US4221265A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rock picker
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1977-12-09
•
Granted: 1980-09-09
•
Expires: 1997-12-09
Abstract
Abstract A rock picker in the form of a wheeled vehicle for travel over a field that has rocks scattered superficially and/or near superficially therein, comprises a wheeled chassis that supports two coacting, endless chain conveyors of draper chain type having their working runs in confronting relationship and widths extending transversely of the chassis. One of the conveyors is elongate and disposed below the other, which is relatively short. The short upper conveyor has its working run of widespread, substantially V configuration, with the vertex of the V extending transversely of the lower conveyor at or near its lower end, which is disposed at or near ground level, thus forming entry and exit bights therewith. The forward, entry bight receives rocks lifted thereinto by a scraper blade, which is mounted on the frame immediately in advance of the conveyors as a ramp leading substantially smoothly into the throat between the two conveyors. The short upper conveyor is mounted freely for up and down movement as rocks are received by the entry bight and are conveyed through the throat and upwardly by means of the lower conveyor, which slopes upwardly from front to rear of the chassis. Means are preferably provided intermediate the length of the lower conveyor for preventing roll-back of rocks being conveyed upwardly, and a receiving dump vessel is preferably provided for catching and collecting rocks discharged from the upper end of the lower conveyor. Screening means, e.g. a series of powered screening rollers, is preferably interposed between the scraper blade and the lower conveyor within the entry bight as an extension of the ramp for screening out earth and pebbles accompanying the rocks.
Inventors
- 👤 Leslie J. Pratt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 05:19
CPC Classifications
E; E01; E01H; E01H12/00; A; A01; A01B; A01B43/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
248 words
A vehicle for removing superficial and near superficial rocks scattered about a field, comprising a wheeled chassis which includes an elongate frame of structural members; a lower, elongate, endless conveyor of draper chain type having width extending transversely of said frame and one end disposed adjacent to ground level at the forward end of said chassis, said conveyor sloping upwardly toward the rearward end of the chassis; a scraper blade substantially commensurate in width with and secured in advance of but adjacent to such lower end of said conveyor and merging substantially smoothly thereinto as a ramp for lifting rocks onto said lower end of the conveyor as the vehicle travels over a field; an upper, relatively short, endless conveyor of draper chain type having width substantially commensurate with that of the lower conveyor and a widespread, substantially V configuration on its underside and being mounted in said frame above said blade and said lower end of the lower conveyor for up and down movement relative to said blade and lower conveyor so there is a throat with entry and discharge bights between the two conveyors that will accept and accommodate rocks of different sizes and shapes; wheels mounted for up and down movement with the upper conveyor and positioned to maintain the vertex of said upper conveyor of rounded formation; means for driving the lower conveyor so that its upper run travels rearwardly; and means for driving the upper conveyor so that its lower run travels rearwardly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
248 words
A vehicle for removing superficial and near superficial rocks scattered about a field, comprising a wheeled chassis which includes an elongate frame of structural members; a lower, elongate, endless conveyor of draper chain type having width extending transversely of said frame and one end disposed adjacent to ground level at the forward end of said chassis, said conveyor sloping upwardly toward the rearward end of the chassis; a scraper blade substantially commensurate in width with and secured in advance of but adjacent to such lower end of said conveyor and merging substantially smoothly thereinto as a ramp for lifting rocks onto said lower end of the conveyor as the vehicle travels over a field; an upper, relatively short, endless conveyor of draper chain type having width substantially commensurate with that of the lower conveyor and a widespread, substantially V configuration on its underside and being mounted in said frame above said blade and said lower end of the lower conveyor for up and down movement relative to said blade and lower conveyor so there is a throat with entry and discharge bights between the two conveyors that will accept and accommodate rocks of different sizes and shapes; wheels mounted for up and down movement with the upper conveyor and positioned to maintain the vertex of said upper conveyor of rounded formation; means for driving the lower conveyor so that its upper run travels rearwardly; and means for driving the upper conveyor so that its lower run travels rearwardly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein the upper run of the upper conveyor is in friction contact with the surfaces of the wheels.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
A vehicle in accordance with claim 2, wherein the upper conveyor is of substantially triangular formation, with sides of substantially equal length defining the V formation, and wherein there are sprockets at the vertices opposite the V vertex to normally maintain the triangular formation, the means for driving said upper conveyor being connected to one of said sprockets.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein means for preventing roll-back of rocks on the elongate conveyor is provided between the relatively short conveyor and the rearward end of said elongate conveyor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
A vehicle in accordance with claim 4, wherein the means for preventing roll-back comprises a series of unmounted pneumatic tires hanging freely on a common axis that extends transversely of the elongate conveyor and having their treads resting on the working surface of said elongate conveyor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein a receiving vessel is mounted on the chassis frame below the rearward end of the elongate conveyor for catching and collecting rocks discharged by said conveyor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A vehicle in accordance with claim 6, wherein means are provided for dumping the receiving vessel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein the scraper blade is adapted to shallowly penetrate and upset the earth surface of the field to expose and lift near surface rocks.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein there are a side-by-side series of lower conveyors and a similar series of upper conveyors, the latter being mounted for individual up and down movement relative to one another.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein screening means are interposed between the blade and the lower end of the lower conveyor as an extension of the ramp.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
A vehicle in accordance with claim 10, wherein the screening means comprises a series of spaced, rotatable rollers extending in parallel and substantially commensurate in length with the blade; and power means for rotating said rollers in a rearward direction to aid in lifting rocks onto the elongate conveyor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
A vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein the scraper blade is of substantially reclined V formation in cross-section, with its vertex directed forwardly as a digging blade edge and with a substantially horizontal base member serving to prevent loosened rocks from riding up the underside of the ramp.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
A vehicle in accordance with claim 15, wherein the scraper blade is extended forwardly beyond the vertex to facilitate digging.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
A vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein the wheels positioned to maintain the vertex of the upper conveyor of rounded formation are elastomer tired.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
299 words
A vehicle for removing superficial and near superficial rocks scattered about a field, comprising a wheeled chassis which includes an elongate frame of structural members; a lower, endless conveyor having width extending transversely of said frame and one end disposed adjacent to ground level at the forward end of said chassis, said conveyor sloping upwardly toward the rearward end of the chassis; a scraper blade substantially commensurate in width with and secured in advance of but adjacent to such lower end of said conveyor and merging substantially smoothly thereinto as a ramp for lifting rocks onto said lower end of the conveyor as the vehicle travels over a field; an upper, relatively short, endless conveyor having width substantially commensurate with that of the lower conveyor and a widespread, substantially V configuration on its underside and being mounted in said frame above said blade and said lower end of the lower conveyor for up and down movement relative to said blade and lower conveyor and with the vertex of the V extending along the width of the lower conveyor so there is a throat with entry and discharge bights between the two conveyors that will accept and accommodate rocks of different sizes and shapes, the mounting of the upper endless conveyor for up and down movement comprising a frame pivotally secured at one end to the chassis and free to rise and fall at its opposite end, and wheels rotatably carried by the free end of the frame and resting on the lower run of said upper conveyor intermediate its length and contacting the upper run of said upper conveyor intermediate its length; means for driving the lower conveyor so that its upper run travels rearwardly; and means for driving the upper conveyor so that its lower run travels rearwardly.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
299 words
A vehicle for removing superficial and near superficial rocks scattered about a field, comprising a wheeled chassis which includes an elongate frame of structural members; a lower, endless conveyor having width extending transversely of said frame and one end disposed adjacent to ground level at the forward end of said chassis, said conveyor sloping upwardly toward the rearward end of the chassis; a scraper blade substantially commensurate in width with and secured in advance of but adjacent to such lower end of said conveyor and merging substantially smoothly thereinto as a ramp for lifting rocks onto said lower end of the conveyor as the vehicle travels over a field; an upper, relatively short, endless conveyor having width substantially commensurate with that of the lower conveyor and a widespread, substantially V configuration on its underside and being mounted in said frame above said blade and said lower end of the lower conveyor for up and down movement relative to said blade and lower conveyor and with the vertex of the V extending along the width of the lower conveyor so there is a throat with entry and discharge bights between the two conveyors that will accept and accommodate rocks of different sizes and shapes, the mounting of the upper endless conveyor for up and down movement comprising a frame pivotally secured at one end to the chassis and free to rise and fall at its opposite end, and wheels rotatably carried by the free end of the frame and resting on the lower run of said upper conveyor intermediate its length and contacting the upper run of said upper conveyor intermediate its length; means for driving the lower conveyor so that its upper run travels rearwardly; and means for driving the upper conveyor so that its lower run travels rearwardly.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
273 words
A vehicle for clearing a field of rocks and preparing it for agricultural purposes, comprising a wheeled chassis which includes an elongate frame of structural members; a lower, elongate, endless conveyor having width extending transversely of said frame and one end disposed adjacent to ground level at the forward end of said chassis, said conveyor sloping upwardly toward the rearward end of the chassis; a scraper blade substantially commensurate in width with and secured in advance of but adjacent to such lower end of said conveyor and merging substantially smoothly thereinto as a ramp for lifting rocks onto said lower end of the conveyor as the vehicle travels over a field, said scraper blade being of substantially reclined V formation in transverse section, with its vertex directed forwardly as a digging blade edge and with a substantially horizontal base member serving to prevent loosened rocks from riding up the underside of the ramp; an upper, relatively short, endless conveyor having width substantially commensurate with that of the lower conveyor and a widespread, substantially V configuration on its underside and being mounted in said frame above said blade and said lower end of the lower conveyor for up and down movement relative to said blade and lower conveyor and with the vertex of the V extending along the width of the lower conveyor so there is a throat with entry and discharge bights between the two conveyors that will accept and accommodate rocks of different sizes and shapes; means for driving the lower conveyor sothat its upper run travels rearwardly; and means for driving the upper conveyor so that its lower run travels rearwardly.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
273 words
A vehicle for clearing a field of rocks and preparing it for agricultural purposes, comprising a wheeled chassis which includes an elongate frame of structural members; a lower, elongate, endless conveyor having width extending transversely of said frame and one end disposed adjacent to ground level at the forward end of said chassis, said conveyor sloping upwardly toward the rearward end of the chassis; a scraper blade substantially commensurate in width with and secured in advance of but adjacent to such lower end of said conveyor and merging substantially smoothly thereinto as a ramp for lifting rocks onto said lower end of the conveyor as the vehicle travels over a field, said scraper blade being of substantially reclined V formation in transverse section, with its vertex directed forwardly as a digging blade edge and with a substantially horizontal base member serving to prevent loosened rocks from riding up the underside of the ramp; an upper, relatively short, endless conveyor having width substantially commensurate with that of the lower conveyor and a widespread, substantially V configuration on its underside and being mounted in said frame above said blade and said lower end of the lower conveyor for up and down movement relative to said blade and lower conveyor and with the vertex of the V extending along the width of the lower conveyor so there is a throat with entry and discharge bights between the two conveyors that will accept and accommodate rocks of different sizes and shapes; means for driving the lower conveyor sothat its upper run travels rearwardly; and means for driving the upper conveyor so that its lower run travels rearwardly.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
A vehicle in accordance with claim 16, wherein the scraper blade is extended forwardly beyond the vertex to facilitate digging.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-09-09 | 1984-03-10 | 1984-09-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-09-09 | 1988-03-10 | 1988-09-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-09-09 | 1992-03-10 | 1992-09-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |