Compact padding attachments

Abstract

A compact earth filtering machine adapted to engage with a base vehicle includes a frame including a guide structure for guiding earth being screened. A set of rollers is supported by the frame, with each roller associated with a corresponding sprocket. A mesh, forming a continuous loop and supported by the rollers, is provided for elevating and screening earth provided by the guide structure. A drive chain, coupled along an edge of the mesh, is adapted to engage the sprockets associated with the rollers. A driver is provided for rotating a selected one of the rollers and the associated sprocket to thereby cause the mesh to elevate and screen the earth provided by the guide structure. A transverse conveyor supported by the frame transports earth screened by the mesh to a discharge point adjacent to the compact filtering machine.

1 . A compact earth filtering machine adapted to engage with a base vehicle comprising:
 a frame including a guide structure for guiding earth being screened;   a set of rollers supported by the frame, each roller associated with a corresponding sprocket;   a mesh forming a continuous loop and supported by the rollers for elevating and screening earth directed thereto by the guide structure;   a drive chain coupled along at least one edge of the mesh and adapted to engage the sprocket associated with each roller;   a driver for rotating a selected one of the rollers and the associated sprocket to thereby cause the mesh to elevate the earth directed thereto by the guide structure; and   a transverse conveyor supported by the frame for transporting screened earth screened by the mesh to a discharge point adjacent to the compact filtering machine.   
   
   
       2 . The compact earth filtering machine of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a rack and pinion system for laterally moving an end of the transverse conveyor relative to the frame and thereby laterally change a spacing of the discharge point from the frame.   
   
   
       3 . The compact earth filtering machine of  claim 1 , further comprising an interface for engaging the base vehicle in accordance with the SAE J2513 quick-connect standard. 
   
   
       4 . The compact earth filtering machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a shaker assembly driven the drive chain. 
   
   
       5 . The compact earth filtering machine of  claim 4 , wherein the shaker assembly comprises:
 a roller shaft supported by the frame; and   an offset sprocket for engaging the drive chain.   
   
   
       6 . The compact earth filtering machine of  claim 1 , further comprising an inclined conveyor disposed beneath the mesh for transporting earth filtered by the mesh to a point above the transverse conveyor, the inclined conveyor comprising:
 a second set of rollers, at least one of the second set of rollers including a notch and at least one of the second set of rollers associated with a sprocket adapted to engage the drive chain; and   a belt for transporting the filtered earth and having a protrusion on a selected surface adapted to engage the notch to reduce lateral movement of the belt.   
   
   
       7 . The compact earth filtering machine of  claim 1 , wherein the transverse conveyor comprises a set of rollers and a belt for transporting filtered earth, at least one of the set of rollers including a notch and the belt having a protrusion for engaging the notch for reducing lateral movement of the belt. 
   
   
       8 . A padding machine comprising:
 a support structure including guides for guiding earth being screened;   a set of rollers supported by the support structure;   a continuous mesh loop supported by the rollers for screening received earth guided thereto by the guides;   a driver for rotating a selected one of the set of rollers and thereby cause the mesh loop to elevate and screen the received earth; and   a transverse conveyor system for transporting earth screened by the mesh to a discharge point adjacent to the padding machine, comprising:
 a frame including first and second spaced apart rails supporting another set of rollers, a continuous-loop belt, and a driver for rotating the continuous-loop belt over the another set of rollers; 
 a rack disposed on at least one the rails of the frame; and 
 a pinion gear for engaging the rack and a pinion driver supported by the support structure for selectively rotating the pinion gear for laterally moving an end of the transverse conveyor relative to the support structure and thereby laterally change a spacing of the discharge point from the support structure. 
   
   
   
       9 . The padding machine of  claim 8 , wherein each roller of the set of rollers is coupled to a sprocket and the padding machine further comprises:
 a drive chain coupled along at least one edge of the mesh loop and adapted to engage the sprockets coupled to the rollers of the set of rollers and thereby cause the mesh loop to move in response to the driver.   
   
   
       10 . The padding machine of  claim 9 , further comprising a shaker driven by the drive chain for causing the mesh loop to vibrate while elevating and screening earth. 
   
   
       11 . The padding machine of  claim 10 , wherein the shaker comprises at least one offset sprocket adapted to engage the drive chain. 
   
   
       12 . The padding machine of  claim 8 , further comprising an SAE J2513 standard quick-connect interface for coupling the support structure with an associated vehicle. 
   
   
       13 . The padding machine of  claim 8 , further comprising an inclined conveyor disposed beneath at least a portion of the mesh loop for transporting screened earth falling though the mesh loop to a point above the transverse conveyor, the inclined conveyor comprising:
 a further set of rollers supported by the support structure, at least one of the further set of rollers having a notch; and   a continuous-loop belt moving across the further set of rollers and including a protrusion adapted to engage the notch to thereby reduce lateral movement of the belt.   
   
   
       14 . The padding machine of  claim 9 , further comprising an inclined conveyor disposed beneath at least a portion of the mesh loop for transporting screened earth falling though the mesh loop to a point above the transverse conveyor, wherein the inclined conveyor includes at least one roller driven by the drive chain. 
   
   
       15 . A padding attachment for use with a base vehicle comprising:
 a support structure including guides for guiding earth being screened;   an interface structure coupled to the support structure for interfacing with the base vehicle;   a mesh elevator including:
 a set of rollers each including a shaft; 
 first and second sprockets coupled to opposing ends of each shaft; 
 a continuous-loop mesh supported by the rollers; 
 first and second drive chains coupled along opposing edges of the mesh and adapted to engage a corresponding one of the sprockets coupled to each shaft; and 
 a driver for rotating a selected one of the rollers and the associated sprockets to thereby cause the mesh to elevate the earth directed thereto by the guides; and 
   a transverse conveyor system including a transverse conveyor for transporting earth filtered by the mesh elevator to a discharge point adjacent to a selected side of the padding attachment, the transverse conveyor system including a rack and pinion system for laterally moving the transverse conveyor to change the spacing between the discharge point and the selected side of the padding attachment.   
   
   
       16 . The padding attachment of  claim 15 , wherein the support structure further includes a discharge guide structure for discharging debris filtered by the mesh to a point away from the discharge point of the filtered earth. 
   
   
       17 . The padding attachment of  claim 15 , further comprising an inclined belt conveyor disposed beneath the mesh elevator for transporting earth filtered by the mesh to a point above the transverse conveyor. 
   
   
       18 . The padding attachment of  claim 15 , wherein the driver comprises a hydraulic motor responsive to a hydraulic system of the base vehicle. 
   
   
       19 . The padding attachment of  claim 15 , wherein the transverse conveyor system includes a first hydraulic motor for driving the transverse conveyor and a second hydraulic motor for driving the rack and pinion system, the first and second hydraulic motors responsive to a hydraulic system of the base vehicle. 
   
   
       20 . The padding attachment of  claim 15 , wherein the interface structure is in compliance with the SAE J2513 quick-connect standard.