Aerating machine

Claim 2

An aerating machine comprising a frame, a pair of groundengaging wheel supporting said frame, a drive shaft journaled on said frame and adapted to be rotated by a source of power, a plurality of tines movably mounted on said frame, a crankshaft mounted on said frame and operably connected to said tines for driving said tines in response to rotation of said crankshaft, a first clutch connected between said drive shaft and said wheels for selectively engaging and disengaging said drive shaft to and from said wheels, a second clutch connected between said drive shaft and said crankshaft for selectively engaging and disengaging said drive shaft to and from said crankshaft, a third clutch connected between said drive shaft and said wheels for selectively engaging and disengaging said drive shaft to and from said wheels through said second clutch, and means mounted on said frame and connected to said first, second and third clutches and including a single control lever for selectively controlling the operation of said first, second and third clutches and having first, second, third and fourth spaced positions such that said first clutch is engaged and said second and third clutches are disengaged when said control lever is in said first position, such that said first, second, and third clutches are disengaged when said lever is in said second position, such that said second clutch is engaged and said first and third clutches are disengaged when said control lever is in said third position, and such that said second and third clutches are engaged and said first clutch is disengaged when said lever is in said fourth position.

Claim 3

An aerating machine according to claim 1 including a camshaft journaled on said frame and operably connected to said tines for moving said tines horizontally in response to rotation of said camshaft, and wherein said first and second clutches are operably connected to said drive shaft and said third clutch is operably connected to said camshaft.

Claim 4

An aerating machine according to claim 2 including first intermediate drive means, first drive means operably connected to said drive shaft adjacent to said first clutch and which, when engaged by said first clutch, drives Said wheels through said first intermediate drive means in response to rotation of said drive shaft, second intermediate drive means, second drive means operably connected to said drive shaft adjacent to said second clutch and which, when engaged by said second clutch, drives said camshaft and said crankshaft through said second intermediate drive means in response to rotation of said drive shaft, and third drive means operably connected to said camshaft adjacent to said third clutch and which, when engaged by said third clutch, drives said wheels through said first intermediate means in response to rotation of said drive shaft and said camshaft.

Claim 5

An aerating machine according to claim 3 wherein said first intermediate drive means includes a first drive wheel means rotatably mounted on said frame and means for drivingly connecting said first drive wheel means with said wheels, said first drive means includes a second drive wheel means rotatably mounted on said drive shaft adjacent to said first clutch, means for drivingly engaging said first clutch with said second drive wheel means, and means drivingly connecting said second drive wheel means with said first drive wheel means when said first clutch is engaged with said second drive wheel means, said second intermediate drive means includes a third drive wheel means connected to said camshaft and means for drivingly connecting said third drive wheel means with said camshaft, said second drive means includes a fourth drive wheel means rotatably mounted on said drive shaft adjacent to said second clutch, means for drivingly engaging said second clutch with said fourth drive wheel means, and means for drivingly connecting said fourth drive wheel means with said third drive wheel means when said second clutch is engaged with said fourth drive wheel means, and said third drive means includes a fifth drive wheel means rotatably mounted on said camshaft adjacent to said third clutch, means for drivingly engaging said third clutch with said fifth drive wheel means, and means for drivingly connecting said fifth drive wheel means to said first drive wheel means when said third clutch is engaged with said fifth drive wheel means.

Claim 6

An aerating machine according to claim 4 wherein said first, second, third, fourth, and fifth drive wheel means are sprockets and all of said driving connection means are chains.

Claim 7

An aerating machine according to claim 1 wherein said control means includes means for pivotally mounting said control lever on said frame for movement between said first, second, third, and fourth positions, and linkage means interconnecting the control lever with said first, second, and third clutches for selective and coordinated operation of said clutches in response to movement of said lever.

Claim 8

An aerating machine according to claim 6 wherein said linkage means includes first, second, and third actuator levers respectively and operably connected to said first, second, and third clutches for controlling the operation of said clutches, a belt crank pivotally mounted on said frame and pivotally connected at one end to said control lever, a first link connecting the other end of said bell crank to said first actuator lever, means pivotally connecting said first link with said first actuator lever, a second link connecting said first actuator lever with said second actuator lever, said second link including a lost motion connection, means pivotally connecting said second link with said first actuator lever and with said second actuator lever, a third link connecting said first actuator lever to said third actuator lever, and means pivotally connecting said third link with said actuator lever and with said third actuator lever.

Claim 9

An aerating machine comprising a frame, a pair of ground-engaging wheels supporting said frame, a drive shaft journaled on said frame and adapted to be rotated by a source of power, a plurality of tines movably mounted on said frame, a crankshaft mounted on said frame and operably connEcted to said tines for driving said tines in response to rotation of said crankshaft, a camshaft journaled on said frame and operably connected to said tines for moving said tines horizontally in response to rotation of said camshaft, a first clutch operably connected between said drive shaft and said wheels for selectively engaging and disengaging said drive shaft to and from said wheels, a second clutch operably connected between said drive shaft and each of said crankshaft and said camshaft for selectively engaging and disengaging said drive shaft to and from said crankshaft and said camshaft, a third clutch operably connected between said camshaft and said wheels for selectively engaging and disengaging said drive shaft to and from said wheels through said second clutch, first intermediate drive means, first drive means operably connected to said drive shaft adjacent to said first clutch and which, when engaged by said first clutch, drives said wheels through said first intermediate drive means in response to rotation of said drive shaft, second intermediate drive means, second drive means operably connected to said drive shaft adjacent to said second clutch and which, when engaged by said second clutch, drives said camshaft and said crankshaft through said second intermediate drive means in response to rotation of said drive shaft, third drive means operably connected to said camshaft adjacent to said third clutch and which, when engaged by said third clutch, drives said wheels through said first intermediate means in response to rotation of said drive shaft and said camshaft, and means mounted on said frame and connected to said first, second, and third clutches and including a single control lever for selectively controlling the operation of said first, second and third clutches and having first, second, third and fourth spaced positions such that said first clutch is engaged and said second and third clutches are disengaged when said control lever is in said first position, such that said first, second, and third clutches are disengaged when said lever is in said second position, such that said second clutch is engaged and said first and third clutches are disengaged when said control lever is in said third position, and such that said second and third clutches are engaged and said first clutch is disengaged when said lever is in said fourth position.

Claim 10

An aerating machine comprising a frame, a pair of ground-engaging wheels supporting said frame, a drive shaft journaled on said frame and adapted to be rotated by a source of power, a plurality of tines movably mounted on said frame, a crankshaft mounted on said frame and operably connEcted to said tines for driving said tines in response to rotation of said crankshaft, a camshaft journaled on said frame and operably connected to said tines for moving said tines horizontally in response to rotation of said camshaft, a first clutch operably connected between said drive shaft and said wheels for selectively engaging and disengaging said drive shaft to and from said wheels, a second clutch operably connected between said drive shaft and each of said crankshaft and said camshaft for selectively engaging and disengaging said drive shaft to and from said crankshaft and said camshaft, a third clutch operably connected between said camshaft and said wheels for selectively engaging and disengaging said drive shaft to and from said wheels through said second clutch, first intermediate drive means, first drive means operably connected to said drive shaft adjacent to said first clutch and which, when engaged by said first clutch, drives said wheels through said first intermediate drive means in response to rotation of said drive shaft, second intermediate drive means, second drive means operably connected to said drive shaft adjacent to said second clutch and which, when engaged by said second clutch, drives said camshaft and said crankshaft through said second intermediate drive means in response to rotation of said drive shaft, third drive means operably connected to said camshaft adjacent to said third clutch and which, when engaged by said third clutch, drives said wheels through said first intermediate means in response to rotation of said drive shaft and said camshaft, and means mounted on said frame and connected to said first, second, and third clutches and including a single control lever for selectively controlling the operation of said first, second and third clutches and having first, second, third and fourth spaced positions such that said first clutch is engaged and said second and third clutches are disengaged when said control lever is in said first position, such that said first, second, and third clutches are disengaged when said lever is in said second position, such that said second clutch is engaged and said first and third clutches are disengaged when said control lever is in said third position, and such that said second and third clutches are engaged and said first clutch is disengaged when said lever is in said fourth position.

Claim 11

An aerating machine according to claim 8 wherein said first intermediate drive means includes a first drive wheel means rotatably mounted on said frame and means for drivingly connecting said first drive wheel means with said wheels, said first drive means includes a second drive wheel means rotatably mounted on said drive shaft adjacent to said first clutch, means for drivingly engaging said first clutch with said second drive wheel means, and means drivingly connecting said second drive wheel means with said first drive wheel means when said first clutch is engaged with said second drive wheel means, said second intermediate drive means includes a third drive wheel means connected to said camshaft and means for drivingly connecting said third drive wheel means with said camshaft, said second drive means includes a fourth drive wheel means rotatably mounted on said drive shaft adjacent to said second clutch, means for drivingly engaging said second clutch with said fourth drive wheel means, and means for drivingly connecting said fourth drive wheel means with said third drive wheel means when said second clutch is engaged with said fourth drive wheel means, and said third drive means includes a fifth drive wheel means rotatably mounted on said camshaft adjacent to said third clutch, means for drivingly engaging said third clutch with said fifth drive wheel means, and means for drivingly connecting said fifth drive wheel means to said first drive wheel means when said third clutch is engaged with said fifth drive wheel means.

Claim 12

An aerating machine according to claim 9 wherein said control means includEs means for pivotally mounting said control lever on said frame for movement between said first, second, third, and fourth positions, and linkage means interconnecting the control lever with said first, second, and third clutches for selective and coordinated operation of said clutches in response to movement of said lever, said linkage means including first, second, and third actuator levers respectively and operably connected to said first, second, and third clutches for controlling the operation of said clutches, a belt crank pivotally mounted on said frame and pivotally connected at one end to said control lever, a first link connecting the other end of said bell crank to said first actuator lever, means pivotally connecting said first link with said first actuator lever, a second link connecting said first actuator lever with said second actuator lever, said second link including a lost motion connection, means pivotally connecting said second link with said first actuator lever and with said second actuator lever, a third link connecting said first actuator lever to said third actuator lever, and means pivotally connecting said third link with said actuator lever and with said third actuator lever.

Claim 13

An aerating machine comprising a frame, a pair of ground-engaging wheels supporting said frame, a drive shaft journaled on said frame and adapted to be rotated by a source of power, a plurality of tines movably mounted on said frame, a crankshaft mounted on said frame and operably connected to said tines for driving said tines vertically in response to rotation of said crankshaft, a camshaft journaled on said frame and operably connected to said tines for moving said tines horizontally in response to rotation of said camshaft, a first clutch operably connected between said drive shaft and said wheels for selectively engaging and disengaging said drive shaft to and from said wheels, a second clutch operably connected between said drive shaft and each of said crankshaft and said camshaft for selectively engaging and disengaging said drive shaft to and from said crankshaft and said camshaft, a third clutch operably connected between said wheels and one of said crankshaft and said camshaft for selectively engaging and disengaging said wheels to said one of said crankshaft and said camshaft, and means mounted on said frame and connected to said first, second, and third clutches and including a single control lever for selectively controlling the operation of said first, second and third clutches and having first, second, third and fourth spaced positions such that said first clutch is engaged and said second and third clutches are disengaged when said control lever is in said first position, such that said first, second, and third clutches are disengaged when said lever is in said second position, such that said second clutch is engaged and said first and third clutches are disengaged when said control lever is in said third position, and such that said second and third clutches are engaged and said first clutch is disengaged when said lever is in said fourth position.

Claim 14

An aerating machine comprising a frame, a pair of ground-engaging wheels supporting said frame, a drive shaft journaled on said frame and adapted to be rotated by a source of power, a plurality of tines movably mounted on said frame, a crankshaft mounted on said frame and operably connected to said tines for driving said tines vertically in response to rotation of said crankshaft, a camshaft journaled on said frame and operably connected to said tines for moving said tines horizontally in response to rotation of said camshaft, a first clutch operably connected between said drive shaft and said wheels for selectively engaging and disengaging said drive shaft to and from said wheels, a second clutch operably connected between said drive shaft and each of said crankshaft and said camshaft for selectively engaging and disengaging said drive shaft to and from said crankshaft and said camshaft, a third clutch operably connected between said wheels and one of said crankshaft and said camshaft for selectively engaging and disengaging said wheels to said one of said crankshaft and said camshaft, and means mounted on said frame and connected to said first, second, and third clutches and including a single control lever for selectively controlling the operation of said first, second and third clutches and having first, second, third and fourth spaced positions such that said first clutch is engaged and said second and third clutches are disengaged when said control lever is in said first position, such that said first, second, and third clutches are disengaged when said lever is in said second position, such that said second clutch is engaged and said first and third clutches are disengaged when said control lever is in said third position, and such that said second and third clutches are engaged and said first clutch is disengaged when said lever is in said fourth position.