US2748507A - Reversible terracing machine - Google Patents

Description

June 5, 1956 P. w. APPLETON 2,748,507

REVERSIBLE TERRACING MACHINE Filed Dec. 8, 1950 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Ida 02' iVLd vplekz,

BYM AQ TM ATTORNEY! June 5, 1956 P. w. APPLETON 2,748,507

REVERSIBLE TERRACING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 8, 1950 INVENTOR l au! fill 0pm ATTORNEXLS June 5, 1956 Filed Dec. 8, 1950 P. w. APPLETON REVERSIBLE TERRACING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 LIIHHTMI IN VEN TOR.

IWi/EYJ J1me 1956 P. w. APPLETON REVERSIBLE TERRACING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 8, 1950 INVENTOR.

W Z Z? fi e 75 AVTIFIEXS United States Patent REVERSIBLE TERRACING MACHINE Paul W. Appleton, Pampa, Tex. Application December 8, 1951), Serial No. 199,351

13 Claims. (Cl. 37-99) The present invention relates to grading machines and, more particularly, to a machine for terracing farm land and the like.

An important object is to provide a terracing machine with means for simply, efiiciently and economically dislodging the earth r Soil and conveying the same to a point where the terrace is to be built. The machine is particularly designed to form channel type terraces and diversion terraces. These two types of terraces are built from the upper side of the terrace so that all the dirt that goes into the construction of the terrace is removed from the upper side thereof. Diversion terraces vary in sizes in accordance with the amount of excess water they have to carry. Consequently, by making the cut from the upper side of the. terrace, less dirt is required because of the greater channel capacity, with the result that a substan tial saving in time, labor and cost is effected.

A further object consists in providing a reversible terracing machine having a rotatable and vertically adjustable disc associated with a reversible and longitudinally adjustable trough so that as the earth is dislodged and elevated by the disc, it is discharged into the trough and conveyed to a point Where the terrace is to be built. Additionally, means are provided for rotating the disc and the trough so as to reverse their direction of operation and so that the earth may be removed from any particular spot or location and the roll of dirt distributed uniformly where the terrace is being built.

Another object consists in providing a terracer or attachment which may be readily connected to a tractor or the like so that as the tractor travels along the ground, the soil or earth will be lifted from a point on one side of the tractor and discharged from the opposite side thereof so as to build a channel type terrace or a diversion terrace. Additionally, a revoluble turntable is associated with the terracer and adjustably supports a trough positioned relative to a disc plow or the like so as to receive the earth as it is cut by the plow. The trough is preferably longitudinally adjustable and receives at one end the earth discharged by the plow and is provided with means for conveying the earth to the opposite end thereof. The turntable constitutes simple and efficient means that facilitates the operation of the terracer when it is desired to change the direction of travel of the machine and effects this change of direction at a minimum expenditure of time and effort.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will'be come apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying claims and drawings.

Referring to the drawings wherein is shown a preferred embodiment the invention may assume:

Figure l is a side view of a terracing machine constructed in accordance with the present invention, with parts in section for clearness of illustration and connected to a tractor or the like.

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a rear end or 'back view.

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Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Figure 3. V

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially alongthe line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 66 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a detail view partly in section of the turntable locking means.

Figure 8 is a plan view showing the terracer connected to a tractor and movable in one direction and with the trough and associated parts shown in dotted lines in its reverse position.

Figure 9 is a plan view similar to Figure 8 but showing the tractor and terracer moving in the opposite direction, and

Figure 10 is a detail view with parts in section of the adjustable bearing block for the pulley drive shaft.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates a tractor or the like and has the usual rear pair of driving wheels 11 and the front pair of steering wheels 11. Also the tractor is provided with the transmission assembly 12 having a power take-off shaft 13 (Fig. 2). A drivers seat 14 may be mounted centrally of the transmission casing, and extending rearwardly from the tractor is a substantially U-shaped drawbar 15 having the transverse arm or portion 16 thereof provided with the spaced aligned openings 17 (Fig. 2). The terracing machine which is connected to the tractor so as to be movable along the ground, comprises an elongated main frame 18 which intermediate its length may be. vertically offset to provide a depending portion 19 which terminates in a forwardly extending end 20 (Fig. 1) that may be detachably connected to the tractor in any suitable manner such as by the coupling pin or bolt 21. The main frame is positioned above the drawbar 15 and the underside thereof may be provided with spaced rollers 22 (Fig. 1) arranged to engage the top of the arm 16 so as to facilitate the swinging movement of the main frame abuot the pivot pin 21. The frame 18 normally is disposed substantially centrally of the drawbar and may be maintained in any fixed adjusted position by inserting stop pins 23 (Fig. 2) in the selected openings 17 on opposite sides of the frame so as to limit the lateral swinging movement thereof when the terracing attachment is connected to the tractor. The rear end of the main frame 18 preferably is formed with an annular enlarged circular portion 24 through which extends a vertical fixed housing 25 in which is axially slidable an operating shaft 26. A turntable 27 is mounted on the housing 25 beneath and concentric with the end portion 24 of the main frame 18 and is rotatably supported in position by an annular collar or clamp 28 (Fig. l on which the underside of the turntable rests. The shaft 26 preferably is tubular and extends above the frame 18 and below the turntable 27, and at its lower end may be provided with a depending centrally disposed arm portion 29 (Fig. 1) to which is connected a soil dislodging member preferably in the form of a concave disc plow 30 having a central plate 30' suitably connected thereto and to which is welded the spaced parallel arms 31 as at 31 (Fig. 1). The arm 29 of the shaft 26 extends between the arms 31 and is pivotally connected thereto by the transverse bolt 32. Each of the arms 31 may have an offset portion 33 provided with a segmental slot 34 for receiving a clamping bolt 35 carried by the arm 29 of the shaft 26 and ar ranged to maintain the arms 31 and the disc 30 in a fixed, inclined position when the disc has been tilted to penetrate into the ground a predetermined distance. Suspended from the turntable 27 and extending laterally from one side of the main frame 18 is a trough 36 preferably formed with an inner relatively fixed section 37 and a longitudinally movable outer section 38 (Fig. 3)

in telescopic engagement with the inner section so as to be moved axially relative thereto. The adjustable outer section 33 may be about half the length of the fixed inner section 37 and is arranged so as to be moved longitudinally relative thereto in order to allow the dirt to be placed on the terrace where needed. It will be seen that the dirt is loaded into the trough 36 at its inner end 'by the disc 30, and that the forward rotation of the tractor coupled with the fact that the disc is mounted at an angle to the direction of travel of the machine, causes the dirt to be thrown or rolled into the trough. The inner end of the inner section 37 may be provided with a transverse brace or strap 59 (Fig. 4) connected to the flanges 55 on the inner trough section 37. An internally threaded sleeve 39 extends upwardly and centrally from the strap 59 (Fig. 3), so as to adjustably receive a complementary formed externally threaded bolt 40 that ex tends through an opening in the turntable 27 and is adjustably clamped thereto by the threaded nut 41. Thus. it will be seen that axial movement of the bolt 40 will control the up or down movement of the inner end of the trough so as to adjust the same vertically relative to the disc 30 and the ground. The disc 30 is spaced from the inner section 37 of the trough and is at such an angle that as it cuts into the ground, it will elevate or roll the earth into the trough and act as a loader for conducting the earth laterally into the trough so that it may be quickly and easily transferred to the point where the terrace is to be built. A curved strap 42 may be connected to the rear end of the inner section 37 so as to reinforce the same. A drum 43 is revolubly mounted on spaced bracket members 44 that are connected to the top of the turntable 27 (Fig. 3). A flexible member such as a cable or the like 45 is fastened at one end to the drum 43 and at its opposite end to a loop 46 connected to a transverse brace or strap 47 that, in turn, is supported by a pair of spaced parallel channel bars 53 that extend outwardly from one side of the machine (Fig. 4) and which preferably constitutes a support for the trough 36. The cable 45 is connected by the loop 46 to the outer end of the channel bars 53 so as to provide means for raising or lowering the trough 36 during the operation of the terracer. A manually operable handle 48 may be connected to the drum 44 to regulate the movement of the cable 45. Thebottom of the outer section 38 of the trough may be provided with a longitudinally and centrally disposed rack bar 49 in mesh with a pinion 50 carried by a transverse rotary shaft 51 (Fig. 4) that may have its ends supported by the spaced depending straps 52 that extend downwardly from the sides of the channel bars 53. A manually operating handle 54 is con nected to one end of the shaft 51 so as to rotate the latter and impart longitudinal movement to the outer section 38 of the trough in order to vary the length of the trough as the particular operating conditions may re quire. The inner trough 37 at its upper edge may be formed with laterally extending flanges 55 which are welded or otherwise fixed to the top arms of the channel bars 53 (Fig. 4), while the outer trough 38 is formed with similar flanges 56 that slidably engage the bottom arms of the channel bars 53. The turntable 27 on opposite sides of the shaft 26 may be provided with depending tubular members 60 (Fig. 1) secured thereto in any suitable manner such as by the threaded nuts 61. Each member 60 having a suitable shaped opening for loosely receiving a complementary formed rod 62 that extends upwardly from the channel bars 53 so as to constitute guide means for allowing the inner end of the trough to be raised or lowered. A transverse bearing strap or bar 63 (Fig. l) is connected to the inner end of the section 37 of the trough and is positioned above the bottom thereof so as not to interfere with the dirt being fed into the trough by the disc 30. A vertically disposed plate 64 is connected to the outer end of the channel bars 53 and has mounted centrally thereon a hollow bearing 4 block 64. A longitudinally disposed shaft 65 extends substantially centrally through the trough 36 and is revolubly mounted in aligned openings in the strap 63 and the plate 64 so as to be rotatably supported thereby. The shaft 65 extends through the plate 64 and has an outer end portion 66.

Keyed to the portion 66 of the shaft are a pair of spaced pulleys 67 which are positioned below and in vertical alignment with a complementary pair of pulleys 68 on a drive shaft 69 that extends through the bearing block 64' and is connected to a shaft 70 by a universal joint 71. A pair of endless belts 67 pass over the pulleys 67 and 68 so as to operatively connect the drive shaft 69 with the conveyor shaft 65. The shaft 69 preferably is mounted in a vertically movable bearing collar 60' in the block 64 and which is yieldably supported by a coil spring 53' (Fig. 10}. A set screw 69 extends through the top of the block 64 and engages the collar 60 so as to take up slack and maintain the endless belts 67 in proper operative position relative to the pulleys 67 and 68. The shaft 70 at its opposite or upper end is preferably square in shape and loosely extends through a complementary formed opening in a sleeve portion 72 of a shaft 73 that constitutes an extension of the shaft 70 and permits axial movement of the shaft 70 so as to vary the length of the trough and its associated parts. The pulleys 67 and 68 may have V- shaped circumferential grooves and are connected by the endless drive belts 67. Fastened to the shaft 65 and mounted in the trough 36 is an anger or spiral conveyor 75 for transporting the dirt discharged into the trough by the disc 30 to the opposite end of the trough from where it is discharged through the adjustable opening between the outer section 38 of the trough and the plate 64 (Fig. 3).

The power take-off shaft 13 of the tractor (Fig. 1) is connected to an upwardly inclined shaft 78 by a universal joint 79 which, in turn, is connected to a shaft 80 through a slip clutch 81, and the opposite end of the shaft 80 is connected to a transmission shaft 82 through a universal joint 83. The slip clutch 81 may be omitted and the shaft 78 connected to the shaft 80 in a manner similar to the connection of the shaft 70 with the shaft 72 as previously described. The transmission 84 may be of any conventional type and is mounted on the frame 18 by the bolts 85. A shifting lever 86 extends outwardly from the transmission 84 for controlling the speed of rotation of a drive or power take-off shaft 87. The shaft 87 has at its opposite end a gear 88 that meshes with a ring gear 89 revolubly mounted in a roller bearing 90 positioned outside the housing 25 and mounted on the end portion 24 of the frame by suitable annular retaining means 91. A fluid supply pump 92 mounted on the frame 18 by the bolts 93. is operatively connected to the shaft 87 by an endless belt 94 and the pulleys 95 and 96. A hydraulic cylinder 97 carried by a support 98 on the frame 18 has a flexible inlet pipe 99 communicating with the pump 92 and also a return pipe or line 100 for controlling the reciprocating movement of a piston rod 101 carried by the cylinder 97. The rod 101 is connected to a horizontal rack bar 102 (Fig. 5) positioned on one side of the vertical shaft 26 so as to mesh with an annular ring geard 103 that is fixed to the tubular shaft 26 in order to'rotate the latter upon reciprocating movement of the piston rod 101 when actuated by the pressure of the fluid in the cylinder 97. The ring gear 103 may be provided with inwardly extending spaced lugs 104 which are slidable in the vertically disposed grooves or slots 105 in the shaft 26 (Fig. 5), so as to removably connect the ring gear to the shaft. Also, operatively associated with the supply pump 92 is a hydraulic cylinder 106 connected to the housing 25 by the bolts 107 and having a flexible inlet supply pipe 108 and a return pipe 109 communicating with the pump 92. Extending upwardly from the cylinder 106 is a reciprocating shaft or arm 110 to which is welded or otherwise suitably secured, an annular member or ring 111 that s 'zasgsor is formed with an inwardly disposed rib 112' arranged to loosely engage in an annular groove or recess 113 formed in the outer surface of the shaft 26, so as to permit independent rotation of the shaft 26 relative to the ring 111 but to cause axial displacement of the shaft 26 when the arm 116 and the ring 111 are raised or lowered by controlling the pressure supplied to the cylinder 106. Positioned adjacent to the drivers seat 14 are a pair of axially slidable control levers 114' and 115 which are operativcly connected to valves in the supply pump 92 so as to control the flow of the fluid into and out of the cylinders W and 196, respectively. It will be seen that the operation of the piston rod 101 of the cylinder 97 will cause rotation of the shaft 26, while the. actuation of the arm 110' by the pressure of the fluid in the cylinder 106 will raise the shaft 26 axially. Thus, means are provided for not only controlling the angular adjustment of the disc 30 but also its vertical adjustment relative to the ground and the trough 36.

The revoluble flat ring gear 89 which meshes with the gear 88 of the shaft 87 also engages a gear or pinion 116 (Fig. 3) carried by a shaft 117 that is connected to the shaft 73 through a universal joint 118, and which is disposed substantially at right angles to the gear 88 as shown in Figure l. A yieldable locking pin 119 extends through aligned openings in the spaced lugs 123 on the frame 18 so as selectively to engage circumferentially disposed openings 121 in the top of the turntable 27 to releasably maintain the turntable in a fixed adjusted position. A coil spring 122 surrounds and is connected at its upper end to the pin 119 and is confined between the spaced lugs 123 on the frame 18 so as to yieldably urge the pin 11) downwardly into one of the aligned openings 121. in other words assuming that the terracing machine is operated in the direction shown in Fig. 8 with the trough 36 and auger '75 extending from the right side thereof as shown in full lines in this figure, when the tractor cornpletes an operation or pass in one direction and is turned around to operate in the opposite direction, the trough 36 and auger 75 would normally be positioned on the right hand side of the tractor as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 9. Consequently, it could not deposit the dirt on the ter race 126 until it made a complete turn and is headed in the direction as shown in Fig. 8. By reason of the rotatable connection of the gear 116 with the gear 8%, the trough and its associated parts may be rotated to the full line position as shown in Fig. 9 and the disc 30 likewise be positioned adjacent the inner end of the trough as soon as the machine is turned around so that the auger can dis charge the dirt on the terrace 126 as shown in full line in Fig. 9. it will be noted that the gear 89 and the gear 116 are operatively connected to a common driving shaft 87, that in turn is operatively connected through the trans mission 84 to the power take-off shaft 13 of the tractor. Further, the gear 116 which rotates the conveyor 65 is free to roll or rotate on the gear 89 when the shaft 26 is moved in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. Heretofore, in operating terracing machines, it has been necessary after the machine has made a cut along the terrace for the machine to be turned around and brought back to its starting point in order to make another cut. Thus, simple, efficient and positive means are provided for reversing or changing the direction of the terracing machine at the end of each row so that it can be moved backwardly and forwardly Without any waste of time, and in order that it can be quickly returned to make another cut. The length of the channel bars 53 relative to the length of the trough 36 is such that when the section 38 is moved to its extreme outer position, a space will be formed between it and the plate 64 for discharging the material from the trough. The longitudinal adjustment of the section 38 it will be noted will vary the size and length of the discharge opening formed between the end of the section 38 and the plate 64. The pulleys 67 are positioned outside the plate 64 and spaced from the outer end of the trough 36, so as not to interfere with the free discharge of the dirt.

In. operation, assuming that the machine is to be used to build a. channel type terrace in which the earth is removed from the upper side of the terrace, it will be seen that the distance or depth the disc 30 extends into the earth 124' (Fig. 1) may be controlled by the driver during the operation of the tractor, by actuating one of. the levers, such as the lever 114-, so as to raise or lower the shaft 26 through the instrumentality of the vertical movement of the arm that extends outwardly from the cylinder 106. Likewise, should it be desired to rotate the shaft 26 so as to reverse the position of the disc 30 in order to operate the machine in an opposite direction, this may be readily effected by the operator upon actuation of the other control lever which im parts an axial movement to the shaft 101 to which the rack bar 102 is connected so as to rotate the shaft 26'. The bar 102 is of suificient length to permit rotation of the shaft 26 through at least 180. Moreover, the clamping bolt 35 may be loosened so as to vary or change the angle or tilt of the disc 30 so as to adjust its penetration into the soil. As the member 111 slidingly engages the shaft 26 through the rib 112, their rotative movement of the shaft 26 does not interfere with the vertical positioning of the shaft as determined by the arm 110. By reason of the fact that the earth is cut or dislodged by the disc 30 during the operation of the machine from its upper side, the terrace is built with a minimum requirement of dirt being used due to the greater channel capacity and thus at a substantial saving of time and labor. Moreover, the machine is able to be reversed so that the terrace may be built up from any side. This is clearly exemplified in Figures 8 and 9 which show the terracing machine being operated in opposite directions.

Assuming that the terracing machine is connected to the tractor 11 so as to be movable in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 8) and that the parts have been previously adjusted to build a terrace 126, it will be seen that the disc 30 is rotatable to its new position by turning the shaft 26, and the trough 36 and its associated parts may readily be reversed or turned through substantally by releasing the locking pin 11) and manually rotating the turntable 27 until the trough is in the position as shown in full lines (Fig. 9), where it will be maintained in a fixed position by engagement of the pin 119 with an adjacent opening 121 (Fig. 2). The terracer is now ready to operate in an opposite direction or to make a return trip. Figure 9 shows the position of the tractor and the terracer on the return trip with the trough 36 still positioned on the upper side of the terrace 126, and rotated clockwise to its second position or 180 from the position shown in Figure 8, so that the trough is still positioned on the upper side of the terrace 126. Thus it will be seen that simple, efficient and positive means are provided which enables the terracing machine to discharge the dirt dug up by the disc plow 30 on either side of the machine irrespective of the direction of travel and at a minimum expenditure of time and cost. Heretofore machines of this type were capable of discharging only in one direction, either to the right or to the left, with the result that after a single pass it was necessary to return the entire machine back to the initial starting point and traverse the cut in the same direction as previously made. Such delay is avoided by the present invention due to the fact that both the trough and the disc 30, together with their associated parts, can be readily and conveniently rotated through 180 from one side of the machine to the other so that very little delay is occasioned in continuing the terracing operation when the machine is turned around to move in an opposite direction. Moreover, while the turntable and auger are rotated manually, the shaft 26 and disc 30 are hydraulically operated by one'of the handles 114 or 115 to be rotated and also to be axially adjustable. Additionally, the inclination of the disc relative to the shaft is controlled by adjustment of the clamping bolt 35 in the slots 34 on the bars 31. The forward motion of the tractor together with the fact that the disc 30 is mounted at an angle to the trough 36 insures the dirt being thrown into the trough and transferred by the auger so as to build a channel type terrace or a diversion terrace at a minimum expense of time, labor and cost. Due to the reversibility of the machine, a terrace may be built up from either side while the telescopic arrangement of the trough allows the cut to be made into the dirt from any desired position and the roll of dirt to be conveyed on the terrace where it is needed. Moreover, the machine is self-propelled in that it does not have any extra wheels on the ground and the trough 36 and auger 75 are supported directly by the turntable. Instead of detachably connecting the machine to the tractor, the terracer may be hooked directly to the power lift so as to be driven and propelled during the terracing operation.

In addition to the axial and rotatable adjustment of the shaft 26 to control the position of the disc 30, it will be noted that the disc is also adjusted from side to side by means of the lateral adjustment of the frame 18 with the drawbar 15 through the pins 23 and their engagement with the openings 17. This adjustment within the range shown allows for cutting or removing the earth at any spot behind the tractor and the disc does not have to be drawn directly or centrally by the tractor but may be offset laterally relative thereto.

It will be understood that the form of the invention shown is merely illustrative and that such changes may be made as come within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

. 1. In a terracing machine having a main frame arranged to be connected at one end to a tractor and having an opening at its opposite end, a tubular housing extending through said opening and fixed to said frame, a turntable below the frame and revolubly connected to the housing, a revoluble operating shaft extending through said housing and said turntable and spaced at its lower end from the ground, a disc plow pivotally connected to the lower end of said shaft, means for rotating the operating shaft and the disc plow, a trough, means connecting the trough to the turntable so as to be movable therewith whereby the trough may be oriented to various angular positions relative to the longitudinal axis of the main frame, means for vertically displacing the ends of the trough relative to the frame, said trough having its inner end postioned to receive the earth as it is cut and elevated by the disc plow, and means for conveying the earth deposited in one end of the trough to the opposite end thereof.

2. A terracing machine of the class described including an elongated frame arranged to be detachably connected to a tractor or the like, said frame having an opening therein, a tubular housing extending through said opening and fixed to said frame, a turntable below the frame and revolubly mounted on the housing, a revoluble and axially displaceable operating shaft extending through said housing and said turntable and spaced at its lower end from the ground, a plowing member pivotally connected to the lower end of said shaft and arranged to penetrate into the earth so as to dislodge and elevate the same, means for axially adjusting the operating shaft relative to the frame, means for rotating the operating shaft and the plowing member, means for maintaining the turntable in an angularly adjusted postion, a trough, means for suspending the trough from one side of the turntable so as to be rotatable therewith whereby the trough may be oriented to various angular positions relative to the longitudinal axis of the main frame, said trough having its inner end positioned to receive the earth as it is cut and elevated by the plowing member, and means for conveying the earth deposited in one end of the trough to the opposite end thereof.

3. A terracing machine of the class described including an elongated frame arranged to be detachably connected to a tractor or the like, said frame having an opening therein, a tubular housing extending through said opening and fixed to said frame, a turntable below the frame and revolubly mounted on the housing, a revoluble and axially displaceable operating shaft extending through said housing and said turntable and spaced at its lower end from the ground, a disc plow pivotally connected to the lower end of said shaft and disposed at an angle to the direction of travel of the machine, means for adjusting the angle of inclination of said disc, means for axially adjusting the operating shaft relative to the frame, means for rotating the operating shaft and said disc plow so as to operate the machine in an opposite direction, means for maintaining the turntable in a predetermined angularly adjusted position, a trough having an adjustable outer section, means for suspending the trough from one side of the turntable so as to be rotatable therewith whereby the trough may be oriented to various angular positions relative to the longitudinal axis of the main frame, means for vertically adjusting opposite ends of the trough, said trough having its inner end positioned adjacent said disc plow so as to receive the earth as it is cut and elevated by the disc plow, and means in said trough for conveying the earth deposited in the trough by the disc plow from the inner side to the outer side of the trough.

4. In combination with a tractor having a power takeoff driving shaft, a terracing machine having an elongated frame, means for detachably connecting the frame to the tractor, said frame having an opening therein, a tubular housing extending through said opening and fixed to said frame, a turntable below the frame and revolubly mounted on the housing, a trough, means for suspending the trough from one side of the turntable, a revoluble and axially displaceable operating shaft extending through said housing and said turntable, a disc plow pivotally connected to the lower end of said shaft and inclined relative to the direction of travel of the tractor so as to penetrate and cut the earth during the operation of the machine, said plow being positioned adjacent one end of the trough to deposit the earth therein, means for adjusting the angle of inclination of the disc plow relative to the ground, a fluid supply pump mounted on the frame, means operatively connecting the take-off shaft to said supply pump, horizontally displaceable means operatively connected to said shaft for rotating the same, means connected to the supply pump for actuating said horizontal means, vertically movable means operatively connected to said shaft for moving the same axially, and means operatively connected to said vertical means for actuating the same.

5. In combination with a tractor having a power takeoff driving shaft, a terracing machine having an elongated frame, means for detachably connecting the frame to the tractor, said frame having an opening therein, a tubular housing extending through said opening and fixed to said frame, a turntable below the frame and revolubly mounted on the housing, a revoluble and axially displaceable operating shaft extending through said housing and said turntable, a disc plow pivotally connected to the lower end of said shaft and inclined relative to the direction of travel of the tractor so as to penetrate and cut the earth during the operation of the machine, means for adjusing the angle of inclination of the disc plow relative to the ground, a fluid supply pump mounted on the frame, means operatively connecting the take-off shaft to said supply pump, horizontally displaceable means operatively connected to said shaft for rotating the same, means connected to the supply pump for actuating said horizontal means, vertically movable means operatively connected to said shaft for moving the same axially, means operatively eauneeted to said vertical means for adtuating the same, a trough, means for s'u'spending the trough from one side of the turntable so as robe rotatable therewith whereby the trough may be oriented to various angular positioh'srelati've to the longitudinal axis of the" main" frame; said trough having its inner end positioned adjacent said disc plow so as to receive the earth as it is cut and elevated by the disc plow, an anger revolubly mounted in said trough for transferring the earth deposited by the disc plow in one end of the trough to the opposite end thereof, and means operatively connected to the take-off shaft for rotating said auger.

6. The combination of a tractor and terracing machine as called for in claim 2 in which the trough is formed of telescoping sections, and means are provided for moving one of the sections longitudinally relative to the other section.

7. The combination of a tractor and terracing machine as called for in claim 6 in which means are provided for vertically adjusting the front end of the trough, and means are provided for vertically adjusting the rear end thereof.

8. In combination with a tractor having a power takeoff shaft, a terracing machine connected to the tractor, said terracing machine including a frame, a tubular housing mounted on the frame, a ring gear rotatably mounted on the frame and encircling said housing, a turntable rotatably connected to the housing, a trough suspended from the turntable and rotatable therewith, a conveyor for the trough, means operatively connecting the conveyor to the tractor for moving the conveyor, means connected to the trough for conducting earth to the conveyor, and means operatively connecting the ring gear to said take-01f shaft, the parts being constructed and arranged so that the machine after completing a terracing operation in one direction discharges the material to one side of the machine so that the machine can turn around and make a second terracing operation in the pposite direction, while discharging the material on the side opposite to that from which the material was previously discharged.

9. In combination with a tractor having a power takeoff shaft, a terracing machine connected to the tractor, said terracing machine including a frame, a tubular housing mounted on the frame, a ring gear rotatably mounted on the frame and encircling said housing, a turntable rotatably connected to the housing, a revoluble operating shaft extending axially through said housing and said turntable, a trough suspended from the turntable for rotation therewith, a plow connected to said operating shaft adjacent one end of the turntable for depositing earth into the trough, feed means for conveying the earth through the trough, means operatively connecting said feed means to the ring gear, and means operatively connecting the ring gear to the take-off shaft, the parts being constructed and arranged so that the machine after completing a terracing operation in one direction discharges the material to one side of the machine and then can turn around and make a second terracing operation in the opposite direction, while discharging the material from the machine on the side opposite to that from which it was previously discharged.

10. In combination with a tractor having a power takeoff shaft, a terracing machine connected to the tractor, said terracing machine including a frame having a vertical opening, a tubular housing mounted on the frame and extending through said opening, a ring gear rotatably mounted on the frame and encircling said housing, a turntable rotatably connected to the housing below said frame, a revoluble operating shaft extending through said housing and said turntable, a trough suspended from the turntable and extending outwardly and laterally therefrom, a movable conveyor in the trough, a plow connected to said operating shaft adjacent one end of the trough for depositing earth into the trough, means operatively connected to the take oif shaft for rotatably adjusting the turntable and trough, and means operatively connecting the take-oif shaft to the conveyor, the parts being constructed and arranged so that the machine after completing a terracing operation in one direction discharges the material to one side of the machine and then can turn around and make a second terracing operation in the opposite direction, while discharging the material from the machine on the side opposite to that from which it was previously discharged.

11. In combination with a tractor having a power takeoff shaft as called for in claim 10 including means operatively connecting the take-off shaft to the operating shaft to move the latter axially, and means for rotating the operating shaft relative to the frame.

12. In combination with a tractor having a power takeoff shaft, a terracing machine connected to the tractor, said terracing machine including a frame having a vertical opening, a tubular housing mounted on the frame and extending through said opening, a turntable below the frame and rotatably connected to the housing, a trough suspended from the turntable for rotation therewith, a revoluble and axially displaceable operating shaft extending through said housing and said turntable, a plow connected to the lower end of said operating shaft adjacent the inner end of said trough, means operatively connected to the take-off shaft for rotating the turntable and trough, means connecting the trough to the turntable so as to be adjustably rotatable therewith, rotatable spiral means in said trough for conveying the earth deposited from the inner end to the outer end thereof, means operatively connected to said take-off shaft for rotatably adjusting the turntable and trough, means operatively connecting the take-off shaft to the operating shaft for adjusting the angular position of the axis of the plow, and means connecting the spiral means to the take-off shaft, the parts being constructed and arranged so that the terracing machine after completing a terracing operation in one direction discharges the material to one side of the machine and then can turn around and make a second terracing operation in the opposite direction, while discharging the material from the machine on the side opposite to that from which it was previously discharged.

13. In combination with a tractor having a power take off shaft, a terracing machine connected to the tractor, said terracing machine including a frame having a vertical opening, a tubular housing mounted on the frame and extending through said opening, a turntable below the frame and rotatably connected to the housing, a trough suspended from the turntable for rotation therewith, a revoluble and axially displaceable operating shaft extending through said housing and said turntable, means operatively connected to the take-oif shaft for rotating the turntable and trough, means connecting the trough to the turntable so as to be adjustably rotatable therewith, a disc plow connected to the lower end of said shaft adjacent the inner end of said trough, rotatable spiral means in said trough for conveying the earth deposited in the trough by the plow from the inner end to the outer end of the trough, means operatively connected to said driving shaft for rotating the turntable and trough, means for moving the operating shaft axially relative to the frame, means operatively connecting the spiral means to said driving shaft, and means operatively connecting the driving shaft to the operating shaft, the parts being constructed and arranged so that the machine after completing a terracing operation in one direction discharges the material to one side of the machine and then can turn around and make a second terracing operation in the opposite direction, while discharging the material from the machine on the side opposite to that from which it was previously discharged.

(References on following page) References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Beckley Aug. 18, 1903 Baty March 3, 1908 5 Barnett Oct. 18, 1910 Henton Sept. 26, 1911 12 .Henton l April 15, 1913 Auger' May 30, 1916 Holley Feb. 28, 1922 Burch Nov. 22, 1932 Kennedy Oct. 22, 1940 Johnson Sept. 16, 1949 Price, Jr. March 11, 1952

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