Edging and trenching system

Abstract

The invention provides a combination bed edger and cable layer unit having a common platform and interchangeable cutting wheels and shrouds. The protective shrouds can be attached and removed using knobs, without the need for tools. The cutting blades can be selectively mounted to the drive shaft using bolts on the face of the cutting blades. The unit includes an adjustable handle that can be adjusted to different operating heights, or can be folded over the unit in a storage position. The handle includes a release lever that allows an operator to convert the unit between a transport position and an operating position. The unit includes a chain drive transmission, providing a direct chain drive transmission from the engine shaft to the drive shaft.

1 . A ground digging device comprising: 
 a frame;    a steering handle;    wherein the steering handle is capable of multiple positions, and each of the multiple positions is located at a predetermined discrete height.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the multiple hand positions include at least three positions.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the multiple hand positions include a folding position.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the steering handle comprises a first section and a second section, the first section is pivotably attached to the second section.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the first section is pivotably attached to the second section by quick adjust mechanism.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the quick adjust mechanism is a spring pin that can be inserted into one of a number of holes located on an end of the first section.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein three holes located on the end of the first section, each correspond to one of three multiple positions, and one hole located on the end of the first section corresponds to a folding position.  
   
   
       8 . A ground digging device comprising: 
 a frame;    a cutting blade;    a steering handle;    a depth control cable; and    a release lever mounted on the steering handle, the release lever capable of selecting either a transport position or an operating position via the depth control cable.    
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 a rear axle, the rear axle is pivotably connected to the frame at a pivot connection; and    wherein the rear axle is located in a first position relative to the frame in a transport position, and the rear axle is located in a second position relative to the frame in an operating position.    
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the release lever operates to allow the rear axle to pivot freely relative to the frame about the pivot connection.  
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the rear axle can be locked into one of a plurality of discrete positions corresponding to different depth positions for the cutting blade.  
   
   
       12 . A ground digging device comprising: 
 an engine, the engine including an engine output shaft;    a tool, the tool including a tool drive shaft; and    a chain drive through which the engine output shaft and the tool drive shaft are directly connected.    
   
   
       13 . A ground digging device comprising: 
 a frame;    a cutting blade;    a shroud with an open bottom;    wherein the shroud is attached to the frame with a knob.    
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 13  wherein the shroud includes a mounting tab and the knob engages the mounting tab.  
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 a pivot pin, the pivot pin connecting the shroud to the frame, and    wherein the shroud can be pivoted along an axis of the pivot pin.    
   
   
       16 . A ground digging device comprising: 
 a frame;    a cutting blade;    a shroud having a polygon shape with an open bottom.    
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 16  wherein the shroud has a pentagon shape.  
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 16 , further comprising a baffle plate attached to an interior surface of the shroud.  
   
   
       19 . A ground digging device comprising: 
 a drive shaft;    a cutting blade;    a mounting hub, the mounting hub attachable to the drive shaft;    wherein the cutting blade can be attached to the mounting hub using a bolt through a face of the cutting blade.    
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the cutting blade can be either a bed edger cutting blade or a cable layer cutting blade.