US 6,305,879 B1 · Continuous ditch excavator

Abstract

A continuous ditch excavator including a chassis having a forward portion and a rear portion, first and second motive devices carried by the chassis in laterally spaced-apart relation to each other for cooperatively driving the chassis along a ground surface, the first and second motive devices defining a centrally-disposed excavation work area therebetween, and an excavating auger mounted on the chassis in the excavation work area forwardly of the rear portion of the chassis and rearwardly of the forward portion of the chassis for penetrating and excavating a ditch in the ground as the chassis is driven along the ground, said auger defining a pivot point about which the first and second motive devices are adapted to rotate the chassis to control the direction of ditch excavation. The excavator also includes a motor for driving the first and second motive devices and rotating the auger, and control devices for controlling the excavator, whereby rotating the chassis about the pivot point defined by the auger permits changes in the direction of ditch excavation in correlation with the change in direction of the chassis.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A continuous ditch excavator, comprising:

(a) a chassis having a forward portion and a rear portion;
(b) first and second motive means carried by the chassis in laterally spaced-apart relation to each other for cooperatively driving the chassis along a ground surface, said first and second motive means defining a centrally-disposed excavation work area therebetween;
(c) an excavating auger mounted on the chassis in the excavation work area forwardly of the rear portion of the chassis and rearwardly of the forward portion of the chassis for penetrating and excavating a ditch in the ground as the chassis is driven along the ground, said auger defining a pivot point about which the first and second motive means are adapted to rotate the chassis to control the direction of ditch excavation;
(d) motor means for driving the first and second motive means and rotating the auger;
and
(e) control means for controlling the excavator;
whereby rotating the chassis about the pivot point defined by the auger permits changes in the direction of ditch excavation in correlation with the change in direction of the chassis.

4 more elements

A continuous ditch excavator, comprising:

(a) a chassis having a forward portion and a rear portion;
(b) a plurality of caterpillar tracks carried by the chassis in laterally spaced-apart relation to each other for cooperatively diving the chassis along ground, said caterpillar tracks defining a centrally-disposed excavation work area therebetween;
(c) an excavating auger mounted in a substantially vertical position on the chassis in the excavation work area, forwardly of the rear portion of the chassis and rearwardly of the forward portion of the chassis, for penetrating and excavating a ditch in the ground as the chassis is driven along the ground, said auger defining a pivot point about which the caterpillar tracks are adapted to rotate the chassis to control the direction of ditch excavation, whereby rotating the chassis about the pivot point defined by the auger permits changes in the direction of ditch excavation in correlation with the change in direction of the chassis;
(d) an engine mounted on the chassis for driving the caterpillar tracks;
(e) a hydraulic motor mounted on the chassis for rotating, raising, and lowering the auger;
(f) lift means mounted on the chassis for raising and lowering the auger;
(g) a containment bin mounted on the chassis in proximity to the auger for receiving soil removed from the ground by the auger;
(h) emptying means provided adjacent the containment bin for emptying the contents of the containment bin;
(i) a plurality of complementary, spaced-apart, arcuate plates mounted adjacent to and partially surrounding the auger for preventing the soil removed by the auger from falling back into the ditch as the auger is raised out of the ditch;
and
(j) control means for controlling the excavator, comprising:
(i) a sensor on the excavator for receiving control signals from a remote control unit comprising speed and direction controls;
and
(ii) a processor on the excavator for interpreting the control signals received from the remote control unit by the sensor and for directing the excavator to execute operations included in the control signals.

11 more elements

A continuous ditch excavator, comprising:

(a) a chassis having a forward portion and a rear portion;
(b) a plurality of caterpillar tracks carried by the chassis in laterally spaced-apart relation to each other for cooperatively driving the chassis along ground, said caterpillar tracks defining a centrally-disposed excavation work area therebetween;
(c) an excavating auger mounted in a substantially vertical position on the chassis in the excavation work area, forwardly of the rear portion of the chassis and rearwardly of the forward portion of the chassis, for penetrating and excavating a ditch in the ground as the chassis is driven along the ground, said auger defining a pivot point about which the caterpillar tracks are adapted to rotate the chassis to control the direction of ditch excavation, whereby rotating the chassis about the pivot point defined by the auger permits changes in the direction of ditch excavation in correlation with the change in direction of the chassis;
(d) an engine mounted on the chassis for driving the caterpillar tracks;
(e) a hydraulic motor mounted on the chassis for rotating, raising, and lowering the auger;
(f) lift means mounted on the chassis for raising and lowering the auger;
(g) a containment bin mounted on the chassis in proximity to the auger for receiving soil removed from the ground by the auger;
(h) emptying means provided adjacent the containment bin for emptying the contents of the containment bin;
(i) a plurality of complementary, spaced-apart, arcuate plates mounted adjacent to and partially surrounding the auger for preventing the soil removed by the auger from falling back into the ditch as the auger is raised out of the ditch;
and
(j) control means for controlling the excavator, comprising:
(i) a distance and direction sensor mounted on the chassis for sending and receiving information concerning movement of the first and second motive means;
(ii) a distance and direction processor mounted on the chassis for interpreting the information received by the distance and direction sensor and executing directions contained therein;
and
(iii) an elevation monitor mounted on the chassis for sending and receiving laser signals to and from a laser level positioned in spaced-apart relation to the excavator at a predetermined location;
wherein the distance and direction sensor and processor, the elevation monitor, and the laser level of the control means are controlled by a pre-programmed sequence of computerized instructions for directing the excavator along a predetermined path.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Continuous ditch excavator

Life of this patent

Continuous ditch excavator

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25