Pipeline padding machine

• US 20070000156A1
• Filed: 06/29/2005
• Published: 01/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Worldwide Machinery Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Worldwide Machinery Incorporated
• Inventors: Greenberg, Evan, Grassi, Giordano
• Granted Patent: US 7,886,463 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 37/142.500
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 5/226 with means for processing the soil, e.g. screening belts, separators; Padding machines

Abstract

A pipeline padding machine includes two control station locations. One location is for controlling operation of the machine while the machine is operated on one side of a ditch, and the other location is for controlling operation of the machine while the machine is operated on an opposite side of the ditch. Another pipeline padding machine includes a material escalator assembly for elevating material, and a material conditioning assembly for conditioning the material. Another pipeline padding machine includes a main frame attached to a transport assembly for transporting the machine, a material escalator assembly for elevating material, and a cutting edge for cutting through the material prior to the material being elevated by the escalator assembly. The escalator assembly is pivotable relative to the main frame, and the cutting edge is pivotable relative to the escalator assembly.

Claims

1. A pipeline padding machine, comprising:

a first control station location for controlling operation of the machine while the machine is operated on a first lateral side of a ditch; and

a second control station location for controlling operation of the machine while the machine is operated on a second lateral side of the ditch.

2. The pipeline padding machine of claim 1, wherein the first and second control station locations are laterally separated relative to a longitudinal axis of the machine.

3. The pipeline padding machine of claim 1, wherein the first control station location permits an operator when positioned at the first control station location to view the ditch while the machine is operated on the first side of the ditch, and wherein the second control station location permits the operator when positioned at the second control station location to view the ditch while the machine is operated on the second side of the ditch.

4. The pipeline padding machine of claim 1, wherein a first set of one or more control devices are positioned at the first control station location, and a second set of one or more control devices are positioned at the second control station location.

5. The pipeline padding machine of claim 4, wherein a machine operation controlled by the first set of control devices at the first control station location is the same as a machine operation controlled by the second set of control devices at the second control station location.

6. The pipeline padding machine of claim 1, further comprising a set of one or more control devices positionable alternately at the first control station location and at the second control station location.

7. The pipeline padding machine of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second control station locations are positioned within an enclosed cab.

8. The pipeline padding machine of claim 7, wherein an interior of the cab is climate controlled.

9. The pipeline padding machine of claim 1, wherein the first and second control station locations are pivotable with a material escalator assembly relative to a main frame of the pipeline padding machine.

10. A pipeline padding machine, comprising:

a material escalator assembly for elevating material; and

a material conditioning assembly for conditioning the material.

11. The pipeline padding machine of claim 10, wherein the material conditioning assembly conditions the material prior to the material being elevated by the material escalator assembly.

12. The pipeline padding machine of claim 10, wherein the material conditioning assembly conditions the material by sweeping the material proximate the material escalator assembly.

13. The pipeline padding machine of claim 10, wherein the material conditioning assembly conditions the material by breaking up the material.

14. The pipeline padding machine of claim 10, wherein the material conditioning assembly conditions the material by cracking ice in the material.

15. The pipeline padding machine of claim 10, wherein the material conditioning assembly conditions the material by reducing a size of portions of the material.

16. The pipeline padding machine of claim 10, further comprising a cutting edge for cutting through the material prior to the material being elevated by the escalator assembly, the cutting edge being pivotable relative to the escalator assembly.

17. The pipeline padding machine of claim 10, further comprising a cutting edge for cutting through the material prior to the material being elevated by the escalator assembly, and side walls for funneling the material toward the escalator assembly, the side walls being vertically adjustable relative to the escalator assembly.

18. The pipeline padding machine of claim 10, wherein the escalator assembly includes a flight having multiple movable sections, at least one of the flight sections including a recess which is concave in a direction of movement of the flight sections while the material is being elevated by the flight sections.

19. The pipeline padding machine of claim 10, wherein the escalator assembly includes a flight having multiple movable sections, each of the flight sections having opposite lateral sides, and at least one of the flight sections having a shape which directs the material away from the lateral sides.

20. A pipeline padding machine, comprising:

a material escalator assembly for elevating material; and

a cutting edge for cutting through the material prior to the material being elevated by the escalator assembly, the cutting edge being pivotable relative to the escalator assembly.

21. The pipeline padding machine of claim 20, further comprising side walls for funneling the material toward the escalator assembly, the side walls being vertically adjustable relative to the escalator assembly.

22. The pipeline padding machine of claim 20, wherein the escalator assembly includes a flight having multiple movable sections, at least one of the flight sections including a recess which is concave in a direction of movement of the flight sections while the material is being elevated by the flight sections.

23. The pipeline padding machine of claim 20, wherein the escalator assembly includes a flight having multiple movable sections, each of the flight sections having opposite lateral sides, and at least one of the flight sections having a shape which directs the material away from the lateral sides.

24. The pipeline padding machine of claim 20, further comprising a material conditioning assembly for conditioning the material.

25. The pipeline padding machine of claim 24, wherein the material conditioning assembly conditions the material prior to the material being elevated by the escalator assembly.

26. The pipeline padding machine of claim 20, further comprising a first control station location for controlling operation of the machine while the machine is operated on a first lateral side of a ditch, and a second control station location for controlling operation of the machine while the machine is operated on a second lateral side of the ditch.

27. The pipeline padding machine of claim 26, wherein the first and second control station locations are laterally separated relative to a longitudinal axis of the machine.

28. The pipeline padding machine of claim 26, wherein the first control station location permits an operator when positioned at the first control station location to view the ditch while the machine is operated on the first side of the ditch, and wherein the second control station location permits the operator when positioned at the second control station location to view the ditch while the machine is operated on the second side of the ditch.

29. The pipeline padding machine of claim 20, further comprising a main frame attached to a transport assembly for transporting the machine, the escalator assembly being pivotable relative to the main frame.

30. A pipeline padding machine, comprising:

a material escalator assembly for elevating material; and

side walls for funneling the material toward the escalator assembly, the side walls being vertically adjustable relative to the escalator assembly.

31. The pipeline padding machine of claim 30, further comprising a cutting edge for cutting through the material prior to the material being elevated by the escalator assembly, the cutting edge being pivotable relative to the escalator assembly.

32. The pipeline padding machine of claim 30, wherein the escalator assembly includes a flight having multiple movable sections, at least one of the flight sections including a recess which is concave in a direction of movement of the flight sections while the material is being elevated by the flight sections.

33. The pipeline padding machine of claim 30, wherein the escalator assembly includes a flight having multiple movable sections, each of the flight sections having opposite lateral sides, and at least one of the flight sections having a shape which directs the material away from the lateral sides.

34. The pipeline padding machine of claim 30, further comprising a material conditioning assembly for conditioning the material.

35. The pipeline padding machine of claim 34, wherein the material conditioning assembly conditions the material prior to the material being elevated by the escalator assembly.

36. The pipeline padding machine of claim 30, further comprising a first control station location for controlling operation of the machine while the machine is operated on a first lateral side of a ditch, and a second control station location for controlling operation of the machine while the machine is operated on a second lateral side of the ditch.

37. The pipeline padding machine of claim 36, wherein the first and second control station locations are laterally separated relative to a longitudinal axis of the machine.

38. The pipeline padding machine of claim 36, wherein the first control station location permits an operator when positioned at the first control station location to view the ditch while the machine is operated on the first side of the ditch, and wherein the second control station location permits the operator when positioned at the second control station location to view the ditch while the machine is operated on the second side of the ditch.

39. The pipeline padding machine of claim 30, further comprising a main frame attached to a transport assembly for transporting the machine, the escalator assembly being pivotable relative to the main frame.