US 6,482,053 B1Granted

Marsh excavator

OwnerLarry Prestenbachinventor

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Abstract

The present invention is a flotation apparatus converting a land excavator for amphibious operation. The conversion package comprises a pair of elongated pontoon assemblies secured to each other in a spaced apart manner by transverse support beams telescopically and detachably connected to transverse sleeves located in each pontoon the beams fitted with a base to support and attach a land excavator in an operational manner. Each pontoon includes an endless track guided around it longitudinally and threaded around a head and tail sprocket assembly, the tail sprocket assembly being inboard and fully protected, driven by a hydraulically motor attached to a fully enclosed internal gear reducer. The endless track, configured with only two chain runs on each pontoon, is attached to a light weight traverse channel cleats A series of polymer guide or wear blocks are also provided, attached to each cleat. The head and tail sprocket assemblies include stub shaft and bushing bearings lubricated by an internal oil reservoir with full submersion of the gear reducer.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An adaptation of flotation apparatus to an earth excavator comprising:

a) a pair of pontoons with each pontoon comprising;
i) a forward and rear bearing support members;
ii) a notch in an upper portion of said pontoon to receive said rear bearing support members and associated drive sprocket assembly inboard of said pontoon;
iii) at least one sleeve member passing transversely through said pontoon;
iv) a pair of upper and lower chain guide channels extending the length of and attached to said pontoon;
v) a pair of wear plates located between said lower chain guide channels extending the length of and attached to each said pontoon;
vi) an endless chain assembly extending longitudinally around said pontoon and engaging said head and drive sprocket assemblies said chin assembly comprising a pair of parallel roller chains having a plurality of channel members attached perpendicularly thereto each of said channel members having a pair of polymeric guide members attached between said roller chains;
vii) a head sprocket assembly adjustably attached to said forward bearing support members engaging said chain assembly;
viii) a drive sprocket assembly attached to said rear bearing support engaging said chain assembly;
and
b) a means for connecting each of said pontoons one to the other in a detachable manner said means telescopically slidable within said sleeve member and connected thereto;
and
c) an adapter for attaching an excavator to said means for connecting each of said pontoons.

10 more elements

An adaptation of flotation apparatus to an earth excavator for amphibious use comprising:

a) a pair of pontoons each pontoon having forward and rear bearing support members an upper portion of each said pontoon notched to receive said rear bearing support members inboard of said pontoon;
b) a spacer means for holding said pair of pontoons in a spaced apart relationship;
c) an adapter for attaching an excavator to said spacer means;
d) a sleeve means passing transversely through each of said pontoons for telescopically receiving and securing said spacer means in a detachable manner;
e) a pair of upper and lower chain guide channels extending the length of and attached to each said pontoon;
f) a pair of wear plates located between said lower guide channels extending the length of and attached to each said pontoon;
g) a head sprocket assembly adjustably attached to said forward bearing support members and a drive sprocket assembly attached to said rear bearing support members;
and
h) an endless chain assembly extending longitudinally around said pontoon in rolling contact with and guided by said guide channels and in engagement with said head and drive sprocket assembly said chain assembly comprising a pair of roller chains having a plurality of channel members attached perpendicularly thereto each of said channels having a pair of polymeric guide members attached between said roller chains.

6 more elements

A method for adapting an earth excavator for amphibious use comprising the steps of;

a) adapting a base frame in an operationally manner to an earth excavating apparatus;
b) attaching a pair of hydraulically driven track pontoons to said base frame in a detachable manner each said pontoons comprising, forward and rear bearing support members an upper portion of each said pontoon notched to receive said rear bearing support members inboard of said pontoon, a sleeve means passing transversely through each of said pontoons for telescopically receiving and securing a portion of said base frame, a pair of upper and lower chain guide channels extending the length of and attached to each said pontoon, a pair of wear plates located between said lower guide channels extending the length of and attached to each said pontoon, a head sprocket assembly comprising an elongated tubular member having a chain sprocket attached externally adjacent each end of said tubular member, a bearing hub having an internal central bore, said hub located internally at each end of said tubular member, a flange bushing located internally in said central bore of each said bearing hub, a shaft hub having a detachable stub shaft extending there from, a pair of back to back o-ring retainers fitted with o-rings slidable upon said stub shaft, said stub shaft being rotatable within said flange bushing, located at each end of said tubular member and a mounting means attached to shaft hub for adjustably mounting said sprocket assembly attached to said forward bearing support members and a drive sprocket assembly comprising a first and second elongated tubular members each said tubular member having a sprocket attached externally adjacent one end and a flange member externally attached at the opposite end said flanges being cooperatively and detachably fastened one to the other, an adapter plate located internally within each said first and second tubular members opposite said flange members, a gear reducer having a hydraulic motor attached said reducer having a fixed flange and a rotating flange with said rotating flange being attached to said adapter plate within said first tubular member, a bearing hub having an internal central bore said hub fixed to said adapter plate within said second tubular member, a flange bushing located internally in said central bore of said bearing hub, a shaft hub having a detachable stub shaft extending there from, a pair of back to back o-ring retainers fitted with o-rings slidable upon said stub shaft, said stub shaft being rotatable within said flange bushing, located at end of said second tubular member;
and a mounting means attached to said shaft hub for fixing said shaft hub within said notch of said pontoon, attached to said rear bearing support members and an endless chain assembly extending longitudinally around said pontoon in rolling contact with and guided by said guide channels and in engagement with said head and drive sprocket assembly said chain assembly comprising a pair of roller chains having a plurality of channel members attached perpendicularly thereto each of said channels having a pair of polymeric guide members attached between said roller chains in sliding contact with said wear plates;
and
c) filling each of said head and drive sprocket assemblies with oil;
d) connecting hydraulic lines located within each said pontoon to said excavator and to said hydraulic drive motors;
and
e) tensioning said chains by adjusting jacking screws located adjacent each head sprocket assembly.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/908,027Filed 18 Jul 2001
Granted: 19 Nov 2002
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

B60F 3/0015
Arrangement of propulsion or steering means on amphibious vehicles: comprising tracks specially adapted therefor
B62D 55/286
Detachable: for soft grounds, e.g. consisting of snow or swamp
E02F 9/02
Component parts of dredgers or soil-shifting machines, not restricted to one of the kinds covered by groups E02F3/00 - E02F7/00: travelling-gear,…
E02F 9/026
Travelling-gear, e.g. associated with slewing gears: for moving on the underwater bottom