Abstract:
A trenching assembly featuring a novel auger arrangement. The arrangement comprises an auger assembly and a digging chain rotatably connected to a trenching boom. The digging chain rotates, driven by a motor, to dislodge soil and creating a trench. The dislodged soil, or spoil, builds up near a projected path of the digging chain. The auger assembly operates to move the spoil from a projected path of the trench. The auger rotates independently from the digging chain and is positioned such that a projected width of the digging chain intersects a threaded length of the auger assembly. The auger may rotate faster than if driven by the digging chain, allowing the auger to have a smaller diameter than conventional augers. Further, the auger can be used in conjunction with a backfill blade to refill cleaned trenches without operation of the digging chain.
Abstract:
A material handling apparatus is described including a vehicle having a front end, a rear end, a left side, a right side, a chassis, and a ground engagement device attached to the chassis for providing movement of the vehicle across ground; an engine constructed for propelling the vehicle; a loader assembly; a hydraulic system constructed for driving the loader assembly; and operator area including a cage for protecting an operator located within the operator area, and controls for controlling movement of the vehicle and for controlling operation of the loader assembly; and a forward tools area extending from the operator seating area to the front end of the vehicle. The material handling apparatus can include an entrance to the operator area through the rear end of the vehicle, a loader assembly that includes a tower that rotates relative to the chassis, and a dump box or work platform provided in the forward tools area. A method for operating a material handling apparatus is provided.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a machine for uncovering a pipeline, comprising a crawler-mounted underframe (1), on which is mounted working machinery (2) including a frame (3) with a device (4) for clearing away earth, and an operating element (5), as well as power drives in the form of hydraulic cylinders (15, 17) used to pivot and immobilize the frame (3) on a vertical and horizontal plane. The operating element (5) comprises a chain portion (19) which rotates around the axis of a drive shaft (21) by means of a power drive in the form of hydraulic cylinders (22). The distance between the portions (19) can be adapted to the diameter of the pipeline (7). The contour follower (6) comprises an arm (26), preferably attached to the operating element (5), as well as a power drive in the form of a hydraulic cylinder (38) for pivoting and immobilizing the arm (26) on a vertical plane; the end of this arm is fitted with a support for the pipe (7) with the ability to rotate on two planes, in the form of a sliding block (27). The machine has a device to control the position of the working machinery (2) with respect to the pipe (7), said device preferably comprising a computer (94) with sensors (96, 97, 98, 123) to measure the angles of rotation of the working machinery (2). The hydraulic cylinders (15, 17, 22, 38) are used to move the working machinery into and out of the trench, and to fold it into a compact position for transportation. During maneuvering, the machine is moved across the pipeline and rotated with a back and forth movement of its center of turn.
Abstract:
Contaminated material such as soil or sludge is remediated by injecting a suitable remediation fluid into the material during excavation of the contaminated material with a trenching tool. The remediation fluid is injected into the contaminated material through an injection means, preferably a plurality of injection nozzles positioned along the length of the trenching tool. The thus treated material is backfilled or deposited directly into the trench excavated by trenching tool thereby obviating the need for off-site disposal. The constituent remediation agents in the remediation fluid may be adjusted to adapt to varying site conditions and contaminants. The remediation fluid may also be heated to accomplish volatile stripping of the contaminated material or to activate microbial agents in a low temperature environment.
Abstract:
The cable embedding device is used to install a cable, such as a copper cable, together with filler material within a void trenched into the surrounding land area. The cable embedding device has a hopper, and a chute extending from a lower end of the hopper. The chute includes a plowing edge attached to a leading edge of the chute. A tube is connected to the device inside the hopper and extending along a major axis of the chute. An arch is formed at a lower edge of the chute.
Abstract:
A soil removal apparatus in one embodiment has a motive power unit and an excavator joined to the motive power unit by a coupler, the excavator extending laterally of the motive power unit. The coupler includes a manipulator for manipulating the excavator to loosen and displace soil material in a path lateral to a path of movement of the motive power unit. The method relates to undercutting an object with a motive power unit, selectively halting and moving the motive power unit, and loosening and displacing soil lateral to the path of travel of the motive power unit.
Abstract:
An excavation component is disclosed herein. The excavation component includes a cutter structure carrier and a cutter structure carried by the cutter structure carrier. The excavation component also includes a fastener for securing the cutter structure to the cutter structure carrier. The cutter structure carrier and the cutter structure have an interlocking geometry for transferring shear between the cutter structure carrier and the cutter structure so as to reduce an amount of shear applied to the fastener during excavation operations.
Abstract:
An apparatus for digging a trench including a cutter means for cutting through a ground surface and a guide with a loading end located rearwardly of the cutting means and adapted for guiding earth from the loading end to an off loading end as the apparatus moves in a forward direction.
Abstract:
A data acquisition and control system and process for characterizing the subsurface geology of an excavation site, and for utilizing acquired data to optimize the production performance of a machine an earth penetrating member. A geological information acquisition unit (256) and an optional geographic positioning system (254) are employed to survey a predetermined excavation site or route. A geology characterization unit (260) may be employed to determine the physical characteristics of the subsurface geology. The acquired data are processed to provide geologic and, if applicable, position information for the excavation site which is utilized by a main control unit (250) and a machine controller (255) to modify excavation production performance of the machine.
Abstract:
A trenching device (100) rotating a trenching chain (152) through a substrate to form a trench. The trenching device (100) including a power unit (110), a drive unit (120) including a belt drive system, and a trenching unit (150) including a trenching chain (152) and configured to rotate the trenching chain (152) about a trenching bar (140).