Implement and grounds maintenance vehicle including same
Various embodiments of a ground working implement and a grounds maintenance vehicle that includes such implement are disclosed. The ground-working implement includes an implement frame and a tool carousel rotatably connected to the implement frame. The tool carousel includes a shaft and first and second operator-selectable ground-working tools extending outwardly from the shaft. The shaft extends along a carousel axis. The tool carousel is configured to rotate about the carousel axis and alternately lock in a first position, where the first ground-working tool is configured to contact a ground surface, and a second position, where the second ground-working tool is configured to contact the ground surface.
1 . A grounds maintenance vehicle comprising:
a chassis comprising a front end, a rear end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the front end and the rear end, wherein the chassis is supported upon a ground surface by at least a front wheel located proximate the front end of the chassis and a rear wheel located proximate the rear end of the chassis; and
a ground-working implement connected to the chassis between the front and rear wheels, the implement comprising:
an implement frame; and
a tool carousel rotatably connected to the implement frame and comprising a shaft and first and second operator-selectable ground-working tools extending outwardly from the shaft, wherein the shaft extends along a carousel axis, and wherein the tool carousel is configured to rotate about the carousel axis and alternately lock in:
a first position, wherein the first ground-working tool is configured to contact the ground surface, and
a second position, wherein the second ground-working tool is configured to contact the ground surface;
wherein the tool carousel is further configured to rotate the first ground-working tool about the carousel axis through a sweep angle that is greater than 0 degrees and no greater than 120 degrees when the tool carousel is in the first position and lock in the first ground-working tool at any sweep angle.
2 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the implement further comprises a box blade connected to the implement frame, wherein the box blade comprises a lower edge that is configured to contact the ground surface.
3 . The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the box blade is configured to be translated along a lateral axis that is in a vertical plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.
4 . The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the box blade further comprises a box blade tool connected to a box of the box blade by a receiver disposed on the box, wherein the box blade tool is disposed proximate an end of the lower edge.
5 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the tool carousel is further configured to rotate the second operator-selectable ground working tool about the carousel axis through a sweep angle that is greater than 0 degrees and no greater than 120 degrees when the tool carousel is in the second position and lock in the second ground-working tool at any sweep angle.
6 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first operator-selectable ground-working tool comprises a plurality of tines, wherein each tine of the plurality of tines extends radially from the shaft along a tine axis.
7 . The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the second operator-selectable ground-working tool comprises a second plurality of tines, wherein each tine of the second plurality of tines extends radially from the shaft along a second tine axis.
8 . The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein when in the first position the tool carousel is further configured to lock in the first ground-working tool in a first orientation and a second orientation, wherein when in the first orientation the tine axis of at least one tine of the plurality of tines of the first ground-working tool extends in a rear direction and forms a first angle with the ground surface of at least 10 degrees and no greater than 85 degrees, wherein when in the second orientation the tine axis of the at least one tine of the plurality of tines of the first ground-working tool extends in a forward direction and forms a second angle with the ground surface of at least 10 degrees and no greater than 85 degrees.
9 . The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein when in the first position the tool carousel is further configured to lock in the first ground-working tool in a third orientation, wherein when in the third orientation the tine axis of the at least one tine of the plurality of tines of the first ground-working tool is substantially orthogonal to the ground surface.
10 . A ground-working implement comprising:
an implement frame; and
a tool carousel rotatably connected to the implement frame and comprising a shaft and first and second operator-selectable ground-working tools extending outwardly from the shaft, wherein the shaft extends along a carousel axis, and wherein the tool carousel is configured to rotate about the carousel axis and alternately lock in:
a first position, wherein the first ground-working tool is configured to contact a ground surface, and
a second position, wherein the second ground-working tool is configured to contact the ground surface;
wherein the tool carousel is further configured to rotate the first ground-working tool about the carousel axis through a sweep angle that is greater than 0 degrees and no greater than 120 degrees when the tool carousel is in the first position and lock in the first ground-working tool at any sweep angle.
11 . The implement of claim 10 , further comprising a box blade connected to the implement frame.
12 . The implement of claim 11 , further comprising a box blade tool connected to a box of the box blade by a receiver disposed on the box, wherein the box blade tool is disposed proximate an end of a lower edge of the box blade.
13 . The implement of claim 10 , wherein the tool carousel is further configured to rotate the second operator-selectable ground working tool about the carousel axis through a sweep angle that is greater than 0 degrees and no greater than 120 degrees when the tool carousel is in the second position and lock in the second ground-working tool at any sweep angle.
14 . The implement of claim 10 , wherein each of the first and second ground-working tools comprises a plurality of tines, wherein each tine of the plurality of tines extends along a tine axis that extends radially from the shaft.
15 . The implement of claim 14 , wherein when in the first position the tool carousel is further configured to lock in the first ground-working tool in a first orientation and a second orientation, wherein when in the first orientation the tine axis of at least one tine of the plurality of tines of the first ground-working tool forms an angle with the ground surface of at least 10 degrees and no greater than 85 degrees.
16 . A method comprising:
selecting a ground-working tool of a tool carousel of a ground-working implement, wherein the ground-working tool extends from a shaft of the tool carousel;
rotating the shaft of the tool carousel with a carousel actuator so that a tool axis of the tool forms a selected angle with a ground surface, wherein rotating the shaft of the tool carousel comprises rotating a rotatable shaft about a shaft axis with the carousel actuator that is connected to the rotatable shaft so that a linkage that connects the rotatable shaft to the tool carousel causes the tool carousel to rotate, wherein the rotatable shaft is connected to the implement frame;
lowering the implement such that the tool contacts the ground surface; and
manipulating the ground surface with the tool.
17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising manipulating the ground surface with a box blade of the ground-working implement.
18 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising raising the implement such that the tool does not contact the ground surface.
19 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising selecting an up stop and a down stop of the implement prior to lowering the implement.
20 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the ground-working implement further comprises a rotatable shaft connected to the implement frame, wherein the rotatable shaft is connected to the tool carousel by a linkage, wherein a carousel actuator is connected to the rotatable shaft and is configured to rotate the tool carousel about the carousel axis by rotating the rotatable shaft about the shaft axis so that the linkage causes the tool carousel to rotate.
21 . The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising an operator control system mounted to the chassis and comprising a tool carousel controller, wherein the operator control system is configured so that an operator of the vehicle utilizes the tool carousel controller to lock the tool carousel in the first position or the second position while the operator is disposed on a platform of the vehicle.
22 . The implement of claim 10 , further comprising a rotatable shaft connected to the implement frame, wherein the rotatable shaft is connected to the tool carousel by a linkage, wherein a carousel actuator is connected to the rotatable shaft and is configured to rotate the tool carousel about the carousel axis by rotating the rotatable shaft about the shaft axis so that the linkage causes the tool carousel to rotate.
23 . The method of claim 16 , wherein selecting the ground-working tool comprises rotating the shaft of the tool carousel with the carousel actuator so that the ground-working tool is configured to contact the ground surface.