Back to results
US 10,472,800 B2Granted
Apparatus for backfilling a trench
AssigneeDelta Pipeline Machinery B.V.
InventorKeith James McCabe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for backfilling a trench and, more particularly, an apparatus for laying a pipeline bed layer in a trench and for laying a pipeline bedding layer once a pipeline is laid in the trench. The apparatus comprises a multi-deck screen vibrating unit. The upper deck screen comprises finger tines or a grizzly arrangement.
Claims19
An apparatus for backfilling a trench with filler material while moving alongside the trench, the apparatus comprising:
- an integral propulsion element that enables the apparatus to be a self-propelled apparatus;
- a feed hopper that receives raw material that includes elements of different sizes;
- a multi-deck vibrating screen unit that segregates the material into waste material and filler material;
- a vibrator that vibrates the multi-deck vibrating screen unit;
- a first conveyor that transports the raw material from the feed hopper to the multi-deck vibrating screen unit in a first direction that is parallel to a direction of travel of the self-propelled vehicle;
- and
- a second conveyor that transports the filler material to the trench in a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction;
- wherein:
- the multi-deck vibrating screen unit comprises an upper deck screen, at least a lower deck screen below the upper deck screen, and a bottom surface below the lower deck screen that receives the filler material;
- the upper deck screen comprises a plurality of elongated members upon which the raw material is deposited;
- the plurality of elongated members comprises at least one of a plurality of finger tines and a plurality of grizzly bars that segregates the raw material into a first part of the waste material and screened material;
- the lower deck screen segregates the screened material into a second part of the waste material and the filler material;
- the bottom surface forms a slide that transports the filler material to the second conveyor;
- and
- the second conveyor is selectively adjustable to extend beyond either side of the self-propelled apparatus.
12 more elements
A method of backfilling a trench with filler material comprising:
- situating a self-propelled apparatus adjacent the trench;
- providing raw material to a feed hopper of the apparatus;
- operating the apparatus to segregate the raw material into waste material and filler material, wherein a size of the filler material is smaller than a size of the waste material;
- situating an end of a discharge conveyor to discharge the filler material into the trench;
- and
- moving the apparatus in a direction of the trench;
- wherein the apparatus comprises:
- the feed hopper;
- a multi-deck vibrating screen unit that segregates the material into the waste material and the filler material;
- a vibrator that vibrates the multi-deck vibrating screen unit;
- a raw material conveyor that transports the raw material from the feed hopper to the multi-deck vibrating screen unit in a first direction that is parallel to a direction of travel of the self-propelled vehicle;
- and
- the discharge conveyor that transports the filler material from the multi-deck vibrating screen unit to the trench in a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction;
- and wherein:
- the multi-deck vibrating screen unit comprises an upper deck screen, at least a lower deck screen below the upper deck screen, and a bottom surface below the lower deck screen that receives the filler material;
- the upper deck screen comprises a plurality of elongated members upon which the raw material is deposited;
- the plurality of elongated members comprises at least one of a plurality of finger tines and a plurality of grizzly bars that segregates the raw material into a first part of the waste material and screened material;
- the lower deck screen segregates the screened material into a second part of the waste material and the filler material;
- the bottom surface forms a slide that transports the filler material to the second conveyor;
- and
- the discharge conveyor is selectively adjustable to extend beyond either side of the self-propelled apparatus.
18 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.