Wheel track rut filler and compactor

Abstract

A farm implement for replacing displaced earth into a wheel track rut includes a pair of blades and a rotatable auger carried by a frame which is moved over and along a rut. The blades scrape displaced earth laterally toward and into the rut, and the auger discharges the scraped earth to the rear of the frame. A weighted wheel pulled behind the frame compacts the discharged earth and stabilizes the frame against unwanted transverse movement.

1 . A farm implement for replacing displaced earth into a rut, comprising: 
 a. a primary frame, configured to move over the displaced earth and over the rut, and including a coupler configured to attach to a prime mover;    b. a pair of blades mounted to the frame in a converging pattern and configured to ride along a surface at ground level and having a front opening and a rear opening between the blades wherein the front opening is wider than the rear opening, whereby forward motion of the blades scrapes the displaced earth towards an area between the blades and into the rut;    c. a compactor coupled to the frame behind the blades and configured to flatten and compact displaced earth residing above the rut.    
   
   
       2 . The farm implement of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a. An auger rotatably mounted to the frame substantially between the blades and configured to attach to a drive source to rotate the auger whereby rotation of the auger discharges the displaced earth from the rear opening.    
   
   
       3 . The farm implement of  claim 1 , wherein the compactor is coupled to the frame in a following position behind the auger and configured to stabilize the frame against transverse movement to substantially maintain the auger's position within the rut.  
   
   
       4 . The farm implement of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a. a transverse scraping blade, mounted laterally across the frame and positioned above the auger.    
   
   
       5 . The farm implement of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a. a secondary frame, removably coupled to the frame, configured to pivot between a raised position and a lower position; and    b. a weighted drum, pivotally coupled to the trailer frame, configured to roll along the ground when the trailer frame is in the lower position.    
   
   
       6 . The farm implement of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a. a plate pivotally coupled to the secondary frame, configured to pivot between a raised position and a lower position, wherein the plate will drag along the ground when in the lower position.    
   
   
       7 . The farm implement of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of blades is mounted to the frame in an open V pattern.  
   
   
       8 . The farm implement of  claim 1 , wherein the coupler comprises a three-point hitch.  
   
   
       9 . The farm implement of  claim 1 , further comprising a drive source operatively coupled to the auger and configured to rotate the auger.  
   
   
       10 . The farm implement of  claim 7 , wherein the drive source comprises a hydraulic motor configured to connect to a hydraulic system of the prime mover.  
   
   
       11 . The farm implement of  claim 7 , wherein the drive source comprises a coupling configured to connect to a power takeoff of the prime mover.  
   
   
       12 . The farm implement of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one coulter attached to the frame and operationally configurable to slice vegetation on at least one side of the rut.  
   
   
       13 . The farm implement of  claim 1 , further comprising a guide wheel cooperating with the frame and configurable to ride within the rut whereby the frame is maintained centered over the rut.  
   
   
       14 . The farm implement of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a. a guide wheel cooperating with the frame and configurable to ride within the rut and travel vertically to adjust to a depth of the rut; and    b. a fill hopper mounted to the frame and having a controllable discharge orifice operatively coupled to the guide wheel so that the guide wheel affects a size of the discharge orifice based on the depth of the rut.    
   
   
       15 . The farm implement of  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of carriage wheels rotatably attached to the frame and configurable to support the frame at a position with respect to the ground level.  
   
   
       16 . The farm implement of  claim 13 , wherein the carriage wheels are retractable.  
   
   
       17 . A farm implement for restoring a rutted field to an original ground level by replacing displaced earth into a rut comprising: 
 a. a frame, including a coupler configured to attach to a prime mover;    b. a pair of blades attached to the frame and operationally positionable at each side of the rut and having a bottom edge of each blade positionable at substantially the original ground level and angled to force the displaced earth laterally towards and into the rut;    c. a weighted drum, rotatably coupled to the frame, configured to roll along the ground behind the auger.    
   
   
       18 . The farm implement of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 a. An auger rotatably attached to the frame between the blades and operationally poistionable to sit marginally above the original ground level and configured to attach to a drive source to rotate the auger to force displaced earth rearward.    
   
   
       19 . A wheel track rut leveler comprising: 
 a. frame means for providing supporting structure which may be pushed or pulled along and over a rut;    b. scraping means for moving displaced earth laterally with respect to a preferred direction of travel toward and into the rut, attached to the frame means; and    c. rotating auger means for leveling and discharging the displaced earth rearward with respect to the preferred direction of travel, rotatably attached to the frame means and positioned within the scraping means; and    d. means for stabilizing the frame against lateral movement to substantially maintain the auger's position within the rut, rotatably attached to the frame and positioned behind the auger.    
   
   
       20 . A method for restoring a rutted field to an original ground level by replacing displaced earth into a rut, comprising the steps of: 
 a. positioning a pair of blades on each side of the rut and at an angle from the rut;    b. moving the pair of blades forward along the rut so that the displaced earth is scraped laterally toward and into the rut; and    c. mechanically forcing earth rearward from between the pair of blades; and    d. rolling a weighted barrel over the displaced earth so that the top of the rut is substantially planar with surrounding earth.