US 6,349,488 B1Granted

Technical field

OwnerMichael J. Masoninventor

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A trencher mountable on a vehicle such as a tractor, includes a substantially horizontal hollow stationary member positioned substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the vehicle, an extension member which is slidably receivable within the stationary member and a member for extending and retracting the extension member with respect to the stationary member. The trencher further includes a swiveling member pivotably attached to one end of the extension member with the swiveling member being horizontally pivotable with respect to the extension member. The trencher further includes a trenching head attached to the other end of the swiveling member, the trenching head including a trenching wheel and a device for pivotably raising and lowering the trenching head with respect to the swiveling member, and a frame for mounting the trencher to the vehicle.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A trencher mountable to a vehicle, the trencher comprising:

a substantially horizontal hollow stationary member, the stationary member positioned substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the vehicle;
an extension member sized to be slidably received within the stationary member, the extension member having a first end and a second end, the first end being received within the stationary member;
a means for extending and retracting the extension member with respect to the stationary member;
a swiveling member having a first end and a second end, the first end of the swiveling member pivotably attached to the second end of the extension member, the swiveling member horizontally pivotable with respect to the extension member, and the swiveling member being securable in a position parallel to the extension member;
a trenching head pivotably attached to the second end of the swiveling member, the trenching head including a trenching wheel and a means for turning the trenching wheel;
a means for pivotably raising and lowering the trenching head with respect to the swiveling member;
and
a mounting frame for mounting the trencher to the vehicle.

5 more elements

A trencher mountable to a vehicle, the trencher comprising:

a hollow stationary member;
an extension member sized to be slidably received within the stationary member, the extension member having a first end and a second end, the first end being received within the stationary member;
a means for extending and retracting the extension member with respect to the stationary member;
a swiveling member having a first end and a second end, the first end of the swiveling member pivotably attached to the second end of the extension member, the swiveling member being securable in a position parallel to the extension member;
a trenching head pivotably attached to the second end of the swiveling member, the trenching head including a trenching wheel and a means for turning the trenching wheel, and the trenching head further comprising:
a body;
a motor, said motor having a motor shaft;
a motor compartment within the body for receiving the motor;
a first sprocket affixed to the motor shaft, said sprocket positioned outside the motor compartment;
a wheel shaft for being received within the trenching wheel;
a second sprocket affixed to the wheel shaft;
and a drive chain operatively engaged between said first sprocket and said second sprocket;
a means for raising and lowering the trenching head;
and
a mounting frame for mounting the trencher to the vehicle.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.