Backfill separator for ditching machine

• US 5,245,768 A
• Filed: 07/29/1991
• Issued: 09/21/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Doyle Purkeypile
• Original Assignee: Doyle Purkeypile
• Inventors: Purkeypile, Doyle
• Primary Examiner(s): Taylor, Dennis L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WARNICK IV, SPENCER K
• Application Number:
  US07/737,439
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 37/80 R, 37/82, 37/84, 37/90, 171/114, 171/116, 171/134, 171/63, 209/393, 209/660, 209/664, 209/667
• US Class Current: 37/347
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 1/155 the rollers having a star shaped cross section
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 1/16 the elements being movable and in other than roller form
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 5/12 with equipment for back-filling trenches or ditches
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 7/06 Delivery chutes or screening plants or mixing plants mounted on dredgers or excavators for back-filling E02F5/226 takes precedence; separating equipment in general B03; delivery chutes in general B65G

Abstract

A separator is provided for use with a ditching machine to segregate rocks and coarse aggregates from the material excavated by the ditching machine s that the excavated material may be used as padding to protect the pipeline or other item positioned within the excavated trench. The separator comprises a plurality of rows of blades mounted on a rotatable drum. The spacing between adjacent blades within a row allows passage of the fine excavated material between the blades but prevents passage of the rocks and coarse aggregates. The rotating blades then deposit the rocks and coarse aggregates in a row beyond the row of fine material deposited along the trench.

Claims

1. A separator for segregating large rocks from finer material, which large rocks and finer material have been excavated by a ditching machine and are being discharged from a conveyor, said separator comprising:

a frame;

means for coupling the frame with the ditching machine;

a rotatable drum coupled with the frame;

means for rotating said drum; and

a plurality of spaced apart blades extending from said rum and arranged in five parallel rows which extend along the length of the drum and are parallel to a rotational axis of the drum, said blades having an elongated configuration with a rectangular cross-section, radially inner ends of the blades being rigidly connected to the drum for rotation therewith and to prevent lateral tilting of the blades in a direction along the length of the rows, each of said blades being oriented such that a plane extending along a long dimension of said rectangular cross-section lies within a rotational arc of the associated blade,

a spacing between adjacent blades within each of said rows permitting passage of said finer material through the spacing but preventing passage of the large rocks when the blades are rotated through said large rocks and finer material being discharged from the conveyor,

wherein said blades and said drum are sized such that said radially inner ends of the blades within each row are spaced apart from said inner ends of blades in adjacent rows.

3. The ditching machine of claim 1, wherein said blades are arrayed in five rows, each of said rows extending parallel to a rotational axis of said drum.

2. A ditching machine comprising:

a frame;

means coupled with the frame for excavating material comprising large rocks and fines to form an elongated trench as said frame is moved along a generally linear path of travel;

a conveyor coupled with the frame and associated with said excavating means for transporting the excavated material from the excavating means and discharging it along and beside said trench;

a separator positioned to encounter the excavated material as it is being discharged from the conveyor, said separator including a plurality of elongated blades mounted on a rotatable drum and arranged in a plurality of parallel rows, said blades having an elongated configuration with a rectangular cross-section, radially inner ends of the blades being rigidly connected to the drum for rotation therewith and to prevent lateral tilting of the blades in a direction along the length of the rows, each of said blades being oriented such that a plane extending along a long dimension of said rectangular cross-section lies within a rotational arc of the associated blade, a spacing between adjacent blades being sufficient to permit passage of said fines through the spacing but preventing passage of the large rocks, wherein rotation of said blades through said material discharged by the conveyor segregates the large rocks from said fines, said rotatable drum including means operable to rotate the drum at a rotational speed sufficient to expel the large rocks away from the trench and beyond the fines in a direction generally perpendicular to said linear path of travel.