Infiltration trench filler system and method

• US 8,734,050 B1
• Filed: 08/05/2013
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Craig Mercier
• Original Assignee: Craig Mercier
• Inventors: Mercier, Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): HARTMANN, GARY S
• Application Number:
  US13/959,290
• Time in Patent Office: 295 Days
• Field of Search: 404/101, 404/105, 404/106, 404/108, 404/109, 371/425, 405/179, 198/312
• US Class Current: 404/109
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 5/223 for back-filling in association with trench excavators E02F5/12

Abstract

A system and method are provided for depositing fragmentized stonework material in layers within a drainage trench extending alongside a roadway. The system includes a mobile platform, a dispensing arm portion, an actuating portion and a controller. The mobile platform defines a storage compartment for intermediately storing the fragmentized stonework material received from a predetermined source. The dispensing arm portion is coupled to extend transversely from the storage compartment and is selectively activated to convey and expel the fragmentized stonework material from the storage compartment into the drainage trench. The actuating portion couples the dispensing arm portion to the mobile platform in angularly displaceable manner. The is controller coupled to selectively activate the actuating portion and thereby adjust the dispensing arm portion in angular position relative to the storage compartment to maintain substantially even distribution of the fragmentized stonework material in the drainage trench.

Claims

1. A system for depositing fragmentized stonework material in layers within a drainage trench extending alongside a roadway comprising:

a mobile platform defining a storage compartment for intermediately storing the fragmentized stonework material received from a predetermined source;

a dispensing arm portion coupled to extend transversely from said storage compartment, said dispensing arm portion being selectively activated to convey and expel the fragmentized stonework material from said storage compartment into the drainage trench;

an actuating portion coupling said dispensing arm portion to said mobile platform in angularly displaceable manner; and

,

a controller coupled to selectively activate said actuating portion and thereby adjust said dispensing arm portion in angular position relative to said storage compartment to maintain substantially even distribution of the fragmentized stonework material in the drainage trench,

wherein said actuating portion includes a stabilizing arm extending between said dispensing arm portion and said mobile platform, said stabilizing arm being reconfigurable in length to actuate the angular displacement therebetween; and

,

wherein said mobile platform includes a hopper portion rotatably coupled to a track portion, said hopper portion defining said storage compartment, said dispensing arm portion being coupled to an opening formed in said hopper portion to be angularly displaceable thereabout.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said dispensing arm portion defines an elongate chute, said dispensing arm portion including an automated conveyor mechanism to transport the fragmentized stonework material through said chute.

3. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein said automated conveyor mechanism includes a looped conveyor belt selectively driven to adjustably propel the fragmentized stonework material from said chute.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said mobile platform is selectively displaced along the drainage trench during activation of said dispensing arm portion, said controller selectively controlling the angular displacement of said dispensing arm portion in coordination with the displacement of the mobile platform and rotation of said hopper portionfor depositing a substantially even layer of the fragmentized stonework material being along the drainage trench.

5. A method for successively depositing layers of respective fragmentized stonework materials to form a multi-layered infiltration structure within a drainage trench extending alongside a roadway, the method comprising:

establishing mobile platform defining a storage compartment for intermediately storing the fragmentized stonework material for one layer received from a predetermined source;

establishing a dispensing arm portion coupled to extend transversely from said storage compartment, said dispensing arm portion being selectively activated to convey and expel the fragmentized stonework material from said storage compartment into the drainage trench.;

establishing an actuating portion coupling said dispensing arm portion to said mobile platform in angularly displaceable manner; and

,

controlling said actuating portion to adjust said dispensing arm portion in angular position relative to said storage compartment to maintain substantially even distribution of the fragmentized stonework material within each layer of the infiltration structure,

wherein said dispensing arm portion is activated to adjustably propel the fragmentized stonework material into the drainage trench; and

,

wherein said mobile platform is selectively displaced along the drainage trench during activation of said dispensing arm portion, said controller selectively controlling the angular displacement of said dispensing arm portion in coordination with the displacement of the mobile platform and a rotation of said storage compartment, a substantially even layer of the fragmentized stonework material being thereby deposited along the drainage trench.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein said predetermined source includes a plurality of load vehicles, each of said load vehicles being activated to successively haul loads of the fragmentized stonework material to said mobile platform for replenishing said storage compartment, said mobile platform being detachably coupled to at least one of said load vehicles to be hauled thereby for displacement along the drainage trench during activation of said dispensing arm portion.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, further comprising releasably securing at least one stabilization cable between a terminal end section of said dispensing arm portion and a support structure.