Trenching System

• US 20110016754A1
• Filed: 07/23/2010
• Published: 01/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Charles Machine Works Incorporated The
• Original Assignee: Charles Machine Works Incorporated The
• Inventors: Seabolt, Steven P., Schuermann, Andrew A., Bazzell, David R., Stellman, Vernon T., Ruhl, Michael C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,375,605 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 37/94
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/183 with digging unit shiftable relative to the frame
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/188 with the axis being horizontal and transverse to the direction of travel
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/241 digging wheels
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/246 drives
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/9212 Mechanical digging means, e.g. suction wheels, i.e. wheel with a suction inlet attached behind the wheel E02F3/9287 takes precedence; active suction heads E02F3/9256
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 5/08 with digging wheels turning round an axis E02F5/109 takes precedence; with digging wheels per se E02F3/18
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 5/101 forming during digging, e.g. underground canalisations or conduits, by bending or twisting a strip of pliable material; by extrusion
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 5/12 with equipment for back-filling trenches or ditches

Abstract

A system for uncovering and sealing a narrow trench. The system comprises several subsystems, including a work machine, a frame for providing a seal with the surface to be trenched, a saw blade, a vacuum system, a system for placing product, and a resealer. The blade includes rotatable tooth bits, which may be rotated and secured to create a blade for narrower or a wider trench. A removable cover and the blade are easily changeable. A ground engaging surface on the frame is manipulated to maintain a seal with changing ground surfaces. Additionally, the vertical location of the blade within the frame is adjustable to create a deeper or shallower trench.

Claims

1. A mobile system for cutting a narrow trench comprising:

a work machine;

a trenching assembly, movably attached to the work machine, the trenching assembly comprising;

a frame;

a removable blade cover attached to the frame,

wherein the blade cover and frame define a ground engaging surface and a blade opening;

a hub, attachable to the frame such that the vertical position of the hub relative to the frame is moveable;

a blade, located substantially within the frame and the blade cover and supported on the hub, wherein the blade extends beyond the blade opening; and

a cylinder assembly operatively attached to the work machine and the frame wherein operation of the cylinder assembly manipulates an orientation of the ground engaging surface relative to the work machine.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the orientation is front-to-back level.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the orientation is side-to-side tilt.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a vacuum system operatively connected to the frame.

5. The system of claim 4 further comprising a trench cleaner blade wherein the vacuum system is operatively connected to the frame proximate the trench cleaner blade.

6. A mobile system for cutting a narrow trench comprising:

a work machine;

a trenching assembly movably attached to the work machine comprising;

a frame;

a removable blade cover attached to the frame;

wherein the blade cover and frame define a ground engaging surface and a blade opening such that the blade opening is substantially sealed when engaged with the ground;

a hub, attachable to the frame such that the vertical position of the hub relative to the frame is moveable to alter a cutting depth of the trenching assembly;

a blade, located substantially within frame and the blade cover and supported on the hub, wherein the blade extends beyond the blade opening; and

a vacuum system operatively connected to the frame.

7. The mobile system of claim 6 further comprising a means for placing a product into the narrow trench.

8. The mobile system of claim 6 further comprising a means for sealing the narrow trench after placing the product in the narrow trench.

9. The mobile system of claim 8 wherein the means for sealing the narrow trench comprises a caulking apparatus.

10. The mobile system of claim 6 further comprising a cylinder wherein the cylinder is adapted to exert downpressure on the ground at the ground engaging surface.

11. A trenching assembly comprising:

a disc defining a circumference and a width; and

a plurality of cutting teeth attached to the circumference of the disc, wherein at least one of the plurality of cutting teeth is moveable between a radial position and an offset position;

wherein the at least one of the plurality of cutting teeth extends beyond the width of the disc when in the offset position and wherein the at least one of the plurality of teeth does not extend beyond the width of the disc when in the radial position.

12. The trenching assembly of claim 11 further comprising:

a frame;

a removable blade cover attached to the frame;

a ground engaging surface defined by the frame and the blade cover such that a blade opening defined by the blade cover and the frame is substantially sealed by the ground and downpressure is exerted on the ground when the ground engaging surface is engaged with the ground; and

a hub, attachable to the frame such that the vertical position of the hub relative to the frame is moveable;

wherein the disc is located substantially within the frame and the blade cover and supported on the hub, and wherein the disc and a portion of the plurality of cutting teeth extend beyond the blade opening.

13. The trenching assembly of claim 12 further comprising a vacuum system, wherein the vacuum system is operatively connected to the frame.

14. The trenching assembly of claim 12 further comprising a trench cleaner supported on the frame.

15. The trenching assembly of claim 14 wherein the trench cleaner is adapted to extend beyond the ground engaging surface.

16. The trenching assembly of claim 12 further comprising a variable speed motor for rotating the hub.

17. The trenching assembly of claim 11 wherein the cutting teeth comprise a carbide material.

18. The trenching assembly of claim 11 wherein the disc comprises dimples.

19. A method for cutting a narrow trench in a surface comprising:

providing a saw blade with a plurality of rotatable teeth wherein the saw blade is rotatably and moveably attached to a frame;

choosing a saw blade wherein the plurality of teeth are rotated to achieve a desired trench width;

adjusting the saw blade relative to the frame to achieve a desired trench depth;

rotating the saw blade to cut a trench;

substantially sealing the surface with a ground engaging surface of the frame and a blade cover; and

applying a vacuum within the frame and the blade cover to remove spoils.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the vacuum is supplied by an externally mounted vacuum system.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of inserting a product into the uncovered trench.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of sealing the uncovered trench.

23. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of tilting the frame such that the ground engaging surface maintains a substantial seal with the surface.

24. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of exerting a downforce on the ground at the ground engaging surface during rotation of the saw blade.