US PATENT SUBCLASS 171 / 84
SEPARATING DIGGER (E.G., VERTICAL COLLECTING TINES)

Current as of: June, 1999
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171 /   HD   UNEARTHING PLANTS OR BURIED OBJECTS

84SEPARATING DIGGER (E.G., VERTICAL COLLECTING TINES) {7}
85  DF  .~> Moving impeller with cooperating circular arcuate guide
86  DF  .~> Movable on supporting frame (e.g., pivoted) {11}
101  DF  .~> Separating digger intercepted by moving conveyer or impeller
102  DF  .~> Laterally deflecting diggers
103  DF  .~> Spaced, inclined shares or guides (pairs)
104  DF  .~> Inclined lifting surfaces {2}
107  DF  .~> Tooth or tine arrangements or details

DEFINITION

Classification: 171/84

(under the class definition) Apparatus which includes a member which is adapted to extend into a mass of earth containing plants or buried objects to be forced through said earth and engage said plants or objects, with a minimum of soil disturbance, said member consisting of a plurality of spaced elements or portions having an earth passage therebetween which are (1) spaced apart a distance such that said plants or objects cannot pass therebetween but will be propelled through said earth and thus separated therefrom; or (2) so disposed with respect to the forward motion of said apparatus that said elements successively engage said plant or object in a manner to propel it step by step, transversely relative to said forward motion and thus remove it from the earth.

(1) Note. The separating digger must impart a motion to the buried objects and separators which merely support excavated objects as they move with the surrounding earth and which allow the earth to fall therethrough are excluded and are classified on the basis of the excavation and subsequent separation.

(2) Note. The digger may operate on plants or buried objects contained in a mass of earth which is either in situ or which has been lifted from its original position provided that means is employed to constrain the earth to flow to the digger in substantially the same manner as if it were still in situ.

(3) Note. Included herein are separating diggers which comprise vertically-disposed digger elements arranged in a generally rake-like formation which comb through the soil to remove buried objects.

SEE OR SEARCH CLASS

56, Harvesters, 375+, for rakes which comprise vertical tines.

172, Earth Working, appropriate subclasses, especially

685+, for plural earth working tools.

299, Mining or In Situ Disintegration of Hard Material,

36.1+, for floor working machines that could inherently function for unearthing buried objects.