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US 5,915,878 AGranted
Silt fence machine
OwnerThomas Joseph Carpenterinventor
Life of this patent
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OwnerThomas Joseph Carpenterinventor
Estimating the term…
A device for slicing through soil and simultaneously inserting silt fence into the soil. Silt fence is a synthetic material installed in and above the ground to impede silt erosion from areas disturbed by construction. The device comprises a soil disrupter for slicing thinly through the soil 8 inches to 12 inches deep, and an apparatus, operating at the same depth, for converting silt fence, manufactured on a roll, into a vertical position in and above the ground. The apparatus includes a vertical wheel operating between two parallel panels, acting as a moving pivot point where the horizontal silt fence is converted to a vertical position between the panels. The panels hold the soil open while the vertical wheel simultaneously inserts silt fence into the opening. As the machine progresses, soil collapses against the silt fence, thus securing the silt fence in the desired position.
A silt fence machine, attached to a power source, to slice through soil and to insert silt fence material at a predetermined depth and position, the silt fence machine comprising a soil disrupter for slicing through said soil, a mechanical means for inserting silt fence material into said soil, the mechanical means including an axle attaching a wheel to a static panel at a predetermined position said wheel constructed with holes around its axis to allow the silt fence material to flow by the wheel without bunching up, and to facilitate threading silt fence material through the silt fence machine, and a support structure for said silt fence material, whereby said silt fence material is inserted into said soil.
A method for inserting silt fence material into the soil, where movement of a silt fence machine enables the process and only one moving part is utilized, comprising the steps of slicing through said soil creating a slit, simultaneously holding said slit open, and simultaneously inserting said silt fence material into said soil, the silt fence machine comprising a support structure holding said silt fence horizontally in a predetermined position, enabling said silt fence material to flow properly, and a vertical wheel of predetermined diameter, width, construction, and position interacting with the ground so as to rotate when said machine moves, simultaneously acting as a pivot where said silt fence material in a horizontal position moves around said vertical wheel and between vertical parallel panels thus converting silt fence material to a vertical position and inserting it into the soil as the silt fence machine progresses forward, whereby said silt fence material is secured in said soil at a predetermined depth below and height above the ground.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.