IES930809A2

IES930809A2 - Trenchless ducting/cable/tube laying machine

Info

Publication number: IES930809A2
Authority: IE
Inventors: Fergus Keaney
Original assignee: Fergus Keaney
Priority date: 1993-10-26
Filing date: 1993-10-26
Publication date: 1994-12-14
Also published as: IES62097B2

Abstract

This invention relates to a machine which is designed to facilitate the speedy laying of cables and pipes directly in to the ground without the need to dig or backfill a trench to receive the cable or pipe.

Description

This invention relates to a Trenchless Ducting / Cable / Tube Laying Machine designed for laying cables / tubes / ducts in the ground without digging out trenches or backfilling the trench after the laying is completed.

The complete machine consists of the following sub assemblies and are illustrated on the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 is a front elevation of the complete machihe.

Figure 2 is a plan of the complete machine.

Figure 3 is a section through the complete machine.

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the chassis only.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the chassis only Figure 6 is a cross section through the chassis only.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the vibrating plough.

Figure 8 is a front elevation of the vibrating plough.

Figure 9 is a plan view of the vibrating plough.

Figure 10 is a side elevation of the slitting disc.

Figure 11 is a front elevation of the slitting disc.

Figure 12 is a side elevation of the support wheel assembly. Figure 13 is a front elevation of the support wheel assembly.

With reference to Figure 4, 5, 6 the chassis consists of a number of square or rectangular hollow section steel tubes 1 filled with concrete 2 and capped each end with steel plates 3 containing holes for attaching the plough unit or the support wheels unit and the slitting disc unit to this chassis. Two flanges 4 are located around the centre line of the chassis with pin holes 5 for fitting the top or adjustable link of a normal tractor three point linkage system.

Four flanges 6 are located at a suitable location near the bottom of the chassis to accept the fixed links of a -2- S930f>„0 normal tractor three point linkage system.

Two flanges 7 are located about the centreline to take the slitting disc unit when required to operate the cable laying etc. on the centre of the machine.

Two flanges 8 are located about the centre line at the back of the chassis to take the plough unit when required to trench on the centre of the chassis.

With reference to Figure 7, 8, 9 the plough consists of a steel cutting plate 9 with tapered adges 10 and faced with hard wearing welded cutting edge 11. A steel feeder tube 12 is attached to the blunt edge of the cutting plate. This tube is manufactured in two halves cut along the length of the tube to facilitate removing the machine from the tube or cable been laid.

Mounted at the top of the feed tube is a tractor driven hydrolic or electric motor 13 which is used to cause the plough assembly to vibrate during laying.

With reference to Figures 10, 11 the slitting disc unit consists of a steel cutting disc 15 mounted on a spindle 16 fitted between the forks 17 of the unit. The forks are welded together and have pin holes 18 for fitting the unit to the chassis in each of the three locations (left hand side, right hand side and middle of chassis). A lifting handle 19 is attached to the top.

With reference to Figure 12, 13 the support wheel assembly consists of three wheels 20 fitted on a channel frame 21 by means of an axel 22.

The channel frame 23 is attached to the adjustable leg of a screw jack 24 which has a steel plate 25 with two holes 26 for fitting to chassis unit using removable pins 27.

Claims

CLAIMS What we claim is:

1. ) A machine for directly laying cables, ducts & pipes into the ground consisting of a chassis which can be mounted directly to normal three point linkage systems of agricultural tractors. Mounted on this chassis is a vibrating plough unit with a feeding tube attached to allow the direct injection of the cable, duct or pipe to the bottom of the trench while the trench is been cut at a ground speed of up to 1 km per hour without requiring backfilling of the trench and causing the minimum of disturbance to the ground in the area.

2. ) A machine according to claim 1) characterized in that the vibrating plough, slitting disc and support wheels can be attached to the chassis in a position to lay the cable, duct or pipe on the left hand side, the right hand side ot the centre of the chassis.

3. ) A machine according to claim 1) and 2) with the feed tube manufactured in 2 halves allowing the plough to be < » 4·- ' disengaged before coming to the end of the tube or cable and re-engaged further along the tube or cable as necessary or to facilitate removal of the machine at the end of a working shift before reaching the end of the cable etc.