Excavator

Abstract

An excavator ( 10 ) for excavating a selected material and conveying the excavated material to a selected location. The excavator ( 10 ) includes a mobile support ( 16 ) and a boom assembly ( 26 ) mounted thereon, with the boom assembly ( 26 ) having at least one extendable section ( 30 ). The excavator ( 10 ) also includes a conveying assembly ( 14 ) for conveying the excavated material from the mobile support ( 16 ), and an excavating assembly ( 12 ) mounted on the extendable section ( 30 ) of the boom assembly ( 26 ) for excavating the material and conveying it to the conveying assembly ( 14 ).

1 . An excavator for excavating a selected material and conveying the excavated selected material, said excavator comprising: 
 a mobile support;    a boom assembly mounted on said mobile support, said boom assembly having at least one extendable section, said extendable section being selectively extendable and retractable;    a conveying assembly for conveying the excavated selected material from said mobile support, said conveying assembly including an extendable conveyor, said extendable conveyor being extendable and retractable with said extendable section of said boom assembly; and    an excavating assembly mounted on said extendable section of said boom assembly for excavating the selected material and conveying the excavated selected material to said conveying assembly, whereby said conveying assembly conveys the excavated selected material from said mobile support.    
   
   
       2 . The excavator of  claim 1  wherein said boom assembly is rotatably and pivotally mounted on said mobile support, whereby said excavating assembly can be selectively rotated in a substantially horizontal plane and can be selectively raised and lowered by pivoting said boom assembly.  
   
   
       3 . The excavator of  claim 1  wherein said boom assembly includes a proximal section for extendably supporting said extendable section of said boom assembly.  
   
   
       4 . The excavator of  claim 3  wherein said proximal section of said boom assembly telescopically receives at least a portion of said extendable section of said boom assembly.  
   
   
       5 . The excavator of  claim 3 , wherein said conveying assembly includes a first conveyor for receiving excavated material from said extendable conveyor.  
   
   
       6 . The excavator of  claim 5  wherein said first conveyor is supported by said proximal section of said boom assembly, and said extendable conveyor is secured to said extendable section of said boom assembly so as to selectively extend and retract with said extendable section.  
   
   
       7 . The excavator of  claim 3  wherein said conveying assembly includes a further conveyor for receiving excavated material from said first conveyor and for offloading said excavated material from said mobile support.  
   
   
       8 . The excavator of  claim 5  wherein said first conveyor and said extendable conveyor are belt conveyors.  
   
   
       9 . The excavator of  claim 7  wherein said further conveyor is a substantially U-shaped belt conveyor having at least a first and second outlet.  
   
   
       10 . The excavator of  claim 7  wherein said further conveyor is a belt conveyor having at least a first and second outlet.  
   
   
       11 . The excavator of  claim 1  wherein said excavating assembly includes a bucket conveyor.  
   
   
       12 . The excavator of  claim 11  wherein said extendable section of said boom assembly defines a distal end portion, and wherein said bucket conveyor is pivotally mounted on said distal end portion of said extendable section of said boom assembly.  
   
   
       13 . The excavator of  claim 1  wherein said extendable conveyor includes a movable belt, and includes at least one movable roller for maintaining tension on said movable belt as said extendable conveyor is selectively extended and retracted.  
   
   
       14 . An excavator for excavating a selected material and conveying the excavated selected material, said excavator comprising: 
 a mobile support;    a boom assembly rotatably and pivotally mounted on said mobile support, said boom assembly having a proximal section and at least one extendable section, at least a portion of said extendable section being telescopically received by said proximal section, whereby said extendable section is selectively extendable and retractable;    a conveying assembly for conveying the excavated selected material from said mobile support, said conveying assembly including a first conveyor supported on said proximal section of said boom assembly and including an extendable conveyor for conveying excavated material to said first conveyor, said extendable conveyor being extendable and retractable with said extendable section of said boom assembly, said conveying assembly also including a further conveyor mounted on said mobile support for receiving excavated material from said first conveyor and offloading the excavated material from said mobile support; and    an excavating assembly mounted on said extendable section of said boom assembly for excavating the selected material and conveying the excavated selected material to said conveying assembly, whereby said conveying assembly conveys the excavated selected material from said mobile support, said excavating assembly including a bucket conveyor pivotally mounted on a distal end portion of said extendable section of said boom assembly.    
   
   
       15 . The excavator of  claim 14  wherein said mobile support is a self-propelled vehicle.  
   
   
       16 . The excavator of  claim 15  wherein said further conveyor is a substantially U-shaped belt conveyor having two outlets.  
   
   
       17 . The excavator of  claim 14  wherein said excavator includes a support assembly for rotatably and pivotally mounting said boom assembly on said mobile support, said support assembly including a lower support rotatably mounted on said mobile support and a yoke mounted on said lower support for pivotally supporting said proximal section of said boom assembly.  
   
   
       18 . The excavator of  claim 17  wherein said excavator includes a first hydraulic motor for selectively rotating said lower support, and includes a first hydraulic actuator for selectively pivoting said proximal section of said boom assembly.  
   
   
       19 . The excavator of  claim 18  wherein said excavating assembly includes a second hydraulic actuator for selectively pivoting said belt conveyor with respect to said extendable section of said boom assembly.  
   
   
       20 . The excavator of  claim 19  wherein said first conveyor is selectively driven by a second hydraulic motor, wherein said extendable conveyor is selectively driven by a third hydraulic motor, and wherein said further conveyor is selectively driven by a fourth hydraulic motor.  
   
   
       21 . An excavator for excavating a selected material and conveying the excavated selected material, said excavator comprising: 
 a self-propelled vehicle;    a boom assembly rotatably and pivotally mounted on said self-propelled vehicle, said boom assembly having a proximal section and at least one extendable section, at least a portion of said extendable section being telescopically received by said proximal section, whereby said extendable section is selectively extendable and retractable;    a conveying assembly for conveying the excavated selected material from said mobile support, said conveying assembly including a first conveyor supported on said proximal section of said boom assembly and including an extendable conveyor for conveying excavated material to said first conveyor, said extendable conveyor being extendable and retractable with said extendable section of said boom assembly, said conveying assembly also including a further conveyor mounted on said mobile support for receiving excavated material from said first conveyor and offloading the excavated material from said self-propelled vehicle, said further conveyor being a substantially U-shaped belt conveyor having at least a first and second outlet; and    an excavating assembly mounted on said extendable section of said boom assembly for excavating the selected material and conveying the excavated selected material to said conveying assembly, whereby said conveying assembly conveys the excavated selected material from said self-propelled vehicle, said excavating assembly including a bucket conveyor pivotally mounted on a distal end portion of said extendable section of said boom assembly.