System for manually ground driving trenchers and other ground engaging machinery

Abstract

A manual drive system is shown for moving trenchers and other small ground engaging equipment while in operation. A preferred embodiment of the system includes a pedal providing the mechanical advantage needed for an operator to apply sufficient thrust for such operations and a cleat for engaging the ground to provide the motive force in one instance or a ratchet engaging a transport wheel in another instance.

We claim:  
     
         1 . Apparatus comprising: 
 a frame;    transport wheels operatively attached to said frame for moving said frame from place to place;    a tool operatively attached to said frame, said tool having moving parts for contacting material to be moved;    a power unit operatively attached to said frame and operatively attached to said tool for moving said parts whereby said parts can move material disposed adjacent to said frame; and    a ground engaging member having a raised non-ground engaging position and a plurality of ground engaging positions for causing said frame to move in a predetermined direction as said ground engaging member moves from said non-ground engaging position to progressive ones of said plurality of ground engaging positions.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  including a ground engaging cleat member operatively attached to said frame and movable between a raised non-ground engaging position and a lowered ground engaging position for tending to hold said frame from moving in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  including a lever operatively pivotally attached to said frame for causing said ground engaging member to move between said raised non-ground engaging position and said plurality of ground engaging positions.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said ground engaging member is operatively pivotally attached to said lever.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said lever is a pedal for being pushed downwardly by a foot of an operator of said apparatus.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  including a handle operatively attached to said frame for grasping by said operator.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein said tool is a trencher and said predetermined direction is a direction of trenching and said frame is also moveable in a direction opposite to the direction of trenching.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein when said ground engaging member moves from said non-ground engaging position to said plurality of ground engaging positions said ground engaging member pivots in said direction opposite to a direction of trenching, thereby causing said frame and said trencher to move in said direction of trenching.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said tool is a roto-tiller.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said tool is a concrete saw.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  including means for locking said ground engaging member in a raised transport position thereof.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  including a spring operatively attached to said frame for biasing said lever to an upward position.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1  including a spring operatively attached to said frame for biasing said ground engaging member to said raised transport position thereof.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said spring is directly pivotally attached to said lever and is thereby indirectly attached to said frame.  
     
     
         15 . Apparatus comprising: 
 a frame;    transport wheels operatively attached to said frame for moving said frame from place to place;    a tool having moving parts, said tool being operatively attached to said frame;    a power unit operatively attached to said frame and operatively attached to said tool for moving said parts whereby said parts can move material disposed adjacent to said frame;    a lever operatively pivotally attached to said frame;    a ratchet wheel operatively attached to said transport wheels, said ratchet wheel having teeth disposed about the outer periphery thereof; and    a link member operatively pivotally attached to said lever and biased toward said ratchet wheel for causing said link member to contact said teeth and thereby turn the transport wheels whereby the frame will be moved in a predetermined direction as said link member is moved downwardly by movement of said lever.    
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  including a ground engaging cleat member operatively attached to said frame and movable between a raised non-ground engaging position and a lowered ground engaging position for tending to hold the frame from moving said frame in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein said lever is a pedal for being pushed downwardly by a foot of an operator of said apparatus.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15  including a handle operatively attached to said frame for grasping by said operator.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein said tool is a trencher and said predetermined direction is a direction of trenching.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein said tool is a roto-tiller.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein said tool is a concrete saw.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein said tool is a vibratory plow.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein said tool is a snow blower.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said tool is a vibratory plow.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said tool is a snow blower.