Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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EXCAVATING MACHINE FOR ROCKY AND OTHER SOILS
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority from copending provisional patent
application
entitled "Excavating Machine for Rocky and Other Soils," serial number
60/634,323 filed
December 8, 2004. The disclosure of provisional patent application serial
number 60/634,323 is
hereby incorporated in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates generally to excavating machines of the type
having a device
for cutting the earth including bucket wheel trenchers, chain bar trenchers,
trencher or trenchless
plows and hoes, vibratory plows, disc wheel cutters, drum cutters, etc., and
more particularly to
a cutting plate carried on the trenching wheel or chain for breaking through
rocky soils.
[0003] Excavating machines are well known for use in the cutting of an open
trench
having eitlier vertical or sloped walls for the purposes of land drainage and
irrigation including
agricultural tiling, as well as the installation of utilities such as cable
lines, pipelines, water lines,
sewer lines, etc. These excavating machines are often of a vehicular type
being self-contained
and suitably driven for either over-the-road travel or movement during use of
the earth cutting
device.
[0004] Existing excavating machines usually employ earth cutting buckets or
shovels for
cutting into the earth and removing spoil from the trench being made but these
elements do not
function well when rocks within the earth to be trenched are encountered.
Circular saws have
been utilized for cutting through rocky soils but these machines do not
effectively excavate spoil
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from a trench. In addition, most trenching excavators are mounted on crawler
tractors and are of
very large mass and cannot be driven on hard surface roadways without damage
to the roadway
being traversed.
[0005] A need exists for a trench excavator which can penetrate rocky soils,
as well as
soils which are sandy or otherwise not populated with rocks, while
simultaneously effectively
removing spoil from the trench.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention provides a wheel excavating machine which
includes a
series
of spaced apart plates mounted on the periphery of the wheel. Each plate is
provided with one or
more ripping teeth or spikes which extend outward from the plates, with
succeeding plates on the
wheel having the spikes arranged in a pattern which is offset from the
placement of the spikes on
the adjacent plates. The spikes are directed outwardly in the direction of
rotation of the
excavating wheel such that on the spikes are driven against and into the soil
wall. In addition,
the plates mounted on the periphery of the wheel may contain spade members
which extend from
a leading edge of each plate and are angled slightly outward from the center
of the excavating
wheel to claw at softer soils and ground rocks which have first been attacked
by the spikes.
[0007] The excavator is equipped with an L-shaped lifting arm to which the
excavating
wheel assembly is mounted which allows the excavating wheel assembly and
associated shoe
member to be raised or lowered at the rear of the drive unit or tractor. The L-
shaped lifting ann
allows downward force to be applied to the wheel assembly. A transverse
conveyor is located
within the circumference of the wheel such that spoil carried over the top of
the wheel may drop
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on the conveyor and be moved to the side of the trench being excavated. A
cleaning member
with a cleaning face is located at the top of the digging wheel in such a
manner that it removes
the spoil which has accumulated in the rim structure of the digging wheel and
directs the spoil
downwardly onto the conveyor.
[0008] A shoe member follows the trenching w11ee1 through the trench being
excavated.
The shoe member in cooperation with the L-shaped lifting arm provides a
fulcrum for downward
force placed on the L-shaped arm by hydraulic cylinders, tliereby forcing the
excavating wheel
into the trench and reducing the mass of the drive tractor needed to hold the
wheel in the trench.
The drive unit is carried on wheels with tires which permit the machine to be
transported under
its own drive power on a roadway.
[0009] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an
excavating
machine which can trench through rocky soil as well as through non-rocky soil.
[0010] It is a further object of the present invention to provide an
excavating machine
which can be operated more efficiently.
[0011] It is also an object of the invention to provide an excavating machine
which can
be driven at reasonable roadway speeds on hard surface roadways.
[0012] An additional object of the present invention is to provide an
excavating machine
which efficiently removes spoil from the trench being excavated.
[0013] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become
apparent upon
a review of the following description, drawings and claims.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)
[0014] FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an excavating machine in
accordance with
the present invention with its ground cutting means in a raised position;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the excavating machine shown in
FIG. 1 with
its ground cutting means at ground level;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the excavating machine shown in
FIG. 1 with
its ground cutting means partially below ground level;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the excavating machine showil in
FIG. 1 with
its ground cutting means at the bottom of a trench;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of an L-arm assembly in accordance
with the
present invention;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the L-arm assembly shown in FIG.
5;
[0020] FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of the L-arm assembly showing a
slidable leg
member in its extended position;
[0021] FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of the L-arm assembly shown in FIG. 7
showing
the slidable leg member in its retracted position;
[0022] FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of the supporting frame assembly and
the wheel
assembly of the excavating macliine shown in FIG. 1;
[0023] FIG. 10 is an end plan view of the rim assembly of the cutting wheel
assembly in
section with an engagement plate mounted thereto;
[0024] FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of an exemplary plate member showing
the
ripping teeth and spades mounted thereto;
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[0025] FIG. 12 is a section view of the plate member of Fig. 11 taken along
line 12-12 of
Fig. 11.
[0026] FIGS. 13A and 13B are diagrammatic views of a series of plate members
mounted
to the rim structure, shown partly cut away, of the wheel assembly of the
excavating machine.
[0027] FIG. 14 is a perspective of a deflecting member of the invention
carried on a
support member.
[0028] FIG. 15 is a partial cross-sectional elevational view of the wheel
assembly shown
in FIG. 9 taken along lines 15-15;
[0029] FIG. 16 is a front elevational view of an alternative cleaning member
and wheel
frame assembly in accordance with the present invention;
[0030] FIG. 17 is a top perspective view of a conveyor assembly in
accordance with the present invention, with most of the endless conveyor belt
removed;
[0031] FIG. 18 is a bottom perspective view of the conveyor assembly shown in
FIG. 17;
[0032] FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of the endless conveyor belt shown in
FIG. 17
taken along lines 19--19;
[0033] FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of the endless conveyor belt shown in
FIG. 17
taken along lines 20-20;
[0034] FIG. 21 is a side elevational view of a shoe assembly and an adjustable
groover
assembly in accordance with the present invention;
[0035] FIG. 22 is a sectional front elevational view of the shoe assembly
and the adjustable groover assembly shown in FIG. 21 taken along lines 22--22;
[0036] FIG. 23 is a top perspective view taken from the rear of the adjustable
groover
assembly and a mounting assembly shown in FIG. 21;
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[0037] FIG. 24 is a top perspective view taken from the front of the
adjustable groover
assembly and the mounting assembly shown in FIG. 21;
[0038] FIG. 25 is a top perspective view taken from the rear of the adjustable
groover
assembly shown in FIG. 21 in its closed position; and
[0039] FIG. 26 is a top perspective view taken from the rear of the adjustable
groover
assembly shown in FIG. 21 in its open position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0040] This invention discloses an improved excavating machine for cutting a
trench
through the earth. The invention particularly discloses an iinproved
excavating machine for
trenching through rocky soils. Prior improvements to wheel trenchers invented
in whole or in
part by one of the instant inventors are shown in U.S. Patents Nos. 4,890,670;
5,873,186;
5,943,798; and 6,055,750; the disclosures of each of which are incorporated
herein by this
reference.
[0041] Referring to Fig. 1, the numeral 30 generally designates the excavating
machine of
the present invention. The excavating machine 30 includes a power unit vehicle
32 supported by
wheels 34. Pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis 35 on the power unit
vehicle 32 is an L-
arm assembly 36 which is adapted to be raised and lowered by means of a
hydraulic cylinder 38.
Pivotally mounted to the L-arm assembly 36 is earth cutting assembly 40. The
earth cutting
assembly 40 of the preferred embodiment comprises a rock wheel trencher
assembly 42 and a
supporting frame assembly 44. The supporting frame asseinbly 44 is pivotally
mounted about a
horizontal axis 46 as part of a means for controlling the pitch of the earth
cutting assembly 40,
and this pivotal movement is controlled by a second liydraulic cylinder 48.
Rotatably mounted to
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the supporting frame assembly 44 is a wheel assembly 50. Also mounted to the
supporting fraine
assembly 44 are a conveyor assembly 52 and a shoe assembly 54.
[0042] Figs. 1-4 schematically show the excavating machine 30 in its range of
positions.
Fig. 1 shows the excavating machine 30 with earth cutting assembly 40 raised
to its highest
position, when machine 30 is ready for movement to a new site. Fig. 2 shows
the earth cutting
assembly 40 lowered to ground level 55. Fig. 3 shows the earth cutting
assembly 40 partially
below ground level 55 as a trench 56 in rocky ground or solid rock 58 is
begun. Fig. 4 shows the
earth cutting assembly 40 in a position at the bottom 59 of the trench 56 in
the ground 58.
[0043] Figs. 5-8 show the L-ann assembly 36 for raising and lowering the earth
cutting
assembly 40. The L-arm assembly 36 is located between the power unit vehicle
32 and the earth
cutting assembly 40. The L-arm assembly 36 includes a first arm 60 having a
first end 62 and a
second end 64 opposite to the first end 62. The L-arm assembly 36 further
includes a second arm
66 integral with and substantially transverse to the first arm 60. The second
arm 66 has a first
end 68 integral with the first end 62 of the first arm 60 and a second end 70
opposite to the first
end 68 of the second arm 66. The second end 64 of the first arm 60 includes
apertures 72 for
receiving a pivot member 74 for pivotal attaclunent to the power unit vehicle
32. The second end
70 of the second arm 66 includes an extended lift member 76 having an
apertures 78 for
receiving a pivot member 80 for pivotal attachment to the supporting frame
assembly 44 about
horizontal axis 46. The first arm 60 of the L-arm asseinbly 36 is longer than
the second arm 66
of the L-arm assembly 36.
[0044] While it is anticipated that the L-arm assembly 36 could comprise one L-
arm of
solid construction (not shown), the preferred embodiment as shown in Figs. 5
and 6 shows an
assembly of two separate L-arms 82 spaced apart by tubular support members 84.
In addition,
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Figs. 5 and 6 show that the first arm 60 of each L-ann 82 is comprised of a
top plate 86 and first
and second side plates 88 and 90, respectively, the first side plate 88 being
substantially parallel
with the second side plate 90 with a slight divergence between the first side
plate 88 and second
side plate 90 from the first end 62 of the first arnn 60 to the second end 64
of the first arm 60. In
addition, the second arnn 66 of each L-arm 82 is comprised of a rectangular
housing 94 with the
extended lift members 76 extended from the second end 70 thereof.
[0045] The L-arm asseinbly 36 also includes means for attachinent to the
hydraulic
cylinder 38 to raise and lower the L-arm assembly 36 in the form of two gusset
plates 96 having
apertures 98 therein for receiving a pivot member 100 for pivotal attachment
to the hydraulic
cylinder 38. It is preferred that these means for attachment to the hydraulic
cylinder 38 be
proximate to the first end 62 of the first arm 60 of the L-arm assembly 36.
[0046] In the preferred embodiment wherein the L-ann assembly 36 is made up of
two
parallel L-arms 82, one of the parallel second arms 66 includes witllin its
rectangular housing 94
means for extending and retracting the extended lift member 76. Means for
extending and
retracting an extended lift member 102 relative to a rigidly comiected
extended lift member 104
are shown in Figs. 7 (extended) and 8 (retracted). A telescoping housing 106
is operably
attached between a linear actuator 108 (shown uncovered in Figs. 1-4) and the
lift meinber 102.
[0047] While the L-arm asseinbly 36 of the present invention is sllown on an
excavating
machine 30 having a rock wheel trencher assembly 42, it is to be understood
that this L-arm
assembly 36 could be incorporated with any type of excavating machine having
earth cutting
means as original equipment or sold separately as a retrofit part for existing
equipment.
[0048] Fig. 9 shows an enlarged elevational view of the supporting frame
assembly 44
and the wheel assembly 50 mounted rotatably thereon. A lutch 116 having an
aperture 118
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tllerein is included for receiving pivot member 46 for pivotal attachment to
the second end 70 of
the second arm 66 of the L-arm assembly 36. In addition to pivotal movement
upon extension or
retraction of the hydraulic cylinder 48, when the slidable lift member 102 is
extended or retracted
relative to the fixed lift member 104 by linear actuator 108, the supporting
frame assembly 44
and the wheel assembly 50 are adjustable from their normal vertical
orientation. This is
beneficial when a vertical trench is to be dug on uneven ground or when a non-
vertical trench is
to be dug.
[0049] The supporting fraine assembly 44 also includes a flange 122 having an
aperture
124 therein for receiving a fastening member 126 for operable attachment to
the second hydraulic
cylinder 48 for the supporting frame assembly 44. Accordingly, as the second
hydraulic cylinder
48 for the wlieel frame assembly 44 is extended and retracted, the pitch of
the supporting frame
assembly 44 is adjusted up or down in accordance therewith.
[0050] The wheel assembly 50 includes a digging wheel 128 having a rim
structure 130
and a series of circumferentially spaced plate members 132 peripherally
mounted to the rim
structure 130 of the digging wheel 128. A truck roller assembly 134 is rigidly
connected to the
supporting frame assembly 44 for adjustment of the digging wheel 128 and to
maintain the
digging wheel 128 in a desired position. The digging wheel 128 is driven in a
counter-clockwise
direction as illustrated in Figs. 1-4, by a drive mechanism 136. As the
digging wheel 128 rotates,
ripping teeth 138 of each plate member 132 strike a portion of trench leading
edge 57, moving
upward against leading edge 57 freeing spoil 140 which is then carried within
the plate members
132, arc plate 142, and the rim structure 130 to the top 141 of the digging
wheel 128. The arc
plate 142 keeps the spoil from passing througll the rim structure 130 until it
reaches the top 141
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of the digging wheel 128 where it then falls onto the conveyor assembly 52 for
expelling laterally
to a spoil bank (not shown) on the side of the excavating machine 30.
[0051] Each plate member 132 comprises a generally flat plate having at least
one ripping
tooth 138 mounted thereto, the at least one ripping tooth 138 extending
outwardly from rim
structure 130.
[0052] Fig. 10 is a front elevation of rim structure 130 with plate meinber
132 mounted
tliereto. Fig. 11 is a top perspective of an exemplary plate member 132 and
Fig. 12 is a section
view taken along line 12-12 of Fig. 11. Exemplary plate member 132 is shown in
Figs. 10-12 to
include a rectangular steel plate 133, preferably of steel, having a leading
edge 137 which may
be, but need not be, tapered from longer outward face 135 to shorter inward
face 139. Plate
member 132 is fixed to rim structure 130 which comprises spaced apart parallel
rims 129 and
131. In the exeinplary plate member 132 of Figs. 10-12, two ripping teeth 138
are fixed to
outward face 135 of plate meinber 132. Each ripping tooth 138 comprises a
holder 170 and a
spike 172, with holder 170 receiving spike 172 and orienting it at angle a
relative to outward face
135. Angle a is optimally between 32 and 62 , preferably approximately 47 to
52 in the
preferred embodiment. It is possible that other inclinations of ripping teeth
138 may be useful
depending on the type of rocky condition encountered. Spikes 172 are
preferably carbide tips
which are driven by wheel assembly 50 against the trench leading edge 57.
Various geometries
of spikes 172 are contemplated such as chisels, knives, gouges, scoops a.nd
daggers. Variations
in the structures of the holders 170 and attachment of spikes 172 thereto may
also be made while
adhering to the invention.
[0053] Each plate member 132 may further be provided with one or more spades
174
which may be backhoe teeth which extend forward of leading edge 137 of plates
133. Spades
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174 may comprise support legs 178, which lie along outward face 135 of plates
133, and shovels
176 which are disposed forward of leading edge 137 of plates 133. Shovels 176
preferably
incline away from outward face 135.
[0054] Figs. 13A and 13B illustrate a series of plate members 132 a-j carried
on rim
structure 130. First plate member 132a of series of plate members 132a-j
comprises a single
ripper tooth 1381ocated generally centrally on outward face 135 of series
first plate member
132a. Also mounted to first plate member 132a are a pair of spades 174 spaced
on either side of
single ripping tooth 138.
[0055] Spaced from first plate member 132a is second plate member 132b of
series of plate
meinbers 132a j. Spacing between adjacent plate members may be about six
inches while each
plate member 132 may be approximately six inches long though variations in
both of these
dimensions may be selected, preferably within the range of three inches to
fifteen inches, it
further to be understood that the length of the plate members 132 is not
dependent on the spacing
between adjacent plate members 132, nor is the converse required. Second plate
member 132b
comprises a pair of ripping teeth 138 spaced generally equidistantly from the
center line 180 of
rim structure 130. Flanking ripping teeth 138 are pairs of spades 174 which
may be mounted to
outward face 135 of second plate member 132b at positions generally
equidistant from center line
180.
[0056] Spaced apart from second plate member 132b and mounted to rims 129 and
131 is
third plate member 132c of series of plate members 132a-j which comprises
ripping teeth 138
and multiple spades 174. A centered spade 174 in the forin of a backhoe tooth
lies on center line
180 with the other spades 174 and the ripping teeth 138 spaced apart generally
equidistantly from
center line 180.
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[0057] Fourth plate member 132d of series of plate members 132a-j is spaced
similarly
from third plate member 132c and from the next plate member 132e which will
follow. Fourth
plate member 132d comprises a pair of spades 174 flanked by a pair of ripping
teeth 138. It can
be observed that ripping teeth 138 on succeeding plate meinbers 132b-j form a
pattern with
ripping tooth 138 of first plate member 132a starting on the center line 180
and with ripping teeth
138 moving sequentially outward from the center line 180 with each succeeding
plate member
132b-e. Spades 174 are disposed on each plate member 132 and are placed in
locations spaced
apart from the ripping teeth 138. Generally ripping teeth 138 and spades 174
are symmetrically
disposed as to center line 180.
[0058] It is to be understood that the pattern of the ripping teeth 138 and
spades 174 on
series of plate members 132a-j may repeat or the series of plate members 132a-
j may comprise
additional plate members 132, each of which preferably includes at least one
ripping tooth 138
and at least one spade 174. However, plate meinbers 132 which have neither
ripping teeth 138
nor spades 174 may be interspersed witllin or between series thereof.
Furthermore, the use of
only one or more ripping teeth 138 on a plate member 132 without spades 174,
or the use of only
one or more spades 174 without ripping teeth 138 on a selected plate members
is also
contemplated.
[0059] Preferably, plate members 132 in series are constructed such that the
first of a
series of plate members 132 has a single ripping tooth 138 centered thereon
while the next plate
member 132 in the series includes two ripping teeth 138 each spaced
approximately three inches
from the centerline 180 of the wheel assembly 50. The next plate member 132 in
the series is
provided with two ripping teeth 138 each spaced approximately six inches from
the centerline
180 and the subsequent plate member 132 includes two ripping teeth 138 each
separated by
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approximately iiine inches from the centerline 180. Thereafter, the next
following plate member
132 includes two ripping teeth each separated from the center line 180 by
twelve inches. Then
the series may include a next following plate member 132 which includes two
ripping teeth 138
straddling the centerline with each ripping tooth 138 at a distance of one and
one-half inches
from the center line 180, followed by the next following plate member 132
provided with two
ripping teeth 138 each spaced approximately four and one-half inches from the
centerline 180;
followed by a next plate member 132 including two ripping teeth 138 each
spaced approximately
seven and one-half inches from the centerline 180; followed by a next plate
member 132
including two ripping teeth 138 each spaced approximately ten and one-half
inches from the
centerline 180. Thereafter the next following plate member 132 may be
identical to the first plate
member 132a in the series having a centered single ripping tooth 138 and the
series may then
repeat as needed to complete the periphery of the rim structure 130.
[0060] As seen in Figs. 13A and 13B, the spades 174 are located on plate
members 132
such that they are spaced laterally from the ripping teeth 138 and also
symmetrically to the
centerline 180, including in some cases when three spades 174 may be utilized
on a plate
meinber 132,with the middle of the spades 174 thereon centered on the
centerline 180. In each
case, the spades 174 are directed toward the direction of movement of the
plate meinbers 132 as
the wheel assembly 50 is turned while the ripping teeth 138 are each angularly
directed outward
from the plate members 132 with the spikes 172 thereof directed toward the
direction of
rotational movement of the rim structure 130. Spades 174 extend forward of
leading edges 137
of plate member 132 while spikes 172 are preferably located near the trailing
edges 133 of plate
members 132.
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[0061] The ripping tooth 138 of first plate member 132a shatters the trench
leading edge
57 of the rocky ground 58 while the ripping teeth 138 of each succeeding plate
member 132
strike a different area and may clear the spoil 140 created by the ripping
tooth 138 of the
preceding plate members 132 or the ripping teeth 138 of the following plate
members 132 may
shatter a different area of the trench leading edge 57.
[0062] The shovels 176 of each spade 174 do not extend outward from plate 133
as far as
the ripping teeth 138 do but do serve to scoop rock pieces and rocky soil in
the trench, feeding
the spoil 140 toward the arc plate 142 and upward such that spoil 140 will
pass to the top 141 of
wheel assembly 50 and be deflected by deflective face 150 (Fig. 14) onto the
conveyor assembly
52. In addition, shovels 176 serve to excavate non-rocky soil which may be
encountered, thereby
permitting the invention machine to be used on both rocky and non-rocky soils.
[0063] Deflecting member 144 is operably attached to the wlieel frame assembly
44 at
146. The deflecting member 144 is shown in detail in Fig. 14 and is positioned
within an interior
profile 148 defmed by of the riun structure 130 and the plate members 132 of
the digging wheel
128 in Fig. 15. The deflecting member 144 is positioned at an angle with a
deflecting face 150
located at the top 141 of the digging wheel 128 in such a manner that it
removes the spoil 140
which has accumulated in the rim structure 130 between the plate members 132
of the digging
wheel 128 and the arc plate 142. Deflecting member 144 directs the spoil 140
downwardly onto
the conveyor assembly 52. The deflecting face 150 corresponds substantially in
size and shape to
the interior profile 148 of the rim structure 130 and the plate members 132,
the deflecting face
150 thereby fitting within the interior profile 148 formed by the rim
structure 130 and the plate
members 132 to remove substantially all of the spoil 140 which has accumulated
within interior
profile 148.
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[0064] The deflecting face 150 may be arcuate in lateral cross-section (Fig.
14) and in
longitudinal cross-section resulting in a concave shape in order to deflect
the spoil 140
downward.
[0065] In the preferred embodiment, the deflecting face 150 is rigidly
attached to a
support member 152 which is carried on the frame assembly 144. Compression
coil springs (not
shown) within housing 154 may longitudinally bias the deflecting face 150 into
position within
the interior profile 148 of the rim structure 130 and the plate member 132 as
well as permit the
deflecting face 150 to retract upon contact with an obstruction (not shown)
within the interior
profile 148 of the rim structure 130 and the plate member 132. This
configuration allows for
positive cleaning while preventing damage upon contact with an obstruction.
[0066] An alternative embodiment of the cleaning member 144 is shown in FIG.
16. Ihi this
embodiment, a cleaning face 170 is attached directly to a mounting arm 172
which is pivotally
mounted to a wheel frame assembly 174 about a horizontal axis 176. A coiled
spring 178 is
rigidly connected between the mounting arm 172 at 180 and the wheel frame
assembly 174 at
182 to provide alternative biasing and retraction means. However, the cleaning
face 184 and the
ultimate position of the cleaning face 184 within the interior profile 148 of
the rim structure 130
and the bucket member 132 would be identical.
[0067] In the preferred embodiment, it is found that the wheel speed may be
accelerated
over that wliich is known in the art and that the cutting effect of the earth
cutting assembly 40
may be improved by rotation of the wheel assembly 50 at a sufficient speed
that the speed of
travel of any of ripping teeth 138 across the leading trench edge 57 is not
less than approximately
fifteen feet per second, and preferably approximately at least eighteen feet
per second. The
inclusion of the deflecting member 144 and the conveyor assembly 52 in
coordination with the
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novel plate members 132 mounted on the rim structure 130 enables the rapid
rotation of the
wheel assembly 52 such that the ripping teeth 138 pass the leading trench face
57 at an angular
velocity of in excess of fifteen feet per second. In some ground conditions
however, it may be
necessary to operate the wheel assembly 50 at a slower speed at wliich the
excavating machine
will remain fully functional.
[0068] The conveyor assembly of the present invention is shown in Figs. 17-20.
The
conveyor assembly 52 is operably attached to the wheel frame assembly 44 in a
suspended
manner at 186 and 188. This allows the conveyor asseinbly to be tilted from
one side to another
depending upon from which side the spoil 140 is to be expelled. The conveyor
assembly 52
comprises an interior portion 190 bounded by a first end roller 192 and a
second end roller 194
opposite to the first end roller 192, an endless conveyor belt 196 about the
first end roller 192 and
the second end roller 194, a first side assembly 198 and a second side
assembly 200 opposite to
the first side asseinbly 198, all to prevent the spoil 140 from entering the
interior portion 190 of
the conveyor assembly 52.
[0069] The conveyor assembly 52 furtller comprises a top plate 202 on which
the endless
conveyor belt 196 slides. In the preferred embodiment, this top plate 202 is
made of an ultra-
high molecular weight plastic to provide a minimal amount of friction between
the endless
conveyor belt 196 and the top plate 202. However, it is anticipated that other
materials could be
used. While the top plate 202 is shown in the preferred embodiment as separate
plates 204 and
206 which are located side-by-side with a longitudinal channel 208
therebetween, it is to be
understood that a single top plate could also be used having a longitudinal
groove therein (not
shown). The top plates 204 and 206 of the conveyor asseinbly 52 extend
laterally beyond the
first side assembly 198 and the second side assembly 200, respectively, in a
manner so as to
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overlap the side assemblies 198 and 200 to prevent spoil 140 from entering the
interior portion
190 of the conveyor assembly 52.
[0070] In the preferred embodiment, the endless conveyor belt 196 includes a
series of
finger-like projections 210 (Figs. 19 and 20) along its underside 212
corresponding in alignment
with the longitudinal channe1208 between the first top plate 204 and the
second top plate 206 of
the conveyor assembly 52 in order to act in combination as a guide for
centering the endless
conveyor belt 196 on the conveyor assembly 52. lil addition, the first end
roller 192 and the
second end roller 194 each include an annular groove 214 and 216,
respectively, in aligninent
with the longitudinal charme1208 between the first top plate 204 and the
second top plate 206 of
the conveyor asseinbly 52 in order to receive the finger-like projections 210
on the underside 212
of the endless conveyor belt 196 again to center the endless conveyor belt 196
on the conveyor
asseinbly 52. The centering of the endless conveyor belt 196 on the conveyor
assembly 52 is also
assisted by a tapering of the first end roller 192 and the second end roller
194 wherein the center
portion 218 and 220 of the first end roller and second end roller,
respectively, is larger in
diameter than the end portions 222 and 224 and 226 and 228 of the first end
roller 192 and the
second end roller 194, respectively.
[0071] A belt tension adjuster 230 allows an end member 232 of the first side
assembly
198 and an end member 234 of the second side assembly 200, respectively, to be
extended or
retracted as necessary The tension adjuster 230 coinprises a tliumb screw 231
which, upon
turning along threaded rod 236, eitller extends or retracts the end members
232 and 234 of the
first side assembly 198 and the second side assembly 200, respectively, along
with the second
end roller 194. The first end roller 192 is rigidly connected along with end
members 238 and 240
of the first side assembly 198 and the second side assembly 200, respectively.
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[0072] The first side assembly 198 and the second side assembly 200 furtlier
includes
downwardly extended flanges 242 and 244, respectively, for preventing the
spoil 140 from
entering the interior portion 190 on the underside 246 of the conveyor
assembly 52. For the
minimal amount of spoil 140 that does enter the interior portion 190 of the
conveyor assembly
52, a plow assembly is operably attached therein to direct the spoil 140 back
out from the interior
portion 190 of the conveyor assembly 52. The s11oe assembly 54 is a diamond-
shaped
configuration of stop plates 250, 252, 254 and 256 which are angled towards
the first side
assembly 198 and the second side assembly 200. Accordingly, as spoil riding on
the underside
212 of the endless conveyor belt 196 comes into contact with the stop plates
250-256 it is
directed out of the conveyor assembly 52.
[0073] Once again, wllile the conveyor asseinbly 52 of the present invention
is shown on
an excavating machine 30 having a rock wheel trencher assembly 42, the
conveyor assembly 52
could be incorporated with any type of excavating machine having earth cutting
means either as
original equipment or sold separately as a retrofit part for existing
equipment.
[0074] The shoe assembly 54 of the present invention is shown in Figs. 21-26.
The shoe
asseinbly 54 includes a post member 258 for operable attachment at 260 with
the supporting
fraine assembly 44. The shoe assembly further includes side plates 262 and 264
for contact with
the side walls of the trench 56 in order to prevent a cave-in of the side
walls of the trench 56
during use. The side plates 262 and 264 are supported and maintained in a
spaced relationship
by a tubular support assembly 266 which extends downwardly from the post
member 258.
[0075] Grooving means 268 are operably attached along the bottom edge 270 of
the shoe
assembly 54 and extend therebelow to form a groove 272 in the bottom 274 of
the trench 56. In
the preferred embodiment, the grooving means 268 comprise adjustable groove
means 276 for
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adjusting the radial dimension of the groove 272. The adjustable groove means
276 includes a
mounting assembly 278 including a mounting plate 280 rigidly connected to a
bottom member
282 of the shoe assembly 54. The mounting assembly 278 of the adjustable
groove means 276
also includes side mounting plates 284 and 286 rigidly connected to sidewalls
262 and 264,
respectively, of the shoe assembly 54 and a rear mounting plate 288 operably
attached between
the side mounting plates 284 and 286.
[0076] Suspended within the mounting asseinbly 278 and pivotally connected
about a
pivot member 290 extended rearwardly from the front mounting plate 280 is the
adjustable
groover assembly 291 of the adjustable groove means 276. The adjustable
groover assembly 291
comprises a first arcuate groove plate 292 and a second arcuate groove plate
294 having apertures
296 and 298, respectively, for receiving the pivot member 290 extended
rearwardly from the
front mounting plate 280, the first arcuate groove plate 292 and the second
arcuate groove plate
294 in combination resulting in an arc 300 of varying radius for forming the
groove 272 in the
bottom 274 of the trench 56.
[0077] Means for pivoting the first arcuate groove plate 292 relative to the
second arcuate
groove plate 294 are included comprising a linear actuator 302 having a first
end 304 and a
second end 306 opposite to the first end 304.
[0078] The first end 304 of the linear actuator 32 is operably attached to a
hand-crank
assembly 308 which is operably attached at the top edge 310 of the shoe
assembly 54. The
second end 306 of the linear actuator 302 is operably attached to a yoke
member 312 having an
aperture 314 for receiving a pivot member 316 therein. First and second link
members 318 and
320 each having a first end 322 and 324, respectively, and a second end 326
and 328,
respectively, are pivotally attached at their first ends 322, 324 to the yoke
member 312 and at
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their second ends 324, 326 to the first arcuate groove plate 292 and the
second arcuate groove
plate 294, respectively, at pivot points 328 and 330, respectively.
[0079] Accordingly, as the linear actuator 302 is extended, the link members
318 and 320
extend the first arcuate groove plate 292 and the second arcuate groove plate
294 apart to form a
groove of a larger radius. Likewise, when the linear actuator 302 is
retracted, the link members
318 and 320 retract the first arcuate groove plate 292 relative to the second
arcuate groove plate
294 to create a groove of a smaller radius.
[0080] A nose cone member 332 extends in front of the front mounting plate 280
in the
direction of travel of the excavating machine 30 to penetrate the ground 58 to
make way for the
adjustable groover assembly 291.
[0081] And again, while the adjustable groover assembly 276 of the present
invention is
shown on an excavating machine 30 having a rock wheel trencher assembly 42, it
is to be
understood that the adjustable groover assembly 276 could be incorporated with
any type of
excavating machine having earth cutting means as original equipment or sold
separately as a
retrofit part for existing equipment.
[0082] The foregoing description and drawings merely explain and illustrate
the
invention, and the invention is not limited thereto, except insofar as the
claims are so limited as
those skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will be able to
make modifications
and variations therein without departing from the scope of the invention.
