US1343081A - Trenching-machine - Google Patents

Description

J. J. HAMMEN.

TRENCHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9, 1919.

' Patented June 8, 1920.

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TRENCHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLED' MAY 9, 1919.

Patented June 8, 1920.

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INVENTOR WITNESSES FFICE.

JOHN JOSEPH HAMMEN, OF SPENCER, IOWA.

TBENCHING-MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JUL-IN Josnrrr HAM- MEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Spencer, in the county of Clay and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful T renchlug-Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This inventionhas reference to trenching machines, and it relates more particularly to a curb structure and parts cooperating therewith, whereby the side walls of the trench are prevented from caving in while pipe or tiles are being laid in the trench,

the curb being arranged to travel with the trenching machine.

In accordance with the invention, which may be used in conjunction with a trenching machine or excavator of the chain or ladder tvpe, curbs or plates are carried by the end of the boom remote from the body of the excavator in trailing relation to the boom and are braced and connected so as to travel with the boom along the walls of the formed trench, thereby preventing cave-ins which might be harmful to workmen following after the excavator and laying pipe in the bottom of the formed trench. The curbs or shields are so connected to the boom as to move along the trench at the bottom portion thereof irrespective of the slant of the boom because of different depths of cut, while certain portions of the curb or shield structure are fixed to the boom and telescope more or less with relation to that portion of the curb protecting the workmen.

In order to provide for the automatic accommodation of the curb or shield, digging cutters or reamers are carried by the excavator belt or chain so as to correspondingly widen the trench and permit the easy travel of the curb along the trench, said cutters or reamers being brought into operation only in the upward travel of said belt or chain.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings, but may be changed and modified so long as such changes and modifications mark no material departure from Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 8, 1920.

1919. Serial No. 295,950.

the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure l is a side elevation of a trench machine with the invention applied but omitting many details of construction not pertinent to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view of the digging end of the boom in longitudinal section and showing a portion of the curb structure carried thereby.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4; is a bottom plan view of the lower or digging end of the boom showing reaming cutters thereon, and means for projecting the cutters.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the upper end of the boom showing means for retracting the reaming cutters.

Fig. 6 is an end view of the cutting end of one of the reamers.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a caterpillar tractor 1, boom 2, and boom supporting frame of a known type of trench digger. The showing may be taken as indicative of any suitable form of trench digger, wherefore 'no detail description is deemed necessary. The boom carries an endless series of cutting buckets or scoops 3 mounted on chains 4 and the boom is supported and controlled by a derrick 5, all of which may be of. usual construction. At the lower end the chains at pass about supporting idlers 6 which are mounted upon a shaft 7 suitably journaled in the lower end of the boom.

At the lower end of the boom there are secured side plates 8 of a curb each provided with numerous longitudinal brace bars 9, which may be in the form of T-bars without limitation to such particular shape, and at the rear end of each plate, that is the end remote from the boom, there is an upright T-bar 9 The plates 8 are braced and held in spaced relation by rods 10 conthe forward lower end with an ear 12, said ears embracing the lower end of the boom and mounted on the shaft 7 as a pivotal support so that the plates 8 may rock on and be carried by the shaft.

Fast to opposite sides of the boom 2 are other plates 13, said plates being made fast to the boom so as to move therewith. These plates 13 are in telescoping relation to the plates 8 and have stiffening bars 14 secured thereto. Like the plates 8, the. plates 13 are joined by rods 10. The assembly of the plates 8 and 13 connected and braced as described forms a curb traveling with the trench digger as it moves along the ground, the curb being located in the formed trench so that'the bottom of the curb will travel along the bottom of the trench. The plates 13 are overlapped by the plates 8 and the extent of overlapping is sufficient to maintain the overlappedcondition despite variations in tilt of the boom and differences in angular relation of the curb members 8 and 13.

The trench formed by the buckets or scoops 3 is narrower than the width of the curb, so in order to suitablyform the trench to accommodate the curb, other cutters or reamers 15 are provided. travel with the series of buckets or scoops 3. Each reamer 15 comprises a bar 16. broadened and sharpened at one end 17 which end '17 is bent at an angle to the length of the bar 16; Extending between the chains tare plateslS having clips or guides 19 at the ends, each guide being traversed by a bar 16. Lach plate 18 has alined slots 20 extending lengthwise of the plate on opposite sides ofthe center point thereof. Each bar 16 carries a roller 21 mounted on a pintle'22 on the bar, which pintle may be inthe form of a bolt and is extended through a corresponding slot 20, and therefore the slots and pintles serve to guide the inner ends of thebars 16.

At the lower end portion of the beam 2 there is secured to the beam a spreader 23 which may be, as shown, a triangular or V-shaped frame in the path of the rollers 21, so that these rollers are first engaged by the pointed end of the spreader, and as the chains 4 travel, the reamers have their digging edges 17 forced outwardly into engagementiwith the side walls of the trench close to the bottom thereof. The reamers then travel along the trench in an inclined path due to the position of the boom, thereby' widening the trench formed by the buckets or scoops 3. In this way the trench is made of suitably increased width to accommod'ate the curb so that there is no, undue resistance to the movement of the curb along the trench with the excavating devices.

The return movement of the reamers 15 cause them to pass between the plates or walls 13, and as these walls are closer to- These reamersgether than the active projected position of the cutting edges17, the latter must be retracted. To do this there is provided a guide frame 24 carried by the boom 2 and positioned at or near the upper end thereof Well out of the trench. The guide frame or closer 24 has approaching sides in the direction of travel of the roller-s21 so, as, to engage these rollers and move the reamer ends 17 toward each other and closer together than the spacing between the plates 13, wherefore the reamers on entering the formed trench travel between the plates 13, but as soon as they have passed the plates 13 upon their upward movement the rollers 21 are engaged by the spreader 23 and the reamer edges 17 are projected to engage the side walls of the trench and trim off a sufficient amount to accommodate the curb.

.sary to make the trench deeper the curb may be enlarged by adding sections to the top thereof' It will be understood, of 00 course, that the plates 8 and'13 may be made up of a plurality of individual plates riveted or otherwise secured together.

The plates 13 are fixed to the boom or parts carried thereby so as to move with the boom and serve to protect the lower end of the boom from cave-ins of the side walls of the trench. The connected plates 8, con.- stituting the main portion of the curb, provide a rigid resisting structure forming a shield holding the side walls of the trench from caving in and protecting the person or persons laying the pipe. The curb made up of the plates 8 is connected to and travels with the boom, but the connection is a single pivotal connection to permit changing relations between the boom and curb due to variations. in the depth of the trench. Such single pivotal connection comprising the shaft 7, in the structure shown in the drawings, permits the curb'comprising the plates 8 totravel on and along the bottom of the trench and maintain a vertical position irrespective of variations in the angle of the boom to the bottom of the trench, while the telescoping relation between the plates 13 and the plates 8 permitsthe variations without admitting dirt to any material extent. into the curb.

The rods 10 are arranged; in upright series, one series being located near the front ofthe curb and the other series near the rear of the curb so as to leave ample working space between the rods. While any special location of the reamers or cutters is not obligatory they may be conveniently located midway between the buckets or scoops 3 so as to not interfere with the scoops or be interfered with by them.

It has been proposed in this art to provide reamers or cutters to widen the trench cut by the buckets or scoops for the purpose of inserting planking, but in such proposed construction, the reamers or cutters were pivoted so as to swing by gravity. In my construction, the reainers or cutters are forced into and out of action by means which is direct andpositive in operation and does not depend upon the force of gravity. It is the mechanical forcing of the reamers or cutters into and out of action which I desire to claim irrespective of the means by which this result is accomplished.

It is old in this art to employ protecting plates carried by the boom to protect the same; and it is also old to employ a curb to protect the workmen, but such protecting means have always been either for the one purpose or the other, and so far as I am aware, no machine has everbeen constructed heretofore which combines in the same structure means for protecting both the machine and the workmen from cave-ins, said protecting means being carried by the boom so as to be lifted into and out of the trench, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise means described for carrying out this end.

What is claimed is 1- i v 1. In a trench digging machine employing a boom carrying an endless series of buckets or scoops mounted on chains, and a shaft at the lower end of the boom provided with sprockets for the chains, the combination therewith of a curb structure for traveling in a trench formed by the buckets or scoops, said structure comprising side plates connected together in spaced relation to engage the side walls of a formed trench, said plates being provided at their forward lower ends with ears embracing the lower end of the boom at each side, and pivotally mounted on said shaft, and constituting the sole pivotal connection between the side plates and said shaft, whereby the curb structure may maintain its position in the trench irrespective of variations in the slant of the boom.

2 In a trench digging machine having an endless flexible excavating means, and auxiliary cutting means for widening the trench made by said excavating means, said auxiliary cutting means being forced into and out of cutting position by mechanism actuated by movement of said excavating means.

3. In a trench digging machine, provided with a boom, and an endless series of excavating elements carried thereby, a curb pivoted at its lower forward end to the lower end of the boom, said curb serving as a protection for workmen and maintaining its position resting on the bottom of the trench irrespective of variations of the level of the latter, said boom carrying shields on opposite sides fixed thereto, said shields closing the space between the curb and the boom and providing for the protection of the boom and the parts carried thereby.

4. In a trench digging machine provided with a boom and an endless series of buckets carried thereby, a curb pivoted at its lower forward end to the lower end of the boom, said curb comprising side plates connected together in spaced relation to engage the side walls of a formed trench, whereby the curb serves as a protection for workmen engaged in laying pipe in the trench and the curb will maintain its position in the bottom of the trench irrespective of variations in the relation of the boom and curb, said boom carryingshields on opposite sides fixed to the boom and telescoping with the forward end of the curb.

In a trench digging machine provided with a boom and an endless series of buckets carried thereby, a curb pivoted at its lower forward end to the lower end of the boom, said curb comprising side plates connected together in spaced relation to engage the side walls of a formed trench, whereby the curb serves as a protection for workmen engaged in laying pipe in the trench and the curb will maintain its position ,in the bottom of the trench irrespective of variations in the relation of the boom and curb, said boom carrying shields on opposite sides fixed to the boom and telescoping with the forward end of the curb, and said curb having a series of spacing members connecting the sides of the curb near the front and rear ends thereof, whereby working room is obtained within the curb between the series of spacing members.

6. In a trench digging machine provided with a boom and excavating devices carried by the boom into the trench being formed, a curb pivoted at a low point to the rear end of the boom to rock on an axis transverse of the boom, with the pivot constituting the sole connection between the boom and the curb, said curb comprising side plates with longitudinal and upright stiffening bars, and spacers connected to and connecting the plates, said spacers being located in upright series near the end portions of the plates whereby to provide working room between the plates.

7. In. a trench digging machine provided with a boom and excavating devices carried by the boom into the trench being formed,

a curb pivoted at a low point to the rear end of the boom torock on. an axis transverse of the boom, with thepivot constitutingthe sole connection between the boom and the curb, said curb comprising sideplates with longitudinal and upright stiffening bars, and spacers connected to and connecting the plates, said spacers being located in uprightseries near the-end portions of the plates whereby to provide working room between the plates, the boom also having side plates fast to and movable with the boom during variations in its angular position and telescoping at the rear ends in the forward end of the curb;

8..In a trench digging machine provided with a boom and an endless series of cutting elementscarried by the boom for forming a trench, a curb connected to thelower end of the boom for traveling in the formed trench to hold the walls of the latter from caving in, and reamers carried by the boom, with the reamers and boom provided with coacting means for projecting the reamers to widen the trench and for retracting the reamers before enteringthe trench.

' 9. In a trench digging machine provided with a boom and an endless series of excavating devices carried by the boom into the trench being formed, a curb at the lower end of the boom for traveling in the formed trench to prevent the caving in of the side walls thereof, a series of reamers carried by the endless series of excavating buckets to widen the trench formed bythe buckets so as to accommodate the curb, means at the lower end portion of the boom for projecting the reamers intoactive position, and

1 means at the upper end portion of the boom for retracting the reamers.

10. In a trench digging machine provided with a boom having an endless series of excavating buckets carried by the boom into the trench being formed, a curb pivotally connected to and carried by the rear end of the boom within the formed trench, shields on the boom where entering the-trench and telescoping into the curb, reamers carried by the endless series. of buckets and having a path of travel to take them between the plates on the boom and into the curb, and means on the boom for projecting the reamers into engagement with the side walls of the trench adjacent to the lower end ofthe boom on the upper run of the excavating buckets and for retracting the reamers before reaching the side plates on the boom while moving with the down run of the buckets. 11-. Ina trench digging machine having a V boom-with an endless series of'excavating buckets including endless carrying chains therefor, with the boom directing the buckets into the trench being formed, a curb pivoted to the lower end of the boom to move about an axis transverse of the boom, reamers carried by the chains to move with and'between the buckets, and means for positively projecting the reamers into engagement with the side walls of the trench and retracting'them from-the side walls of the trench, whereby the trench may be widened to accommodate the curb and the reamers may be retracted to a'position to traverse a portion of the curb without in-- terference therewith.

12. In a trench forming machine provided with a boom carrying an endless series of excavating buckets, with the boom directing the buckets into the trench, a curb pivotally carried by the lower end of the boom with theaxis of the pivot transverse to. the boom and said pivot constituting the sole connection between the curb and the boom, side plates or shields on the boom where entering the trench and telescoping into the forward end of the curb, reamers carried by the endless series of buckets to being formed, a seriesof reamers carried by the series of excavating devices, each reamer comprising a bar with one end broadened and sharpened and bent at an angle to the length of the bar, and a support for each reamer arranged to permit lengthwise movement of the reamer on the support.

14:. In a trench forming machine provided with a boomand an endless series of excavating buckets carriedby the boomvinto the trench being formed, a series of plates carried by and extending transversely of the endless series of buckets, each plate having longitudinal slots on opposite sides of its mid-point, and guides at the extremities of the plates in line with the slots, and reamers each comprising an elongated bar movable through a respective guide, said bar carrying at one endguiding means coacting with a respective slot and-at the other end being broadened and bent at an angle. and provided with a sharpened terminaledge.

15. In a trench forming machine having a boom and an endlessfser'ies of excavating buckets or cutters carried by the boom into the trench being formed, plates fast to and extending crosswise of the endless series of buckets, said plates each having alined lon-' gitudinal'slots on opposite sides of its midpoint and guides at the outer ends,v reamers,

carried by each end of each plate and extending through the guides and each reamer having a roller and a pintle therefor at the inner end, with the pintle passing through a respective slot in the plate and the outer end of each reamer being bent at an angle and broadened and sharpened, a spreader at the lower end portion of the boom in the path of the rollers on the reamers to project the latter, and tracks in approaching relation and located at the upper end portion of the boom for engaging the rollers to retract the reamers.

16. In a trench forming machine having a boom and an endless series of excavating buckets or cutters carried by the boom into the trench being formed, plates fast to and extending crosswise of the endless series of buckets, reamers carried by each end of each plate and each reamer having a roller,

,a spreader at the lower end portion of the boom in the path of the rollers on the reamers to project the latter, and tracks in approaching relation and located at the upper end portion of the boom for engaging the rollers to retract the reamers.

17. In a trench forming machine provided with a boom carrying an endless series of excavating buckets, with the b0om directing the buckets into the trench, a curb pivotally carried by the lower end of the boom, side plates or shields on the boom where entering the trench and telescoping into the forward end of the curb, and reamers carried by the boom to enlarge the width of the trench formed by the buckets so as to accommodate the shields and curb.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature.

JOHN JOSEPH HAMMEN.

W'itnesses:

Gno. C. KING, FLn'rci-mn A. Home.

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