Vibratory cable plow assembly

A vibratory cable plow assembly connected to a prime mover for forming a relatively narrow continuous slit in the ground as the prime mover moves along the surface thereof, said vibratory plow assembly comprising:

• a fixed length lower frame member having a forward end pivotally connected to a frame of the prime mover to allow said lower frame member to vertically move relative to said frame about a first generally horizontal pivot axis, said lower frame member including a pair of arms arranged in laterally spaced relation relative to each other toward a rear end of said lower frame member;
• a rear frame member mounted intermediate its ends for rocking movement about a second generally horizontal pivot axis between and relative to the laterally spaced arms of said lower frame member, said rear frame member including a portion that extends upwardly relative to the second generally horizontal pivot axis and terminates in a free end;
• an elongated plow blade mounted to a free end of said rear frame member, one longitudinal edge of said blade being configured as a ground slitting edge;
• and
• an upper frame member of selectively adjustable length and extending above said lower frame member, said upper frame member being pivotally connected at one end to the frame of the prime mover and pivotally connected at an opposite end to an upper free end of said rear frame member, and wherein the length of said upper frame member can be adjusted on-the-go thereby resulting in rocking movements of said rear frame member about said second generally horizontal axis thereby permitting adjustment of the angle of the plow blade relative to said lower frame member.

A vibratory cable plow assembly connected to a frame of a prime mover for forming a relatively narrow continuous slit in the ground as the prime mover moves thereover, said vibratory plow assembly comprising:

• a generally flat elongated plow blade for cutting said slit in the ground, said blade being fixed at one end of a frame assembly which supports a vibratory mechanism that imparts vibratory movements to said plow blade and which is structured to minimize vibration transfer to the prime mover;
• and
• wherein said frame assembly comprises a lower support that extends rearwardly and away from its pivotal connection to the frame of the prime mover, said lower support including, toward a distal end thereof, a horizontal pivot mechanism for mounting a blade supporting frame for rocking movement thereabout, said blade supporting frame having a support portion on which said vibratory mechanism is mounted and a free ended extension portion that upwards extends from a generally horizontal axis about which said blade supporting frame rocks, said horizontal pivot mechanism including a pivot pin defining the generally horizontal axis about which said blade supporting frame rocks and an elastomeric bearing assembly which journals said pivot pin and is arranged between said blade supporting frame and said lower support for inhibiting transmission of vibrations to said lower support from the vibratory mechanism, and a hydraulically actuated extendable/retractable cylinder extending above said lower support and pivotally interconnected between the frame of the prime mover and the free ended portion of said blade supporting frame for controlling elevation of the plow assembly relative to the ground surface as a function of the operative length thereof.

A vibratory cable plow assembly connected to a frame of a prime mover for forming a relatively narrow continuous slit in the ground as the prime mover moves thereover, said cable plow assembly comprising:

• a generally flat elongated plow blade for cutting said slit in the ground;
• a frame assembly for connecting said plow blade to the frame of the prime mover, said frame assembly comprising a mounting bracket, a fixed length rigid member attached to the mounting bracket for pivotal movement about a first generally horizontal pivot axis to permit vertical movement of the rigid member about said first axis, a blade mounting having said plow blade attached to one free end thereof, said blade mounting being mounted intermediate free ends thereof to a distal end of said rigid member for rocking movement about a second generally horizontal axis, and wherein the free ends of said blade mounting are arranged on opposite sides of said second generally horizontal axis in vertically spaced relation relative to each other, said blade mounting having a vibratory mechanism mounted thereon and intermediate the free ends thereof for imparting vibratory movements to said plow blade, and a hydraulic cylinder extending above said rigid member and having a first end pivotally connected to said mounting bracket above said first generally horizontal axis and a second end pivotally connected toward an opposite free end of said blade mounting for exerting upon said blade mounting a force tending to rock the blade mounting about the second generally horizontal axis thereby permitting substantially infinite adjustment of the angular disposition of the blade relative to the ground surface as the prime mover is in motion such that the plow blade penetrates the ground surface and positions itself to a depth related to the angle of blade inclination set by the operative length of the cylinder and maintains said depth as long as the operative length of the cylinder remains constant.

A vibratory cable plow assembly comprising:

• a generally flat elongated plow blade for cutting a slit in the ground, said blade being supported at one end of a linkage assembly which supports a vibratory mechanism that imparts vibratory movements to said blade;
• and
• wherein said linkage assembly comprises a lower support defining a pivotal mounting portion toward one end thereof, a blade supporting frame having said vibratory mechanism mounted thereon and with said plow blade being attached toward a first free end of said blade supporting frame, a hydraulically actuated cylinder extending above said lower support and connected to a second free end of said blade supporting frame, and a horizontal pivot mechanism pivotally interconnected intermediate the free ends of and for mounting said blade supporting frame to a distal end of the lower support to allow for rocking movements of said blade supporting frame about a fixed generally horizontal axis in response to changes in the effective length of said cylinder, and wherein said lower support remains fixed for a range of rocking movement of the blade supporting frame and said plow blade, said pivot mechanism comprising a pivot pin which defines the axis about which said blade support frame rocks, and a pair of elastomeric bearings nonrotatably mounted on opposite sides of the blade supporting frame in axial alignment relative to each other, each elastomeric bearing including a sleeve which is surrounded by an elastomeric cushion for inhibiting the transfer of vibrations from said blade support frame to said lower support, and wherein said pivot pin is nonrotatably secured to said sleeves and to said lower support such that rocking movements of said blade supporting frame relative to said lower support will cause each bearing to impart a force to the blade support frame to facilitate ground penetration by said plow blade.