidable with the left slide bar sleeve and independently of the right disc along the length of the left beam to independently adjust the spacing between the discs, e. stop means cooperating between each slide bar sleeve and its corresponding beam to releasably hold each slide bar sleeve and disc combination in a fixed position on their respective beams, f. means connected to the frame to support it above the ground during movement of the towing vehicle; and g. means connected between the front and rear frame sections to pivot the rear frame section relative to the front frame section to move the discs up and down relative to the ground.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the support means comprises right and left depth wheels mounted on the right and left beams, respectively, to support the discs above the ground and limit their penetration into the ground, means for moving each depth wheel up and down with respeCt to the frame, and means releasably maintaining each depth wheel in a fixed position relative to the frame.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 2 including right and left elongated wheel support arms carried on the right and left slide bar sleeves, respectively, the right and left depth wheels being mounted on the right and left wheel support arms, respectively.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 3 including right and left wheel support brackets rigidly secured to the right and left slide bar sleeves, respectively, the right and left wheel support arms being mounted to pivot toward and away from the ground adjacent the right and left brackets, respectively, and means releasably securing the right and left wheel support arms to the right and left wheel support brackets, respectively, each wheel support bracket including means to adjust the point of attachment between it and its corresponding wheel support arm for moving the depth wheels up and down relative to the frame.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the right and left beams diverge from each other in a direction away from the front frame section so that the right disc scrapes dirt from right to left as the frame moves over the ground, and the left disc scrapes dirt from left to right as the frame moves over the ground.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 5 in which each beam diverges at an angle of about 45* relative to the longitudinal axis of the frame.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 1 including spaced apart teeth on the outer periphery of each disc for improving the cutting power and penetration of the discs into the ground.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 7 including means removably securing the teeth to the discs.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the means for pivoting the frame sections includes an elongated torsion bar having one end rigidly secured to the rear frame section, and a hydraulic ram extending between the front frame section and a point on the torsion bar spaced from its connection with the rear frame section, whereby the ram extends and retracts to pivot the rear frame section relative to the front frame section.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 1 including a separate cleaning blade disposed adjacent the forward portion of the forward face of each disc.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 10 including means urging each cleaning blade against its respective disc.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the stop means comprises a longitudinally spaced apart series of holes in each beam, and a separate stop carried on each beam and adapted to be releasably engaged with each of the holes therein, each stop being so positioned on its respective beam that the slide bar sleeve on the beam is slidable into or out of contact with the stop.

Claim 14

A ridge forming machine including a. a frame adapted to be moved over the ground and including a front frame section adapted for connection to a towing vehicle, and a rear frame section pivotally interconnected with the front frame section, the rear frame section including laterally spaced apart, elongated right and left beams diverging from each other away from the front frame section, b. elongated right and left slide bar sleeves fitted around the right and left beams, respectively, each sleeve being slidable lengthwise on its respective beam; c. a rotatable right disc carried centrally by the right slide bar sleeve, the right disc being rotatable relative to the right slide bar sleeve about a central axis through the sleeve and the right beam to cut into the ground and scrape dirt from right to left as the frame is moved over the ground, the right disc also being slidable with the right slide bar sleeve along the length of the right beam, d. a rotatable left disc carried centrally on the left slide bar sleeve, the left disc being rotatable relative to the left slide bar sleeve about a central axis through the sleeve and the left beam to cut into the ground and scrape dirt from left to right as the frame is moved over the ground, the left disc also being slidable with the left slide bar sleeve and independently of the right disc along the length of the left beam to independently adjust the spacing between the discs, e. stop means cooperating between each slide bar sleeve and its corresponding beam to releasably hold each slide bar sleeve and disc combination in a fixed position on their respective beams, f. means for supporting the frame above the ground during movement of the towing vehicle, the support means including right and left elongated wheel support arms carried by the right and left slide bar sleeves, respectively, right and left depth wheels on the right and left wheel support arms, respectively, means for moving each wheel support arm up and down relative to its respective beam, and means releasably maintaining each wheel support arm in a fixed position relative to the beam, and g. means connected between the front and rear frame sections to pivot the rear frame section relative to the front frame section to move the discs up and down relative to the ground.

Claim 15

A ridge forming machine including a. a frame adapted to be moved over the ground and including a front frame section adapted for connection to a towing vehicle, and a rear frame section pivotally interconnected with the front frame section, the rear frame section including laterally spaced apart, elongated right and left beams diverging from each other away from the front frame section, b. elongated right and left slide bar sleeves fitted around the right and left beams, respectively, each sleeve being slidable lengthwise on its respective beam; c. a rotatable right disc carried centrally by the right slide bar sleeve, the right disc being rotatable relative to the right slide bar sleeve about a central axis through the sleeve and the right beam to cut into the ground and scrape dirt from right to left as the frame is moved over the ground, the right disc also being slidable with the right slide bar sleeve along the length of the right beam, d. a rotatable left disc carried centrally on the left slide bar sleeve, the left disc being rotatable relative to the left slide bar sleeve about a central axis through the sleeve and the left beam to cut into the ground and scrape dirt from left to right as the frame is moved over the ground, the left disc also being slidable with the left slide bar sleeve and independently of the right disc along the length of the left beam to independently adjust the spacing between the discs, e. stop means cooperating between each slide bar sleeve and its corresponding beam to releasably hold each slide bar sleeve and disc combination in a fixed position on their respective beams, f. means for supporting the frame above the ground during movement of the towing vehicle, the support means including right and left elongated wheel support arms carried by the right and left slide bar sleeves, respectively, right and left depth wheels on the right and left wheel support arms, respectively, means for moving each wheel support arm up and down relative to its respective beam, and means releasably maintaining each wheel support arm in a fixed position relative to the beam, and g. means connected between the front and rear frame sections to pivot the rear frame section relative to the front frame section to move the discs up and down relative to the ground.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 13 including right and left wheel support brackets rigidly secured to the right and left slide bar sleeves, respectively, the right and left wheel support arms being mounted to pivot toward and away from the ground adjacent the right and left brackets, respectively, and means releasably securing the right and left wheel support arms to the right and left wheel support brackets, respectively, each wheel support bracket including means to adjust the point of attachment between it and its corresponding wheel support arm for moving the depth wheels up and down relative to the rear frame section.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 14 in which the means for pivoting the frame sections includes an elongated torsion bar having one end rigidly secured to the rear frame section, and a hydraulic ram extending between the front frame section and a point on the torsion bar spaced from its connection with the rear frame section, whereby the ram extends and retracts to pivot the rear frame section relative to the front section.