Excavating equipment fitted with surface clamps

Excavating equipment comprising a rigid support structure;

• surface clamping means articulately mounted on said rigid support structure;
• excavating means downstream of said surface clamping means in a direction of excavation;
• said surface clamping means being substantially as wide as the excavating means;
• means for urging the excavating means in the direction of excavation and during excavating;
• power means coupled to said excavating means for operating same and for operating said urging means, said power means being also coupled to said surface clamping means for laterally displacing said clamping means against rigid supporting surfaces so as to generate a counter-reaction to forces generated by operation of said excavating means;
• and equipment displacing means coupled to said support structure for displacing said equipment into and out of an excavation, wherein said rigid support structure comprises a mobile displaceable boxlike frame and wherein said equipment displacing means comprises a hoisting cable coupled at one end to said equipment and passing over a pulley arrangement mounted on said boxlike frame, said equipment being suspended adjacent an end wall of said boxlike frame.

Excavating equipment comprising a first rigid support structure;

• surface clamping means articulately mounted on said first structure;
• power means coupled to said surface clamping means for displacing said surface clamping means against supporting surfaces, a second rigid support structure articulated to said first structure;
• expansion means for displacing said second rigid structure with respect to said first rigid structure;
• rotary milling cutters having a diameter mounted on said second rigid structure;
• means for urging said second rigid structure in a direction of excavating during excavating;
• said surface clamping means being substantially as wide as the diameter of said milling cutters;
• power means coupled to said pair of rotary milling cutters for operating same, forces generated during operation of said excavating equipment being countered by a counter-reaction generated by displacement of said surface clamping means against said supporting surfaces.

Excavating equipment comprising a rigid support structure;

• surface clamping means articulately mounted on said rigid support structure;
• excavating means downstream of said surface clamping means in a direction of excavation;
• said surface clamping means being substantially as wide as the excavating means;
• means for urging the excavation means in a direction of excavation and during excavating;
• power means coupled to said excavating means for operating same and for operating said urging means, said power means being also coupled to said surface clamping means for laterally displacing said surface clamping means against rigid supporting surfaces so as to generate a counter-reaction to forces generated by operation of said excavating means;
• and equipment displacing means coupled to said rigid support structure for displacing said equipment into and out of an excavation, wherein said surface clamping means includes pressure plates respectively provided with successive, axially displaced hydraulically operated pistons of differing strokes so as to impart to each pressure plate an inclination which is correspondingly imparted to the impacted walls.

Excavating equipment comprising a rigid support structure;

• surface clamping means articulately mounted on said rigid support structure;
• excavating means downstream of said surface clamping means in a direction of excavation;
• said surface clamping means being substantially as wide as the excavating means;
• urging means for urging the excavation means in direction of excavating and during excavating;
• power means coupled to said excavating means for operating same and for operating said urging means, said power means being also coupled to said surface clamping means for laterally displacing said surface clamping means against rigid supporting surfaces so as to generate a counter-reaction to forces generated by operation of said excavating means;
• and equipment displacing means coupled to said support structure for displacing said equipment into and out of an excavation, wherein said surface clamping means includes pressure plates releasably attached to an open ended molding container adapted to be pressed into excavated walls so as to provide for a subsequent casting of a ledge.