TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a method and filling device, to fill a drainage channel or similar with gravel or another drainage material, comprising a frame with a container device having an upper opening and a lower outlet opening, and a steering device arranged at said lower outlet opening arranged to steer the filling device (1) along a pre-formed channel

BACKGROUND

This invention has a field of use that mainly relates to golf courses, but as is evident for a skilled person it can also be of use in any field where there is a need for well drained ground, i.e. the invention is not limited to golf courses. In order to keep a golf course in good shape as possible, for as long time as possible, it is important to have good drainage, such that the golf course is playable even under time periods when a lot of rain falls. Advanced machines have been developed in order to quickly and efficiently, by means of minimum manual assistance, to form channels in the ground and position drainage tubes in the channels. In the next step, the drainage channel is filled up to the ground's surface with gravel. These machines are complex and very expensive, e.g. due to use of chassis with wheels and a plurality of auxiliary equipment. As a result of the high cost not many can afford such machines, which in turn decreases the possibility to have more golf courses playable during a larger part of the year.

From JP 2003184059 and JP 2005325554 there are also known machines that are even more automated, i.e. forming the drainage channel, placing the drainage tube and filling the channel in one step.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a device and a method to minimize the above problem with arrangement of a drainage channel, by means of a device according to claim 1. Thanks to the device according to the invention, a substantially cheaper apparatus may be produced for automatic filling of a drainage channel, e.g. with gravel. Further, no specific machine/vehicle must be used to fill a drainage by means of the invention. Instead a big variety of machines/vehicles may be used to fill a drainage, implying that already existing machinery may be used for that purpose, and especially thanks to an extreme simplicity in connecting a device according to the invention to a machine/vehicle, e.g. a rope/wire. Another advantage with the device according to the invention is that it can be used in principle without any need of maintenance. Moreover, the invention in a synergetic manner takes advantage of gravity. Further advantages according to the invention will become apparent of the detailed description below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In the following the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the enclosed figures, wherein

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a filling device according to the invention seen from above,

Fig. 2 shows the device in claim 1 seen from the side,

Fig. 3 shows the device in Fig. 1 seen from the back,

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a filling device in accordance with the invention, Fig. 5 shows a second embodiment in accordance with the invention seen from behind, Fig. 6 shows the second embodiment according to the invention seen in perspective from below, and

Fig. 7 shows the second embodiment according to the invention in perspective seen from above.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In Figs. 1 to 4, there is shown a filling device in accordance with the invention. The filling device comprises a support frame 2, a steering device 3, a container device 4, and leveling arrangement 5. The whole filling device is preferably made in stainless steel, partly in order to resist corrosion, partly in order to meet the strength requirements that a filling device according to the invention preferably should handle, and preferably also in order to make it in principle more or less maintenance free.

The support frame 2 comprises two relatively wide runners 20, 21, which are more or less formed as skies. The width B on each runner 20, 21 may beneficially be sufficiently large to carry the filling device, also in a loaded condition, without destroying the lawn/ground on top of which it slides. Preferred width B is within the range of 100 to 400 mm, to some extent depending on the length of the runners. The length L of the runners 20, 21 should preferably be sufficient to result in a total surface being in contact with the ground of loaded filling device without any substantial negative effect on the lawn/ground. A preferred length L for each one of the runners 20, 21 is in the range of 500 to 2000 mm. At the front end 22 of each runner 20, 21, there is preferably a rounded tip which is curved upwardly, in order to avoid that the front end 22 of a runner gets stuck in a protruding part of the ground, meanwhile it is pulled forward.

The runners 20, 21 are positioned such that they create a distance T that substantially corresponds to the width of the drainage channel C, or that may be somewhat larger than the width of the drainage channel C. Below, underneath the runner 20, 21 there is arranged a steering device 3. The steering device 3 comprises a plate 30 that extends perpendicularly downward from the runners 20, 21 an appropriate depth D. The depth D of the steering device is preferably in the range of 50 to 250 mm. The plate 30 extends along the inside of both runners 20, 21 along a substantial portion of the length of the runners. The front of the left and right parts 31, 32 of the plate is joined by means of a plough shaped part 33. The distance between left and right plate parts substantially corresponds to the distance T between the runners 20, 21 and is substantially adapted to be the same as the desired width of a drainage channel C. The longitudinally extending plate parts 31, 32 run parallel from the plough shaped part 33 to the rear ends.

On top of the runners 20, 21 there is arranged a funnel shaped container device 4.

The container device 4 has an upper opening 41 with a length extension LI, which is larger than its width Bl . The upper opening 41 of the container device is arranged with its largest width B l, as also its largest length measure LI . The length LI may be somewhat smaller than the total length L and the largest width B l substantially corresponding to the largest width measure between the outer edges of the two runners 20, 21. From the container opening 41 there are sloping walls 43 down to an outlet opening 44. The outlet opening 44 is arranged between the runners 20, 21 and opens up between the side plates 31, 32 of the steering device 3. The container 4 is fixed by means of supports 6, e.g. flat irons 6, e.g. being welded, between the runners 20, 21 and the container walls 43. At about the middle of the outlet opening 44 there is arranged a front edge of a first levelling member 51. From Fig. 2 it is presented that the first levelling member 51 is a plate which is fixed between the side plate parts 31, 32 having its upper edge 51 A in level with the outlet opening 44 and a lower rear edge 5 IB in level with the lower most edge of the steering device 3, and that a main portion thereof extends obliquely downwardly rearward.

At the rear side of the container 4 there is arranged a second levelling mechanism 52. This second levelling mechanism 52 includes a movable, plate formed member 52, that can be fixed at different heights by means of a threaded attachment member 55, in order to enable the rear opening 45 in the container 4 to be covered more or less by the second levelling member 52. Rear of the container 4 there is arranged a third levelling member 53, including two plates, which extend upwardly on top of the runners 20, 21 and which have rear portions leaning inwardly against each other in order to form a gap that successively gets more narrow at the rear in its upper half, to force collected gravel into the middle.

When using a filling device 1 in accordance with the invention it is positioned within a drainage channel C with its steering device 3 protruding down into the channel C.

Thereafter the container 4 is filled with gravel, (or any other suitable material) where after the device is ready to be used to continuously fill a drainage channel up to the level of the ground. This is performed in principle automatically by means of pulling the filling device 1 forwardly, whereby gravel in the container 4 successively, continuously is fed out through the outlet opening 44 down into the channel and subsequently levelled by the levelling arrangement 5. Thanks to the load (gravitation) from the gravel in the container 4 a considerable pressure may be applied by means of the levelling arrangement 5. By means of successive filling of gravel, during forward movement, the filling device may continuously be used to fill a drainage channel.

Preferably the filling device 1 is arranged with a levelling arrangement 5 that includes a plurality of members 51, 52, 53. A first member 51 that achieves a first levelling and compaction, a second member 52 that mainly achieves levelling and a third member 53 which after passage of the second member 52 will collect the top layer of gravel up on top of the channel and distribute it into its middle. Thereby it is facilitated for a vehicle coming behind to easy arrange for flattening of the top surface, whereby a desired compaction of the gravel in the drainage channel is achieved without having any gravel coming onto the lawn next to the channel. As is evident to the skilled person a large variety of machines/vehicles may be used to pull the filling device 1, and also that refill of gravel into the container 4 may be achieved in a variety of manners, e.g. by hand craft, semi-automatic, automatic, etc. According to a preferred embodiment the filling device 1 according to the invention is hooked on to a machine (not shown) that is arranged with a larger container and a conveyer band, to supply gravel from the larger container directly down into the container 4 of the filling device 1. Preferably the set is provided with means to easily control the flow of gravel to the container 4, adapted to the need. How quickly supply is needed from the larger container to the container of the filling device partly depends on the volume of gravel that needs to be filled/length unit, partly on the speed by means of which the filling device is being moved. A very simple means to control the flow is the arrangement of a mirror at an elevated position at a rear part of the vehicle, enabling the driver to visually see the level within the container 4 of the filling device 1. The driver can then adapt either the speed of the vehicle or the flow from the large container such that the desired level is maintained within the container 4. It is evident that this may also be achieved automatically by means of sensors, e.g. optical sensors, that automatically may control the outflow speed dependent on registered level within the container 4, and/or change of the level in the container 4.

In Figs. 5, 6, and 7 there are shown different views of a second embodiment according to the invention, that regarding basic aspects is similar as embodiment 1, but wherein some aspects differ. Further, more detailed design aspects are shown. It is shown that according to this embodiment the runners 21, 22 are attached to the frame 2 and container by means of L-shaped longitudinally arranged bars 26. Further there is arranged a pair of transversally arranged L-shaped bars 27 which connect the runners 20,21 with supports 6, i.e. a front frame part 61 and a rear frame part 62, which also form front and inner walls of the container 4. The third levelling member 53 is arranged in an adjustable manner, in order to easily adjust the width. This is achieved by having each third levelling member 53 attached to the rear frame part 62 by means of screws and having transversal slots 25 arranged in each one, enabling adjustment of the width between them. Further it is shown that the pulling device 7 preferably is attached to the front wall 61 of the container 4 in connection with a reinforcing plate 70. A safety arrangement (not shown) may be used in connection with said pulling device 7 that releases the filling device 1 from the pulling force via said pulling device 7, if it exceeds a predetermined level. Moreover Figs. 5 to 7 show that it is also (of course) feasible to assemble a filling device according to the invention by means of releasable screw attachments, between side walls and front/rear walls 61, 62, etc., in place of or in combination with welding, e.g. to provide for easy dis/assembly for making it more compact in connection with transportation.