Pipeline padding apparatus
First Claim
1. A pipeline padding assembly for movement on a surface in a forward direction along the side of an excavated pipeline trough while separating fine material from excavated spoil piled on the underlying soil surface and placing the fine material in the pipeline trough, said padding assembly comprising:
- vehicle means adapted for movement on the surface along the pipeline trough;
means for separating spoil into fine material and rough material, said separating means being connected to said vehicle means to move with said vehicle means;
means for returning fine material from said separating means into the pipeline trough;
means for transferring spoil piled along said pipeline trough to said separator means, said transferring means being connected to said vehicle means to move with said vehicle means.a spoil guide positioned in the front of said transferring means and having an open bottom configuration which is open substantially the entire width of said transferring means, said spoil guide being operably connected for movement with said transferring means, and said spoil guide being positioned to extend forward of said transferring means whereby as said spoil guide is moved along the side of the pipeline trough by said vehicle means, the spoil in said open bottomed configuration is guided to said transferring means;
at least two spaced guide projections being on said spoil guide, said guide projections being positioned on opposite sides of said transferring means and defining the open bottom therebetween, and at least a portion of said guide projections is positioned to extend forward of said transferring means;
a flat, planar extending ground engaging lower surface on each said guide projection;
said ground engaging surfaces extending substantially parallel to the surfaces on which said vehicle means moves; and
spoil contacting inner guide surfaces on each of said guide projections extending above said ground engaging surfaces.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved pipeline paddling apparatus includes a separator for separating fine material out of spoil which is piled along side an excavation, an elevator for transporting spoil to the separator, a pair of guide projections for guiding spoil into the elevator and a pair of auger type devices for directing spoil from the guiding projection both toward the elevator and in the elevating direction. A conveyor is provided to transport the separated fine portion of the spoil back into the excavation, thereby padding the pipeline. The elevator, guide and augers are pivotally adjustable as a unit with respect to a tracked vehicle, which provides maximum adjustability. In a second embodiment for use in rocky soil, the auger-type devices are eliminated and the guide projections are given a broader, concave inner guide surface.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A pipeline padding assembly for movement on a surface in a forward direction along the side of an excavated pipeline trough while separating fine material from excavated spoil piled on the underlying soil surface and placing the fine material in the pipeline trough, said padding assembly comprising:
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vehicle means adapted for movement on the surface along the pipeline trough; means for separating spoil into fine material and rough material, said separating means being connected to said vehicle means to move with said vehicle means; means for returning fine material from said separating means into the pipeline trough; means for transferring spoil piled along said pipeline trough to said separator means, said transferring means being connected to said vehicle means to move with said vehicle means. a spoil guide positioned in the front of said transferring means and having an open bottom configuration which is open substantially the entire width of said transferring means, said spoil guide being operably connected for movement with said transferring means, and said spoil guide being positioned to extend forward of said transferring means whereby as said spoil guide is moved along the side of the pipeline trough by said vehicle means, the spoil in said open bottomed configuration is guided to said transferring means; at least two spaced guide projections being on said spoil guide, said guide projections being positioned on opposite sides of said transferring means and defining the open bottom therebetween, and at least a portion of said guide projections is positioned to extend forward of said transferring means; a flat, planar extending ground engaging lower surface on each said guide projection;
said ground engaging surfaces extending substantially parallel to the surfaces on which said vehicle means moves; and
spoil contacting inner guide surfaces on each of said guide projections extending above said ground engaging surfaces. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of pipeline padding by separating fine material from spoil which is piled on the underlying soil surface alongside an excavated trough and returning the fine material to the trough, comprising the steps of:
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moving a vehicle along a path parallel to the spoil pile; using vehicle to urge a pair of laterally spaced guide members of a spoil guide having an open bottom into the pile of soil with a flat, planar extending ground engaging surface on each of the spaced guide members moving along a path extending substantially parallel to the surface on which said vehicle rests; loading spoil on a transferring means located at the rear of at least a portion of the ground engaging surfaces and positioned between said ground engaging surfaces with the open bottom being open substantially the entire width of said transferring means, by containing and guiding soil in said spoil guide to the transferring means; separating the lifted spoil into fine material and rough material; depositing fine material in the trough; and returning rough material to the soil surface.
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Specification