US 3,967,454 A · Trench shoring apparatus

Abstract

Self propelled apparatus for the shoring of the walls of an excavation including a support frame and side panels slidingly carried on the frame at each side thereof for horizontal movement relative thereto and for bearing against the wall of the excavation to prevent the collapse thereof. Hydraulic rams are provided to extend and retract the side panels. Cooperative locking mechanisms are carried by the side panels for locking the panels together when they are in the extended position. Control means is provided to simultaneously reverse the hydraulic rams when the side panels on each side are fully extended and the control means cooperate with the locking mechanisms to cause the side panels to move as a unit from the extended to the retracted position. The friction between the excavation walls and the side panels being greater than the friction between the frame and floor of the excavation results in the side panels acting as an anchor to draw the frame along the floor of the excavation. As the panels are fully retracted with respect to the frame, the control means reverses the hydraulic flow and camming arms carried by the frame disengage the locking mechanisms for extension of each of the panels individually.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A self propelled trench shoring apparatus comprising:

a frame supported on a lower supporting surface of said trench and adapted for travel therealong, said frame defining opposed, transversely spaced apart sides, each side comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced uprights and a plurality of longitudinally extending supports carried by said uprights in spaced relationship to each other;
panel members disposed between pairs of said supports for longitudinal movement with respect thereto;
locking means carried by each of said panel members for engagement with locking means on adjacent panel members for cooperative engagement therebetween to lock adjacent panel members together for movement in unison;
means for disengaging said locking means for longitudinal movement of said panel members with respect to at least one of said adjacent panel members;
reversible drive means for urging said panel members longitudinally between a retracted position and an extended position with respect to said frame;
and
means controlling said drive means for the extension of said panel members and for reversing said drive means responsive to the position of said panel members for the simultaneous retraction thereof in cooperation with said locking means.

4 more elements

In a trench shoring apparatus comprising a frame adapted for travel along a trench floor, said frame defining transversely spaced apart sides, each side comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced uprights and a plurality of longitudinally extending supports carried by said uprights, a plurality of longitudinally movable panel members disposed on each of said sides and means for driving said panels between an extended and retracted position with respect to said frame, the improvement comprising:

a cowl disposed on the leading edge of each of said sides of said frame, said cowl including a rearwardly extending side face spaced outwardly from said side and defining between said side face and the outer surface of said panel members a space for receiving elongated, vertically disposed shoring members.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Trench shoring apparatus

Life of this patent

Trench shoring apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10