VEHICLE FOR UNDERGROUND INSTALLATION OF FLEXIBLE UTILITY LINES AND THE LIKE

• US 3,747,357 A
• Filed: 03/20/1972
• Issued: 07/24/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John F. Lindell, Robert W. Erickson
• Original Assignee: John F. Lindell, Robert W. Erickson
• Inventors: Lindell, John F., Erickson, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shapiro, Jacob
• Application Number:
  US05/236,093
• Time in Patent Office: 491 Days
• Field of Search: 61/72.6,72.1,72.5,72.7 172/110,111 37/93
• US Class Current: 405/182
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 5/103 with oscillating or vibrating digging tools
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 1/06 for laying cables, e.g. laying apparatus on vehicle

Abstract

A self-propelled vehicle for underground installation of flexible utility lines or the like wherein a vibrating, vertical plow cuts a slit in the earth and simultaneously lays the cable therein and covers the buried cable in one pass. The vehicle is of articulated frame construction having a front tractive power unit and a rear cable carrier pivotally attached to the front unit. A vibrating plow assembly is also pivotally attached to the front power unit and is located between the front unit and the carrier for independent vertical and lateral movement thereto.

Claims

1. A cable laying vehicle for laying a flexible member underground and comprising, a front tractive power unit having a ground engaging traction means and a power source for driving said means, a rear reel carrier unit having a front end pivotally attached about a generally vertical axis to said power unit for transverse swinging relative thereto, said carrier unit including grounD engaging support means and reel supporting means for rotatably mounting a flexible member reel thereon, steering means between said front and rear units, a plow assembly having a boom attached at its front end to said power unit and positioned between said front and rear units, said plow assembly also including a vibratory plow having a generally vertically extending blade for forming a slit in the ground for receiving the flexible member, said blade located adjacent said reel whereby the flexible member is adapted to be directed from said reel carrier into the slit.

2. A cable laying vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said plow boom is pivotally attached to said front unit for pivotal movement relative thereto about a vertical axis, and further including second steering means between said plow assembly and said front unit for steering said plow assembly independently of said front and rear units.

3. The vehicle set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said carrier includes an arched, rearwardly extending frame which has a front portion that extends generally upwardly and a rear portion that extends generally downwardly, and said plow assembly is located beneath said arched frame.

4. The vehicle described in claim 3 including power means connected to said tractive power unit and also having a connection with said assembly for bodily raising said plow assembly clear of the ground.

5. The vehicle according to claim 3 wherein said connection includes a vertical one-way stop to permit said assembly to freely move vertically relative to said power unit during flexible member laying operation.

6. The vehicle set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said carrier rear portion has a pair of transversely spaced apart legs with an unobstructed space therebetween for the movement of a reel therethrough.

7. The vehicle set forth in claim 6 including a reel supporting frame shiftably mounted on said carrier, means on said supporting frame for rotatably supporting a reel thereon, and means for shifting said frame between a lower reel receiving position and an upper operative position in which said reel can dispense a flexible member therefrom, said frame being swingable in said unobstructed space between said legs.

8. The vehicle set forth in claim 1 wherein said plow assembly includes a tamping wheel frame pivotally mounted thereon for generally vertical movement, and tamping wheel means rotatably mounted on said tamping wheel frame and located behind said blade for restoring the earth cut by said blade.

9. An articulated frame vehicle for continuously forming a slit in the ground, laying a flexible member therein, and restoring the earth thereabove, said vehicle comprising, a front tractive power unit having a ground engaging traction means and a power source for driving said means, a rear reel carrier having a front end pivotally attached about a generally vertical axis to said power unit for transverse swinging relative thereto, said carrier including a rear end having ground engaging support means, said carrier also having reel supporting means for rotatably mounting a reel thereon, a plow assembly having a boom attached at its front end to said power unit and about a generally vertical axis whereby said boom can swing transversely relative to said power unit and said carrier, said plow assembly also including a vibratory plow having a generally downwardly extending blade for forming a slit in the ground, shaker means on said plow assembly for vertically reciprocating said blade to facilitate its cutting through the ground, said plow assembly having chute means for the passage of said flexible member therethrough and into the ground, said chute means arranged adjacent said reel and generally at the forward side thereof, whereby said flexible means is taken generally tangentially from said reel and directly into said chute means without appreciable bending of the flexible means, power means for pivoting said plOw relative to said boom, and second power means for pivotally swinging said boom relative to said tractive vehicle whereby said plow can be steered independently of said boom and said boom can be swung independently and transversely of said power unit.

10. An articulated frame vehicle for continuously forming a slit in the ground, laying a flexible member therein, and restoring the earth thereabove, said vehicle comprising, a front tractive power unit having a ground engaging traction means and a power source for driving said means, a rear reel carrier having a front end pivotally attached about a generally vertical axis to said power unit for transverse swinging relative thereto, said carrier including a rear end having ground engaging support means;

said reel carrier including a reel frame pivotally mounted for swinging between (1) a lower, reel loading position and (2) an upper, operative position for laying out said flexible member from a reel carried on said frame;

said frame having releasable means for rotatably mounting a reel thereon, a plow assembly having a boom attached at its front end to said power unit, said plow assembly having a vertical plow adjacent said reel and generally at the forward side thereof, whereby said flexible means is taken generally tangentially from said reel and directly into said plow without appreciable bending of the flexible means.

11. The vehicle described in claim 10 further characterized in that said plow assembly includes shaker means for vertically vibrating said blade, said boom is pivotally connected about a vertical axis with said power unit, and including power means for swinging said boom and plow assembly transversely of said power unit.

12. The vehicle set forth in claim 11 including second power means for pivoting said plow relative to said boom for independent steering of said plow.

13. An articulated frame vehicle for continuously forming a slit in the ground, laying a flexible member therein, and restoring the earth thereabove, said vehicle comprising, a front tractive power unit having a ground engaging traction means and a power source for driving said means, a rear reel carrier having a front end pivotally attached about a generally vertical axis to said power unit for transverse swinging relative thereto, said carrier including a rear end having ground engaging support means;

said reel carrier including a reel frame pivotally mounted for swinging between (1) a lower, reel loading position and (2) an upper, operative position for laying out said flexible member from a reel carried on said frame;

said frame having releasable means for rotatably mounting a reel thereon, a plow assembly having a boom attached at its front end to said power unit, said plow assembly having a vertical plow adjacent said reel and generally at the forward side thereof, whereby said flexible means is taken generally tangentially from said reel and directly into said plow without appreciable bending of the flexible means;

said plow assembly also including shaker means for vertically vibrating said blade, said boom pivotally connected about a vertical axis with said power unit, and power means for swinging said boom and plow assembly transversely of said power unit;

said boom having a vertical lost motion connection with said power unit and a pivotal connection therewith about a generally horizontal axis, and additional power means connected with said power unit and said lost motion connection whereby said boom and plow assembly can move vertically independently of said power unit when burying a flexible member and then said additional power means can bodily raise said boom and plow assembly.

14. An articulated frame vehicle for continously forming a slit in the ground, laying a flexible member therein, and restoring the earth thereabove, said vehicle comprising, a front tractive power unit having a ground engaging traction means and a power source fOr driving said means, a reer reel carrier having a front end pivotally attached abbout a generally vertical axis to said power unit for transverse swinging relative thereto, said carrier including a rear end having ground engaging support means;

said rear carrier including a reel frame pivotally mounted for swinging between (1) a lower, reel loading position and (2) an upper, operative position for laying out said flexible member from a reel carried on said frame;

said frame having releasable means for rotatably mounting a reel thereon, a plow assembly having a boom attached at its front end to said power unit, said plow assembly having a vertical plow adjacent said reel and generally at the forward side thereof, whereby said flexible means is taken generally tangentially from said reel and directly into said plow without appreciable bending of the flexible means;

said plow assembly including shaker means for vertically vibrating said blade, said boom pivotally connected about a vertical axis with said power unit, and power means for swinging said boom and plow assembly transversely of said power unit;

second power means for pivoting said plow relative to said boom for independent steering of said plow;

said boom having a vertical lost motion connection with said power unit and a pivotal connection therewith about a generally horizontal axis, and third power means connected with said power unit and said lost motion connection whereby said boom and plow assembly can move vertically independently of said power unit when burying a flexible member and then said third power means can bodily raise said boom and plow assembly.