US2984023A

US2984023A - Rotary wheel ditching machine

Info

Publication number: US2984023A
Application number: US776917A
Authority: US
Inventors: Dugas Clet
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1958-11-28
Filing date: 1958-11-28
Publication date: 1961-05-16
Anticipated expiration: 1978-05-16

Description

y 6, 96 c. DUGAS 2,984,023

ROTARY WHEEL DITCHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 28, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. C LET 'Ducaas A? TO 2H EY-s y 1961 c. DUGAS 2,984,023

ROTARY WHEEL DITCHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 28, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. C L. ET I) u A5 AT TO ENEYS y 6, 1 1 c. DUGAS 2,984,023

ROTARY WHEEL DITCHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 28, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 lNVENTOR. CLET DUGAS A\' TOIZHEYS U d at s ROTARY WHEEL DITCHING MACHINE Clet Dugas, Rte. 2, Box 38, St. Martinville, La.

Filed Nov. 28, 1958, Ser. No. 776,917

9 Claims. (CI. 37-92) ditch dug by the ditch digging wheel, such arrangement lending itself to highly efiicient operation and high quality performance of the machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a rotary wheel ditching machine having a spiked drive wheel arranged for travel at a distance exteriorly of the ditch as it is dug and providing optimum traction for the machine.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a rotary wheel ditching machine which is highly maneuverable, one sturdy in construction, one simple in structure, and one which is economically feasible.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be fully apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of the ditching machine according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view;

Figure 3 is a view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2 and on an enlarged scale;

Figure 4 is a view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2 and on an enlarged scale;

Figure 5 is a view taken on the line 5--5 of Figure 3; and

Figure 6 is a view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Referring in greater detail to the drawings, in which like figures indicate like parts throughout the several views, the rotary wheel ditching machine according to the present invention comprises a horizontally disposed frame 10 having a forward end 12 and a rearward end 14. A pair of ground engaging drive Wheels 16 and 18 are positioned transversely of the frame 10 adjacent the rearward end 14 and support the rearward end of the frame 10. The wheel 16 is provided with a tire having a smooth tread while the wheel 18 is provided with a spiked tread, a hub 20, and a plurality of radially projecting sections of I-beams 22 which constitute the spiked tread, as shown most clearly in Figures 1 and 2.

A steerable wheel 24 (Figures 2 and 5) is arranged forwardly of and is in linear alignment with respect to the drive wheel 16. The wheel 24 supports the forward end 12 of the frame 10. t

A carriage 26 is positioned forwardly of and in linear alignment with respect to the steerable wheel 24 and has means, embodying a small wheel 28 dependingly secured thereto, for travel along a ground surface. A horizontally disposed driven shaft 30 is journaled in the carriage 26. A vertically disposed rotatable ditching wheel 32 is mounted upon one end of the shaft 30 forwardly of the carriage 26. Means is provided connecttent Patented May 16, 1961 ice ing the carriage 26 to the frame 10 for movement of the ditching wheel 32 into and out of position for ditching a ground surface. Other means is provided for manually shifting the carriage between the position in which the ditching wheel 32 is in engagement with the ground surface to the position in which it is out of engagement with the ground surface.

The connection means of the carriage 26 to the frame 10 consists in a pair of arms 34 and 36 (Figure 6) on each side of the carriage 26 and each pair of

arms

34 and 36 being pivotally mounted upon a bolt 38 for movement of the

arms

34 and 36 about the bolt 38 as a horizontal axis, the bolt projecting inwardly from each of the

side members

40 and 42 of the frame 10. The free ends of the

arms

34 and 36 are fixedly secured to the sides of a box frame 44 which includes

vertical members

46 and 48, on each side of the box frame 44, and a base member 50 connecting the lower ends of the

vertical members

46 and 48 together.

The upper ends of the vertical members 46 and48 are connected by horizontally disposed

top members

52 and 54, seen in end view in Figure 5, and on each is a hearing block 56 supporting a rotatable shaft 58 therein.

Sprocket wheels 60 and 62 on the shafts 30 and 58 are connected together by a drive chain 64 for imparting rotation to the ditching wheel 32 upon rotation of the shaft 58.

A universal joint 66 connects one end of the shaft 58 with another 'shaft 68 disposed horizontally and mounted in a bearing block 70 carried by the frame 10, as shown in Figure 5. A sprocket wheel 72 on the end of the shaft 68 remote from the universal joint 66 is connected by a chain 74 to a drive sprocket wheel 76 (Figures 1 and 3) carried by a clutch element 78 on a shaft 80.

The shaft 80 projects from a transmission 82 on one end of a prime mover or engine 84 carried by the frame 10.

Another transmission 86, mounted on the frame 10, is connected to the drive shaft 80 by means of its input shaft 88 carrying a sprocket wheel 90 thereon, a chain 92 traveling over the sprocket wheel 90 and over another sprocket wheel 94 mounted upon the shaft 80, as shown in Figure 4.

tion adjacent one end projecting forwardly of the frame forward end 12 (Figure 1) and carries a sprocket wheel 98 thereon. A chain 100 travels over the sprocket wheel 98 and over another sprocket wheel 102 mounted upon the main drive shaft 104 of the vehicle. of the present invention. The shaft 104 is supported in a torquetube 106 which terminates 'at the differential 108 between the drivewheels 16 and 18.

It will be seen therefore that the engine 84 supplies rotative power to both the ditching wheel 32 and to the drive wheels 16 and 18. The

transmissions

82 and 86 enable the operator of the vehicle to obtain driving speeds in any range of forward or rearward'motion as desired, t

An upright hollow frame 110 is secured to the forward end 12 of the frame 10 and forms a guard for the

arms

34 and 36. A pulley 112 is rotatably mounted on the upper end of the frame 110. Another pulley 114 is rotatably mounted on the upper end of a hanger member 116 which has its lower end straddling and pivotally connected to the arms 36. A cable 118 has one end fastened to the frame 110 and has a portion intermediate its ends traveling over the

pulleys

114 and 112. The other end of the cable 118 is secured to the drum of a hand winch 120 mounted upon a shelf 122 forwardly of a steering wheel 124. p t

The winch 120 constitutes a hand actuable means for The output shaft 96 of the transmission 86 has a por- .efleeting the upward and downward movements .of the carriage 26 with its ditching wheel 32.

A plurality of blades 126 are carried on the front face of the ditching wheel 32 anda semicircular scraper 128 is positiontd below the wheel. 32 so that its leading edge is adjacent the travel of the blades 126 as the carriage 26 is moved along a ground surface to be ditched.

A clutch throwout shaft 130 extends transversely of the frame forwardly of the steering wheel 124 and is operatively connected at one end by linkage 132 to the clutch mechanism between the transmission 82 and the engine 84. A clutch pedal 129 is. mounted on the shaft 130.

A pair of

brake pedals

134 and 135 are loosely mounted on the shaft 130 and are operatively connected by

flexible cable assemblies

136 and 138 respectively to the brakes of the wheels 16 and 18. The pedals 13.4 and 135 are positioned forwardly of an operator's seat. 140 which is positioned in tandem relation withrespect to the steering wheel 124.

.The steering wheel 124 is mounted upon a steering post 142 which carries a sprocket wheel 144 at its lower end. Archain 146 connects the sprocket wheel .144 with another sprocket wheel 148 mounted upon a vertically disposed stub shaft 150.

Another sprocket wheel 152 on the shaft 150 is connected by a chain 154 to a larger sprocket wheel 156 on the upper end of the steering wheel support post 158. As shown in Figure 5, the post 158 is journaledin the frame 10 for castering movement of the steerable wheel 24 and is drivingly connected to the steering wheel 124 by the aforesaid chains and sprocket wheels.

A pair of shields 160 extend upwardly at an angle from the forward end of the carriage 26 and serve to control the spread of the particles of earth as thrown by the blades 126 outwardly as the ditch is being dug. The shields protect the driving mechanism for the ditching wheel 32 and causes the dirt to be thrown on each side of the frame 10 and at a distance from the ditch as it is being dug.

The engine 84 is of conventional construction and includes a radiator 162, gas tank 164, and other conventional attachments. A counterbalancing weight 166 is attached to the rearward end of the frame 10 rearwardly of the wheel 16 in order that the frame will be balanced in its movement over the fields and along the ditch as it is being dug.

In operation, the ditching machine of the present invention may be transported over roadways and fields to the location of the ditch to be dug with the carriage 26 in a raised position. Upon lowering of the carriage 26 to an operating position and forward movement of the machine, the blades 126 will effect the removal of the soil and by their rapid rotation effect the throwing of the soil at a distance on either side of the machine. The smooth tread of the one tire 16 leaves the ditch smoothly contoured and well packed. The spiked tread of the other wheel 18 ensures that the machine of the present invention is provided with traction necessary to effect the traveling movement along the ditch as it is being dug. The brakes of the wheels 16 and 18 are separate so that rotation of either wheel may be slowed or stopped as desired, thus affording the .operator of the machine complete steering control into and out of ditches and across fields irrespective of the condition of thesoil in the field.

What is claimed is:

1. In a ditching machine, a horizontally disposed frame having a .forward end and arearward end, a pair of ground engaging drivewheels positioned transversely of said frame adjacent the rearward end supporting the rearward end of said frame, one of said wheels having a smooth tread and the other of said wheels having a spiked tread, a steerable wheel arranged forwardly of and in linear alignment with respect to said one drive wheel and supporting the forward end of said frame, and

a vertically disposed rotary ditching wheel positioned forwardly of and in linear spaced alignment with respect to said steerable wheel and carried by said frame, said steerable wheel and said one drive wheel being adapted to travel in a ditch being dug and said other drive wheel being adapted to travel in the ground surface spaced from the ditch being dug.

2. In a ditching machine, a horizontally disposed frame having a forward end and a rearward end, a pair of ground engaging drive wheels positioned transversely of said frame adjacent the rearward end supporting the rearward end of said frame, one of said wheels having a smooth tread and the other of said wheels having a spiked tread, a steerable wheel arranged forwardly of and in linear alignment with respect to said one drive wheel and supporting the forward end of said frame, a vertically disposed rotary ditching wheel positioned forwardly of and in linear spaced alignment with respect to said steerable wheel, and means connecting said ditching wheel to said frame for movement into and out of position for ditching a ground surface, said steerable wheel and said one drive wheel being adapted to travel in a ditch being dug and said other drive wheel being adapted to travel in the ground surface spaced from the ditch being dug.

3. In a ditching machine, a horizontally disposed frame having a forward end and a rearward end, apair of ground engaging drive wheels positioned transversely of said frame adjacent the rearward end supporting the rearward end of said frame, one of said wheels having a smooth tread and the other of said wheels having a spiked tread, a steerable wheel arranged forwardly of and in linear alignment with respect to said one drive wheel and supporting the forward end of said frame, a vertically disposed rotary ditching wheel positioned forwardly and in linear spaced alignment with respect to said steerable wheel and carried by said frame, a prime mover on said frame, and means drivingly connecting said ditching wheel to said prime mover, said steerable wheel and said one drive wheel being adapted to travel in a ditch being dug and said other drive wheel being adapted to travel in the ground surface spaced from the ditch being dug.

4. In a ditching machine, a horizontally disposed frame having a forward end and a rearward end, a pair of ground engaging drive wheels positioned transversely of said frame adjacent the rearward end supporting the rearward end of said frame, one of said wheels having a smooth tread and the other of said wheels having a spiked tread, a steerable wheel arranged forwardly of and in linear alignment with respect to said one drive wheel and supporting the forward end of said frame, a vertically disposed rotary ditching wheel positioned forwardly of and in linear spaced alignment with respect to said steerable wheel, means connecting said ditching wheel to said frame for movement into and out of position for ditching a ground surface, a prime mover on said frame, and means drivingly connecting said ditching wheel to said prime mover, said steerable Wheel and said one drive wheel being adapted to travel in a ditch being dug and said other drive wheel being adapted to travel in the ground surface spaced from the ditch being dug.

5. In a ditching machine, a horizontally disposed frame having a forward end and a rearward end, a pair of ground engaging drive wheels positioned transversely of said frame adjacentthe rearward end supporting the rearward end of said frame, one of said wheels having a smooth tread and the other of said wheels having a spiked tread, a steerable wheeliarranged forwardly of and in linear alignment with respect to said one drive wheel and supporting the forward end of said frame, a carriage positionedforwardly of and in linear alignment with respect to said steerable wheel and carried by said frame and having means for travel along a ground surface, a vertically disposed rotatable ditching wheel on said carriage, a prime mover on said frame, and means drivingly connecting said ditching wheel to said prime mover, said steerable wheel and said one drive wheel being adapted to travel in a ditch being dug and said other drive wheel being adapted to travel in the ground surface spaced from the ditch being dug.

6. In a ditching machine, a horizontally disposed frame having a forward end and a rearward end, a pair of ground engaging drive wheels positioned transversely of said frame adjacent the rearward end supporting the rearward end of said frame, one of said wheels having a smooth tread and the other of said wheels having a spiked tread, a steerable wheel arranged forwardly of and in linear alignment with respect to said one drive wheel and supporting the forward end of said frame, a carriage positioned forwardly of and in linear alignment with respect to said steerable wheel and carried by said frame and having means for travel along a ground surface, a horizontally disposed driven shaft on said carriage, a vertically disposed rotatable ditching wheel on said shaft, a prime mover on said frame, and means drivingly connecting said shaft to said prime mover, said steerable wheel and said one drive wheel being adapted to travel in a ditch being dug and said other drive wheel being adapted to travel in the ground surface spaced from the ditch being dug.

7. In a ditching machine, a horizontally disposed frame having a forward end and a rearward end, a pair of ground engaging drive wheels positioned transversely of said frame adjacent the rearward end supporting the rearward end of said frame, one of said wheels having a smooth tread and the other of said wheels having a spiked tread, a steerable wheel arranged forwardly of and in linear alignment with respect to said one drive wheel and supporting the forward end of said frame, a carriage positioned forwardly of and in linear alignment with respect to said steerable wheel and having means for travel along a ground surface, a vertically disposed rotatable ditching wheel on said carriage, means connecting said carriage to said frame for movement of said ditching wheel into and out of position for ditching a ground surface, and means operatively connected to said carriage for effecting the movement of the latter, said steerable wheel and said one drive wheel being adapted to travel in a ditch being dug and said other drive wheel being adapted to travel in the ground surface spaced from the ditch being dug.

8. In a ditching machine, a horizontally disposed frame having a forward end and a rearward end, a pair of ground engaging drive wheels positioned transversely of said frame adjacent the rearward end supporting the rearward end of said frame, one of said wheels having a smooth tread and the other of said wheels having a spiked tread, a steerable wheel arranged forwardly of and in linear alignment with respect to said one drive wheel and supporting the forward end of said frame, a carriage positioned forwardly of and in linear alignment with respect to said steerable wheel and having means for travel along a ground surface, a vertically disposed rotatable ditching wheel on said carriage, means connecting said carriage to said frame for movement of said ditching wheel into and out of position for ditching a ground surface, means operatively connected to said carriage for effecting the movement of the latter, a prime mover on said frame, and means drivingly connecting said ditching wheel to said prime mover, said steerable wheel and said one drive wheel being adapted to travel in a ditch being dug and said other drive wheel being adapted to travel in the ground surface spaced from the ditch being dug.

9. In a ditching machine, a horizontally disposed frame having a forward end and a rearward end, a pair of ground engaging drive wheels positioned transversely of said frame adjacent the rearward end supporting the rearward end of said frame, one of said wheels having a smooth tread and the other of said wheels having a spiked tread, a steerable wheel arranged forwardly of and in linear alignment with respect to said one drive wheel and supporting the forward end of said frame, a carriage positioned forwardly of and in linear alignment with respect to said steerable wheel and having means for travel along a ground surface, a horizontally disposed driven shaft on said carriage, a vertically disposed rotatable ditching wheel on said shaft, means connecting said carriage to said frame for movement of said ditching wheel into and out of position for ditching a ground surface, a prime mover on said frame, and means drivingly connecting said shaft to said prime mover.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,029,456 Parmelee June 11, 1912 1,128,246 Hartsough Feb. 9, 1915 1,208,381 Ruemelin Dec. 12, 1916 1,323,051 Hartsough Nov. 25, 1919 1,348,003 Hartsough July 27, 1920 1,361,638 Stephenson Dec. 7, 1920 1,409,772 Pope Mar. 14, 1922 1,456,816 Morton May 29, 1923 1,852,200 Camp Apr. 5, 1932 2,490,688 Hill Dec. 6, 1949 2,679,703 Borel June 1, 1954