Material separating apparatus and method for using same

• US 6,718,659 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2002
• Issued: 04/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HTB Limited
• Original Assignee: HTB Limited
• Inventors: Barnes, Houston T., Foutz, Steve E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Will, Thomas B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fiorio, Kristine
• Application Number:
  US10/242,896
• Publication Number:
  US 20030014885A1
• Time in Patent Office: 580 Days
• Field of Search: 371/425, 209/325, 209/326, 209/331, 209/332, 209/365.1, 209/366, 209/366.5, 209/367, 209/421
• US Class Current: 37/142.5
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 1/005 Transportable screening plants
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 1/46 Constructional details of screens in general; Cleaning or heating of screens
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/405 using vibrating means blades or levelling tools with vibrating teeth E02F3/8155; vibrating rippers E02F5/326
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/407 with ejecting or other unloading device
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 5/226 with means for processing the soil, e.g. screening belts, separators; Padding machines
• 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 separating device and method for padding pipelines which attaches to a bucket and has a bottom support with sloping walls for directing the padding material. A shaker assembly having a screen a vibrator assembly is mounted on the bottom support, wherein at least one resilient mount is used to mount the shaker assembly to the bottom support.

Claims

1. An apparatus, attachable to a boom of an earth moving vehicle, for placing padding material comprising:

a support frame, said support frame comprising at least one sloping wall for directing the padding material;

a shaker assembly mounted to said support frame, said shaker assembly comprising a screen and a vibrator assembly mounted on the exit side of said shaker assembly for vibrating said shaker assembly, said vibrator assembly comprising a vibrator mechanism which optionally comprises a hydraulic motor for rotating an eccentric shaft;

at least one resilient mount for mounting said shaker assembly to said support frame; and

wherein said shaker assembly further comprises a shield for shielding said vibrator mechanism.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support frame further comprises at least two sloping walls for directing padding material through an opening.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said shield comprises a concave cross-section.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support frame is disposed below said shaker frame.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support frame is mounted to a bucket, said bucket comprising a substantially open bottom.

6. An apparatus, attachable to a boom of an earth moving vehicle, for placing padding material comprising:

a support frame;

at least one sloping wall for directing the padding material, said at least one sloping wall mounted to said support frame;

a shaker assembly mounted to said support frame, said shaker assembly comprising a screen and a vibrating assembly mounted on the exit side of said shaker assembly for vibrating said shaker assembly, said vibrator assembly comprising a vibrator mechanism which optionally comprises a hydraulic motor for rotating an eccentric shaft;

at least one resilient mount for mounting said shaker assembly to said support frame; and

wherein said shaker assembly further comprises a shield for shielding said vibrator mechanism.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said shield comprises a concave cross-section.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said support frame is disposed below said shaker frame.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said support frame is mounted to a bucket, said bucket comprising a substantially open bottom.

10. A method of padding a trench comprising the steps of:

attaching a bucket comprising a substantially open bottom to a tractor wherein the bucket comprises a padding apparatus that comprises a support frame mounted to the bucket, the support frame having at least two sloping walls for directing material;

a shaker assembly mounted to the support frame, the shaker assembly comprising a screen and a vibrating assembly mounted on the exit side of the shaker assembly for vibrating the shaker assembly, the vibrating assembly comprising a vibrator mechanism, and the shaker assembly further comprising a shield for shielding said vibrator mechanism; and

at least one resilient mount for mounting the shaker assembly to said support frame;

loading material in the bucket;

positioning the bucket above the trench;

activating the vibrator assembly to facilitate segregation of material and thereby allow padding material to exit the bucket and enter the trench; and

optionally tilting the apparatus fore or aft to better direct padding material into the trench.