GB2168301A

GB2168301A - Excavating apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2168301A
Application number: GB08531128A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Carslaw
Original assignee: W M SERVICES
Current assignee: W M SERVICES
Priority date: 1984-12-18
Filing date: 1985-12-18
Publication date: 1986-06-18
Also published as: GB8531128D0; GB8431927D0

Abstract

An excavating apparatus which may be a self-propelled vehicle or, as shown, a trailer, comprises a chassis 5 mounted on wheels 2, a spoil container 6 pivotally mounted at 8 on said chassis 5 with a tilt means 9 connected between said container 6 and chassis 5 for tilting said spoil container 6 for spoil discharge therefrom, and an excavating device 11 mounted on said chassis 5. The spoil collector 12 of the excavating device 11 is movable between a ground level spoil collecting position and a spoil discharge position above the spoil container 6. At least one further ground-engaging means 17 is provided for securely supporting the chassis 5 during excavation. A hydraulic compressor 19 powers the tilt means 9 and a rock breaker. In an alternative embodiment, the excavating device 11 can be tilted to remain vertical on a transverse gradient to improve stability of the apparatus. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Excavating apparatus The present invention relates to excavating apparatus. Conventionally soil excavation operations generally involve the use of an excavator and a spoil transporting vehicle. Each of these involves a substantial capital cost and requires its own operator which in turn increases the operating costs of the system.

It is an object of the present invention to avoid or minimize one or more of the above disadvantages.

The present invention provides an excavation apparatus comprising a chassis mounted on at least 2 wheels, a spoil container pivotally mounted on said chassis with a tilt means connected between said container and chassis for tilting said spoil container between a spoil receiving and transport position and a spoil discharge position, and an excavating device mounted on said chassis in proximity to said spoil container so that a spoil collector of said excavating device is movable between a ground level spoil collecting position in proximity to the apparatus and a spoil discharge position above said spoil container, whilst permitting tilting movement of the spoil container in at least one position of the excavating device, and at least one further ground engaging means for securely supporting the chassis during use of the apparatus for excavation.

With an apparatus of the present invention it is possible to conduct excavating operations at a substantially reduced operating cost only one operator being necessary and at a substantially reduced capital cost for the equipment. Moreover the apparatus vehicle can be made in the form of a trailer with a suitable towing hitch at the front end of the chassis for towing by any suitable tractor unit or vehicle thereby still further reducing the capital cost of the equipment. It will also be appreciated that operational efficiency can be increased in confined sites insofar as on the one hand the whole apparatus occupies a relatively small area and on the other hand avoids the need for the excavator continually moving backwards and forwards between the excavation site and the spoil transporter.

Further preferred features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following detailed description given by way of example of embodiments illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of an excavating apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a rear view of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a rear end view of excavating apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention for use on gradients; and Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of the excavating apparatus shown in Figure 3 in use on a gradient.

Figure 1 shows an excavation apparatus 1 in the form of a tailer having a pair of centrally disposed wheels 2 at each side, a towing hitch 3 at the front end with a conventional raisable and lowerable ground support wheel 4 immediately behind the hitch 3. On the chassis 5 of the trailer is mounted a generally rectangular box-shaped load container 6 for receiving and transporting spoil 7. The container 6 is mounted on a plurality of spaced apart supports 8 at each side with a tilting device 9 (see Figure 2) connected between the chassis and the base 10 of the container 6. The supports 8 are formed and arranged to facilitate pivoting of the container about the supports at either side depending on the side to which it is desired to tilt the container 6 for unloading thereof at a suitable spoil disposal site.

Behind the container 6 is rotatably mounted on the chassis 5 a generally conventional articulated boom excavator unit 11 with a spoil collecting bucket 12 at its distal end 13. The excavator device 11 has a generally columnar post 14 which mounts a control panel 15 and an operator seat 16.

Immediately below the excavator post 14 are mounted further ground engagement means in the form of support legs 17 which can be lowered to engage the ground 18 in order to support and stabilise the chassis 5 adequately during an excavation operation.

Between the towing hitch 3 and the container 6 is mounted a hydraulic compressor 19 for driving both the tilting means 9 and the excavator 11, as well as any additional tools such as a hydraulic rock breaker 20 which is connected to a suitable pressurised fluid manifold 21 mounted at a convenient point on the chassis 5.

In use of the excavator, the trailer is parked adjacent a site to be excavated and spoil is removed from the side forming a hole 22, the spoil being carried round in the collector 12 as this rotates about its post 14 and is then dropped into the container 6. Once the container is full, the excavator can be brought into a stowed position at the rear end of the trailer and the trailer then towed away by a suitable tow vehicle to the spoil disposal site.

Reference is now made to Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings in which like numerals refer to like parts of Figures 1 and 2 and which illustrates a modified trailer excavating apparatus for use on gradients.

In this case the columnar post 14 is mounted to frame cross-beam 26 at a pivot point 28.

The sides 30, 32 of the post 14 are coupled to the cross-beam 26 at respective positions 34, 36 by hydraulic piston actuators 38. The pivot point 28 permits the base 14 to be fitted by actuating of hydraulic actuators 38 which can be driven by hydraulic compressor 19 to maintain the post 14 substantially vertical as shown in Figures 4a, b when the excavating apparatus is disposed on a gradient. The arrangement improves stabilising of the apparatus especially when the container 6 is loaded with spoil because the excavation device remains substantially vertical and reduces the tendency for the apparatus to tip.

It will be appreciated that various modifications may be made to the described embodiments of the excavator without departing from the scope of the present invention. Thus for example, the chassis could be provided with an integral tractor unit and additional ground engagement wheels so as to form a self-propelled vehicle. Naturally also suitable provision may be made for other tools such as chisels to be connectable to the excavator boom in place of the bucket 12 for certain operations. Also, the angle of the pivotable post could be controllable by other actuation means, for example pneumatic, electrical or manually actuated pistons.

Claims

1. An excavation apparatus comprising a chassis mounted on at least 2 wheels, a spoil container pivotally mounted on said chassis with a tilt means connected between said container and chassis for tilting said spoil container between a spoil receiving and transport position and a spoil discharge position, and an excavating device mounted on said chassis in proximity to said spoil container so that a spoil collector of said excavating device is movable between a ground level spoil collecting position in proximity to the appratus and a spoil discharge position above said spoil container, whilst permitting tilting movement of the spoil container in at least one position of the excavating device and at least one further ground engaging means for securely supporting the chassis during use of the apparatus for excavation.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said excavating device comprises an articulated boom extending between the spoil collector and a mounting portion secured to the chassis.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the spoil container is mounted for lateral tiling and the excavating device is pivotally mounted behind the spoil container in proximity to a free corner of the chassis whereby the spoil collector can pick up spoil from an extended area behind and to the side of the chassis.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the tiling means and/or excavating device are pressurized-fluid operated and said device includes a pressurized fluid source.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein stabilising means are provided for stabilising the apparatus when in use on a gradient transverse to the long axis of the chassis, said stabilising means permitting said excavating device to be disposed in a substantially vertical direction when on said transverse gradient.

6. An excavation apparatus substantially as described hereinbefore with particular reference to Figures 1 and 3 or Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.