GB1601694A

GB1601694A - Earthworking machine

Info

Publication number: GB1601694A
Application number: GB1568177A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Stelt J V D
Current assignee: Stelt J V D
Priority date: 1977-04-15
Filing date: 1977-04-15
Publication date: 1981-11-04
Also published as: FR2387322B3; FR2387322A1

Description

(54) EARTH-WORKING MACHINE (71) 1. JAN VAN DER STELT a Dutch subject of Hoogstraat 9, Heusden (NBr), Holland, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to earth-working machines. More particularly, the invention relates to machines for excavating open trenches and to soil-working machines such as disturb the soil without excavating a trench while permitting of simultaneosuly laying of a pipe or cable.

Heretofore, two types of machines have been used, namely, a trenching machine which forms an open trench into which tile drainage or sewage pipes can be placed or into which a flexible drainage pipe or cable carried by the machine or laid out in the field can be laid during formation of the trench: and a machine which ploughs an opening in the ground into which is fed a flexible drainage pipe, which pipe is immediately covered over by the earth which was disturbed by the plough.

These two types of machines have different characteristics in that the open trench-forming machine requires to supply about 70 ,0 of its power to. drive the trench-digging apparatus, while the other machine requires to supply most of its power to drive the machine and thereby pull the plough through the earth.

Consequently, it has been impractical until now to interchange a plough and an open trench-digging apparatus on one machine.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate the aforementioned drawbacks.

The present invention is an earth-working machine having a power plant, a depth control structure, and means located at the rear of the depth control structure whereby a plough apparatus or open trenchforming apparatus can be inter-changeably mounted on the depth control structure .the power plant comprising an engine whose power is divisible between the drive to the wheels of the machine and the drive to the trench-forming apparatus when said apparatus is mounted o nthe machine, the arrangement being such that, when said apparatus is mounted on the machine, the major part of the power is directed thereto while the remainder is directed to drive the machine whereas, when the trenchless plough is mounted on the machine, the total power can be directed to drive the machine.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of a machine according to the present invention adapted for a plough apparatus and showing one form of depth control structure and one form of power plant; and Fig. 2 is a side view of a machine adapted for an open trench-forming apparatus and showing a second form of depth control structure and a second form of power plant.

In the first embodiment (Fig. 1) an earth-working machine includes a wheeled or track-mounting vehicle 10, having a power plant 11 therein and, located rearwardly of the power plant, a depth control structure 12 to which an earth-working apparatus, such as the shown plough 13, or a chain-cutter apparatus 14 for excavating an open trench as shown in Fig. 2, can be interchangeably mounted.Basically, the power plant comprises the power plant comprising an engine whose power is divisible between the drive to the wheels of the machine and the drive to the trenchforming apparatus when said apparatus is mounted on the machine, the arrangement being such that, when said apparatus is mounted on the machine, a major part of the power is directed thereto while the remainder is directed to drive the machine whereas, when the trenchless plough is mounted on the machine, the total power can be directed to drive the machine.

In this embodiment, the depth control structure 12 comprises an upright longitudinally disposed parallelogram framework 20 having spaced uprights 21, 22, the forward one 21 of which is mounted on the chassis of the machine and about which pillar the framework 20 is pivotally mounted. The pillar 21 has a very limited pivotal movement in the lateral plane but is otherwise fixedly mounted on the vehicle. A ram 23 is provided to vary the disposition of the framework about the pillar 21, being anchored close to the base of the pillar and extending upwards and rearwards to a pivoted location on the upper (24) of the longitudinal beam 24, 25 of the framework 20.

The rear end of the framework may extend just rearwards of the rear end of the vehicle.

A secondary framework 30 extends rearwardly of the parallelogram framework 20 and includes a pair of upper and lower beams 31, 32 which are pivotally connected to the rear upright 22 of the parallelogram and at their rear ends to a substantially upright end member or "hitch post" 33. A "floating" ram 34 extends between the lower pivotal connection to the parallelogram. rear upright 22 and the diagonally opposite pivotal connection of the upper beam 24 to the hitch post 33 and acts in conjunction with the ram 23 of the parallelogram framework.The upper secondary link 31 may be adjustable either by a ram or slidable arrangement with pin and holes to provide alteration of the hitch post 33 of the secondary frame and consequently the pitch of a shoe bottom 35 or 36 of the earth-working apparatus 13 or 14 respectively to provide an initial correct "floating" reaction for a particular soil structure.

Alteration of the parallelogram disposition will alter the location of the secondary frame and consequently the angle to the vertical at which the hitch post 33 lies: this will have a depth controlling effect on the earth-working apparatus because of the alteration to the originally set pitch of the shoe bottom. The hitch post, however, will automatically return to its original angle as the machine moves along and, consequently, the shoe bottom will also return to its original pitch.

The means for mounting the apparatus 13 or 14 on the structure includes two pairs of upper and lower transversely coaxial apertures 40, 41 located in longitudinally extending flanges 42 of the apparatus.

The hitch post 33 of the depth control structure is also provided with upper and lower apertures 43, 44 which align with the corresponding apertures on the apparatus 13 or 14 and securing pins 45 are located in the aligned apertures.

The plough apparatus 13 comprises a plough body 50 attached to a housing 51 whicH carries the apertures 40 and 41, for mounting the plough on the depth control structure 12. The plough body 50 is also provided with a pair of vertically spaced sets of holes (not shown) so that the body can be aligned with holes (also not shown) in the housing by either of the two sets of holes, thereby verying that depth of the plough shoe bottom relative to the depth control structure, The plough body is secured in the housing by inserting a locking pin (not shown) into the aligned holes.

The plough apparatus 13 carries at its rear an upright casing or pipe chute 52 through which can pass pipes or a length of flexible pipe or cable from a drum (not shown) carried on the vehicle, the chute serving to guide the pipe or cable into thet opening made by the plough.

The cutter apparatus 14 (Fig. 2) comprises a domed casing 53 that can have the aperture means 40, 41 for connecting the apparatus to the hitch post 33. Depending from the casing 53 is a beam 54 around which a cutter-chain 55 is mounted and a drive means is located in the casing to drive the chain, said drive means having a coupling to the machine's power plant.

The drive means may be a motor 56, for example, a variable displacement hydraulic motor; such a motor will permit most efficient working of the cutters in either light, easily-worked earth or heavy, difficult-to-work earth. The drive means may be mechanical (not shown).

In an alternative hitching arrangement (not shown) the aperture 40 is replaced by a pair of transversely spaced holding bars mounted on the upper flanges 42 of the plough or cutter apparatus and hooks are provided on the hitch post to engage under the holding bars.

An upright casing or pipe chute 57 is mounted at the rear of the cutter apparatus housing to recive pipes or a flexible pipe or cable from a drum (not shown) mounted on the vehicle and guide it into the trench.

When the cutter apparatus is replaced by the plough apparatus 13, the hydraulic motor 56 can be removed and secured to a winch drum 58 (Fig. 1), though until now winches have been provided with an in-built drive means.

A cab 60 is mounted on the hitch post 33 of the secondary frame 30 and extends to one side thereof, the cab including a platform 61 enclosed by a cover 62 and having a control panel (not shown) and seat 63 for an operator who is thus located slightly to the rear and to one side of the hitch post 33. From this position the operator can control movement and direction of the vehicle and also regulate the depth of the cutting apparatus 14 or plough apparatus 13 so as to produce a horizontal trench even in undulating or sloping terrain (when the depth control is not automatic). This is a particularly advantageous position from which to control the machine because the operatcr has a direct link with the digging unlt connected to the hitch post 33 and extends downwards almost directly below the cab. This enables the operator to grade over, e.g. targets.

Further, it is the ideal position for manual depth control because the focal reference point for grading purposes whether for ploughing or open trench digging is always taken at the point of cutting the trench, i.e. at the nose 65 of the plough (which is just forward of the cab) or the lower end 36 of the chain (which is just to the rear of the cab).

A laser actuated depth control regulator may be provided, but as it does not form part of the invention it will be described only briefly. A transmitter (not shown) is located in the field to be worked; it is a light tower which emits a horizontal plane of light which can be given a gradient and which is used as a datum line. A receiver 67 is mounted on the machine and is adapted to actuate a solenoid hydraulic control valve to alter the pitch of the plough or cutter apparatus if the machine goes above or below the datum line; in this way the trench being formed is parallel to the datum line. The receiver 67 is located substantially vertically above the focal reference point (in Fig. 1 this is above the nose of the plough).

In this embodiment the machine's power plant 11 comprises a diesel engine 70 to the PTO shaft 71 of which is connected a splitter box 72 at the rear of the engine thus providing several PTO shafts 73, for example 3 or 4, 73a-73d. These may be arranged in any suitable disposition such as transversely aligned as shown in Fig. 1. Two of these shafts 73,a and 73b are connected to variable hydraulic pumps 74 which in turn drive the wheeled tracks 1 0A of the vehicle lXia hydraulic motors (not shown) and the or each other shaft is connected to a pump 75 for driving one or more hydraulic motors 56 of the cutter unit/winch. The fourth pump can be provided when the capacity oe the cutter apparatus motor(s) is large.Depth capacity of the cutter apparatus is 4i' and more.

The amount of available power from the diesel engine is divided among the PTO shafts and the power requirement from each shaft is variable due to infinitely variable control of the flow and pressure rates of the pumps so that the desired amount of power can be provided to the track drive or cutter drive or winch drive.

For example, the traction pumps 74 may provide a pressure of 4000 psi by a certain flow to drive the machine when ploughing while the amount required for open trench digging may be only 2000 psi. or less by the same flow thus leaving additional power available for driving the cutter apparatus. A synchronisaticn mechanism may be provided to synchronise the machine's forward speed with the open trench cutting rate.

In use of the machine hereinbefore described, the plough or cutter apparatus is mounted on the depth control structure, depending on the earth-working requirement to be performed by the machine.

If the cutter apparatus is to be used, the power plant provides power to operate the cutter apparatus and to drive the tracks or wheels.

If the plough apparatus is to be used, the power from the power plant is primarily used to drive the tracks or wheels with a secondary connection available to the hydraulic motor mounted on the winch if provided.

When the machine is not carrying a plough or cutter apparatus, it can be such as soil ripping, soil mixing, sub-soil or mole draining.

In the second embodiment, the depth control structure 12 (Fig. 2) comprises a pair of upright pillars 80, 81 spaced apart longitudinally, the forward pillar 80 being fixedly mounted on the vehicle chassis so as to remain stationary relative thereto except for a slight lateral pivotal movement, the other pillar 81 being vertically movable and forming the "hitch post", i.e.

having means 43, 44 for engaging the plough or cutter apparatus.

The pillars 80, 81 are interconnected by a longitudinal beam 83, and a pair or sets of rams 84, 85 are connected each between a pillar and the beam. The rams 84, 85 can be separate or inter-connected; for example. one ram 84 can be in a free floating position when ram 85 is operated or interconnected in such a way that it is activated with ram 85 to assist the action of ram 85. The ram 85 is powered so that on actuation thereof the disposition of the structure will alter the position of the hitch post 81 and, consequently, the pitch of the shoe bottom.

In this embodiment the machine power plant 11 comprises a diesel engine 90 to which a gearbox 91 is-connected iva clutch 92. From the gearbox, pulleys 93, 94 are connected to a main drive shaft 95, which is offset laterally to be clear of the depth control structure 12. The main drive shaft 95 terminates in a universal joint 96 to which is coupled a drive shaft extension 97 which connects to the drive of the chain cutter apparatus 14. Extending from the front PTO or other PTO shaft of the engine 90 is a splitter box 99 having two or more PTO shafts 100, 101 connected to hydraulic pumps 102, 103 to drive the wheeled tracks lOA on each side of the vehicle.

In an alternative arrangement the main drive shaft may extend rearwards and sidewards to connect directly from the gearbox to the drive shaft extension.

When the chain cutter apparatus is mounted on the machine, the drive shafts 95, 97 produce the required power to the mechanical drive of the chain, whereas, when the plough apparatus 13 is mounted, the main drive shaft is disengaged and the power for the engine used to drive the wheels of the vehicle.

The two forms of the machine's power plant and the depthcontrol structures, as described in the two embodiments, are interchangeable.

The principle of the interchangeability of plough and cutter apparatus on the same depth control structure is most advantageously applied to draining machines where depth regulation is a critical factor.

However, the principle may equally be applied to cable- or water pipe-laying machines where the depth of the cable may conveniently follow the undulations of the terrain or can be installed at a predetermined level. A machine, as hereinbefore described, is advantageous in that it eliminates the need for two separate machines which are capable only of open trenching or soil-working, with a consequent financial saving, and it is also ad vantageous over machines which can interchange plough and cutter apparatus but only by changing over completely, i.e. by changing the depth control structures and the operator control unit. This is far more time consuming. In addition, the plough or cutter apparatus can be easily interchanged and the machine fully utilised.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. An earth-working machine having a power plant, a depth control structure, and means located at the rear of the depth control structure whereby a soil-working apparatus or open trench-forming apparatus can be interchangeably mounted on the depth control structure, the power plant comprising an engine whose power is divisible between the drive to the wheels of the machine and the drive to the trenchforming apparatus when said apparatus is mounted on the machine, the arrangement being such that, when said apparatus is mounted on the machine, a major part of the power is directed thereto while the remainder is directed to drive the machine whereas, when the trenchiess plough is mounted on the machine, the total power can be directed to drive the machine.

2. A machine as claimed in Claim 1, in which the depth control structure includes a forward upright pillar mounted on the machine and a rear upright pillar connected to the forward pillar by an adjustable framework the rear pillar having means associated therewith for receiving and holingly engaging one or other of the earth-working apparatuses.

3. A machine as claimed in Claim 2, in which said associated means comprises upper and lower apertures in the pillar adapted to align with corresponding apertures in the respective earth-working apparatus, and pins for location in the aligned apertures.

4. A machine as claimed in Claims 2 or 3. in which the depth control structure comprises an upright, longitudinally dis posed parallelogram framework having spaced uprights the forward one of which is mounted on the machine, a ram an chored between the longitudinal member of the framework to vary the disposition of the framework about the forward pillar, and a secondary framework extending rearwardly and comprising a pair of upper and lower longitudinal beams pivotally connected at their forward ends to the rear pillar of the parallelogram framework and at the rear ends to a rear pillar which forms the rear pillar adapted to receive the earth-working apparatus, a "floating" ram being mounted between the longitudinal beams.

5. A machine as claimed in Claims 2 or 3, in which the depth control structure comprises forward and rear pillars, the forward pillar being mounted on the machine and the rear pillar being adapted to receive the earth-working apparatus, a longitudinal beam interconnecting the pil lars between their upper ends or lower ends, and a pair of rams, each mounted between a pillar and the beam, one of said rams being adapted to alter the disposition of the framework about the forward pil lar and which in the working position is a 'floating' ram, the other being for pitch control.

6. A machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the power plant comprises an engine which is con nected to a main drive shaft through a gearbox, the engine having a splitter box by which power is applied by means of hydraulic pumps to drive the machine, the main drive shaft being adapted for con nection to the drive mechanism of the open trench forming apparatus, when said apparatus is mounted on the machine, the

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

97 which connects to the drive of the chain cutter apparatus 14. Extending from the front PTO or other PTO shaft of the engine 90 is a splitter box 99 having two or more PTO shafts 100, 101 connected to hydraulic pumps 102, 103 to drive the wheeled tracks lOA on each side of the vehicle.

In an alternative arrangement the main drive shaft may extend rearwards and sidewards to connect directly from the gearbox to the drive shaft extension.

When the chain cutter apparatus is mounted on the machine, the drive shafts 95, 97 produce the required power to the mechanical drive of the chain, whereas, when the plough apparatus 13 is mounted, the main drive shaft is disengaged and the power for the engine used to drive the wheels of the vehicle.

The two forms of the machine's power plant and the depthcontrol structures, as described in the two embodiments, are interchangeable.

The principle of the interchangeability of plough and cutter apparatus on the same depth control structure is most advantageously applied to draining machines where depth regulation is a critical factor.

However, the principle may equally be applied to cable- or water pipe-laying machines where the depth of the cable may conveniently follow the undulations of the terrain or can be installed at a predetermined level. A machine, as hereinbefore described, is advantageous in that it eliminates the need for two separate machines which are capable only of open trenching or soil-working, with a consequent financial saving, and it is also ad vantageous over machines which can interchange plough and cutter apparatus but only by changing over completely, i.e. by changing the depth control structures and the operator control unit. This is far more time consuming. In addition, the plough or cutter apparatus can be easily interchanged and the machine fully utilised.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. An earth-working machine having a power plant, a depth control structure, and means located at the rear of the depth control structure whereby a soil-working apparatus or open trench-forming apparatus can be interchangeably mounted on the depth control structure, the power plant comprising an engine whose power is divisible between the drive to the wheels of the machine and the drive to the trenchforming apparatus when said apparatus is mounted on the machine, the arrangement being such that, when said apparatus is mounted on the machine, a major part of the power is directed thereto while the remainder is directed to drive the machine whereas, when the trenchiess plough is mounted on the machine, the total power can be directed to drive the machine.
2. A machine as claimed in Claim 1, in which the depth control structure includes a forward upright pillar mounted on the machine and a rear upright pillar connected to the forward pillar by an adjustable framework the rear pillar having means associated therewith for receiving and holingly engaging one or other of the earth-working apparatuses.
3. A machine as claimed in Claim 2, in which said associated means comprises upper and lower apertures in the pillar adapted to align with corresponding apertures in the respective earth-working apparatus, and pins for location in the aligned apertures.
4. A machine as claimed in Claims 2 or 3. in which the depth control structure comprises an upright, longitudinally dis posed parallelogram framework having spaced uprights the forward one of which is mounted on the machine, a ram an chored between the longitudinal member of the framework to vary the disposition of the framework about the forward pillar, and a secondary framework extending rearwardly and comprising a pair of upper and lower longitudinal beams pivotally connected at their forward ends to the rear pillar of the parallelogram framework and at the rear ends to a rear pillar which forms the rear pillar adapted to receive the earth-working apparatus, a "floating" ram being mounted between the longitudinal beams.
5. A machine as claimed in Claims 2 or 3, in which the depth control structure comprises forward and rear pillars, the forward pillar being mounted on the machine and the rear pillar being adapted to receive the earth-working apparatus, a longitudinal beam interconnecting the pil lars between their upper ends or lower ends, and a pair of rams, each mounted between a pillar and the beam, one of said rams being adapted to alter the disposition of the framework about the forward pil lar and which in the working position is a 'floating' ram, the other being for pitch control.
6. A machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the power plant comprises an engine which is con nected to a main drive shaft through a gearbox, the engine having a splitter box by which power is applied by means of hydraulic pumps to drive the machine, the main drive shaft being adapted for con nection to the drive mechanism of the open trench forming apparatus, when said apparatus is mounted on the machine, the

arrangement being such that when said apparatus is on the machine the major part of the engines power is supplied via the main drive shaft to drive the apparatus, while the remainder is supplied via the splitter box to drinve the machine whereas when the soil-working apparatus is mounted on the machine the total power is available via the splitter box to drive the machine.
7. A machine as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5, in which the power plant comprises an engine to the PTO shaft of which is connected a splitter box having at least three PTO shafts, two of which are connected to variable hydraulic pumps which drive the wheels of the machine while the or each other is adapted for connection to the open trench-forming apparatus, the arrangement being such that when said apparatus is mounted on the machine the major part of the engine's power can be directed to drive said apparatus while the remainder is directed to drive the machine, whereas, when the soil-working apparatus is mounted on the machine the total power can be directed to drive the machine.
8. A machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the open trench-forming apparatus comprises an upper casing having the means for connecting the apparatus to the machine, a depending beam around which a cutter chain is mounted and a drive means in the casing to drive the chain, said means having a coupling to the power plant of the machine.
9. A machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the soilworking apparatus comprises a plough body depending from a housing which carries the means for mounting the apparatus on the machine.
10. A machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the operator's control position is mounted in a fixed position relative to the plough or cutter chain.
11. An earth-working machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings.
12. An earth-working machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.