Scrum machine

Abstract

A scrum machine ( 10 ) comprises pads ( 21 ) which are carried by a central frame portion ( 12 ) on which is mounted two pairs of ground engageable wheels ( 31, 32, 131, 132 ). The ground engageable wheels may be raised and lowered to adjust the extent to which the central frame rests on the ground. Additional resistance is offered by optional traction wheels ( 37, 38 ). Each traction wheel has its own brake ( 151 ).

1 . A scrum machine comprising: 
 a central frame on which is mounted an operator's seat and a vertical front portion, the front portion supporting a plurality of pads;    the central frame supporting two pairs of adjustable ground engageable wheels, one pair mounted on one side edge of the central frame and the other pair mounted on the other side edge of the central frame.    
     
     
         2 . The scrum machine of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 each pair of ground wheels is interconnected by a link which acts, under operator control, to raise and lower each wheel in the pair simultaneously.    
     
     
         3 . The scrum machine of  claim 2 , wherein: 
 both pairs of ground wheels are interconnected by a pivoting shaft which acts to raise and lower both pairs simultaneously.    
     
     
         4 . The scrum machine of  claim 3 , wherein: 
 the pivoting shaft is pivoted by a hydraulic cylinder which is actuated by a control handle which is mounted within arm's reach of the operator's seat.    
     
     
         5 . The scrum machine of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a rear frame portion which supports a pair of traction wheels, each traction wheel comprising a drum from which extends a plurality of longitudinal slats, each traction wheel having an independent brake.    
     
     
         6 . The scrum machine of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 each independent brake is a disc brake.    
     
     
         7 . The scrum machine of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 each disc brake is controlled independently from a hand lever mounted within arm's reach of the operator's seat.    
     
     
         8 . The scrum machine of  claim 5 , wherein: 
 the rear frame portion further comprises lower and upper elements, the lower elements being curved upwardly from the central frame so as to form skids.    
     
     
         9 . The scrum machine of  claim 8 , wherein: 
 each lower element has attached at an upper end, an upper element which is curved and which extends forward and down;    a lower end of each upper element supporting a bearing for engaging a shaft onto which a traction wheel is mounted.    
     
     
         10 . The scrum machine of  claim 5 , wherein: 
 the slats are parallel and blunt.    
     
     
         11 . The scrum machine of claims  5  or  8  wherein: 
 the rear frame portion further comprises a support for a cowl to the traction wheels.  
 
     
     
         12 . The scrum machine of  claim 11 , wherein: 
 a cowl attaches to the support and covers the traction wheels from the front, rear and top.    
     
     
         13 . The scrum machine of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 each pad is affixed to the vertical front portion by upper and lower horizontal arms.    
     
     
         14 . The scrum machine of  claim 5 , wherein: 
 a strut extends from beneath the operator's seat to the vertical front portion and a control panel is mounted on that strut, the control panel supporting hand levers for operating the brakes.    
     
     
         15 . A scrum machine comprising: 
 a ground engaging frame having a platform which extends between a front portion and a rear portion;    the front portion supports a plurality of pads and the rear portion supports are on more traction wheels;    the traction wheels extending substantially the full width of the frame, each traction wheel comprising a drum on which the mounted slats for increasing the friction between the one or more traction wheels and the ground; wherein the one or more traction wheels being associated with a braking mechanism.    
     
     
         16 . The scrum machine of  claim 15 , wherein: 
 the braking mechanism comprise two or more independently operated brakes which can apply a variable braking load to each individual brake to simulate a wheeling scrum.    
     
     
         17 . The scrum machine of either one of claims  15  or  16 , wherein: 
 the frame has a central portion and braces extend between the front portion and the central portion.