Excavating – Ditcher – Having endless digger
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-01
2001-06-26
Batson, Victor (Department: 3671)
Excavating
Ditcher
Having endless digger
Reexamination Certificate
active
06249993
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates generally to a trencher assembly and more particularly to the direct drive of the trencher assembly via a motor for improved functionality and simpler overall design.
BACKGROUND ART
Present work machines, such as skid steer loaders and the like, utilize various implements, such as hydraulically operated trencher assembly. Typically, the trencher assembly has a digging boom connected to the machine for pivotal movement. A digging chain is rotatably mounted on the boom and driven for digging in the ground, and an auger is provided which disperses the spoil that is dug during the trenching operation to the sides of the trench.
A problem with known trencher assemblies relates to the complexity of the drive trains for the digging chain and spoil dispersing auger. Generally, the drive assembly for the chain and auger are separate and include a plurality of sprockets, belts, chains, drive shafts, and the like. The drive assemblies are complex and, in some instances, uncovered which permits dirt and debris to enter between the moving parts thereby causing jamming or failure of the various external bearings. Therefore, there is a need for an improved drive train assembly for the digging chain and spoil dispersing auger of the trencher assembly which is compact and fully covered to prevent the entry of debris and the like into the moving parts.
An approach for improving the drive train assembly is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,327,508 issued to Stephen A. Youngers on May 4, 1982. This patent utilizes a trenching machine with a totally enclosed drive train assembly for the digging chain drive sprocket and spoil dispersing auger. The drive train assembly is totally enclosed and includes a hydraulic motor, a rotatable drive sprocket-hub subassembly, a planetary gearbox, and a boom lift casting. The planetary gearbox and hydraulic motor are mounted on opposite sides of the boom lift casting, and are drivingly interconnected by a drive shaft that passes through the casting. The digging chain drive sprocket subassembly is rotatably mounted by bearings within a hub on the boom lift casting adjacent the planetary gearbox. The digging chain drive sprocket assembly includes a sprocket that is connected to the planetary gearbox through the hub. Additionally, an auger is connected to the gearbox opposite the digging chain drive sprocket assembly. Therefore, the digging chain drive sprocket assembly and auger are driven in unison by the hydraulic motor through the rotation of the gearbox. The separation of the hydraulic motor from the planetary gearbox increase the complexity of this design. This is most evident by the separate hub and sprocket of the digging chain drive sprocket subassembly. The hub includes the bearings to drive the digging chain drive sprocket and the sprocket is interconnected with the hub to drive a respective digging chain. The usage of a separate sprocket and hub and, further, the usage of the bearing within the hub increase the components required to drive the trencher. Therefore, it is desired that a totally enclosed drive train assembly be provided with a simple design that reduces components. Further, the design should directly drive both the digging chain drive sprocket assembly and auger from the motor to increase the compactness of the design.
The present invention is directed to overcoming the problems as set forth above.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the present invention, a trencher assembly comprises a frame. A boom arm is connected on the frame. A motor is connected on the frame and has a rotatable shaft. A sprocket is connected on the shaft of the motor. The sprocket is directly driven by the motor through the rotation of the shaft. A digging chain is connected between the boom arm and the sprocket and is driven by the rotation of the sprocket. An auger assembly is connected to the sprocket for rotation therewith in unison with the digging chain.
In another aspect of the present invention, a trencher assembly has a pivotable boom arm connected to a work machine, a digging chain rotatably connected on the boom arm, and an auger assembly. The trencher assembly comprises an enclosed drive train assembly. The drive train assembly includes a motor with a rotatable shaft and a sprocket for simultaneously driving the digging chain and auger assembly in unison. The sprocket is connected on the shaft of the motor and is directly driven by the motor through the rotation of the shaft. The sprocket includes a gear portion and a hub portion integral with the gear portion.
The present invention includes a trencher assembly with a motor that directly drives a sprocket through the rotation of a shaft of the motor. The rotation of the sprocket drives both a digging chain and an auger assembly. The ability to use a motor to directly drive the sprocket decreases the components necessary for the drive train of the trencher assembly. The reduction in components promotes a compact trencher assembly. This occurs because the sprocket is able to drive both the digging chain and auger through the transfer of driving forces from the motor without any intermediate gearing, belts, rotating support structure, and the like.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2710466 (1955-06-01), Chartier
patent: 3754341 (1973-08-01), Caldwell et al.
patent: 4327508 (1982-05-01), Youngers
patent: 4483084 (1984-11-01), Caldwell et al.
patent: 4660306 (1987-04-01), Bruce et al.
patent: 4750280 (1988-06-01), Dalaine
patent: 4794708 (1989-01-01), Schroeder et al.
patent: 4833797 (1989-05-01), Slunecka et al.
patent: 4890399 (1990-01-01), Stiff et al.
patent: 4987689 (1991-01-01), Kaczmarski et al.
patent: 5033214 (1991-07-01), Kaczmarski et al.
patent: 5189817 (1993-03-01), Schroeder
patent: 5228221 (1993-07-01), Hillard et al.
patent: 5245769 (1993-09-01), Wammock
Armstrong Eric A.
Kinder Mark R.
Magliulo Alessandro
Torosyan Henry
Batson Victor
Caterpillar S.A.R.L.
Charlton Diana L.
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