Excavating – Ditcher – Plow
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-11
2001-11-20
Novosad, Christopher J. (Department: 3671)
Excavating
Ditcher
Plow
C172S681000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06318006
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a plow trenching apparatus for tools attached to a carrier vehicle, such as a mini tractor of the skid steer type. Examples of tools are drainage tubing plows or cable laying plows, i.e. tools used for laying tubing or cable in one operation (without having to dig a trench, lay the tubing/cable and then fill the trench). More specifically, the trenching apparatus makes it possible to perform trenching operations with a mini tractor by pushing the tool, i.e. the mini tractor travelling in a forward direction.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the past, different approaches have been tried to perform the trenching and cable/pipe laying operations in one operation. Cable plow equipment is shown in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,496,135, 3,746,100, 5,482,121, 4,164,982, 4,140,425, 4,867,607, 5,743,675, 5,108,229, 5,827,013, 4,397,585, 4,629,363 and 5,190,409. A common characteristic of all the devices shown in these documents is that the tool is either permanently attached to a vehicle or attached to the rear of a vehicle, and both types are pulled behind the vehicle. This means that either the vehicle is backing up during operation, if the tool is attached to the front of the vehicle, or the tool is attached to a special tool holder arranged at the rear of the vehicle. In both instances, the vehicle operator has problems viewing either the ground in front of the vehicle or the tool during its plowing action.
An especially beneficial arrangement of an adjustable blade holder is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,141. The plow is held in a holder which is pivotably arranged on arms attached to a vehicle. The plow is movable in the vertical direction with regard to the holder using, for example, a hydraulic cylinder. In this way, the position of the plow blade can be adjusted relative the holder to effectively change the depth of the plow cut in the soil.
A trenching plow having replaceable tip wear components is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,119,888.
Small skid steer loader vehicles are known and used where a lightweight and compact vehicle is necessary. The loader arms of this type of vehicle have a tool mount for accepting different types of tools, for example scraper blades, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,529,131, or a trench vibratory compactor, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,526,590. Neither of these implements are suitable for plow cable/pipe laying.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a plow cable/pipe laying apparatus, which is suitable for mounting on and operating with a skid steer loader vehicle.
A further object of the invention is to provide a plow cable/pipe laying apparatus, which is suitable for operating with a skid steer loader vehicle travelling in its forward direction having the plow cable/pipe laying apparatus attached to the loader arms of the vehicle, thus pushing the plow of the apparatus.
It is a still further object of the invention to provide a plow cable/pipe laying apparatus, which is suitable for operating with a skid steer loader vehicle travelling in its backing up direction having the plow cable/pipe laying apparatus attached to the loader arms of the vehicle, thus pulling the plow of the apparatus, using the same apparatus as for pushing the plow, but pivoted 180 degrees.
Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a plow cable/pipe laying apparatus, which allows the individual adjustment of the plow blade in the vertical direction.
Another object of the invention is to provide a plow cable/pipe laying apparatus, which has a vibration means for vibrating the plow during operation of the apparatus.
In the invention, a plow trenching apparatus for a vehicle is described. The vehicle has a raisable boom structure at a front area thereof, and is for example a skid steer vehicle. The vehicle has a forward driving direction and a backward driving direction.
The plow trenching apparatus has an arm with a proximal end pivotally mounted to the boom structure to extend forwardly and sidewardly relative to the vehicle. A trenching plow is pivotally mounted at a distal end of the arm, to the end rearwardly and downwardly therefrom. The plow is preferably mounted to a plow mount via a plow pivot means at the distal end. A biasing means is mounted between the arm and the boom structure, the biasing means being extendable and retractable to thereby control the position of the trenching plow relative to the vehicle.
The plow is preferably attachable to a tool mount of the boom structure, the arm having an arm mount at the proximal end. The arm mount is attachable to the tool mount via an arm pivot means, the biasing means being attached to the tool mount via a biasing means attachment means and attached to the arm via an arm pivoting attachment arranged on the arm.
The arm thus extends forwards and sideways, with respect to a forward driving direction of the vehicle, from the arm mount.
The arm is preferably a curved arm. Examples of arm shapes are a substantially J-shaped curved arm, with the free end of the curved portion of the J forming the distal end, a substantially L-shaped curved arm, with the free end of the short shank of the L forming the distal end, a substantially U-shaped curved arm, with the cross-bar arranged at the distal end and a substantially V-shaped curved arm, with the joining of the shanks forming the distal end.
Alternatively, a substantially straight arm may be used.
The arm mount advantageously mounts to the tool mount via a tool mount coupler, and the biasing means attachment means is advantageously arranged on the tool mount coupler.
Advantageously, the plow is held by a plow holder attachable to the distal end, the plow holder permitting the plow to pivot horizontally.
The plow holder preferably comprises a plow pivot means attachable to the plow holder mount for permitting the plow holder to pivot horizontally, and a plow mounting means attachable to the plow pivot means, the plow being attachable to the plow mounting means.
A vibration means is advantageously attachable to the plow, to provide ground penetration enhancing vibrations to the plow.
To dampen vibrations travelling from the plow to the arm, an elastic element is advantageously arranged between the plow pivot means and the distal end of the arm, alternatively between the arm mount and the tool mount.
When using a J-shaped arm, the curved arm preferably has a first straight part, a second straight part and a third straight part, and the first straight part is arranged at a first angle to the second straight part, and the second straight part is arranged at a second angle to the third straight part, the arm mount being arranged at a free end of the first straight part and the plow being arranged at a free end of the third straight part.
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Armstrong R. Craig
Novosad Christopher J.
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