Device to secure an underground pipe installer in a trench

A device to secure an underground pipe installer relative to opposed generally vertical side walls of an operating trench, the pipe installer device being of a type which includes reversible power operated means to drive a rod assembly, formed of a plurality of coupled rod lengths, forwardly through the ground from the operating trench for penetration into a target trench, in a forward drive mode, and to withdraw the rod assembly, in a reverse drive mode, with a pipe or other conduit means attached to a leading end thereof, into an installed position within the hole formed in the ground by the rod assembly, the device to secure comprising a pair of elongated abutment members in a generally parallel arrangement outwardly of respective side walls of a main length of the underground pipe installer, pivotal link means connecting said abutment members to respective side walls of the main length in a manner whereby said pair of elongated abutment members may be synchronously pivoted to oppositely outwardly expanded, generally parallel positions, from inwardly retracted positions, adjacent to the main length;

• and means to connect a trailing end of a hole forming rod length, operably engaged in the installer, to said link means in a manner so as to forcably drive said abutment members from said retracted positions to said expanded positions when the power operated means is operated in the forward drive mode;
• and lock means to secure said abutment members in said expanded positions.