US3295233A

US3295233A - Machine for digging footing trenches

Info

Publication number: US3295233A
Application number: US312263A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bunyan I Baker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-09-27
Filing date: 1963-09-27
Publication date: 1967-01-03
Anticipated expiration: 1984-01-03

Description

Jan. 3, 1967 B. l. BAKER 3,295,233

MACHINE FOR DIGGING FOOTING TRENCHES Filed Sept. 27, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 3, 1967 B. l. BAKER MACHINE FOR DIGGING FOOTING TRENCHES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 2'7, 1963 Bum Au BAKER FITTORNEYS 3,295,233 Patented Jan. 3, 1967 3,295,233 MACHENE FOR DTGGING FOOTING TRENCHES Bunyan I. Baker, 120. Box 48, Dunn Road, Hazelwootl, Mo. 63042 Filed Sept. 27, 1963, Ser. No. 312,263 4 Claims. (Q1. 37-%) This invention involves a machine for digging trenches like footings used in preparation for pouring concrete walls. In general, the machine comprises a frame that supports a motor and a plurality of rotary digging elements or blades. The motor is connected to rotate a shaft and the rotary blades are mounted on the shaft. The frame also supports two pairs of rollers disposed parallel to one another on opposite sides of the rotary blades. The rollers are spaced above the lowest point of travel of the blades by the distance that the trench is to be dug below the top of 2 X 4s lining the sides of the trench. It is traditional in the construction industry to define a prospective footing trench by placing parallel 2 x 4s along opposite sides of the trench that is to be dug. It is these 2 x 4s that the rollers ride upon as the machine is being used.

An object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a machine for digging footing trenches that has a plurality of rotary blades operated by a motor and that has guides on opposite sides of the blades for riding on top of 2 x 4s lining opposite sides of the prospective trench to guide the rotary blades and to dictate the depth that the blades will dig.

Another feature of the machine is the provision of movable scoops mounted behind the rotary blades and operated by the motor that drives the blades. The scoops run on socket chains to pick up the dirt loosened by the rotary blades and deliver the dirt to an elevated position where it is dumped onto laterally outwardly inclined plates. The plates deposit the dirt to the sides beyond the 2 X 4s. The combination of the rotary blades and the scoops provides a very effective motor-driven trench digger and cleaner that saves hours of manual labor.

Therefore, another object of the invention is to prov1de a motor-operated footing trench digger that has guides to position the digger and regulate the depth of the trench being dug, and that has means to remove the dirt dug loose by the digging elements of the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a poweroperated footing trench digger that may be self-propelled.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a power-driven trench digger that is compact and can be transported in a station wagon or small truck.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the machine;

FIGURE 2 is a left side elevation view of the machine with parts shown in section;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevation view of the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a right side elevation view of the machine; and

FIGURE 5 is a rear elevation view of the machine.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, the frame comprises

parallel steel plates

11 and 12 on opposite sides of the machine. The

plates

11 and 12 are bent at right angles to provide

plates

13 and 14 defining the front of the frame. A pair of

steel plates

15 and 16 are welded or bolted to the

front plates

13 and 14 to add rigidity to the frame. These plates also are bolted to the lower housing 17 of a motor 18. The motor has a gear and bearing boX 19 within which a shaft 20 rotates.

A plurality of

hubs

25, 26, 27 and 28 are mounted on the shaft 20. Each

hub

25, 26, 27 and 28 is fixed to the shaft 20 by a set screw 29 that permits the hubs to be adjusted in position on the shaft 20.

A plurality of blades 30 are welded to each

hub

25, 26, 27 and 28. Adjacent blades on each hub have oppositely curved tips 31. Also, the radial positions of the blades 30 on adjacent hubs may be arranged to produce a staggered arrangement of the blades so that they are not all digging into the ground simultaneously.

On the side frame 11, there are two

bolts

35 and 36.

Washers

37 and 38 are positioned adjacent the heads of the

bolts

35 and 36 between the

washers

37 and 38 and the side plate 11. The

rollers

39 and 40 should be about three inches long.

Similar bolts

41 and 42 are mounted on the opposite side plate 12. Each of the

bolts

41 and 12 has a washer 43 adjacent its head, and the

bolts

41 and 42 have three

inch rollers

44 and 45 mounted on them. All the

rollers

39, 40, 44 and 45 lie in the same horizontal plane.

FIGURE 1 shows a pair of parallel 2 x 4s 48 and 49 resting on edge on the ground on opposite sides of a proposed footing trench area 50. Usually stakes 41 are driven into the ground to position the 2 x 4s. The spacing between the

side plates

11 and 12 of the machine is such that these side plates fit just inside the 2 X 4s 48 and 49 with the

rollers

39, 40, 44 and 45 resting on top of the 2 X 4s 4% and 49. Thus the

side plates

11 and 12 project below the upper surfaces of the 2 X 4s 48 and 49 to guide the machine in a straight line as determined by the line of the 2 x 4s. The rollers 39, 4t), 44 and 45 that rest upon the 2 X 4s determine the elevation of the machine as it is operated. The positions of the rollers 39,

4t

44 and 45 relative to the lowermost paths of travel of the blades 31, determine the depth of the trench. This depth is usually about eight inches and the width of the trench is usually about twenty inches. Obviously these dimensions may be different and the machine can be made to accommodate any width and depth of a trench.

The

steel plates

15 and 16 have

extensions

52 and 53 rearwardly of the motor 18. The

plates

15 and 16, and extensions, are fastened together on opposite sides of the motor shaft housing 17 by bolts 54. A plate 57 is fastened between the bar extensions 52 and 5 3 by one or more of the bolts 54-, or by welding. A V-plow 59 is Welded to the lower end of the plate 57. The V-plow is at about the same depth as the digging depth of the rotary blades 30. The plow 59 plows the center of the trench and throws the plowed dirt laterally outwardly. Plows that will do this are available on the open market.

A U-shaped channel member 60 is welded to a pair of

side plates

61 and 62 that, in turn, are welded to the

sides

11 and 12 of the frame. A vertical plate 63 is welded to the bottom of the channel member 60 and is fastened between the

plate extensions

52 and 53. This plate 63 gives stability to the frame and helps support the motor 18.

The machine also has a dirt removing assembly 65. A plate 66 is supported by three arms 67 that are fastened to the channel member 60 by bolts 68. A pair of bearing blocks 69 and 70 are bolted to the plate 66. A shaft 71 rotates in the bearing blocks 69 and 70. Two pairs of

sprocket wheels

72 and 73 are mounted on the shaft 71.

A pair of

plates

75 and 76 are fastened by bolts 77 to the

side plates

11 and 12. The

plates

75 and 76 extend downwardly and rearwardly. A rubber surfaced roller 78 is rotatably supported between the

plates

75 and 76.

A pair of sprocket chains 80 are mounted on the sprocket wheels 72 and extend from these sprocket wheels to the roller 7 8. Another pair of sprocket chains 81 are wound between the pair of sprocket wheel-s 73 and the roller '73. A plurality of dirt scoops 82 are bolted to each pair of

sprocket chains

80 and 81. As the sprocket chains travel between the

sprocket wheels

72 and 73 and the roller 78, the dirt buckets 82 are carried with them. The position of the roller 78 is such that the lowermost path of travel of the buckets 82 is about level with the lowermost path of travel of the rotary blades 30 and the plow '59.

The drive for the dirt removing assembly 65 includes a sprocket wheel 85 fixed to the shaft 20. A bearing block 8-6 is mounted to the side plate 11 and supports a shaft 37. A sprocket Wheel '88 is fixed to the shaft 87 and a sprocket chain 89 is wound around the sprocket wheels 85 and 8 8. Another sprocket wheel 90 is also fixed to the shaft 87, a gear housing 91 is supported on the channel member 60, and a sprocket wheel 92 is fixed to a shaft 93 on the gear housing 91. A sprocket chain 94 is wound around the

sprocket wheels

90 and 92.

The gear housing 91 has another shaft 97 that supports a pair of belt pulleys 98 and 99. There is also a pulley 100 mounted upon the shaft 71. A V-belt 101 is wound about the

pulleys

98 and 100.

Immediately behind the

bucket carrying chains

80 and 81 there are a pair of downwardly and outwardly

inclined plates

105 and 106. The outer edges 107 of these plates are beyond the outer edges of the trench being dug. When the buckets S2 reach their lowermost travel and pick up dirt, they carry the dirt to the uppermost positions of travel above the

sprocket wheels

72 and 73, and as the buckets turn around the sprocket wheels, they pour the dirt onto the

plates

105 and 106. The dirt runs down these plates onto the banks of the ground laterally beyond the trench.

The machine may be self-propelled. To do this, the

rollers

39 and 44 are connected together between the

plates

11 and 12. For example, the

bolts

35 and 41 may be fixed to a shaft 110 and the

rollers

39 and 44 fixed to the

bolts

35 and 41. A pulley 111 is fixed to the shaft 110, and a V belt 112 is crossed and wrapped about the

pulleys

99 and 111.

At the rear of the machine, an axle frame 115 is welded or otherwise attached to the

plate extensions

52 and 53. A pair of wheels 116 rotate on axles attached to the frame 115.

A handle 1-20 is pivotally attached to a block 121 that is fastened to the motor housing 18. The handle 120 is used to guide the machine during a trench digging operation, and also, when pressed downwardly to pivot the machine about the wheels 116, the handle lets the machine be maneuvered upon the wheels 116.

When this machine is operated, the

rollers

39 and 40 are rested upon the 2 x 4 4 8 and the

rollers

44 and 45 upon the 2 x 4 49. Operation of the motor 18 directly drives the shaft 20 to rotate the :blades 30. These blades, therefore, dig the trench. At the same time, the sprocket chain 89 transmits a drive from the shaft 20 to the

sprocket wheels

88 and 90, and thence through the sprocket chain 94 to the gear box 91. The two output pulleys 9'8 and 99 on the gear box 91 are thus caused to rotate.

The pulley 98 has the belt connection 101 to the pulley 100 for driving the dirt removing assembly 65. Thus this belt 101 causes the shaft 71 to rotate and move the

chains

80 and 81 that carry the buckets 82. The buckets '82 scoop up the loose dirt from the trench, elevate the dirt, and drop the dirt onto the plate slides 105 and 106. The dirt falls off the slides beyond the trench.

The pulley 99 has the belt connection 112 to the front drive shaft that is directly connected to the

rollers

39 and 44. This belt 112 therefore rotates the rollers 39 and 4 4 that in turn ride along the 2 x 4s 48 and 49 to propel the machine forwardly as it digs the trench.

Various changes and modifications may be made within the purview of this invention as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are within the scope and teaching of this invention as defined by the claims appended thereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine for digging footing trenches to a predetermined depth between spaced parallel guide members, such as wood 2 x 4s resting upon the ground and defining between them the lateral limits of the areas where the footing trench is to be dug, comprising a frame, the frame having parallel side plates spaced apart by silght'l'y less than the width of the prospective trench as defined by the guides, a pair of laterally outwardly extending rollers on each side plate, the rollers being adapted to rest upon the parallel guide members that line the opposite side of the prospective trench, the plates extending below the lower extremes of the rollers and therefore below the upper surfaces of the rollers when the rollers rest upon the guide members, the plates being positioned almost in contact with the inner sides of the guide members, the plates thereby guiding the machine along the path lined by the guide members, a plurality of rotary blades between the side plates for digging the trench, motor means for rotating the rotary blades, the lowest extreme of travel of the blades relative to the lower surfaces of the rollers providing the desired depth of the trench when the rollers are resting upon the guide members, a pair of wheels supported by the frame to the rear of the rotary blades, and a handle supported by the frame for pivoting the rotary blades upwardly about the wheels to provide transportation of the machine by rolling it on the wheels.

2. The machine of claim 1 including a plow for digging the dirt between relatively distantly spaced rotary blades.

3. The machine of claim 1 plus a plurality of dirt scoops, conveyor means for carrying the dirt scoops toward and away from positions immediately behind the rotary blade for picking up dirt dug by the blades and elevating the dirt, means for moving the conveyor means, and laterally inclined plates carried by the machine frame and positioned for receiving dirt dumped by the dirt scoops and for delivering that dirt to places laterally beyond the trench.

4. The combination of claim 1 including drive means inter-connecting the motor means and at least one roller, whereby the roller is rotated by the drive means to propel the machine when the said roller is resting upon a guide member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,814,094 7/1931 'Rhodes 37-96 X 2,196,347 4/ 1940 Von Meyenburg 172-43 2,807,104 9/1957 Maxey 3796 2,825,984 3/1958 Carter 37-108 3,001,303 9/1961 Frederick 3794 3,059,355 10/1962 Petterson et al. 37-108 ABRAHAM G. STONE, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM A. SMITH III, ANTONIO F. GUIDA,

Examiners.

Claims

1. A MACHINE FOR DIGGING FOOTING TRENCHES TO A PREDETERMINED DEPTH BETWEEN SPACED PARALLEL GUIDE MEMBERS, SUCH AS WOOD 2 X 4''S RESTING UPON THE GROUND AND DEFINING BETWEEN THEM THE LATERAL LIMITS OF THE AREAS WHERE THE FOOTING TRENCH IS TO BE DUG, COMPRISING A FRAME, THE FRAME HAVING PARALLEL SIDE PLATES SPACED APART BY SLIGHTLY LESS THAN THE WIDTH OF THE PROSPECTIVE TRENCH AS DEFINED BY THE GUIDES, A PAIR OF LATERALLY OUTWARDLY EXTENDING ROLLERS ON EACH SIDE PLATE, THE ROLLERS BEING ADAPTED TO REST UPON THE PARALLEL GUIDE MEMBERS THAT LINE THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE PROSPECTIVE TRENCH, THE PLATES EXTENDING BELOW THE LOWER EXTREMES OF THE ROLLERS AND THEREFORE BELOW THE UPPER SURFACES OF THE ROLLERS WHEN THE ROLLERS REST UPON THE GUIDE MEMBERS, THE PLATES BEING POSITIONED ALMOST IN CONTACT WITH THE INNER SIDES OF THE GUIDE MEMBERS, THE PLATES THEREBY GUIDING THE MACHINE ALONG THE PATH LINED BY THE GUIDE MEMBERS, A PLURALITY OF ROTARY BLADES BETWEEN THE SIDE PLATES FOR DIGGING THE TRENCH, MOTOR MEANS FOR ROTATING THE ROTARY BLADES, THE LOWEST EXTREME OF TRAVEL OF THE BLADES RELATIVE TO THE LOWER SURFACES OF THE ROLLERS PROVIDING THE DESIRED DEPTH OF THE TRENCH WHEN THE ROLLERS ARE RESTING UPON THE GUIDE MEMBERS, A PAIR OF WHEELS SUPPORTED BY THE FRAME TO THE REAR OF THE ROTARY BLADES, AND A HANDLE SUPPORTED BY THE FRAME FOR PIVOTING THE ROTARY BLADES UPWARDLY ABOUT THE WHEELS TO PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION OF THE MACHINE BY ROLLING IT ON THE WHEELS.