Pipeline padding system

• US 5,259,699 A
• Filed: 06/05/1992
• Issued: 11/09/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Edward J. Klamar
• Original Assignee: Edward J. Klamar
• Inventors: Klamar, Edward J.
• Primary Examiner(s): CORBIN, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US07/894,392
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 405/154, 405/157, 405/179, 405/174, 405/180, 405/181, 37/142.5, 209/235, 209/241, 209/247
• US Class Current: 405/179
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 5/226 with means for processing the soil, e.g. screening belts, separators; Padding machines

Abstract

A system for laying a trench bed layer consisting of fine grained material derived from unclassified fill material. The system includes a main frame that is pivotally supported by a hitch carried by a front end loader. The hitch includes a support bar that extends in the direction of travel of the front end loader whereby the main frame is securable to the support bar so as to extend transverse to the travel direction of the front end loader. Hydraulic cylinders normally used for manipulating the arms of the front end loader vary the attitude or angle of attack of the main frame in accordance with ground slope. The hitch also carries means for pivoting the main frame about a pin connection joining the main frame and the support bar. The system further includes a hopper carried by the main frame into which unclassified backfill material is loaded. A first conveyor transports the fill material from the bottom of the hopper to a vibrating screen. A second extendable and retractable conveyor is situated beneath the vibrating screen. The second conveyor is situated beneath the vibrating screen. The second conveyor receives only the fine particulate fraction of the original unclassified fill material which is sufficiently small to pass through the lower screen element and delivers this fine particulate fraction to the trench.

Claims

1. Apparatus for delivering backfill material to a trench, said apparatus comprising:

a main frame carrying a storage hopper, a vibrating screen and first conveyor means for transporting backfill material from said hopper to said vibrating screen;

second conveyor means carried by said main frame for transporting to said trench particles of said backfill material which pass said vibrating screen; and

hitch means for connecting said main frame to a vehicle having a pair of lift arms, means for raising and lowering said lift arms, a pair of rocker arms pivotally connected to said lift arms, means connected to first ends of said rocker arms for moving said rocker arms relative to said lift arms, and links connected to second ends of said rocker arms, said hitch means including first means for attaching said hitch means to said lift arms and second means for attaching said hitch means to said links, whereby said means connected to said first ends of said rocker arms are operable to adjust the attitude of said main frame and said means for raising and lowering said lift arms are operable to adjust the elevation of said main frame when said main frame is attached to said hitch means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said particles which pass said vibrating screen are of a size sufficient to serve as pipeline padding material.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first conveyor means and second conveyor means extend substantially longitudinally of said main frame and said vibrating screen extends substantially transverse to said main frame.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for translating said second conveyor means relative to said main frame.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said means for translating comprise extendable and retractable actuators connected to said main frame and said second conveyor means.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising means for enabling releasable connection of said extendable and retractable actuators to a plurality of sites along one of said main frame and said second conveyor means.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said hitch means further includes a support bar, means for pivotally connecting said main frame to said support bar and means for pivoting said main frame relative to said hitch means.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said vehicle is a front end loader.