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US 8,015,733 B2Granted
Walk-behind trenching machine
AssigneeThe Toro Company
InventorsJohn P. Azure, Tanner L. Erickson, Glenn D. Liubakka
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A walk-behind trenching vehicle incorporating a trenching boom with an endless trenching chain. The trenching boom may be connected to a forward end of the vehicle via a dual pivot mechanism. The boom may be movable between an operating position and a transport position via a single actuator, e.g., hydraulic cylinder.
Claims20
A walk-behind steerable trencher, comprising:
- a frame comprising first and second sides;
- two independently powered ground-engaging drive members, one positioned on each of the first and second sides of the frame;
- and
- a trenching boom comprising:
- an attachment arm having a first portion pivotally attached to the frame for pivotal movement of the arm, relative to the frame, about a frame pivot axis;
- an elongate boom guide comprising a proximal end pivotally attached to a second portion of the attachment arm for pivotal movement of the boom guide, relative to the arm, about a boom pivot axis that is parallel to the frame pivot axis;
- a trenching chain movable along a perimeter of the boom guide;
- and
- a drive unit for driving the trenching chain along the perimeter of the boom guide.
6 more elements
A walk-behind steerable trencher, comprising:
- a frame defining first and second sides;
- an engine attached to the frame;
- two spaced-apart, ground-engaging tracks, one positioned on each of the first and second sides of the frame, wherein each track is operatively and independently powered by the engine;
- a trenching boom comprising:
- an attachment arm having a rearward portion pivotally attached to the frame for pivotal movement of the arm, relative to the frame, about a transverse frame pivot axis;
- an elongate boom guide comprising a proximal end pivotally attached to a forward portion of the attachment arm for pivotal movement of the boom guide, relative to the arm, about a boom pivot axis that is parallel to the frame pivot axis;
- an endless trenching chain configured to move along a perimeter of the boom guide;
- and
- a drive unit for driving the trenching chain along the perimeter of the boom guide;
- and
- an actuator coupled between the frame and the trenching boom, wherein the actuator is configured to move the trenching boom, via pivotal motion about both the frame pivot axis and the boom pivot axis, from an operating position, wherein a distal end of the boom guide is below a ground surface upon which the tracks rest during trencher operation, to a transport position, wherein the boom guide is positioned above the ground surface.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.