Padding machine with shaker for separator
First Claim
1. A padding apparatus for padding underground cable or pipeline by continuously separating excavated material piled alongside an excavated ditch into relatively fine padding material and relatively rough residual material as the apparatus moves forward and placing the relatively fine padding material in the ditch, the apparatus comprising:
- a frame for supporting an endless screening belt in an endless path for lifting excavated material in an elevating direction, said screening belt having an openwork that allows relatively fine padding material to pass therethrough;
a shaker assembly for shaking said frame adjacent said endless screening belt to increase the amount of fine padding material that passes through said openwork, said shaker assembly having resilient mounts for mounting an eccentric shaft to said frame adjacent a portion of said endless screening belt and a motor for rotating said eccentric shaft to cause vibratory motion that is translated through said resilient mounts to said frame and said screening belt; and
a discharge conveyor positioned to receive the relatively fine padding material and convey the fine padding material to the ditch for padding cable or pipeline.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved padding machine is provided with a shaker assembly that vigorously shakes a moving openwork at a high frequency. The shaker assembly includes resilient mounts for attaching the shaker assembly to the frame of the padding machine, preferably adjacent the supports for an upper portion of the screening belt, which slides across the top of such supports. The rubber or rubber-like resilient mounts support an eccentric shaft that is journalled in associated bearings for rotation beneath an upper portion of the screening belt. The eccentric shaft preferably extends substantially the entire width of the screening belt to either side of the padding machine. A motor is connected to a drive end of the eccentric shaft for rotating the shaft. When the motor rapidly rotates the eccentric shaft, the off-center body of the eccentric shaft causes vibration, which is translated through the resilient mounts to the frame of the padding machine adjacent the supports for the screening belt. Thus, high frequency vibratory motion is imparted to the moving screening belt.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A padding apparatus for padding underground cable or pipeline by continuously separating excavated material piled alongside an excavated ditch into relatively fine padding material and relatively rough residual material as the apparatus moves forward and placing the relatively fine padding material in the ditch, the apparatus comprising:
- a frame for supporting an endless screening belt in an endless path for lifting excavated material in an elevating direction, said screening belt having an openwork that allows relatively fine padding material to pass therethrough;
a shaker assembly for shaking said frame adjacent said endless screening belt to increase the amount of fine padding material that passes through said openwork, said shaker assembly having resilient mounts for mounting an eccentric shaft to said frame adjacent a portion of said endless screening belt and a motor for rotating said eccentric shaft to cause vibratory motion that is translated through said resilient mounts to said frame and said screening belt; and
a discharge conveyor positioned to receive the relatively fine padding material and convey the fine padding material to the ditch for padding cable or pipeline. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- a frame for supporting an endless screening belt in an endless path for lifting excavated material in an elevating direction, said screening belt having an openwork that allows relatively fine padding material to pass therethrough;
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9. A self-contained padding machine attachment for attachment to a sub-frame of a vehicle for moving with the vehicle along one side of a ditch to pick up at least a portion of a pile of excavated material placed parallel to and along the one side of the ditch and processing the excavated material into padding material for placement in the ditch, the padding attachment comprising:
- a frame;
coupler releasably connecting said frame to the vehicle sub-frame whereby the vehicle sub-frame can raise and lower the padding machine attachment to control the amount of excavated material processed by the padding machine attachment;
an endless openwork mounted to said frame for moving in an endless path, said endless openwork collecting and lifting excavated material and separating the lifted excavated material into padding material by passing padding material through said openwork;
a shaker assembly resiliently mounted to said frame adjacent a portion of said endless openwork, said shaker assembly having a motor for rotating an eccentric shaft for vibrating said frame and said endless openwork to increase the amount of padding material passing through said openwork; and
a discharge conveyor that is mounted to said frame whereby it receives padding material passed through said openwork and transports the padding material for placement in the ditch. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
- a frame;
Specification