Method and equipment for simultaneous excavation and land refill with minimum operating labor

• US 5,782,020 A
• Filed: 11/13/1996
• Issued: 07/21/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shumaker L. Wade
• Original Assignee: Shumaker L. Wade
• Inventors: Shumaker, L. Wade
• Primary Examiner(s): Melius, Terry Lee
• Assistant Examiner(s): BATSON, VICTOR D
• Application Number:
  US08/747,524
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 37/466, 37/142.5, 37/197, 37/305, 37/411, 37/442, 37/397, 37/373, 37/380, 37/394, 299/7, 299/8, 299/30, 701/50, 193/25 E, 193/24, 198/300, 198/301, 198/310, 198/311, 198/315
• US Class Current: 37/466
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 7/00 Equipment for conveying or separating excavated material barges adapted for carrying-away material from floating dredgers B63B35/28
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 7/02 Conveying equipment mounted on a dredger conveyors in general B65G
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/205 Remotely operated machines, e.g. unmanned vehicles E02F3/8866 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/26 Indicating devices E02F5/145 takes precedence

Abstract

An excavator with a wireless controlled hopper-spreader allows a single operator to strip off topsoil and spread the stripped off soil more or less evenly after a mineable substance such as gravel is removed. The hopper-spreader uses about a fifty foot conveyor and may be totally operated by an operator in the excavator cab. This combination may be both faster and cheaper than a normal dragline operation.

Claims

1. Equipment to excavate and refill soil comprising:

a) an excavator,

b) a self propelled hopper-spreader,

c) a wireless interconnection means between said excavator and said self propelled hopper-spreader to allow an operator of said excavator to control movement and operation of said hopper-spreader, said wireless interconnection means comprising a control panel mounted on said excavator and a receiver panel mounted on said hopper-spreader;

said control panel having a TV screen therein and control buttons;

with activation of each of said buttons broadcasting a separate signal to said receiver panel mounted on said hopper-spreader;

said hopper-spreader having associated equipment to carry out said operation indicated by each of said signals;

c) said operations, each activated by one of said control buttons, include;

1. starting a motor to operate a hydraulic system that furnishes power for each operation of said hopper-spreader,

2.

2. stopping said motor,starting forward motion of said hopper-spreader,backing up said hopper-spreader,turning said hopper-spreader hard left,turning said hopper-spreader hard right,increasing forward speed of said hopper-spreader,decreasing forward speed of said hopper-spreader,turning said hopper-spreader about 10 degrees left,turning said hopper-spreader about 10 degrees right,lowering a conveyor on said hopper-spreader,raising said conveyor,adjusting a counter weight mounted on said hopper-spreader to prevent tipping of said hopper-spreader;

d) A TV camera mounted on said hopper-spreader broadcasting to a receiver on said excavator to furnish an operator of said excavator a continuous

3. visual picture of operation of said hopper-spreader. 2. A wireless interconnection means between an excavator and a self-propelled hopper-spreader, said hopper-spreader having a conveyor operatively associated therewith, said wireless interconnection means comprising:

a) a control panel mounted in an excavator in a position to be operable by an operator with said control panel having a TV screen therein and a plurality of control buttons;

with activation of each of said buttons broadcasting a separate signal;

b) a receiver panel mounted on a hopper-spreader to receive a respective signal from each of said buttons on said excavator with associated equipment to carry out operations indicated by each of said signals;

c) said operations, each activated by a respective one of said control buttons, include;

1. starting a motor to operate a hydraulic system that furnishes power for each operation of said hopper-spreader,

2. stopping said motor,

3. starting forward motion of said hopper-spreader,

4. backing up said hopper-spreader,

5. turning said hopper-spreader hard left,

6. turning said hopper-spreader hard right,

7. increasing forward speed of said hopper-spreader,

8. decreasing forward speed of said hopper-spreader,

9. turning said hopper-spreader about 10 degrees left,

10. turning said hopper-spreader about 10 degrees right,

11. lowering said conveyor on said hopper-spreader,

12. raising said conveyor,

13. adjusting a counter weight mounted on said hopper-spreader to prevent tipping of said hopper-spreader.