Pipeline padding machine and method

In a pipeline padding system for supplying earth of a fine consistency to a pipeline trench, the combination comprising:

• a. a longitudinally extending vehicle frame supported for travel longitudinally along a highway, or alternately along a trench;
• b. a first conveyor for conveying earth material along the vehicle frame;
• c. a sub-frame mounted on said vehicle frame for pivotal movement about a generally horizontal axis transverse to the longitudinal extent of the vehicle frame;
• d. vibrating screen means mounted on said sub-frame below the level of said first conveyor to receive earth material therefrom;
• e. a padding material discharge conveyor mounted by said sub-frame beneath said vibrating means, said discharge conveyor being of a length to have one end disposed beneath the vibrating screen means to receive screened earth material therefrom and a discharge end projecting out over said trench to discharge said screened earth material thereto as the vehicle is moving continuously along the trench;
• f. means for discharging oversized material separated out by said vibrating screen means at a position remote from the discharge end of the discharge conveyor;
• and
• g. means mounting said discharge conveyor for movements from a first position in which it extends longitudinally of said frame to a second position in which it extends crosswise of said frame.

A method of supplying earth of a fine consistency to an open pipeline trench to function as padding material for the pipeline wherein a vehicle frame is positioned opposite the trench for travel longitudinally parallel to the trench;

• a first conveyor is provided on the vehicle for receiving natural earth;
• a vibrating screen is mounted on the frame to receive earth from the conveyor;
• a second cross conveyor, having a powered conveying surface, is mounted by the frame beneath the vibrating screen for pivotal movement about a vertical axis from a position in which it is lengthwisely aligned with the vehicle frame for transport therewith, when the vehicle frame is moving from one job site to another, to a position crosswise to said frame;
• and a tailings conveyor is associated with the vibrating screen to receive oversized material screened out by the vibrating screen:
• the steps of
• a. pivoting the cross conveyor from a position of longitudinal alignment with the vehicle frame about a generally vertical axis to a position transverse thereto in which the discharge end of the cross conveyor overlies the trench and discharges thereto;
• b. supplying natural earth to said first conveyor;
• c. receiving the natural earth from said first conveyor and vibrating said screen to separate the oversized material from the fines, while discharging the fines to the cross conveyor;
• d. conveying the fines on the cross conveyor and discharging them to the trench to form a pipe pack;
• and
• e. moving the vehicle frame along the trench at a predetermined speed coordinated with the speed of travel of the fines material on the cross conveyor conveying surface.

In a pipeline padding supplying system for supplying earth of a fine consistency to a pipeline trench, the combination comprising:

• a. a longitudinally extending vehicle frame supported for travel longitudinally along a highway, or alternately along a trench;
• b. a first longitudinally disposed conveyor for conveying earth material along the vehicle frame;
• c. vibrating screen conveyor means mounted on said frame below the level of said first conveyor to receive earth material therefrom;
• d. a second, padding material delivery conveyor mounted by said frame crosswise to said first conveyor beneath said vibrating screen means, said delivery conveyor being of a length to have one end disposed beneath the vibrating screen means to receive screened earth therefrom and another discharge end projecting out over said trench to deliver said screened earth thereto as the vehicle is moving continuously along the trench;
• and
• e. a third conveyor, extending longitudinally generally parallel to said first conveyor and trench, having an end disposed beneath said vibrating screen conveyor means for receiving oversized material separated out by said vibrating screen conveyor means at a position adjacent said trench spaced from the discharge end of said second delivery conveyor.

Pipeline padding apparatus comprising supporting frame means movable in a direction longitudinally of a trench in which a pipeline is adapted to be laid;

• means carried by said frame means for accommodating a mixture of relatively fine and relatively coarse earth constituents;
• separator means mounted on said frame means for separating said relatively fine and relatively coarse constituents;
• delivery means for delivering said constituents from said accommodating means to said separator means;
• first means carried by said frame means for discharging said relatively fine constituents from said separator means to a zone in connection with said trench to provide padding for said pipeline;
• second means carried by said frame means for discharging said relatively coarse constituents from said separator means at a zone remote from that at which said relatively fine constituents are discharged;
• and means mounting said first and second means for movements relative to said frame and said delivery means from a position in which said first and second means extend longitudinally of said frame to a position in which said first and second means extend crosswise of said frame means.

Pipeline padding apparatus comprising longitudinally extending, supporting frame means movable in a direction longitudinally of a trench in which a pipeline is adapted to be laid;

• means carried by said frame for accommodating a mixture of relatively coarse and relatively fine earth constituents;
• separator means for separating said relatively fine and relatively coarse constituents;
• means mounting said separator means on said frame means for movements fore and aft longitudinally of said frame means;
• delivery means for delivering said mixture from said mixture accommodating means to said separator means;
• means for adjusting said delivery means relative to said frame means for enabling the mixture to be discharged from said delivery means to a selected zone of said separator means in any fore and aft adjusted position thereof;
• first means carried by said frame means for receiving said relatively fine constituents from said separator means and discharging them to a zone in communication with said trench to provide padding for said pipeline;
• and second means carried by said frame means for receiving said relatively coarse constituents from said separator means and discharging them to a zone other than that to which said relatively fine constituents are discharged.