US 4,948,299 AGranted

Padding machine

OwnerThomas J. Cronk, Jr., Ronnie C. Burrowsinventors

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Abstract

There are disclosed two embodiments of a pipeline padding machine which comprises a first rearwardly inclined conveyor mounted on a vehicle adapted to be moved along a ditch in which a pipeline has been laid and over a row of spoil which has been removed from the ditch, and a scoop on the forward end of the first conveyor for removing a layer of the spoil and deliverying it onto the first conveyor as the vehicle moves over the row of spoil. The first conveyor is arranged to move the spoil rearwardly and thus onto a second screen at its rearward end having means for moving that portion of the spoil which does not pass it in a rearward direction. A second conveyor mounted on the vehicle beneath the screen for receiving spoil which passes it and moving the spoil toward one end of the second conveyor, and a third conveyor is mounted on the vehicle for receiving spoil from the end of the second conveyor and extending laterally of the vehicle for moving that spoil into the ditch and over the pipeline.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A pipeline padding machine, comprising

a vehicle adapted to be moved along the side of a ditch in which a pipeline has been laid and over spoil which has been removed from the ditch and laid along the side thereof,
a first conveyor which is mounted on and extends lengthwise of the vehicle,
means at the forward end of the first conveyor for removing a layer of the spoil and delivering it onto the first conveyor during forward movement of the vehicle,
said first conveyor being inclined upwardly from its forward to its rearward end and arranged to move the spoil in a rearward direction,
means including a first screen for receiving spoil from the first conveyor and moving that portion of the spoil which does not pass the first screen over the rear end of the first screen,
said first screen being rearwardly inclined,
a second screen arranged to receive spoil which is moved over the rear end of the first screen and being forwardly inclined so as to move that portion of the spoil which does not pass the second screen onto the side of the ditch behind the vehicle,
a second conveyor which is mounted on and extends lengthwise of the vehicle beneath the first screen for receiving spoil which passes therethrough and arranged to move it in a rearward direction, and
a third conveyor mounted on the vehicle for receiving spoil from the rearward end of the second conveyor as well as that which passes the second screen and extending laterally of the vehicle for moving said accumulation of spoil in a lateral direction into the ditch.

6 more elements

A pipeline padding machine, comprising

a vehicle adapted to be moved along the side of a ditch in which a pipeline has been laid and over spoil which has been removed from the ditch and laid along the side thereof,
a first conveyor which is mounted on and extends lengthwise of the vehicle,
means at the forward end of the first conveyor for removing a layer of the spoil and delivering it onto the first conveyor during forward movement of the vehicle,
said first conveyor being inclined upwardly from its forward to its rearward end and arranged to move the spoil in a rearward direction,
means including a rearwardly inclined screen for receiving spoil from the rearward end of the first conveyor and moving that portion of the spoil which does not pass the screen in a rearward direction,
a second conveyor which is mounted on and extends lengthwise of the vehicle beneath the screen for receiving spoil which passes therethrough and arranged to move it toward one end of the second conveyor, and
a third conveyor mounted on the vehicle for receiving spoil from the one end of the second conveyor and extending laterally of the vehicle for moving the spoil thereon in a lateral direction into the ditch.

4 more elements

A pipeline padding machine, comprising

a vehicle adapted to be moved along the side of a ditch in which a pipeline has been laid and over spoil which has been removed from the ditch and laid along the side thereof,
a first conveyor which is mounted on and extends lengthwise of the vehicle,
means at the forward end of the first conveyor for removing a layer of the spoil and delivering it onto the first conveyor during forward movement of the vehicle,
said first conveyor being inclined upwardly from its forward to its rearward end and arranged to move the spoil in a rearward direction,
means including a screen arranged for receiving spoil from the first conveyor and moving that portion of the spoil which does not pass the screen over the rear end of the screen,
a second conveyor which is mounted on and extends lengthwise of the vehicle beneath the screen for receiving spoil which passes therethrough and arranged to move it in a forward direction, and
a third conveyor mounted on the vehicle for receiving spoil from the forward end of the second conveyor and extending laterally of the vehicle for moving the spoil in a lateral direction into the ditch.

4 more elements

A pipeline padding machine, comprising

a vehicle adapted to be moved along the side of a ditch in which a pipeline has been laid and over spoil which has been removed from the ditch and laid along the side thereof,
a first conveyor which is mounted on and extends lengthwise of the vehicle,
means at the forward end of the first conveyor for removing a layer of the spoil and delivering it onto the first conveyor during forward movement of the vehicle,
said first conveyor being inclined upwardly from its forward to its rearward end and arranged to move the spoil in a rearward direction,
means including a screen for receiving spoil from the rearward end of the first conveyor and moving that portion of the spoil which does not pass the screen in a rearward direction,
a second conveyor which is mounted on and extends lengthwise of the vehicle beneath the screen for receiving spoil which passes therethrough and arranged to move it toward one end of the second conveyor, and
a third conveyor mounted on the vehicle for receiving spoil from the one end of the second conveyor and extending laterally of the vehicle for moving the spoil thereon in a lateral direction into the ditch.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.