Aerator device

Abstract

An aerator is provided having a front axle, including a differential and a tine wheel assembly which may be raised from the ground during maneuvers of the aerator while power continues to be supplied to the front axle, and a tine wheel assembly is provided which allows the operator to repair and change the configuration of the tines of the tine wheel assembly.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is as follows:  
     
         1 . A lawn aerator comprising: 
 an engine,    a front frame portion,    a front axle attached to said front frame portion, said front axle having a differential mounted thereon,    a tine wheel assembly mounted on said front frame portion,    a drive belt to deliver power to said front axle differential and to said tine wheel assembly;    a rear frame portion connected to said front frame portion,    a castered rear wheel attached to said rear frame portion, and    means to move said rear wheels between a first raised position and a second lowered position, said raised position placing said tine wheel assembly in contact with the ground and said lowered position raising said tine wheel assembly from contact with the ground.    
     
     
         2 . The aerator as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said tine wheel assembly is assembled without welds.  
     
     
         3 . The aerator as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said drive belt simultaneously delivers power to both said differential and to said tine wheel assembly.  
     
     
         4 . The aerator as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said means for shifting said rear wheels between a first raised position and a second lowered position comprises: 
 a pivot connection between said front frame portion and said rear frame portion; and  
 a lever to move said rear frame portion between said first position and said second position.  
 
     
     
         5 . A method of maneuvering a lawn aerator having a tine wheel assembly along a user selected path on the ground comprising: 
 providing a differential gear connected to a front axle of a front frame portion of said aerator,    lowering a rear frame portion, said rear frame portion being pivotally attached to said front frame portion and having a castered rear wheel thereon, said lowering causing the tine wheel assembly to disengage from the ground,    applying power to said front axle differential, and    maneuvering said aerator along the user selected path.    
     
     
         6 . The aerator as claimed in  claim 5  wherein said tine wheel assembly is connected to said front frame portion.  
     
     
         7 . A method of maneuvering a lawn aerator along a path of travel along the groung comprising: 
 providing a front axle having a differential thereon,    providing a castered rear wheel on the aerator,    applying power to said front axle differential,    pushing said castered rear wheel laterally to effect a turn of said aerator, and    maneuvering said aerator into a user desired position.    
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 7  further comprising the step of raising the aerator tines from contact with the ground.  
     
     
         9 . A tine wheel assembly for use on a lawn aerator, said tine wheel assembly being assembled without welds, the assembly comprising: 
 a shaft,    at least two tine wheels devices slidably mounted on said shaft;    a spacer separating said at least two tine wheels,    means for transferring rotational power from said shaft to each of said at least two tine wheels.    
     
     
         10 . The aerator as claimed in  claim 9  wherein said means for transferring rotational power comprises said shaft having a cross-sectional shape which transfers rotational power from said shaft to a device slidably mounted on said shaft.  
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 10  wherein said shaft shape is triangular in cross section.  
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 10  wherein said shaft shape is hexagonal in cross section.  
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 10  wherein said shaft shape is square in cross section.  
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 10  wherein said shaft shape is pentagonal in cross section.  
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 10  wherein said shaft shape in cross section comprises multiple longitudinal grooves in said shaft.  
     
     
         16 . A tine wheel assembly comprising: 
 a shaft, said shaft having a cross-sectional shape which transfers rotational power from said shaft to a device slidably mounted on said shaft;    a tine wheel device for slidable mounting on said shaft comprising:    first and second tine lock plates, each of said first and second tine lock plates having a void therein, said void being shaped to allow slidable mounting of said lock plate on said shaft,    at least one tine secured between said lock plates, said tine being secured without the use a weld, and    at least one of said first and second tine lock plates voids having a shape complementary to said shaft cross-sectional shape to allow transfer of rotational power from said shaft to said lock plate.    
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 16  wherein said shaft shape is triangular in cross section.  
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 16  wherein said shaft shape is hexagonal in cross section.  
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in  claim 16  wherein said shaft shape is square in cross section.  
     
     
         20 . The method as claimed in  claim 16  wherein said shaft shape is pentagonal in cross section.  
     
     
         21 . The method as claimed in  claim 16  wherein said shaft shape in cross section comprises multiple longitudinal grooves in said shaft.  
     
     
         22 . A method of constructing a tine wheel assembly for an aerator comprising: 
 providing a shaft having a cross-sectional shape to allow transfer rotational power from said shaft to a device slidably mounted on said shaft;    slideably mounting a tine wheel device on said shaft, said tine wheel device being assembled by the method comprising:    providing first and second tine lock plates, each of said first and second tine lock plates having a void therein, said void being shaped to allow slidable mounting of said lock plate on said shaft, at least one of said first and second tine lock plates voids having a shape complementary to said shaft cross-sectional shape to allow transfer of rotational power from said shaft to said lock plate    securing at least one tine between said lock plates, said tine being secured without the use a weld to form a tine wheel device.    
     
     
         23 . The method as claimed in  claim 22  wherein said shaft shape is triangular in cross section.  
     
     
         24 . The method as claimed in  claim 22  wherein said shaft shape is hexagonal in cross section.  
     
     
         25 . The method as claimed in  claim 22  wherein said shaft shape is square in cross section.  
     
     
         26 . The method as claimed in  claim 22  wherein said shaft shape is pentagonal in cross section.  
     
     
         27 . The method as claimed in  claim 22  wherein said shaft shape in cross section comprises multiple longitudinal grooves in said shaft.  
     
     
         28 . A lawn aerator comprising: 
 a front frame portion,    a rear frame portion connected to said front frame portion, said rear frame portion and said front frame portion being movable with respect to one another, and    a handle attached to one of said frame portions, said handle being movable between an operative positon and a non-operative position, said operative position of said handle locking said frame portions into a non-movable relationship and said operative position providing a grasping surface to assist a user in lifting the aerator.    
     
     
         29 . A lawn aerator comprising: 
 an engine,    a front frame portion,    a front axle attached to said front frame portion, said front axle having a differential mounted thereon,    a tine wheel assembly mounted on said front frame portion,    a drive belt to deliver power to said front axle differential and to said tine wheel assembly;    a rear frame portion connected to said front frame portion,    a castered rear wheel attached to said rear frame portion,    means to move said rear wheels between a first raised position and a second lowered position, said raised position placing said tine wheel assembly in contact with the ground and said lowered position raising said tine wheel assembly from contact with the ground, and    a handle attached to one of said frame portions, said handle being movable between an operative positon and a non-operative position, said operative position of said handle locking said frame portions into a non-movable relationship and said operative position providing a grasping surface to assist a user in lifting the aerator.    
     
     
         22 . A method of preventing injury to a user while lifting an aerator, the aerator having first and second frame portions, said frame portions being movable with respect to one another, the method comprising: 
 postioning a handle attached to one of said frame portions into an operative position said operative position of said handle locking said first and second frame portions into a non-movable relationship.