Low impact turf wheel and wheel cleaning system
View Patent ↗A turf wheel having a wheel rim having an inner and outer surface, and an annular tread portion; a plurality of projections extending radially outward from the outer surface of the wheel rim, wherein each projection provides a stem, a ground contacting pad, and a ground engaging lug; and a hub. A wheel cleaning system having a frame provided by a wheeled apparatus; at least one turf wheel mounted to the frame; a turf wheel scraper assembly, the turf wheel scraper assembly providing a turf wheel scraper and an attachment mechanism, where the attachment mechanism is adapted to be mounted to the frame, and couples the turf wheel scraper to the frame.
1. A turf wheel, comprising:
a wheel rim having an outer surface, and an annular tread portion; and
a plurality of projections extending radially outward from the outer surface of the wheel rim, wherein the plurality of projections maintain the wheel rim above an area of turf and provide a non-continuous tread, the non-continuous tread comprising a plurality of ground contacting pads and a plurality of tread voids.
2. The turf wheel as recited in claim 1 , wherein the ground contacting pads comprise 30% and the tread voids comprise 70% of the annular tread portion.
3. The turf wheel as recited in claim 1 , wherein each projection further comprises stem and a ground engaging lug, wherein the ground engaging lug includes a limited surface area of which to engage an area of turf.
4. The turf wheel as recited in claim 3 , further comprising a contact surface ratio of 1:3, wherein the contact surface ratio is the ratio of the ground contacting pad to the annular tread portion.
5. The turf wheel as recited in claim 3 , wherein the stem extends perpendicularly from the wheel rim.
6. The turf wheel as recited in claim 3 , wherein the ground contacting pad creates an overhang extending perpendicularly outward from the stem.
7. The turf wheel as recited in claim 6 , wherein the overhang prevents build-up of turf material on or around the stem.
8. The turf wheel as recited in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of projections maintain the wheel rim above an area of turf.
9. The turf wheel as recited in claim 1 , wherein the ground contacting pad comprises between 10% to 75% of the annular tread portion.
10. The turf wheel as recited in claim 1 , wherein the ground contacting pads comprise between 30% to 35% of the annular tread portion.
11. The turf wheel as recited in claim 1 , wherein the ground contacting pads comprise between 10% to 50% of the annular tread portion.
12. A turf wheel, comprising:
a wheel rim having an outer surface, and an annular tread portion; and
a plurality of projections extending radially outward from the outer surface of the wheel rim, wherein each projection comprises a stem and a ground engaging lug, wherein the plurality of projections maintain the wheel rim above an area of turf and provide a non-continuous tread, the non-continuous tread comprising a plurality of ground contacting pads and a plurality of tread voids,
wherein the ground contacting pads comprise 30% and the tread voids comprise 70% of the annular tread portion.