SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PIPELINE PADDING

• US 20110277356A1
• Filed: 05/17/2010
• Published: 11/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Billy W. Cronk, Thomas J. Cronk Jr
• Original Assignee: Billy W. Cronk, Thomas J. Cronk Jr
• Inventors: Cronk, Billy W., Cronk, Thomas J. JR.
• Granted Patent: US 8,555,530 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 37/142.5
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 5/12 with equipment for back-filling trenches or ditches
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 5/226 with means for processing the soil, e.g. screening belts, separators; Padding machines

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for padding a pipeline lying in a ditch by separating fine particles from coarse particles in the material excavated from the ditch and windrowed along the side of the ditch comprising moving a frame supporting a rotating separator drum at the desired distance above ground to engage windrowed material at the level required to obtain sufficient fines to pad the pipeline while rotating the separating drum to separate the fine and coarse material and conveying the fines laterally into the ditch.

Claims

1. A pipe padding apparatus comprising:

a box-like frame adapted to be moved along a row of material along a side of a ditch in which a pipeline has been laid, the box-like frame comprising;

side walls with openings therein; and

an open front adapted to receive at least a portion of the material as the box-like frame moves along;

an open ended, hollow drum comprising;

a plurality of scoop members adapted to lift the material received through the open front as the drum is rotated;

a screen for screening coarse particles from fines within the material as the material is dropped from the scoop members onto the screen, wherein there is a predetermined distance between the scoop members and the screen;

a mechanism adapted to support the drum between the side walls of the box-like frame, thereby allowing the drum to rotate about an axis transverse to the row of material; and

a conveyor mechanism mounted to the box-like frame and extending in a direction generally parallel to the axis of rotation of the drum, the conveyor mechanism extending through the open ends of the drum, thereby receiving the fines as the fines drop through the screen and conveying the fines into the ditch.

2. A pipe padding apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the predetermined distance between the scoop members and the screen is in a range of 2 to 8 inches.

3. A pipe padding apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein a plurality of bars are located beneath the screen.

4. A pipe padding apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the screen has openings therein, the openings being in a range of ¼

to 2 inches square.

5. An apparatus connected to a vehicle such as a tractor, for separating padding material from material excavated from the earth, the apparatus comprising:

a frame attached to the vehicle and adapted to be moved through at least a portion of the excavated material;

a separating drum rotatably mounted to the frame, the drum including;

first outside ring member and second outside ring member;

a circular screen having an outer surface and being attached between the first outside ring member and the second outside ring member;

a plurality of scoop members attached between the first and second outside rings and spaced radially outwardly a predetermined distance from the outer surface of the circular screen, the scoops adapted to elevate at least a portion of the excavated material as the drum is rotated and moved longitudinally through the excavated material, the predetermined distance being sufficient to allow a portion of the excavated material to drop between the screen and the scoop member and move relative to the screen surface thereby separating a portion of the excavated material from the padding material as the scoop member is rotated through the screening arc while the apparatus is moved through the excavated material.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein the predetermined distance is in a range of 2 to 8 inches.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein a plurality of bars are located beneath the screen.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein the screen has openings therein, the openings being in a range of ¼

to 2 inches square.

9. A method for separating padding material from material excavated from the earth, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a pipe padding apparatus adapted to be moved along a row of the material excavated from the earth located along a side of a ditch in which a pipeline has been laid, the apparatus comprising an open ended, rotatable drum comprising;

a plurality of scoop members adapted to lift the material excavated from the earth as the drum is rotated; and

a screen for screening coarse particles from fines within the material excavated from the earth as the material excavated from the earth is dropped from the scoop members onto the screen, wherein there is a predetermined distance between the scoop members and the screen;

(b) scooping the material excavated from the earth into the scoop members;

(c) rotating the scoop members;

(d) screening the fines through the screen; and

(e) transporting the fines atop the pipeline.

10. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein step (d) further comprises the step of dropping the material excavated from the earth from the scoop members to the screen a distance in a range of 2 to 8 inches.

11. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein step (a) further comprises the step of providing a plurality of bars below the screen.

12. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein step (a) further comprises the step of providing openings in the screens, the openings being in a range of ¼

to 2 inches square.