Padding machine and method of use

• US 7,186,059 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2003
• Issued: 03/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tommy Barnes
• Original Assignee: Tommy Barnes
• Inventors: Barnes, Tommy
• Primary Examiner(s): Will; Thomas B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAYO-PINNOCK, TARA LEIGH
• Application Number:
  US10/421,641
• Publication Number:
  US 20040211092A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,414 Days
• Field of Search: 405/174, 405/179, 371/425, 241/101.742, 241/101.763, 241/101.77
• US Class Current: 405/175
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/20 with tools that only loosen the material , i.e. mill-type wheels
• 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 7/06 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
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/028 with arrangements for levelling the machine hydraulic drives therefor E02F9/2257
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2004 Control mechanisms, e.g. control levers control levers per se G05G
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/205 Remotely operated machines, e.g. unmanned vehicles E02F3/8866 takes precedence

Abstract

An integrated padding machine that incorporates a front digging auger that is preferably mechanically as opposed to hydraulically powered, which in conjunction with a breaker bar assembly provides for digging and crushing capabilities, and that incorporates several other improvements and advances, including screen and cross-pass conveyor level control, a real-time padding level monitoring system, and an assistant'"'"'s control module, improved controls, dust control, and cold weather padding, and methods of using the machine.

Claims

1. A padding device for separating the fines from the spoil pile adjacent a trench and returning the fines to the trench, the device comprising:

a. a vehicle;

b. a digging auger attached to the front of said vehicle and designed and constructed to come into contact with the spoil pile or the ground beneath it, or both;

c. an up conveyor attached to said vehicle behind said digging auger;

d. a screen and cross conveyor frame rotatably attached to said vehicle for housing a screen assembly and a cross conveyor;

e. a screen assembly attached to said frame;

f. a cross-pass conveyor attached to said frame; and

g. means for rotating said frame so that the screen assembly and cross-pass conveyor remain at their preferred orientation relative to the horizontal when the vehicle traverses up slopes and down slopes.

2. The invention of claim 1 in which said means for rotating said frame comprise hydraulic means.

3. The invention of claim 1 in which said means for rotating said frame comprise mechanical means.

4. The invention of claim 1 further comprising electronic sensing means that sense whether the vehicle is on level ground or an up-slope or down-slope, and adjusting means that change the orientation of the screening assembly and the cross-conveyor to maintain them in the desired orientation relative to horizontal so as to optimize the amount of fines that are extracted from the dirt and other material that is delivered to the screening assembly.

5. A padding device for separating the fines from the spoil pile adjacent a trench and returning the fines to the trench, the device comprising:

a. a vehicle;

b. an up conveyor attached to the vehicle;

c. a screen and cross-pass conveyor frame rotatably attached to the vehicle for housing a screen assembly and a cross-pass conveyor;

d. a screen assembly attached to the frame;

e. a cross-pass conveyor attached to the frame; and

f. means for rotating said frame so that the screen assembly and cross-pass conveyor remain at their preferred orientation relative to the horizontal when the vehicle traverses up slopes and down slopes.

6. The invention of claim 5 in which said means for rotating the frame comprise hydraulic means.

7. The invention of claim 6 in which said hydraulic means comprise hydraulically operated and controlled extendable pistons attached at one end thereof to the vehicle and at the other end thereof to the frame.

8. The invention of claim 5 in which said means for rotating the frame comprise mechanical means.

9. The invention of claim 5 in which said means for rotating the frame comprise electro/mechanical means.

10. The invention of claim 5 further comprising electronic sensing means that sense whether the vehicle is on level ground or an up-slope or down-slope, and adjusting means that change the orientation of the screening assembly and the cross-conveyor to maintain them in the desired orientation relative to horizontal so as to optimize the amount of fines that are extracted from the dirt and other material that is delivered to the screening assembly.