Chain separator for padding machine

• US 5,741,087 A
• Filed: 10/24/1996
• Issued: 04/21/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ozzie's Pipeline Padder, Inc (Royal Energy Resources, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ozzie's Pipeline Padder, Inc (Royal Energy Resources, Inc.)
• Inventors: Osadchuk, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Graysay, Tamara L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAYO-PINNOCK, TARA LEIGH
• Application Number:
  US08/735,905
• Time in Patent Office: 544 Days
• Field of Search: 405/179, 37/142.5, 209/235, 209/257
• US Class Current: 405/179
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 1/10 Screens in the form of endless moving bands
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 5/226 with means for processing the soil, e.g. screening belts, separators; Padding machines

Abstract

A padding apparatus for padding underground cable or pipeline is provided. The padding apparatus is adapted to continuously separate excavated material piled alongside an excavated ditch into relatively fine padding material and relatively rough residual material as the apparatus moves forward. The padding apparatus continuously places the relatively fine padding material in the ditch. According to the invention, the apparatus includes a frame for supporting and moving an endless openwork in an endless path for lifting excavated material in an elevating direction. The endless openwork has rods and transverse chain sections attached to the rods, whereby the rods and chain sections define openings that allow relatively fine padding material to pass therethrough. A discharge conveyor is positioned beneath at least a portion of the endless openwork of the separator to receive the relatively fine padding material and convey the padding material to the ditch for padding cable or pipeline therein.

Claims

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 and moving an endless openwork in an endless path for lifting excavated material in an elevating direction, said endless openwork having rods and transverse chain sections attached to said rods, whereby said rods and chain sections define openings that allow relatively fine padding material to pass therethrough;

a discharge conveyor positioned to receive the relatively fine padding material and convey the padding material to the ditch for padding cable or pipeline therein.

2. A padding apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a shaker assembly for shaking said frame to increase the amount of fine padding material that passes through said openwork.

3. A padding apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said shaker assembly has resilient mounts for mounting an eccentric shaft to said frame adjacent a portion of said endless openwork and a motor for rotating said eccentric shaft to cause vibratory motion that is translated through said resilient mounts to said frame and said endless openwork.

4. A padding apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the length of said eccentric shaft is substantially the width of said endless openwork and wherein said shaft is positioned to extend across the width of said endless openwork below an elevated portion of said endless openwork.

5. A padding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said frame has forwardly extending guide projections thereon for guiding excavated material to said endless openwork as the apparatus moves forward relative to the pile of excavated material.

6. A padding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said frame has mounting means for attaching the apparatus to a prime mover for moving the apparatus relative to the pile of excavated material alongside the ditch.

7. A padding apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a prime mover for moving said frame relative to the pile of excavated material alongside the excavated ditch.

8. A padding machine according to claim 1, wherein said frame comprises:

a pair of side frame members connected by cross members.

9. A padding machine according to claim 8, wherein at least one of said side frame members has an opening through which said discharge conveyor extends, whereby padding material is transported through said at least one side frame member to the ditch.

10. A padding machine according to claim 9, wherein said side frame members are triangular and said endless openwork travels in a path that includes an upwardly inclined portion.

11. A padding machine according to claim 10, further comprising an inclined conveyor supported by said frame and positioned at least partially beneath the inclined portion of said endless openwork, whereby padding material that is passed through said inclined portion of said endless openwork is carried upwardly and transferred to said discharge conveyor.

12. A padding machine according to claim 9, wherein said side frame members are rectangular, said endless openwork is drum-shaped and travels in a path that is substantially circular, said endless openwork having a plurality of flights mounted thereabout for lifting excavated material.

13. A padding machine according to claim 12, wherein said plurality of flights are arcuate scoop members for lifting excavated material.

14. A padding machine for attachment to a sub-frame of a prime mover for moving with the prime mover 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 machine comprising:

a frame;

coupler for releasably connecting said frame to the sub-frame of the prime mover whereby the sub-frame can raise and lower the padding machine to control the amount of excavated material processed by the padding machine;

an endless openwork mounted to said frame for moving in an endless path, said endless openwork having rods and transverse chain sections attached to said rods, whereby said rods and chain sections define openings that allow padding material to pass therethrough, said endless openwork lifting excavated material and separating the lifted excavated material into padding material and rough material by passing padding material through said openwork; and

a discharge conveyor mounted to said frame whereby it receives padding material passed through said endless openwork and transports the padding material for placement in the ditch.

15. A padding machine according to claim 14, further comprising:

vibrating means for vibrating said endless openwork, whereby the amount of padding material passing through said endless openwork is increased.

16. A padding machine according to claim 15, wherein said vibrating means comprises:

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.

17. A padding machine according to claim 16, wherein said eccentric shaft extends substantially the width of said endless openwork.

18. A padding machine according to claim 14, wherein said frame comprises:

a pair of side frame members connected by cross members.

19. A padding machine according to claim 18, wherein at least one of said side frame members has an opening through which said discharge conveyor extends, whereby padding material is transported through said at least one side frame member to the ditch.

20. A padding machine according to claim 19, wherein said side frame members are triangular and said endless openwork travels in a path that includes an upwardly inclined portion.

21. A padding machine according to claim 20, further comprising an inclined conveyor supported by said frame and positioned at least partially beneath the inclined portion of said endless openwork, whereby padding material that is passed through said inclined portion of said endless openwork is carried upwardly and transferred to said discharge conveyor.

22. A padding machine according to claim 19, wherein said side frame members are rectangular, said endless openwork is drum-shaped and travels in a path that is substantially circular, said endless circular openwork having a plurality of flights mounted thereabout for lifting excavated material.

23. A padding machine according to claim 22, wherein said plurality of flights are arcuate scoop members for lifting excavated material.

24. A padding machine according to claim 18, further comprising forwardly extending guide projections on said side walls for guiding excavated material to said endless openwork as the padding machine moves forward relative to the pile of excavated material alongside the ditch.

25. A padding machine according to claim 24, wherein said guide projections have upwardly extending portions to prevent excavated material from spilling thereover.

26. A padding machine according to claim 24, wherein said guide projections have outwardly extending wings for clearing a path for the forward moving tracks or wheels of the prime mover.