Pipeline padding machine and method

• US 6,502,333 B1
• Filed: 07/27/1999
• Issued: 01/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Randall R. Striegel
• Original Assignee: Randall R. Striegel
• Inventors: Striegel, Randall R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad, Christopher J.
• Application Number:
  US09/362,990
• Time in Patent Office: 1,260 Days
• Field of Search: 371/425, 405/179
• US Class Current: 37/142.5
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 1/005 Transportable screening plants
• 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 7/026 mounted on machines equipped with dipper- or bucket-arms
• 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 self-propelled pipeline padding machine and a method for padding pipelines in ditches without damaging the pipeline prior to backfilling of the ditch. A spoils pile comprising dirt, various size rocks, and sand taken from the ditch during the digging thereof lie in a generally continuous pile along side the ditch from the excavation thereof. The machine includes an excavator having an arm with end bucket for scooping up material from the spoils pile on the opposite side of the ditch and placing it into frame mounted padding material sorter mounted to the front of the excavator. The separated padding material falls onto a laterally disposed retractable conveyor below the sorter which moves the padding material onto the pipeline in the ditch ahead of the excavator. The residual rocks and debris fall between the tracks of the excavator. The sorter can be tilted using hydraulic cylinders between the frame supporting the sorter and the undercarriage of the excavator. The padding material is deposited ahead of the excavator such that any rocks or debris inadvertently knocked or dropped into the ditch fall on already padded pipeline. The method includes depositing padding material onto a pipeline.

Claims

1. A self-propelled pipeline padding machine for travelling alongside an elongate ditch containing a pipeline to be padded, spoils material which was removed from the ditch during digging thereof being in an elongate spoils pile on an opposite side of the ditch, the pipeline padding machine which scoops up and separates padding material from the spoils material, leaving coarser residual material including rocks, and which conveys the padding material into the ditch on top of the pipeline, comprising:

a motorized vehicle which includes a pair of continuous, ground contacting tracks on which said vehicle travels, which tracks are movably mounted to an undercarriage of said vehicle;

a frame connected to an end of said vehicle;

a sorter supported at said end of said vehicle by said frame means which separates padding material from the spoils material leaving courser residual material including rocks, which residual material exits said sorter means at a residual material outlet, and a padding outlet from which the padding material exits said sorter;

a loading device attached to said vehicle of such configuration as to allow scooping up spoils material from the spoils pile on an opposite side of the ditch from the vehicle and dumping spoils material into said sorter;

a conveyor supported by said frame means which receives said padding material from said sorter means and which transports the padding material into the ditch to a side generally ahead of said motorized vehicle; and

wherein the undercarriage and the tracks are extended longitudinally toward the sorter for increased stability of the vehicle.

2. A self-propelled pipeline padding machine for traveling alongside an elongate ditch containing a pipeline to be padded, spoils material which was removed from the ditch during digging thereof being in an elongate spoils pile on an opposite side of the ditch, the pipeline padding machine which scoops up and separates padding material from the spoils material, leaving coarser residual material including rocks, and which conveys the padding material into the ditch on top of the pipeline, comprising:

a motorized vehicle;

a frame is movably mounted to an end of said vehicle;

a sorter supported at the end of said vehicle by said frame which separates padding material from the spoils material leaving courser residual material including rocks, which residual material exits said sorter at a residual material outlet, and a padding outlet from which the padding material exits said sorter;

a loading device attached to said vehicle of such configuration as to allow scooping up spoils material from the spoils pile on an opposite side of the ditch from the vehicle and dumping spoils material into said sorter;

a conveyor supported by said frame which receives said padding material from said sorter and which transports the padding material into the ditch to a side generally ahead of said motorized vehicle; and

wherein an elevating device vertically moves said frame and sorter relative to said vehicle.

3. A pipeline padding machine according to claim 2, wherein:

the frame is pivotally mounted to the vehicle at an end thereof adjacent said vehicle; and

the elevating device includes at least one hydraulic cylinder having opposite ends thereof attached to said frame and to said vehicle, respectively.

4. A self-propelled pipeline padding machine for traveling alongside an elongate ditch containing a pipeline to be padded, spoils material which was removed from the ditch during digging thereof being in an elongate spoils pile on an opposite side of the ditch, the pipeline padding machine which scoops up and separates padding material from the spoils material, leaving coarser residual material including rocks, and which conveys the padding material into the ditch on top of the pipeline, comprising:

a motor vehicle;

a frame means connected to an end of said vehicle;

a sorter means supported at said end of said vehicle by said frame means which separates padding material from the spoils material leaving courser residual material including rocks, which residual material exits said sorter means at a residual material outlet, and a padding outlet from which the padding material exits said sorter means;

a loading means attached to said vehicle of such configuration as to allow scooping up spoils material from the spoils pile on an opposite side of the ditch from said vehicle and dumping spoils material into said sorter means;

a conveyor means supported by said frame means which receives said padding material from said sorter means and which transports the padding material into the ditch to a side generally ahead of said vehicle; and

wherein said frame means is movably mounted to said vehicle and an elevating means vertically moves said frame means and said sorter means relative to said vehicle, said frame means being pivotally mounted to said vehicle at an end thereof adjacent said vehicle and said elevating means including at least one hydraulic cylinder having opposite ends thereof attached to said frame means and to said vehicle, respectively, and wherein said elevating means includes a cam pivotally connected to said vehicle at an undercarriage thereof, to an end of said hydraulic cylinder, and through a link to said frame means such that movement of said hydraulic cylinder changes the position of said frame means.

5. A self-propelled pipeline padding machine for traveling alongside an elongate ditch containing a pipeline to be padded, spoils material which was removed from the ditch during digging thereof being in an elongate spoils pile on an opposite side of the ditch, the pipeline padding machine which scoops up and separates padding material from the spoils material, leaving coarser residual material including rocks, and which conveys the padding material into the ditch on top of the pipeline, comprising:

a motorized vehicle;

a frame connected to an end of said vehicle;

a wobbler sort supported at said end of said vehicle by said frame which separates padding material from the spoils material leaving coarser residual material including rocks, which residual material exits said sorter at a residual material outlet, and a padding outlet from which the padding material exits said sorter;

a loading device attached to said vehicle of such configuration as to allow scooping up spoils material from the spoils pile on an opposite side of the ditch from the vehicle and dumping spoils material into said sorter; and

a conveyor supported by said frame which receives said padding material from said sorter and which transports the padding material into the ditch to a side generally ahead of said motorized vehicle.

6. A self-propelled pipeline padding machine for traveling alongside an elongate ditch containing a pipeline to be padded, spoils material which was removed from the ditch during digging thereof being in an elongate spoils pile on an opposite side of the ditch, the pipeline padding machine which scoops up and separates padding material from the spoils material, leaving coarser residual material including rocks, and which conveys the padding material into the ditch on top of the pipeline, comprising:

a motorized vehicle;

a frame connected to an end of said vehicle;

a sorter supported at said end of said vehicle by said frame which separates padding material from the spoils material leaving courser residual material including rocks, which residual material exits said sorter at a residual material outlet, and a padding outlet from which the padding material exits said sorter;

a loading device attached to said vehicle of such configuration as to allow scooping up spoils material from the spoils pile on an opposite side of the ditch from the vehicle and dumping spoils material into said sorter, said loading device comprising a rotatable, extendible arm with scooping bucket, which arm is mounted to the vehicle and is hydraulically powered by said vehicle;

a conveyor supported by said frame which receives said padding material from said sorter and which transports the padding material into the ditch to a side generally ahead of said motorized vehicle; and

wherein said vehicle includes a pair of continuous, ground contacting tracks on which said vehicle travels, which tracks are movably mounted to an undercarriage of said vehicle, said residual material outlet deposits the residual material onto a ground surface between said tracks, and said undercarriage and said tracks are extended longitudinally toward said sorter for increased stability of said vehicle.

7. A self-propelled pipeline padding machine for traveling alongside an elongate ditch containing a pipeline to be padded, spoils material which was removed from the ditch during digging thereof being in an elongate spoils pile on an opposite side of the ditch, the pipeline padding machine which scoops up and separates padding material from the spoils material, leaving coarser residual material including rocks, and which conveys the padding material into the ditch on top of the pipeline, comprising:

a motorized vehicle;

a frame connected to an end of said vehicle;

a sorter supported at said end of said vehicle by said frame which separates padding material from the spoils material leaving coarser residual material including rocks, which residual material exits said sorter at a residual material outlet, and a padding outlet from which the padding material exits said sorter;

a loading device attached to said vehicle of such configuration as to allow scooping up spoils material from the spoils pile on an opposite side of the ditch from the vehicle and dumping spoils up material into said sorter, said loading device comprising a rotatable, extendible arm with scooping bucket, which arm is mounted to said vehicle and is hydraulically powered by said vehicle;

a conveyor supported by said frame which receives said padding material from said sorter and which transports the padding material into the ditch to a side generally ahead of said motorized vehicle; and

wherein said vehicle includes a pair of continuous, ground contacting tracks on which said vehicle travels, which tracks are movably mounted to an undercarriage of said vehicle, said residual material outlet which deposits the residual material onto a ground surface between said tracks, said frame being movably mounted to said vehicle, and elevating device moves said frame relative to said vehicle.

8. A self-propelled pipeline padding machine for traveling alongside an elongate ditch containing a pipeline to be padded, spoils material which was removed from the ditch during digging thereof being in an elongate spoils pile on an opposite side of the ditch, the pipeline padding machine which scoops up and separates padding material from the spoils material, leaving coarser residual material including rocks, and which conveys the padding material into the ditch on top of the pipeline, comprising:

a motorized vehicle;

a frame means connected to an end of said vehicle;

a sorter means supported at said end of said vehicle by said frame means which separates padding material from the spoils material leaving coarser residual material including rocks, which residual material exits said sorter means at a residual material outlet, and a padding outlet from which the padding material exits said sorter means;

a loading means attached to said vehicle of such configuration as to allow scooping up spoils material from the spoils pile on an opposite side of the ditch from said vehicle and dumping spoils material into said sorter means;

a conveyor means supported by said frame means which receives said padding material from said sorter means and which transports the padding material into the ditch to a side generally ahead of said vehicle; and

wherein said loading means comprises a rotatable, extendible arm with scooping bucket, which arm is mounted to said vehicle and which is hydraulically powered by said vehicle, said vehicle including a pair of continuous, ground contacting tracks on which said vehicle travels, which tracks are movably mounted to an undercarriage of said vehicle and said residual material outlet deposits the residual material onto a ground surface between said tracks, wherein said frame means is movably mounted to said vehicle and an elevating means moves said frame means relative to said vehicle, and wherein said frame means is pivotally mounted to said vehicle at an end opposite said sorter, and said elevating means includes at least one hydraulic cylinder having opposite ends thereof attached to said frame means and to said vehicle, respectively.

9. A pipeline padding machine according to claim 8, wherein the elevating means includes a cam pivotally connected to the vehicle at an undercarriage thereof, to an end of the hydraulic cylinder, and through a link to the frame means such that movement of said hydraulic cylinder changes the position of said frame means.

10. A self-propelled pipeline padding machine for traveling alongside an elongate ditch containing a pipeline to be padded, spoils material which was removed from the ditch during digging thereof being in an elongate spoils pile on an opposite side of the ditch, the pipeline padding machine which scoops up and separates padding material from the spoils material, leaving coarser residual material including rocks, and which conveys the padding material into the ditch on top of the pipeline, comprising:

a motorized vehicle;

a frame connected to an end of said vehicle;

a wobbler sorter supported at said end of said vehicle by said frame which separates padding material from the spoils material leaving coarser residual material including rocks, which residual material exits said sorter at a residual material outlet, and a padding outlet from which the padding material exits said sorter;

a loading device attached to said vehicle of such configuration as to allow scooping up spoils material from the spoils pile on an opposite said of the ditch from the vehicle and dumping spoils material into said sorter, said loading device comprising a rotatable, extendible arm with scooping bucket, which arm is mounted to said vehicle and is hydraulically powered by said vehicle;

a conveyor supported by said frame which receives said padding material from said sorter and which transports the padding material into the ditch to a side generally ahead of said motorized vehicle; and

wherein said vehicle includes a pair of continuous, ground contacting tracks on which said vehicle travels, which tracks are movably mounted to an undercarriage of said vehicle, said residual material outlet which deposits the residual material onto a ground surface between said tracks.

11. A method for padding pipelines disposed in an elongate ditch with spoils material removed during digging thereof being in an elongate, generally continuous spoils pile or a series of spoils piles alongside the ditch, the method which utilizes a motorized padding machine comprising an excavator having a tracked undercarriage with a rotatable operator cabin and extendible loading arm with a scooping bucket mounted thereto, and having a powered sorter mounted at an end thereof on a frame mounted to an end portion of the excavator, the sorter being for sorting padding material for separate discharge from coarser residual material including rocks having a separate discharge, and a laterally disposed conveyor which conveys padding material from the sorter into the ditch on a pipeline therein ahead of the padding machine, and a residual material outlet for depositing residual material on a ground surface between respective tracks of the padding machine, the method comprising the steps of:

moving the padding machine alongside the ditch on a side thereof opposite a side on which the spoils pile is disposed, traveling generally parallel to the ditch in such a direction wherein the sorter and the conveyor are generally ahead of the excavator;

loading spoils material into the sorter by reaching across the ditch with the extendible loading arm of the excavator, scooping up spoils material from the spoils pile using the scooping bucket, retracting the arm back across the ditch prior to dumping spoils material within the scooping bucket into the sorter, and dumping spoils material within the scooping bucket into the sorter;

separating padding material from spoils material using the sorter and separately discharging the padding material from residual material; and

conveying the padding material discharged from the sorter onto a pipeline within the ditch, wherein due to the mounting of the sorter at the end of the excavator and a direction of travel of the tractor toward the sorter, the excavator being disposed adjacent a portion of the pipeline already covered with padding material rather than an unpadded portion thereof, the scooping bucket of the excavator which remains mostly over and adjacent the padded portion of the pipeline during use rather than the unpadded portion thereof such that any rocks inadvertently dropped from or knocked into the ditch by the scooping bucket fall mostly on the padded portion of the pipeline so as not to damage the pipeline or a coating thereon.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein:

the method is conducted using a pipeline padding machine wherein the sorter is mounted at a front end of the excavator; and

the step of moving the pipeline padding machine alongside the ditch is done in a forward direction.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the method is conducted using a pipeline padding machine wherein the undercarriage and respective tracks of the excavator are extended longitudinally toward the front of the excavator for increased excavator stability.

14. A method according to claim 12, wherein:

the method is conducted using a pipeline padding machine wherein the frame is movably mounted to the vehicle such that the vertical position of the sorter relative to the ground surface on which the pipeline padding machine travels is adjustable; and

further including the step of adjusting the vertical position of the sorter relative to the ground surface by raising and lowering the sorter to provide clearance between the ground surface and the sorter during use thereof.

15. A method according to claim 11, wherein:

the method is conducted using a pipeline padding machine wherein the sorter is mounted on the frame to the excavator in a position generally centered about a longitudinal centerline of the excavator, with the residual material discharge of the sorter also located generally centered about the longitudinal centerline thereof; and

the step of separating padding material from the spoils material using the sorter and separately discharging the padding material and the residual material includes depositing the residual material through the residual material discharge between respective tracks of the excavator.

16. A method for padding pipelines disposed in an elongate ditch with spoils material removed during digging thereof being in an elongate, generally continuous spoils pile or a series of spoils piles alongside the ditch, the method which utilizes a motorized padding machine comprising an excavator having a tracked undercarriage with a rotatable operator cabin and extendible loading arm with a scooping bucket mounted thereto, and having a powered sorter mounted at an end thereof on a frame mounted to an end portion of the excavator, the sorter being for sorting padding material for separate discharge from coarser residual material including rocks having a separate discharge, and a laterally disposed conveyor which conveys padding material from the sorter into the ditch on a pipeline therein ahead of the padding machine, and a residual material outlet for depositing residual material on a ground surface between respective tracks of the padding machine, the method comprising the steps of:

moving the padding machine alongside the ditch on a side thereof opposite a side on which the spoils pile is disposed, travelling generally parallel to the ditch in such a direction wherein the sorter and the conveyor are generally ahead of the excavator;

loading spoils material into the sorter by reaching across the ditch with the extendible loading arm of the excavator, scooping up spoils material from the spoils pile using the scooping bucket, retracting the arm back across the ditch prior to dumping spoils material within the scooping bucket into the sorter, and dumping spoils material within the scooping bucket into the sorter;

separating padding material from spoils material using the sorter and separately discharging the padding material from residual material; and

conveying the padding material discharged from the sorter onto a pipeline within the ditch, wherein due to the mounting of the sorter at the end of the excavator and a direction of travel of the tractor toward the sorter, the excavator being disposed adjacent a portion of the pipeline already covered with padding material rather than an unpadded portion thereof, the scooping bucket of the excavator which remains mostly over and adjacent the padded portion of the pipeline during use rather than the unpadded portion thereof such that any rocks inadvertently dropped from or knocked into the ditch by the scooping bucket fall mostly on the padded portion of the pipeline so as not to damage the pipeline or a coating thereon; and

wherein the method is conducted using a pipeline padding machine wherein the sorter is mounted at a front end of the excavator and the step of moving the pipeline padding machine alongside the ditch is done in a forward direction, the method is conducted using a pipeline padding machine wherein the frame is movably mounted to the vehicle such that the vertical position of the sorter relative to the ground surface on which the pipeline padding machine travels is adjustable and further including the step of adjusting the vertical position of the sorter relative to the ground surface by raising and lowering the sorter to provide clearance between the ground surface and the sorter during use thereof, and wherein the method is conducted using a pipeline padding machine wherein the frame supporting the sorter is pivotally mounted to the excavator at an end thereof adjacent the excavator and the step of adjusting the vertical position of the sorter relative to the ground surface is done by the frame with attached sorter upwardly and downwardly so as to raise and lower the sorter relative to the ground surface.

17. A method for padding pipelines disposed in an elongate ditch with spoils material removed during digging thereof being in an elongate, generally continuous spoils pile or a series of spoils piles alongside the ditch, the method which utilizes a motorized padding machine comprising an excavator having a tracked undercarriage with rotatable operator cabin and extendible loading arm with a scooping bucket mounted thereto, and having a powered sorter mounted at an end thereof on a frame mounted to an end portion of the excavator, the sorter being for sorting padding material for separate discharge from coarser residual material including rocks having a separate discharge, and a laterally disposed conveyor which conveys padding material from the sorter into the ditch on a pipeline therein ahead of the padding machine, and a residual material outlet for depositing residual material on a ground surface between respective tracks of the padding machine, the method comprising the steps of:

moving the padding machine alongside the ditch, traveling generally parallel to the ditch in such a direction wherein the sorter and the conveyor are generally ahead of the excavator;

loading spoils material into the sorter by reaching with the arm of the excavator, scooping up spoils material from the spoils pile using the scoop bucket, retracting the arm, and dumping spoils material within the scooping bucket into the sorter;

separating padding material from spoils material using the sorter and separately discharging the padding material from residual material;

conveying the padding material discharged from the sorter onto a pipeline within the ditch, wherein due to the mounting of the sorter at the end of the excavator and a direction of travel of the tractor toward the sorter, the excavator being disposed adjacent a portion of the pipeline already covered with padding material rather than an unpadded portion thereof, the scooping bucket of the excavator which remains mostly over and adjacent the padded portion of the pipeline during use rather than the unpadded portion thereof such that any rocks inadvertently dropped from or knocked into the ditch by the scooping bucket fall mostly on the padded portion of the pipeline so as not to damage the pipeline or a coating thereon; and

wherein the method is conducted using a pipeline padding machine wherein the sorter is mounted at a front end of the excavator, and the step of moving the pipeline padding machine alongside the ditch is done in a forward direction.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the method is conducted using a pipeline padding machine wherein the undercarriage and respective tracks of the excavator are extended longitudinally toward a front end of the excavator for increased excavator stability.

19. A method for padding pipelines disposed in an elongate ditch with spoils material removed during digging thereof being in an elongate, generally continuous spoils pile or a series of spoils piles alongside the ditch, the method which utilizes a motorized padding machine comprising an excavator having a tracked undercarriage with a rotatable operator cabin and extendible loading arm with a scooping bucket mounted thereto, and having a powered sorter mounted at an end thereof on a frame mounted to an end portion of the excavator, the sorter being for sorting padding material for separate discharge from coarser residual material including rocks having a separate discharge, and a laterally disposed conveyor which conveys padding material from the sorter into the ditch on a pipeline therein ahead of the padding machine, and a residual material outlet for depositing residual material on a ground surface between respective tracks of the padding machine, the method comprising the steps of:

moving the padding machine alongside the ditch, travelling generally parallel to the ditch in such a direction wherein the sorter and the conveyor are generally ahead of the excavator;

loading spoils material into the sorter by reaching with the arm of the excavator, scooping up spoils material from the spoils pile using the scooping bucket, retracting the arm, and dumping spoils material within the scooping bucket into the sorter;

separating padding material from spoils material using the sorter and separately discharging the padding material from residual material; and

conveying the padding material discharged from the sorter onto a pipeline within the ditch, wherein due to the mounting of the sorter at the end of the excavator and a direction of travel of the tractor toward the sorter, the excavator being disposed adjacent a portion of the pipeline already covered with padding material rather than an unpadded portion thereof, the scooping bucket of the excavator which remains mostly over and adjacent the padded portion of the pipeline during use rather than the unpadded portion thereof such that any rocks inadvertently dropped from or knocked into the ditch by the scooping bucket fall mostly on the padded portion of the pipeline so as not to damage the pipeline or a coating thereon; and

wherein the method is conducted using a pipeline padding machine wherein the frame is movably mounted to the excavator such that a vertical position of the sorter relative to the ground surface on which the pipeline padding machine travels is adjustable, and further including the step of adjusting the vertical position of the sorter relative to the ground surface by raising and lowering the sorter to provide clearance between the ground surface and the sorter during the use thereof.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein:

the method is conducted using a pipeline padding machine wherein the frame supporting the sorter is pivotally mounted to the excavator at an end thereof adjacent the excavator; and

the step of adjusting the vertical position of the sorter relative to the ground surface is done by pivoting the frame with attached sorter upwardly and downwardly so as to raise and lower the sorter relative to the ground surface.

21. A method for padding pipelines disposed in an elongate ditch with spoils material removed during digging thereof being in an elongate, generally continuous spoils pile or a series of spoils piles alongside the ditch, an unpadded portion of the pipeline being uncovered and a padded portion of the pipeline being covered with padding material, comprising the steps of:

scooping up spoils material from the spoils pile adjacent the padded portion of the pipeline, moving the spoils material to a sorter, and depositing the spoils material into the sorter by use of an extendible arm having a scooping bucket at an end thereof;

separating padding material from residual material including rocks inside the sorter positioned adjacent the padded portion of the pipeline;

conveying the padding material from the sorter into the ditch on top of the unpadded portion of the pipeline, overlapping the padded portion of the pipeline immediately adjoining the unpadded portion of the pipeline;

wherein the steps are conducted while moving alongside the ditch traveling generally parallel to the ditch in a predetermined direction so as to remain adjacent the padded portion of the pipeline such that rocks which are inadvertently knocked into the ditch primarily land on the padded portion of the pipeline so as to not damage the pipeline and any protective coating thereon; and

wherein all of the steps of the method are conducted using a single pipeline padding machine capable of performing all of the steps, and with the pipeline padding machine on an opposite side of the ditch from a side on which the spoils pile is disposed.

22. A method for padding pipelines disposed in an elongate ditch with spoils material removed during digging thereof being in an elongate, generally continuous spoils pile or a series of spoils piles alongside the ditch, an unpadded portion of the pipeline being uncovered and a padded portion of the pipeline being covered with a padding material, comprising the steps of:

scooping up spoils material from the spoils pile adjacent the padded portion of the pipeline, moving the spoils material to a sorter, and depositing the spoils material into the sorter using an extendible arm having a scooping bucket at an end thereof;

separating padding material from residual material including rocks inside the sorter positioned adjacent the padded portion of the pipeline;

conveying the padding material from the sorter into the ditch on top of the unpadded portion of the pipeline, overlapping the padded portion of the pipeline immediately adjoining the unpadded portion of the pipeline;

wherein the steps are conducted while moving alongside the ditch traveling generally parallel to the ditch in a predetermined direction so as to remain adjacent the padded portion of the pipeline such that rocks which are inadvertently knocked into the ditch primarily land on the padded portion of the pipeline so as not to damage the pipeline and any protective coating thereon, all of the steps of the method are conducted using a single pipeline padding machine capable of performing all of the steps, and further including the step of adjusting a vertical position of the sorter relative to a ground surface by raising and lowering the sorter to provide clearance between the ground surface and the sorter during use thereof.

23. A self-propelled pipeline padding machine for traveling alongside an elongate ditch containing a pipeline to be padded, spoils material which was removed from the ditch during digging thereof being in an elongate spoils pile on an opposite side of the ditch, the pipeline padding machine which scoops up and separates padding material from the spoils material, leaving coarser residual material including rocks, and which conveys the padding material into the ditch on top of the pipeline, comprising:

a motorized vehicle;

a frame connected to an end of said vehicle;

a sorter supported at said end of said vehicle by said frame which separates padding material from the spoils material leaving coarser residual material including rocks, which residual material exits said sorter at a residual material outlet, and a padding outlet from which the padding material exits said sorter;

a loading device attached to said vehicle of such configuration as to allow scooping up spoils material from the spoils pile on an opposite side of the ditch from said vehicle and dumping spoils material into said sorter;

a conveyor supported by said frame which receives said padding material from said sorter and which transports the padding material into the ditch to a side generally ahead of said vehicle; and

wherein said frame is movably mounted to said vehicle and an elevating device vertically moves to said sorter relative to said vehicle, said frame being pivotally mounted to said vehicle at an end thereof adjacent said vehicle and said elevating device including at least one hydraulic cylinder having opposite ends thereof attached to said frame and to said vehicle, respectively, and wherein said elevating device includes a cam pivotally connected to said vehicle at an undercarriage thereof;

to an end of said hydraulic cylinder, and through a link to said frame such that movement of said hydraulic cylinder changes the position of said frame.

24. A self-propelled pipeline padding machine for traveling alongside an elongate ditch containing a pipeline to be padded, spoils material which was removed from the ditch during digging thereof being in an elongate spoils pile on an opposite side of the ditch, the pipeline padding machine which scoops up and separates padding material from the spoils material, leaving coarser residual material including rocks, and which conveys the padding material into the ditch on top of the pipeline, comprising:

a motorized vehicle;

a frame connected to an end of said vehicle;

a sorter supported at end of said vehicle by said frame which separates padding material from the spoils material leaving courser residual material including rocks, which residual material exits said sorter at a residual material outlet, and a padding outlet from which the padding material exits said sorter;

a loading device attached to said vehicle of such configuration as to allow scooping up spoils material from the spoils pile on an opposite side of the ditch from said vehicle and dumping spoils material into said sorter;

a conveyor supported by said frame which receives said padding material from said sorter and which transports the padding material into the ditch to a side generally ahead of said vehicle; and

wherein said loading device comprises a rotatable, extendible arm with scooping bucket, which arm is mounted to said vehicle and which is hydraulically powered by said vehicle, said vehicle including a pair of continuous, ground contacting tracks on which said vehicle travels, which tracks are movably mounted to an undercarriage of said vehicle and said residual material outlet deposits the residual material onto a ground surface between said tracks, wherein said frame is movably mounted to said vehicle and an elevating device moves said frame relative to said vehicle, and wherein said frame is pivotally mounted to said vehicle at an end opposite said sorter, and said elevating device includes at least one hydraulic cylinder having opposite ends thereof attached to said frame and to said vehicle, respectively.

25. A pipeline padding machine according to claim 24, wherein the elevating device includes a cam pivotally connected to the vehicle at an undercarriage thereof, to an end of the hydraulic cylinder, and through a link to the frame such that movement of said hydraulic cylinder changes the position of said frame.

26. A method for padding pipelines disposed in an elongate ditch with spoils material removed during digging thereof being in an elongate, generally continuous spoils pile or a series of spoils piles alongside the ditch, the method which utilizes a motorized padding machine comprising an excavator having a tracked undercarriage with a rotatable operator cabin and extendible loading arm with a scooping bucket mounted thereto, and having a powered sorter mounted at an end thereof on a frame mounted to an end portion of the excavator, the sorter being for sorting padding material for separate discharge from coarser residual material including rocks having a separate discharge, and a laterally disposed conveyor which conveys padding material from the sorter into the ditch on a pipeline therein ahead of the padding machine, and a residual material outlet for depositing residual material on a ground surface between respective tracks of the padding machine, the method comprising the steps of:

moving the padding machine alongside the ditch on a side thereof opposite a side on which spoils pile is disposed, traveling generally parallel to the ditch in such a direction wherein the sorter and the conveyor are generally ahead of the excavator.

loading spoils material into the sorter by reaching across the ditch with the extendible loading arm of the excavator, scooping up spoils material form the spoils pile using the scooping bucket, retracting the arm back across the ditch prior to dumping spoils material within the scooping bucket into the sorter, and dumping spoils material within the scooping bucket into the sorter;

separating padding material from spoils material using the sorter and separately discharging the padding material from residual material;

conveying the padding material discharged from the sorter onto a pipeline within the ditch, wherein due to the mounting of the sorter at the end of the excavator and a direction of travel of the tractor toward the sorter, the excavator being disposed adjacent a portion of the pipeline already covered with padding material rather than an unpadded portion thereof, the scooping bucket of the excavator which remains mostly over and adjacent the padded portion of the pipeline during use rather than the unpadded portion thereof such that any rocks inadvertently dropped from or knocked into the ditch by the scooping bucket fall mostly on the padded portion of the pipeline so as not to damage the pipeline or a coating thereon; and

wherein the method is conducted using a pipeline padding machine wherein the sorter is mounted at a front end of the excavator and the step of moving the pipeline padding machine alongside the ditch is done in a forward direction, the method is conducted using a pipeline padding machine wherein the frame is movably mounted to the vehicle such that the vertical position of the sorter relative to the ground surface on which the pipeline padding machine traveling adjustable and further including the step of adjusting the vertical position of the sorter relative to the ground surface by raising and lowering the sorter to provide clearance between the ground surface and the sorter during use thereof, and wherein the method is conducted using a pipeline padding machine wherein the frame supporting the sorter is pivotally mounted to the excavator at an end thereof adjacent the excavator and the step of adjusting the vertical position of the sorter relative to the ground surface is done by pivoting the frame with attached sorter upwardly and downwardly so as to raise and lower the sorter relative to the ground surface.