FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a scraper machine. In some embodiments, the invention is directed to a conditioning plough, although the scope of the invention is not necessarily limited thereto.

BACKGROUND

For many years the accepted method of road building and dam building was to wet borrow pits with conventional water trucks ( six wheel drive moxy etc) and then using Scrapers, pick this material up and take it to fill areas.

The major flaw in this process is the water sits on the top of the clay soaking in only 20 -50 mm. As the scraper tries to pick it up it slips on the greasy surface. The wet earth is slow and difficult to load, takes longer and needs greater length to load in and in many cases a large dozer is used to push load due to the greasy surface.

Another problem associated with spraying water straight onto borrow areas is unacceptable drive tyre wear.

It is an aim of the invention to provide a vehicle which overcomes or ameliorates one or more of the disadvantages or problems described above, or which at least provides the consumer with a useful or commercial choice.

It will be clearly understood that any reference herein to background material or information, or to a . prior publication, does not constitute an admission that any material, information or publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the art, or is otherwise admissible prior art, whether in Australia or in any other country.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention provides a scraper machine for excavating earth for earthworks comprising: at least a pair of traction wheels positioned in a front portion of the scraper machine; spraying means adapted to spray a fluid onto a ground surface to condition the ground surface by regulating its moisture content, creating a conditioned ground surface; and scraping means positioned behind the at least a pair of traction wheels, the scraping means adapted to at least partially remove the conditioned ground surface; wherein the spraying means is located in front of the scraping means and behind the at least a pair of traction wheels to prevent slippage on the conditioned ground surface.

The ground surface, conditioned ground surface and removed conditioned ground surface may also be referred to as material.

In one embodiment, the scraper machine will comprise a fluid tank. The fluid tank typically supplies fluid to the spraying means for spraying onto the ground surface. Normally the fluid tank is a water tank for supplying water to the spraying means for spraying onto the ground surface. Typically the water is supplied from the water tank to the spraying means by a pump. Normally the pump will be driven by the scraper machine's hydraulics. However, other means to achieve the same results are envisaged including the use of one or more electrical pumps. In a preferred embodiment, the water tank will be capable of containing between 20,000 to 30,000 litres of water. Preferably the water tank is self filling (eg. it can be filled using a conventional overhead fast fill). Typically the fluid application is controlled by monitoring the ground speed of the scraper machine and the flow rate of the fluid. A benefit of controlling the fluid application is that less fluid is used as evaporation is minimised.

In another embodiment, the spraying means may comprise fan sprayers. However, other means to achieve the same results are envisaged including the use of sprinklers, deluge nozzles, spray nozzles and/or the like. Preferably the spraying means can be controlled. Normally the spraying means is controlled by one or more valves. In a preferred embodiment, a butterfly valve controls each fan spray. Preferably the one or more valves are controlled from a cab of the scraper machine. Normally one or more hand operated valves provide 'fine tuning' to the spraying means. Preferably, there is a hand operated valve located at each fan spray for fine setting. The spraying means is typically adapted to spray (i.e. condition) material behind the at least a pair of traction wheels. Normally the spraying means is adapted to spray (i.e. condition) material in front of the scraper means. A skilled addressee will understand that the term in front of the scraper means can include in front of a portion of the scraper means. In a preferred embodiment, the spraying means is adapted to condition material behind the at least a pair of traction wheels and to additionally condition the material as it moves along the scraper means.

In one embodiment, the scraper means is a plough. Preferably the scraper means is a V shaped blade. For example such as an arrow plough or a snow plough. Typically the V shaped blade is forward facing relative to the scraper machine (i.e. the apex of the V faces forward). In a preferred embodiment, at least part of the spraying means is located in proximity to the apex of the V shaped blade. Preferably, the spraying means is adapted to condition material in front of the V shaped blade. For example, in a preferred embodiment, one or more fan sprayers are located in proximity to the apex of the V shaped blade to condition material behind the at least a pair of traction wheels and in front of the V shaped blade. The scraper means is typically adapted to side cast the material (eg. the excavated earth) out to each side of the scraper machine.

In another embodiment, the material may be further conditioned by the spraying means spraying as the material 'rolls' along the blade of the plough (eg. when the material is side cast). The material is normally side cast in windrows such that it can be picked up by other machines. Typically, as the material is in windrows, the machines picking up the material are driving on dry material, making loading easier and decreases tyre wear. Typically the material will be a conditioned clay which can be used for dam building, road works, pad preparation and/or the like. The material that is picked up is normally fully conditioned (e.g. at optimum moisture level) and can then be used in earthworks.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a scraper machine for excavating earth for earthworks comprising: at least a pair of traction wheels positioned in a front portion of the scraper machine; spraying means adapted to spray a fluid onto a ground surface to condition the ground surface by regulating its moisture content, creating a conditioned ground surface; and scraping means positioned in a front portion of the scraper machine, the scraping means adapted to at least partially remove the conditioned ground surface; wherein the spraying means is adapted to spray the fluid in front of the scraping means to inhibit slippage of the at least a pair of traction wheels on the conditioned ground surface.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides a method for excavating earth for earthworks, the method comprising the steps of:

a. providing a scraper machine with a scraping means and at least a pair of traction wheels for excavating earth for earthworks;

b. creating a conditioned ground surface by spraying a fluid onto a ground surface in front of the scraping means and behind the at least a pair of traction wheels of the scraper machine to condition the ground surface by regulating its moisture content;

c. removing the conditioned ground surface with the scraping means.

In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a method for excavating earth for earthworks, the method comprising the steps of:

a. providing a scraper machine with a scraping means, spraying means and at least a pair of traction wheels for excavating earth for earthworks;

b. creating a conditioned ground surface by using the spraying means to spray a fluid onto a ground surface in front of the scraping means to condition the ground surface by regulating its moisture content;

c. removing the conditioned ground surface with the scraping means.

Some benefits of a vehicle according to one or more embodiments of the present invention may include the following:

1. Drive tyres of the vehicle are running on 'dry' material and last longer;

2. The windrows of conditioned material is pushed out to each side for following machines to pick up;

3. Less water is used per cubic meter of material as evaporation is minimised;

4. Water application is controlled in response to monitored scraper ground speed and water flow rate;

5. Material is conditioned in the borrow area instead of the fill area thus providing a saving in time; and 6. Compactors spend most of their time compacting instead of mixing, spreading and trying to condition material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a scraper machine in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic top view of a scraper machine in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

BEST MODE

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a scraper machine 10 for excavating earth for earthworks. A pair of traction wheels 12 (only 1 shown in figure 1) are positioned in a front portion of the scraper machine 10. Another pair of traction wheels 22 (only 1 shown in figure 1) are positioned in a rear portion of the scraper machine 10. Spraying means in the form of fan sprayers 14,16 (only 1 fan sprayer 16 is shown in figure 1) are located in front of a scraping means in the form of a plough 18 and behind the pair of traction wheels 12. The scraper machine 10 comprises a water tank 20 for supplying water to the fan sprayers 14,16 for spraying onto the ground (not shown).

In use, the scraper machine 10 uses fan sprayers 14,16 to spray water from a water tank 20 onto a ground surface (not shown) behind the pair of traction wheels 12 and in front of the plough 18 to condition the ground surface (not shown). The ground surface (not shown) is partially removed by the plough 18 by excavating and side casting the removed ground surface (not shown). The side cast material (not shown) is further conditioned as it rolls along the blade of the plough 18 by fan sprayers 16, this results in the material (not shown) being fully conditioned (e.g. having optimum moisture) and an increase in productivity as less time is spent trying to wet material with compactors and graders (not shown).

The foregoing embodiments are illustrative only of the principles of the invention, and various modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art. The invention is capable of being practiced and carried out in various ways and in other embodiments. It is also to be understood that the terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

In the present specification and claims (if any), the word "comprising" and its derivatives including "comprises" and "comprise" include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers unless the context of use indicates otherwise.

Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment", or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more combinations.

In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims (if any) appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.