Trench Filling Machine

• US 20140144051A1
• Filed: 07/02/2012
• Published: 05/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Charles Machine Works Incorporated The
• Original Assignee: Charles Machine Works Incorporated The
• Inventors: Sewell, Cody L.
• Granted Patent: US 10,309,080 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 37/142.5
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/502 Vehicle-mounted mixing devices
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 5/223 for back-filling in association with trench excavators E02F5/12

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a machine for filling a trench. The machine comprises a tub, release assembly, and a hopper. The tub mixes a material to be filled into the trench. The release assembly releases the material into the hopper and the material flows from the hopper and into the trench. The machine moves parallel to the trench as the trench is being filled. An operator controls the movement of the machine from an operator station on the machine.

Claims

1. A trench filling machine, comprising:

a frame;

a motive means for moving the frame;

a tub supported on the frame;

a release assembly;

the release assembly disposed on the tub and comprising a spout and a door;

a hopper supported on the frame and positioned below the release assembly; and

a discharge conduit disposed on the hopper to feed material into a trench.

3. The trench filling machine of claim 1 wherein the release assembly is supported at a first end of the tub and comprises a door guide for the door to slide up and down.

7. The trench filling machine of claim 1 wherein the spout extends from a first end of the tub and over the hopper forming a slide allowing a material to flow out of the tub, down the spout, and into the hopper.

8. The trench filling machine of claim 1 comprising a means for vibrating the hopper.

10. The trench filling machine of claim 1 wherein the hopper is supported on the frame with at least one lift arm, wherein the at least one lift arm moves the discharge conduit of the hopper into and out of the trench.

2. The trench filling machine of claim I further comprising an operator station comprising controls supported on the frame.

4. The trench filling machine of claim I wherein the release assembly comprises:

a gate plate attached to a first end of the tub;

a horizontal link pivotally connected at a first end to the gate plate; and

a vertical link connected to a second end of the horizontal link; and

wherein the horizontal link and the vertical link are connected to the door.

5. The trench filling machine of claim 4 wherein the horizontal link is connected to a cylinder and a piston.

6. The trench filling machine of claim I wherein the release assembly releases a material into the hopper via upward movement of the door.

9. The trench filling machine of claim I wherein the hopper funnels a material received from the tub.

11. A release assembly for use with a trench filling machine, the trench filling machine comprising a tub and a hopper, the release assembly comprising:

a gate plate attached to a first end of the tub;

a horizontal link pivotally connected at a first end to the gate plate;

a vertical link connected to a second end of the horizontal link;

a door, wherein the door is movable up and down via movement of the horizontal and the vertical link; and

a spout.

12. The release assembly of claim 11 wherein the horizontal link is connected to a cylinder and a piston.

13. The release assembly of claim 11 wherein the horizontal link and the vertical link are connected to the door.

14. The release assembly of claim 11 wherein the release assembly releases a flowable material into the hopper via upward movement of the door.

15. The release assembly of claim 11 wherein the spout extends out from the first end of the tub and over a hopper forming a slide allowing a flowable material to flow from the tub, down the spout, and into the hopper.

16. The release assembly of claim 11 further comprising a door guide for the door to slide up and down.

17. A method for filling a trench using a trench filling machine, the method comprising the steps of:

mixing a material within a tub using a plurality of blades connected to a shaft;

positioning the trench filling machine parallel to the trench, wherein a hopper comprising a discharge conduit connected to the trench filling machine is placed above the trench;

lowering the hopper so a portion of the discharge conduit is placed within the trench;

lifting a door on a release assembly connected to the tub to release the material from the tub into the hopper;

vibrating the hopper so the materials flow from the hopper through the discharge conduit and into the trench.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of lowering the door on the release assembly connected to the tub to stop the flow of material from the tub into the hopper.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of using a motive means and operator controls to position the trench filling machine parallel to the trench.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of using the motive means to move the trench filling machine forward and parallel to the trench to continuously fill the trench with the material.