Trencher with foldable rock saw wheel
AssigneeTesmec USA, Inc.
InventorJohnnie C. Welch, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A trencher with a rock saw wheel has a foldable section that may be pivoted to one side during transport of the trencher on a truck or trailer, in order to decrease the overall height of the trencher during transport, or can be removed to reduce transport weight.
Claims11
A rock saw wheel for a trencher, the rock saw wheel comprising a wheel for supporting a plurality of cutting elements around its periphery;
- the wheel having a first section for attaching to a rotary power source and at least one second section that, when placed in a common plane with the first section, establishes a round wheel and, if one of the at least one second section is removed, reduces the wheel's diameter along at least one direction;
- the one of the at least one second section being joined to the first section by at least one connecting plate attached to the first section and/or the one of the at least one second section by at least one releasable fastener.
A trencher with a foldable rock saw, said trencher comprising:
- a frame;
- a motor;
- and
- a transmission coupling the motor to a rotationally mounted rock saw wheel;
- wherein, the rock saw wheel comprises a wheel, around which is disposed a plurality of cutting elements;
- the wheel having a first section and at least one second section that, if removed, reduces the wheel's diameter along at least one direction;
- one of the at least one second section being joined to the first section by at least one connecting plate attached to the first section and/or the one of the at least one second section by at least one releasable fastener.
A method for transporting over roadway a trencher, the trencher having rotationally mounted to it a foldable rock saw, the rock saw including a wheel, around which is disposed a plurality of cutting elements;
- the wheel having a first section and at least one second section that, if removed, reduces the wheel's diameter along at least one direction;
- one of the at least one second section being pivotally connected to the first section so that the one of the at least one second section may be pivoted toward one side of the wheel while remaining connected to the first section, the method comprising:
- pivoting the one of the at lest one second section to one side of the wheel in order to reduce the trencher's overall height;
- transporting the trencher on a road vehicle to a site;
- pivoting the one of the at least one second section so that it is in a common plane with the first section at the site;
- and
- joining the first section and the one of the at least one second section by at least one connecting plate in order to prevent pivoting during trenching operation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.