Sub-surface irrigation channel
First Claim
1. A vehicle for forming sub-surface channels, comprising:
- a main frame to be moved over the ground,a digger unit mounted on the frame and operable to remove earth from the ground to form a trench of a predetermined width with a bottom below ground level,a channel-forming unit on the frame behind the digger unit with reference to the direction of movement of the main frame operable to form a system of channels in the bottom of the trench,said channel-forming unit comprising a roller mounted to rotate around a substantially horizontal transverse axis, and a plurality of ribs radiating from the roller, said roller being mounted to roll over the bottom of the trench, during which time said ribs impress channels in said bottom, anddistributing means on the frame behind the channel-forming unit for spreading earth removed by the digger unit back over the trench bottom.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus including a digger for digging a trench to a predetermined level which is maintained by control apparatus responsive to a laser beam plane. The earth removed by the digger is directed into screening apparatus, and at least some of the fine particles therefrom are spread over the bottom of the trench to a predetermined depth. A roller unit follows the digger and presses a system of channels in the trench bottom. The coarser particles from the screening apparatus are then spread over the trench bottom and the channels. If desired, the apparatus may include means for directing a sealant over the surfaces of the channels before the coarse particles are directed thereover.
39 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A vehicle for forming sub-surface channels, comprising:
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a main frame to be moved over the ground, a digger unit mounted on the frame and operable to remove earth from the ground to form a trench of a predetermined width with a bottom below ground level, a channel-forming unit on the frame behind the digger unit with reference to the direction of movement of the main frame operable to form a system of channels in the bottom of the trench, said channel-forming unit comprising a roller mounted to rotate around a substantially horizontal transverse axis, and a plurality of ribs radiating from the roller, said roller being mounted to roll over the bottom of the trench, during which time said ribs impress channels in said bottom, and distributing means on the frame behind the channel-forming unit for spreading earth removed by the digger unit back over the trench bottom. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A vehicle for forming sub-surface channels comprising:
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a main frame to be moved over the ground, a digger unit mounted on the frame and operable to remove earth from the ground to form a trench of a predetermined width with a bottom below ground level, a channel-forming unit on the frame behind the digger unit with reference to the direction of movement of the main frame operable to form a system of channels in the bottom of the trench, distributing means on the frame behind the channel-forming unit for spreading earth removed by the digger unit back over the trench bottom, a wheel unit at the front end of the main frame, mounting means between the wheel unit and the frame front end allowing for relative lateral rocking movement between the frame and wheel unit, and control means carried by and operatively connected to the frame to keep the digger unit therein in a normal position to dig a trench with a substantially horizontal bottom regardless of lateral rocking movement of the wheel unit. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A vehicle for forming sub-surface channels, comprising:
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a main frame to be moved over the ground, a wheel unit at a front end of the frame, a digger drum unit mounted on the frame to rotate around a substantially horizontal transverse axis to remove earth from the ground to form a trench of a predetermined width with a bottom below ground level, said digger unit also being mounted for selected vertical movement relative to the frame, power means connected to the digger unit to raise and lower said digger unit to maintain the bottom of the trench at a constant level, means for receiving earth dug out by the digger unit, a channel-forming unit on the frame behind the digger unit with reference to the direction of movement of the main frame operable to form a system of channels in the bottom of the trench, and distributing means on the frame behind the channel-forming unit for spreading earth from said receiving means back over the trench bottom. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A vehicle for forming subsurface channels, comprising:
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a main frame to be moved over the ground, a wheel unit at a front end of the frame, a digger drum unit mounted on the frame to rotate around a substantially horizontal transverse axis to remove earth from the ground to form a trench of a predetermined width with a bottom below ground level, said digger unit also being mounted for selected vertical movement relative to the frame, first power means connected to the digger unit to raise and lower said digger unit to maintain the bottom of the trench at a constant level, a sub frame mounted for vertical adjustment on the main frame behind the digger unit with reference to to the direction of movement of the main frame, means on the sub frame for receiving earth dug out by the digger unit, a channel-forming unit on the sub frame operable to form a system of channels in the bottom of the trench, second power means connected to the sub frame to raise and lower said sub frame and the roller mounted thereon as the digger unit is raised and lowered, and distributing means on the main frame behind the channel-forming unit for spreading earth from said receiving means back over the trench bottom. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification