Efficient method and pulverizer for pipeline trench padding

• US 6,318,930 B1
• Filed: 02/19/1999
• Issued: 11/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Erik D. Scudder
• Original Assignee: Erik D. Scudder
• Inventors: Scudder, Erik D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad, Christopher J.
• Application Number:
  US09/253,567
• Time in Patent Office: 1,005 Days
• Field of Search: 405/179, 371/425, 373/03, 373/04, 373/05, 373/06, 373/86, 373/91, 373/92, 371/89, 371/90, 373/59, 373/60, 37/93, 37/95, 241/101.742, 241/8, 241/68, 404/91
• US Class Current: 405/179
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/20 with tools that only loosen the material , i.e. mill-type wheels
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 5/12 with equipment for back-filling trenches or ditches
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 5/226 with means for processing the soil, e.g. screening belts, separators; Padding machines
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 7/02 Conveying equipment mounted on a dredger conveyors in general B65G
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 7/04 Loading devices mounted on a dredger or an excavator loading devices in general B65G hopper dredgers, also equipment for unloading the hopper
• 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 trench-padding method and apparatus provide a more efficient, cost efficient process of obtaining a maximal amount of padding material from material excavated from a trench, and where selected, provide for trenching. The trench-padding apparatus includes a lead assembly that includes a feeder housing having a front rotating unit with protrusions. The feeder housing may be configured to excavate the trench or alternatively, to scoop up previously excavated material. The front rotating unit is attached to a frame of the trench-padding apparatus immediately in front of an elevator device, and the front rotating unit forces clumps of the excavated material between the front rotating unit and a base of the feeder housing to aid in reducing clump size. The method operates in the manner of the trench-padding apparatus.

Claims

1. A trench-padding apparatus for maximizing conversion of excavated material to trench-padding material, wherein the trench-padding apparatus includes a lead assembly, comprising a feeder housing having a front rotating unit with protrusions, wherein the front rotating unit is attached to a frame of the trench-padding apparatus immediately in front of an elevator device adapted to receive and transport said excavated material to at least a first mesh screen attached to said frame, said screen configured and adapted for separating the excavated material into at least two grades of material, wherein the front rotating unit is adapted to force clumps of the excavated material between the front rotating unit and a base of the feeder housing to aid in reducing clump size, and wherein said apparatus further comprises means for transporting material that fails to pass through said at least first mesh screen to a location removed from said screen.

2. The trench-padding apparatus of claim 1 wherein the front rotating unit is a rotating drum with protrusions that are one of:

blades, fingers, and teeth.

3. The trench-padding apparatus of claim 1 wherein the elevator device is a belt-type elevator with paddles.

4. The trench-padding apparatus of claim 1 further including a cover that is detachably attached to the frame and covers at least part of the elevator device.

5. The trench-padding apparatus of claim 1 further including a rear rotating unit, pivotally attached to a rearward portion of the frame of the trench-padding apparatus, that rotates in a direction to increase backward flow of excavation material too large to be used as padding material.

6. An apparatus for maximizing conversion of excavated material to trench-padding material, comprising:

a frame adapted for movement along a trench being formed by the apparatus;

a lead assembly, comprising a feeder housing having a rotating toothed/bladed drum that is attached to the frame immediately in front of an elevator device, for retrieving and reducing clump size of the excavated material;

the elevator device, being attached to the frame immediately behind the drum, for receiving and transporting the excavated material to at least a first mesh screen;

the at least first mesh screen, attached to the frame and situated to receive the excavated material from the elevator device, for separating the excavated material into at least two grades of material;

means for transporting and pulverizing material that passes through the at least first mesh screen to the trench; and

means for transporting material that fails to pass through the at least first mesh screen.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the elevator device is a belt-type elevator with paddles.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 further including a cover that is detachably attached to the frame and covers at least part of the elevator device and the mesh screen.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the at least first mesh screen is approximately 3 inches by 3.5 inches and is coated with a preselected ceramic coating.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 further including a second mesh screen having a mesh smaller than the mesh of the first mesh screen, wherein material that fails to pass through the second mesh screen is passed to a pulverizer, then to a first conveyor to the trench and wherein material that passes through the second mesh screen is passed to a second conveyor to the trench.

11. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the means for transporting material that fails to pass through the at least first mesh screen is a rotating drum, attached to the frame of the apparatus, that rotates in a direction to increase backward flow of particles too large to pass through the at least first mesh screen.

12. A method for trench-padding that maximizes conversion of excavated material to trench-padding material, comprising the steps of:

using a trench-padding apparatus that includes a lead assembly with a feeder housing to pick up the excavated material;

using a front rotating unit with protrusions to a frame of the trench-padding apparatus immediately in front of to force clumps of the excavated material between the front rotating unit and a base of the feeder housing to aid in reducing clump size, the front rotating unit being attached to a frame of the trench-padding apparatus immediately in front of an elevator device adapted to receive and transport said excavated material to at least a first mesh screen attached to said frame, said screen configured and adapted for separating the excavated material into at least two grades of material; and

transporting excavated material that fails to pass through said at least a first screen to a location removed from said screen.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein using the front rotating unit includes using a rotating drum with protrusions that are one of:

blades, fingers, and teeth.

14. The method of claim 12 further including providing a cover that is detachably attached to the frame and covers at least part of the elevator device.

15. A trench-padding-excavating apparatus for maximizing conversion of excavated material to trench-padding material, wherein the apparatus comprises a lead assembly having a feeder housing, wherein the feeder housing is configured to excavate material and has a front rotating unit with protrusions, wherein the front rotating unit is attached to a frame of the apparatus immediately in front of an elevator device adapted to receive and transport said excavated material to at least a first mesh screen attached to said frame, said screen configured and adapted for separating the extracted material into at least two grades of material, wherein the front rotating unit is adapted to force clumps of the excavated material between the front rotating unit and a base of the feeder housing to aid in reducing clump size, and wherein said apparatus further comprises means for transporting material that fails to pass through said at least first mesh screen to a location removed from said screen.

16. The trench-padding-excavating apparatus of claim 15 wherein the front rotating unit is a rotating drum with protrusions that are one of:

blades, fingers, and teeth.

17. The trench-padding apparatus of claim 15 wherein the elevator device is a belt-type elevator with paddles.

18. The trench-padding apparatus of claim 15 further including a cover that is detachably attached to the frame and covers at least part of the elevator device.

19. The trench-padding apparatus of claim 15 further including a rear rotating unit, pivotally attached to a rearward portion of the frame of the trench-padding apparatus, that rotates in a direction to increase backward flow of excavation material too large to be used as padding material.

20. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the at least first mesh screen is approximately 3 inches by 3.5 inches and is coated with a preselected ceramic coating.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 further including a second mesh screen below the first mesh screen, wherein the second mesh screen has a mesh smaller than a mesh of the first mesh screen, wherein material that fails to pass through the second mesh screen is passed to a pulverizer, then to a first conveyor to the trench and wherein material that passes through the second mesh screen is passed to a second conveyor to the trench.

22. An apparatus for excavating a trench and maximizing conversion of excavated material to trench-padding material, comprising:

a frame adapted for movement along/astride a trench being formed by the apparatus;

a lead assembly, comprising a feeder housing configured to excavate the trench and having a rotating toothed/bladed drum that is attached to the frame immediately in front of an elevator device, for retrieving and pulverizing the excavated material;

the elevator device, being attached to the frame immediately behind the drum, for receiving and transporting the excavated material to at least a first mesh screen;

the at least first mesh screen, attached to the frame and situated to receive the excavated material from the elevator device, for separating the excavated material into at least two grades of material;

means for transporting material that passes through the at least first mesh screen to the trench; and

means for pulverizing and transporting material that fails to pass through the at least first mesh screen.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the elevator device is a belt-type elevator with paddles.

24. The apparatus of claim 22 further including a cover that is detachably attached to the frame and covers at least part of the elevator device and the mesh screen.

25. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the mesh screen is approximately 3 inches by 3.5 inches and is coated with a ceramic coating.

26. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the means for transporting material that fails to pass through the at least first mesh screen is a rotating drum, attached to the frame of the apparatus, that rotates in a direction to increase backward flow of particles too large to pass through the at least first mesh screen.

27. A trench-padding apparatus for maximizing conversion of excavated material to trench-padding material, wherein the trench-padding apparatus includes:

a lead assembly, comprising a feeder housing having a front rotating unit with protrusions, wherein the front rotating unit is attached to a frame of the trench-padding apparatus immediately in front of an elevator device, and the front rotating unit is adapted to force clumps of the excavated material between the front rotating unit and a base of the feeder housing to aid in reducing clump size; and

a rear rotating unit, pivotally attached to a rearward portion of the frame of the trench-padding apparatus, that rotates in a direction to increase backward flow of excavation material too large to be used as padding material.