Excavating – Peat excavators
Patent
1991-07-23
1993-05-25
Reese, Randolph A.
Excavating
Peat excavators
37 86, 37191A, 299 82, 299 85, E02F 506
Patent
active
052128954
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to retractable excavator cutting tooth apparatus.
This invention has particular but not exclusive application to retractable excavator cutting tooth apparatus for use on trenching apparatus utilised for the excavation of linear trenches, and for illustrative purposes reference will be made to such application. However, it is to be understood that this invention could be used in other applications, such as cutting slots and in block excavations.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Trenching excavators typically utilise cutting teeth mounted on a chain or belt passing along a trenching arm to cut along an advancing face of the trench. The chain runs out of the excavation along the advancing face of the trench, and returns to its starting point through the previously-excavated part of the trench. The width of the trench produced is governed by the width of the cutter assembly mounted along the chain, and the return strand is thus a neat fit within the previously-excavated part of the trench. There is thus the inevitability of contact between the return strand and the sides of the trench, with consequent parasitic power consumption, cutter wear and damage to the trench faces. These problems are exacerbated if the trenching arm must be rotated within the trench to correct the trench alignment, or to cut a curved trench.
The present invention aims to alleviate the above disadvantages and to provide trenching apparatus which will be reliable and efficient in use. Other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter become apparent.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
With the foregoing and other objects in view, this invention in one aspect resides broadly in retractable excavator cutting tooth apparatus having teeth mounted on a carrier for advancement through material to be cut, said cutting apparatus including:
a carrier;
a tooth mounting assembly on said carrier whereby a tooth may be mounted on said carrier for movement between an extended position and a stowed position;
a tooth supported by said mounting assembly, and
holding means for operatively maintaining the tooth in its extended position. Preferably the carrier is an endless carrier such as an endless belt or chain supported on support means having spaced guide wheels or sprockets around which the endless carrier extends. The tooth mounting assembly may support the tooth for sliding movement between the extended and stowed positions.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the tooth mounting assembly is in the form of a pivot assembly which supports the tooth for movement about a pivot axis between an extended or operative position in which the tooth overhangs the side of said carrier and a stowed position in which tooth does not overhang the side of said carrier and whereby a trench wider than the width of said carrier may be excavated. The pivot axis about which the tooth pivots may be oriented in any desired direction. For instance, the pivot axis may be inclined at a significant angle to the direction of travel of the cutting belt such that the cutting tooth may be held in the operative position by cutting forces, and whereby the cutting tooth may be moved to the stowed position by centrifugal force as the endless carrier belt passes around a tail pulley. Alternatively, the pivot axis may be disposed parallel to the direction of travel of the cutting belt such that the torque applied to pivot by the cutting forces may be minimised.
The holding means may be a rail which the tooth follows and which holds the tooth in its extended position during the movement along the advancing face of the material being cut. Alternatively, the holding means may be constituted by locking means which locks the tooth in its extended position and/or the stowed position. Suitably, the locking means is in the form of spring/ball detentes engageable with recesses. Of course, if desired, other locking means, such as frictional locking means may be provided, or the cutting tooth may be shaped such that cutting forces bias it i
REFERENCES:
patent: 1343081 (1920-06-01), Hammen
patent: 1501621 (1924-07-01), Ronning et al.
patent: 1723462 (1929-08-01), Boettcher
patent: 3319364 (1967-05-01), Evans
patent: 4306363 (1981-12-01), Greene et al.
patent: 4834197 (1989-05-01), Bauer et al.
Foundation Technology Limited
Olsen Arlen L.
Reese Randolph A.
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