Wheeled carriage assembly for trench shields

Apparatus adapted to support opposite ends of a trench shield while said trench shield is positioned in a trench excavated in the ground wherein said trench shield includes a pair of opposed protective panels operative to face against sidewalls of said trench in spaced-apart relation to one another and spreader beams for retaining said panels in spaced apart relation to one another, said apparatus operative to permit suspended transport of said trench shield in the trench and comprising a pair of wheeled support assemblies adapted to mount to the opposite ends of said trench shield and to suspend said trench shield in the trench, each said support assemblies including an axle member, a pair of spaced apart bracket elements disposed on said axle member and each adapted to support a protective pan, a pair of wheel assemblies disposed at opposite ends of said axle member, each said wheel assembly including a wheel rotatably mounted with respect to said bracket elements and operative to engage a surface of the ground laterally adjacent to said trench, and a support member attached to each of said bracket elements in downwardly depending relation therefrom when said wheels engage the surface of the ground, said support member including means for interconnection to said trench shield whereby said trench shield may be fastened to said support member and thereby suspended from said axle member and whereby said trench shield may be advanced along said trench by said wheels.