Trencher plow for laying pipe
OwnerSylvester J. Liebrecht, Jr.inventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A trencher plow for laying pipe such as drainage pipe which includes in combination an auger angled downwardly toward a plow which follows, both mounted in a superstructure and being arranged to be cooperatively raised and to set the grade and depth of cut by the plow determinable by sensing the grade setting signal of a laser unit located in the field of cut. The auger is provided with cutting lobes distributed about its teeth which facilitate cutting and throwing soil to the sides of a trench being dug in advance of the plow which finalizes shaping of the trench for deposition of pipe into the trench.
Claims22
Trench forming apparatus for forming a trench such as for drainage pipe comprising,
- a plow having a soil cutting boot for cutting and shaping a trench
- a longitudinal auger having helically distributed soil cutting teeth positioned to be pulled with an end in advance of said plow
- said plow being arranged to be pulled by a support arm above said auger
- pressure means for pressing said plow into a soil cutting and clearing position for forming a trench of desired width and depth
- said auger being adjustable in angle of orientation toward said plow boot,
- second pressure means for pressing said auger into a downward angled soil cutting position with said end above said plow boot,
- said auger being rotatable to cut and loosen soil in advance of said plow,
- rotary power means for rotating said auger.
Trench forming apparatus for forming a trench for pipe laying comprising,
- a plow having a cutting boot for cutting and shaping a trench,
- a longitudinal auger having helically distributed teeth positioned in advance of said plow
- a support structure supporting said plow and said auger
- said plow having a support arm for pulling said plow extending from said support structure,
- said support arm overhanging said auger,
- said support arm and plow being downwardly positionable into a soil cutting position for said plow boot,
- power means, associated with said support arm for pressing said plow into soil cutting position for cutting a pipe trench,
- said auger being adjustably angled downwardly from said support structure toward a soil cutting position in which its lower end is above said plow boot,
- said auger being rotatable by means adaptable to take off of power from a tractor and having associated power means for pressing said lower end of said auger downwardly into a soil cutting position in advance of said plow.
A method of forming a pipe trench comprising
- cutting and loosening soil for a trench with a rotating auger,
- applying a uniform downward pressure on said auger to incline it downwardly with an end thereof at a lower level,
- throwing the loosened soil with the auger to both sides of a trench being formed,
- additionally cutting and clearing soil from the trench being formed with a plow
- said cutting and clearing by the plow extending under the cutting by said inclined auger,
- limiting the depth of cut by said auger to a predetermined level above the depth of cut by said plow,
- the lower level end of the auger being freely moveable above said predetermined level whereby said auger can pass over obstacles independent of the cutting action of the plow.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.