1. A vehicle comprising:
a front axle with a pair of front wheels (111, 112) having a track width adjustable between a wide track and a narrow track,
a drive rear axle with a rear wheel (121),
track width control means configured to change the track width of the front wheels (111, 112) and to change the wheel base between the front axle and the rear axle such that for the wide track of the front wheels (111, 112) the wheel base is longer than for the narrow track of the front wheels (111, 112),
characterized in that it further comprises:
steering means configured to control the turn of the rear wheel (121) when the front wheels (111, 112) are set to the narrow track, wherein the front wheels (111, 112) are non-turnable when the front wheels (111, 112) are set to the narrow track.
2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the steering means are further configured to control the turn of the front wheels (111, 112) around a substantially vertical axis and of the rear wheel (121) around a substantially vertical axis depending on the track width of the front wheels (111, 112).
3. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the steering means are further configured to control the turn of the front wheels (111, 112) when the front wheels (111, 112) are set to the wide track.
4. The vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the rear wheel (121) is non-turnable when the front wheels (111, 112) are set to the wide track.
5. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the track width control means comprise pairs of wishbones (113, 114) connected to each of the front wheels (111, 112), each pair of wishbones (113, 114) connected pivotally at one point to a central frame (117) and at another point to one end of a push-pull rod (115, 116), the other end of which is pivotally connected with a piston (118) of a central linear actuator (119), such that the movement of the piston (118) causes change of the wheel base and the track width of the front wheels (111, 112).
6. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the track width control means are further configured to turn the front wheels (111, 112) towards the central axis of the vehicle when changing the track width of the vehicle from the wide track to the narrow track and to turn the front wheels (111, 112) away from the central axis of the vehicle when changing the track width of the vehicle from the narrow track to the wide track.
7. The vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the track width control means comprise variable-length steering rods (141, 142) connected to the front wheels (111, 112).
8. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the track width control means comprise pairs of wishbones (113, 114) connected to each of the front wheels (111, 112), each pair of wishbones (113, 114) connected to a retracting arm (143, 144) mounted pivotally at one point to a central frame (117) and at another point to one end of a push-pull rod (115, 116), the other end of which is pivotally connected with a piston (118) of a central linear actuator (119), such that the movement of the piston (118) causes change of the wheel base and the track width of the front wheels (111, 112).
9. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the track width control means comprise steering rods (145, 146) connected at one end to steering actuators (147, 148) and at another end to steering knuckle bearings (131, 132) of the front wheels (111, 112) to steer the turn of the front wheels (111, 112) around their individual vertical axes, wherein the steering actuators (147, 148) are connected to the central frame (117) and have a changeable length.
10. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the track width control means comprise pairs of upper and lower front suspension arms (171, 173) connected pivotally at one end to a driving arm (175) and at another end pivotally to a pair of upper and lower rear suspension arms (172, 174) connected pivotally at one end to the central frame (117) and at another end to a steering knuckle bearing of the front wheel (111, 112), the driving arm (175) being pivotally mounted to the central frame (117) and turnable around a substantially vertical axis at the point of connection to the central frame (117) in order to control the track width of the front wheels and the wheel base of the vehicle.
11. The vehicle according to claim 10, further comprising a toe control mechanism comprising positioning arms (193), to which steering rods (191) are mounted for controlling the toe of the front wheels (111, 112).
12. The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the toe control mechanism is mounted on a base (190) pivotally connected to the vehicle frame (117) via a bearing (196) to allow steering the turn of the front wheels (111, 112) via the steering rods (191) by turning the base (190).
13. The vehicle according to claims 1, wherein the front wheels (111, 112) are turnable around individual axes (131, 132).
14. The vehicle according to claims 1, wherein the front wheels (111, 112) are turnable around a common axis (151).
15. The vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the front axle is turnable by a linear actuator (152).
16. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the rear wheel (121) is turnable around an axis (123) offset from the centre of the rear wheel (121) by a distance larger than the radius of the rear wheel (121).
17. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the rear axle is turnable by a linear actuator (124).
18. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a selector configured to control the operation of both the track width control means and the steering means.
19. The vehicle according to claim 18, wherein the selector is coupled with a gear lever.
20. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:
a frame comprising:
a tiltable portion (163) tiltable about a tilt axis (164) and coupled with a drive rear axle with a rear wheel (121),
a non-tiltable portion (162) coupled with a front axle with a pair of front wheels (111, 112)
a main body portion (165) coupled with the tiltable frame portion (163),
tilting means (166) for tilting the tiltable frame portion (163) when the front wheels (111, 112) are set to the wide track
21. The vehicle according to claim 20, wherein the tilt axis (164) lies within the longitudinal vertical plane of symmetry of the vehicle.
22. The vehicle according to claim 20, wherein the tilting means (166) are configured to tilt the tiltable frame portion (163) when the front wheels (111, 112) are in the narrow track to a smaller extent than when the front wheels (111, 112) are in the wide track.
23. The vehicle according to claim 20, wherein the tilting means (166) are configured to block the tilt of the tiltable frame portion (163) when the front wheels (111, 112) are in the narrow track.
24. The vehicle according claim 20, wherein the tilting means (166) comprise a tilt actuator (166).
25. The vehicle according to claim 20, wherein the tilting means (166) comprise a self-tilting mechanism actuated by turn of the rear wheel (121).
26. The vehicle according to claim 20, wherein the longitudinal tilt axis (164) is inclined with respect to the road surface.
27. The vehicle according to claim 1, comprising an elastic outer shell (302) forming the cabin of the vehicle and having a width controlled by a linear actuator (304) coupled with linkages (303) such that the width of the cabin is higher for the wide track of the front wheels than for the narrow track of the front wheels.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A soil aerator comprising:
a plurality of axles, each axle ending with a hub, each hub with in inboard surface;
a plurality of tines, each said tine comprising a base and a blade, the tine base displaying first and second sides and comprising a plurality of holes extending between the first and second sides of the tine base, the tine blade displaying first and second edges configured to engage and penetrate a soil profile, each said tine further comprising a slot opening into one of said tine base holes;
a plurality of pairs of angular adjusting devices, each said angular adjusting device with first and second opposite surfaces, the first adjustment device surface substantially conforming to the hub inboard surface, the second adjustment device surface having a further raised surface configured to be accommodated in the tine base groove, each of said plurality of tines cooperating with one pair of said plurality of angular adjustment devices to mount said tine in a rotatably adjustable position, each said tine and each said plurality of angular adjusting devices disposable between two of said hubs; and
a fluid application system in fluid communication with the tine slot.
2. The soil aerator of claim 1, in which each of said plurality of pairs of angular adjusting devices is further configured so as to incline one of said tines toward or away from an aerator centerline.
3. The soil aerator of claim 1, in which each said tine base comprises a generally arcuate slot.
4. The soil aerator of claim 1, in which each said tine base is configured such that each said tine is reversibly mountable.
5. The soil aerator of claim 1, in which each said tine blade comprises a soil retaining geometry.
6. The soil aerator of claim 5, in which the soil retaining geometry comprises a raised grid.
7. The soil aerator of claim 5, in which the soil retaining geometry comprises a generally concave portion of the tine blade.
8. The soil aerator of claim 1, the fluid application system comprising a spacer and a metering ring, the spacer defining a plurality of lumens and a central groove, each said lumen with an inboard port and an outboard port, the inboard port opening into the central groove, each outboard opening in fluid communication with the tine slot.
9. A tine for aerating soil, comprising:
a base with a base surface and a base thickness; and
a blade with a blade surface and a minimum blade thickness at a minimum thickness locus, the minimum blade thickness less than the base thickness,
the base and blade cooperating to define a transition zone beginning at a transition point, the transition zone being between the base thickness and the minimum blade thickness locus, in which a line extending between the transition point and the minimum thickness locus is angled from the base surface between about 1 degree and 20 degrees.
10. The tine of claim 9, in which the line extending between the transition point and the minimum thickness locus is angled from the base surface between about 5 degrees and 15 degrees.
11. The tine of claim 9, in which the line extending between the transition point and the minimum thickness locus is angled from the base surface about 10 degrees.
12. An aerator assembly for aerating soil, the assembly comprising: two hubs, each having an outer circumference and being in coaxial alignment; a plurality of arcuate wedge shaped shims, each shim having a thicker end and a thinner end, the shims being adapted to be sandwiched within the two hubs; a plurality of aerator tines each having a blade portion and a base portion, each of the base portions of the plurality of aerator tines sandwiched between a pair of the wedge shaped shims and secured between the hubs along with the shims, the wedge shaped shims securing the tines at a desired angle, and the arcuate shims are aligned with the outer circumferences of the hubs.
13. The aerator assembly of claim 12, in which the base portion of each tine defines a hole adapted for securing the base portion between the arcuate wedge shaped shims, wherein each of said arcuate wedge shaped shims has a corresponding hole, wherein each hub has a corresponding hole, and wherein a bolt extends through said hole in the base portion, holes in said arcuate wedge shaped shims, and holes in the two hubs.
14. The aerator assembly of claim 12, in which each tine defines a passage whereby fluid may be discharged from within the aerator assembly outwardly into the soil.
15. The aerator assembly of claim 14, in which at least one hub defines a plurality of fluid passages whereby fluid may be transported to at least some of the plurality of tines.
16. The aerator assembly of claim 12, in which the thickness of the thicker end and the thinner end is selected to adjust the angle of the tines relative to the hubs.
17. The aerator assembly of claim 12, in which the plurality of shims are arranged in two rows and the plurality of tines are sandwiched between the plurality of shims and the two rows of shims and the plurality of tines are further sandwiched between the two hubs.
18. A method for securing aerator tines in an aerator assembly, the method comprising the steps of:
positioning two hubs in a coaxial orientation;
interposing between the two hubs a plurality of arcuate wedge shaped shims, the shims each having a thicker end and a thinner end;
interposing between the two hubs a plurality of aerator tines each tine having a base portion and a blade portion;
securing the two hubs, the plurality of shims and the plurality of tines so as to fix the tines at a desired angle between the hubs; and
adjusting the thickness of the thicker end and the thinner end to adjust of the tines relative to the hubs.
19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of placing the hubs between a row of the tines between two rows of the shims and securing the row of tines and the two rows of shims between the hubs.
20. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of creating a fluid passage in at least some of the plurality of tines such that a fluid may be discharged therethrough into the soil.
21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of creating a plurality of fluid passages in at least one of the hubs to supply fluid to the fluid passage in the tines.