GB2172032A

GB2172032A - Apparatus for trenching ground and laying a flexible pipe or cable

Info

Publication number: GB2172032A
Application number: GB08506172A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Gilchrist
Original assignee: DAISY D Ltd
Current assignee: DAISY D Ltd
Priority date: 1985-03-09
Filing date: 1985-03-09
Publication date: 1986-09-10
Also published as: GB2172032B; GB8506172D0

Abstract

Apparatus for trenching ground and simultaneously laying a flexible pipe 5 or electric cable in the trenched ground comprises a frame 19,22,24 at its front end to be connected to a towing vehicle, a bar 3 for forming a trench, and plates 1 defining a compartment into which piping 5 or cable can be fed, the plates being provided with a chute 9 through which gravel 11 can be fed and discharged into the formed trench so as to cover the piping or cable laid therein. To assist movement of the apparatus through the ground, the leading edge of the plates 1 is provided with a T-shaped member 31 which is vibrated to break up the ground immediately in front of the apparatus. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for laying flexible drainage pipes in trenched ground This invention relates to apparatus for laying flexible drainage pipes (or flexible pipes for other purposes) in ground at the same time as it is trenched by the apparatus.

The primary subject of the invention is the provision of apparatus for the above purpose that is adapted to be towed, preferably, but not essentially, by a tractor, and to facilitate laying of a flexible drainage pipe or a flexible water-conveying supply pipe continuously in a trench as it is formed by the apparatus. A further object of the invention is the provision of such apparatus capable of filling in, if required, a formed trench, after laying of piping, with covering material, e.g. gravel.

Afurtherobjectofthe invention is the provision of such apparatus which is provided with means for breaking up the soil as it progresses.

According to the present invention there is provided means for laying flexible pipes or cables in ground at the same time as the ground is being trenched by the apparatus, comprising a pair of laterally spaced apart plates defining a compartment through which pipes or cables can be passed and guided into a trench as it is formed by the apparatus and a hopper mounted at the rear of the apparatus above a chute defined by said plates through which chute material, such as gravel, can be fed to cover pipes or cables laid in the trench, the apparatus being adapted to be connected to means for towing it along the ground to be trenched, the leading edge of said plates being provided with means for vibrating such as to break up the soil.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa side elevation of the apparatus.

Figure 2 is a plan view taken on the line A-A of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an end view looking in the direction of the arrow B-B of Figure 1 of a towing frame intended to be connected to hydraulic linkage of a tractor; Figure 4 is an end view taken on the line C-C of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a section taken on the line D-D of Figure 1; and Figure 6 is a section taken along the line E-E of Figure 1.

Referring to said drawings the apparatus comprises a body part consisting of a pair of laterally spaced-apartvertical plates 1 (as viewed in an upright position of use) bridged and closed at their lower ends by a sole plate 2 of upwardly opening semi-circular cross section and having a pointed leading end 2a.

The leading marginal parts of the plates 1 incline upwardly and rearwardly and merge towards one another as indicated at lh in Figure 5 and their leading edges are bridged by a bar 3 that is forced and cuts through the earth to form a trench as the apparatus is pulled along. The lower end 3a (Figure 1) of this bar 3 extends over and closes the leading end of the sole plate 2. Thus no earth is allowed to enter the interior of the apparatus between the plates 1 during trenching. Preferably a strengthening plate 4 is welded to the bar 3 and to the leading marginal parts of the plates 1.

In use, a flexible perforated plastic drain pipe indicated at 5 is fed between the plates 1 and guided by guide plates 6 and 7, that also constitute stiffeners, to an outlet 1 a at the bottom of the plates to the rear of the sole plate 2, the pipe then passing on to the soil at the bottom of the formed trench and that has been shattered by the sole plate 2.

The guide plate 7 and portions of the plates 1 to the rear of the guide plate 7 in conjunction with a shutter 8, combine to define a chute 9 through which gravel, fed through a hopper 10 at the upper end of the chute 9 may be passed so as to cover the pipe 5 as shown at 11 so as to allow easy access of water to the interior of the drain pipe 5 through the perforations therein.

The shutter 8 is preferably arranged to slide vertically so that the height of a gravel discharge outlet 12 beneath the lower end of the shutter 8 can be adjusted to regulate the depth of covering of the pipe 5 by the gravel 11.

The apparatus may be pulled along in any suitable manner but it is preferred to provide, as a subsidiary feature, a frame by which the apparatus can be quickly and easily coupled to the hydraulic lift arms and top link of a tractor and pulled along by the latter while penetrating the ground to a required depth.

A suitable frame comprises two frame members 13 that are bolted by bolts 14, 15 and 16 between the leading marginal parts of the plates 1 of the body of the apparatus and the bar 4 that is positioned therebetween, the bolt 16 also serving as anchorage for securing the rear ends of a pair of outer frame members 17, defining an elongated "V", to said bar 4.

The upper front corner of the bar 4 has bolted thereto on a bolt 18 a tube 19 that inclines upwardly and forwardly and is bolted at 20 at its forward end within a U-shaped loop 21 of a front vertical frame member 22 (Figure 3) connected at its lower ends to the front ends of the outer frame members 17 which are formed with forks 23.

The frames can be coupled to the hydraulically actuated lift arms of a tractor by bolts passed through holes 23a of the forks 23 and by a bolt passed through holes 22a in the limbs of the U-shape loop of the front frame member 22.

The main frame assembly is held rigid by a pair of arms 24 welded at their rear ends to the side plates 1 of the apparatus and bolted at 25 at their front ends to the frame members 13 at about midway of the length of the latter.

When required to be used the apparatus can be easily and expeditiously connected by its frame to the lift arms and top link of a tractor as above explained. The plastic pipe 5 and the chute 9 for gravel are contained within the solid side plates and displaced earth, as the trench is formed, is prevented from entering the apparatus by the front of the apparatus being closed by the bar 3 and this earth is constrained by the side plates to fall back into the trench behind the trailing edges of the plates. During forward movement of the apparatus plastic drainage piping 5 is fed by hand through the outlet la into the trench as it is formed by the apparatus and the piping covered by grave 11 fed through the hopper 10 and chute 9.

The apparatus can be lowered into the earth and subsequently raised after trenching by the hydraulically actuated linkage on the tractor.

The sole plate 2 serves to shatter the soil at the bottom of a trench as it is cut by the apparatus to facilitate drainage through perforations in the pipe.

Conveniently the apparatus can lay flexible plastic drain pipes or water-conveying pipes to a depth of about three feet in a continuous manner and can, if required, discharge a gravel infill into the formed trench to cover a pipe piaced in the trench.

The apparatus can be worked at a rate of approximately two or three miles per hour so as to be capable of laying a considerable length of pipe a day.

Although the apparatus is primarily intended for laying perforated drain pipe, or alternatively for laying water-conveying pipes, it may advantageously be used for laying flexible piping for other purposes, e.g. for gas supplies or for laying electric power supply cables.

The apparatus may also be used as a mole drainer.

It will be appreciated that with the apparatus of this invention there is no need to effect back filling of the trench by a separate operation because due to the construction of the apparatus the earth, as previously explained, is constrained by the side plates to fall back into the trench behind the trailing edges of the plates.

In accordance with the invention the leading marginal edges of the plates 1 merge towards one another as indicated at 1 b and the bar 3 is provided with a pair of flanges 30 which form a U-shaped channel within which there is pivotted at 32 a vibrating leading T-shaped member 31. The member 31 has a front portion 31a and a leg portion 31b. An upward extension of the leg portion 31b is connected to a connecting rod 32 which is driven by a crank on a gearbox 33 mounted in the frame. The gearbox 33 has an input shaft 34 connected to a power take-off 35 of the tractor via universal joints 36 and 37 via intermediate shaft 38. As the apparatus is pulled along the member 31 vibrates thus breaking up the soil as it progresses.

As shown in Figure 1 the apparatus is provided with a turf cutting wheel 40 mounted on arms 41 and 42 fitted on arm 24.

Also, control fins 50 are fitted at the lower edge of the hopper which serve to break up the edge of the ditch.

Claims

1. Apparatus for laying flexible pipes or cables in ground at the same time as the ground is being trenched by the apparatus, comprising a pair of laterally spaced apart plates defining a compartment through which pipes or cables can be passed and guided into a trench as it is formed by the apparatus and a hopper mounted at the rear of the apparatus above a chute defined by said plates through which chute material, such as gravel, can be fed to cover pipes or cables laid in the trench, the apparatus being adapted to be connected to means for towing it along the ground to be trenched, the leading edge of said plates being provided with meansforvibrat- ing such as to break up the soil.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the leading edge ofsaid plates comprises a pivotably mounted T-shaped member and said means for vibrating said T-shaped member comprises a connecting rod connected to one end of the T-shaped member and reciprocally driven by a crank.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said crank is driven through a gearbox mounted on the frame and the gearbox being driven by a power take-off on said towing means.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein there is provided a turf cutting wheel mounted in front of said leading edge of said plates.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein control fins are provided on the lower edge of said hopper to break up the edge portions of the trench.

6. Apparatus for laying flexible pipes or cables in ground at the same time as the ground is being trenched by the apparatus, comprising a pair of laterally spaced-apart plates defining a compartment through which pipes or cables can be passed and guided into a trench formed by the apparatus and a hopper mounted at the rear of the apparatus above a chute defined by said plates, through which chute material, such as gravel, can be fed to cover pipes or cables laid in the trench, the apparatus being adapted to be connected to means for towing the apparatus along the ground to be trenched, said pair of laterally spaced-apart plates being bridged and closed at their lower edges by a sole plate, and the leading marginal parts of the laterally spaced-apart plates being inclined upwardly and rearwardly and merging towards one another, their leading edges being bridged by a bar that cuts through the ground to form a trench as the apparatus is towed along, wherein means are provided for vibrating said bar to break the soil in front of said apparatus.

7. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the sole plate acts to shatter the soil at the bottom of a trench as the trench is formed by the apparatus.

8. Apparatus as claimed in either Claim 6 or Claim 7, wherein said sole plate is of upwardly opening semi-circular cross-section and has a pointed leading end.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of preceding Claims 6 to 8, wherein guide plates are provided between said plates between which pipes or cables can be fed and guided to an opening at the bottom of said side plates and to the rear of the sole plate and into a trench formed by the apparatus.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any ofthe preceding Claims wherein said chute at the trailing end of the apparatus is fitted with a vertically slidable shutter to enable the depth of an opening atthe bottom of said side plates to be adjusted to regulate the depth of gravel fed into the formed trench above the pipes or cables laid therein.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims including means by which the apparatus can be connected to and towed along behind a tractor.

12. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 11,wherein said means comprises a frame connected at its rear end to the apparatus and adapted at its leading end to be connected to a three-point hydraulicallyactuated linkage of a tractor.

13. Apparatus for laying flexible pipes or cables in the ground at the same time as the ground is being trenched by the apparatus, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.