Ditch forming apparatus

A ditch forming apparatus having a front and rear and comprising:

• a frame;
• a primary ditch forming assembly on the frame and comprising:
• a) a first subassembly for penetrating and separating subjacent ground material;
• and b) a second subassembly for directing separated subjacent ground material away from a ditch formed by the primary ditch forming assembly as the frame is advanced in an operating path;
• and
• a ground treatment assembly on at least one of the frame and primary ditch forming assembly configured to facilitate delivery of separated subjacent ground material to the second subassembly,
• the ground treatment assembly comprising at least one ground engaging component that is turned around a first axis to thereby cause the at least one ground engaging component to treat subjacent ground material delivered to the second subassembly,
• wherein the ditch forming apparatus is configured so that at least one of:
• a) a vertical height of the first axis relative to the frame can be changed;
• b) a variable vertical force generated between the at least one ground engaging component and frame can be changed;
• c) a fore and aft position of the first axis relative to the frame can be changed;
• d) a speed of turning of the at least one ground engaging component around the first axis can be changed;
• and e) a direction of turning of the at least one ground engaging component around the first axis can be changed,
• wherein the second subassembly comprises a first body rotatable around a second axis and a plurality of blades on the body spaced radially from the second axis that direct ground material separated by the first subassembly laterally away from a ditch generated by the ditch forming apparatus as the frame is advanced in the operating path.

A ditch forming apparatus having a front and rear and comprising:

• a frame;
• a primary ditch forming assembly on the frame and comprising:
• a) a first subassembly for penetrating and separating subjacent ground material;
• and b) a second subassembly for directing separated subjacent ground material away from a ditch formed by the primary ditch forming assembly as the frame is advanced in an operating path;
• and
• a ground treatment assembly on at least one of the frame and primary ditch forming assembly configured to facilitate delivery of separated subjacent ground material to the second subassembly,
• the ground treatment assembly comprising at least one ground engaging component that is turned around a first axis to thereby cause the at least one ground engaging component to treat subjacent ground material delivered to the second subassembly,
• wherein the ditch forming apparatus is configured so that at least one of:
• a) a vertical height of the first axis relative to the frame can be changed;
• b) a variable vertical force generated between the at least one ground engaging component and frame can be changed;
• c) a fore and aft position of the first axis relative to the frame can be changed;
• d) a speed of turning of the at least one ground engaging component around the first axis can be changed;
• and e) a direction of turning of the at least one ground engaging component around the first axis can be changed,
• wherein the ground treatment assembly comprises a shaft supporting the at least one ground engaging component and movable around the first axis and the at least one ground engaging component is configured to reposition separated subjacent ground material delivered to the second subassembly,
• wherein the shaft is mounted on a subframe, the subframe is mounted for guided movement relative to the frame over a range between a first position and a second position, wherein a fore and aft location of the shaft relative to the frame changes as the subframe moves between the first and second positions.

A ditch forming apparatus having a front and rear and comprising:

• a frame;
• a primary ditch forming assembly on the frame and comprising:
• a) a first subassembly for penetrating and separating subjacent ground material;
• and b) a second subassembly for directing separated subjacent ground material away from a ditch formed by the primary ditch forming assembly as the frame is advanced in an operating path;
• and
• a ground treatment assembly on at least one of the frame and primary ditch forming assembly configured to facilitate delivery of separated subjacent ground material to the second subassembly,
• the ground treatment assembly comprising at least one ground engaging component that is turned around a first axis to thereby cause the at least one ground engaging component to treat subjacent ground material delivered to the second subassembly,
• wherein the ditch forming apparatus is configured so that at least one of:
• a) a vertical height of the first axis relative to the frame can be changed;
• b) a variable vertical force generated between the at least one ground engaging component and frame can be changed;
• c) a fore and aft position of the first axis relative to the frame can be changed;
• d) a speed of turning of the at least one ground engaging component around the first axis can be changed;
• and e) a direction of turning of the at least one ground engaging component around the first axis can be changed,
• wherein the ground treatment assembly comprises a shaft supporting the at least one ground engaging component and movable around the first axis and the at least one ground engaging component is configured to reposition separated subjacent ground material delivered to the second subassembly,
• wherein the shaft is connected to at least one arm whereby the shaft and the at least one arm make up an arm assembly, the arm assembly pivotably connected to at least one of:
• a) the frame;
• and b) a subframe on the frame for movement around another axis in a range between first and second positions, the shaft at a first height relative to the frame with the shaft assembly in its first position and at a second height relative to the frame that is different than the first height with the shaft assembly in its second position.

A ditch forming apparatus having a front and rear and comprising:

• a frame;
• a primary ditch forming assembly on the frame and comprising:
• a) a first subassembly for penetrating and separating subjacent ground material;
• and b) a second subassembly for directing separated subjacent ground material away from a ditch formed by the primary ditch forming assembly as the frame is advanced in an operating path;
• and
• a ground treatment assembly on at least one of the frame and primary ditch forming assembly configured to facilitate delivery of separated subjacent ground material to the second subassembly,
• the ground treatment assembly comprising at least one ground engaging component that is turned around a first axis to thereby cause the at least one ground engaging component to treat subjacent ground material delivered to the second subassembly,
• wherein the ditch forming apparatus is configured so that at least one of:
• a) a vertical height of the first axis relative to the frame can be changed;
• b) a variable vertical force generated between the at least one ground engaging component and frame can be changed;
• c) a fore and aft position of the first axis relative to the frame can be changed;
• d) a speed of turning of the at least one ground engaging component around the first axis can be changed;
• and e) a direction of turning of the at least one ground engaging component around the first axis can be changed,
• wherein the ditch forming apparatus comprises a drive for turning the shaft around the first axis, the drive configured to selectively turn the first shaft in opposite directions around the first axis.