US2009007460A1PendingUtilityA1

Earth saw

37
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Jan 21, 2005Filed: Jan 21, 2005Published: Jan 8, 2009
Est. expiryJan 21, 2025(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Joseph G. GreenleeCody L. SewellMichael D. BuckBlaine S. Talbot
E02F 5/08E02F 3/246E02F 3/20E02F 3/248E02F 3/188
37
PatentIndex Score
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Cited by
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Claims

Abstract

An apparatus used to excavate trenches. In a preferred embodiment the trenching machine has a cutting disc supported on a frame and adapted to operate with the center point of the cutting disc below ground. A spoils handler supported above the cutting disc and forward of the center point is used to move spoils away from the cutting disc. The ratio of cutting depth to weight of the trenching assembly and the cutting depth to wheel diameter is improved through the use of a cutting disc that is concave. The outer rim of the concave disc may support a plurality of replaceable cutting member. The cutting disc is rotated using a drive assembly that is contained within the cutting width of the cutting disc.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . An apparatus for excavating trenches comprising:
 a work machine;   a frame connected to the work machine;   a trenching assembly connected to the frame, the trenching assembly comprising:   a cutter disc comprising a central planar portion terminating peripherally in a rim extending generally perpendicular to the central planar portion, wherein the rim comprises an outer surface;   a ring connected to the outer surface of the rim and circumscribing the cutter disc; and   at least one cutting member supported on the ring; and   a power supply supported by the frame and adapted to drive operation of the trenching assembly;   a drive assembly disposed within the central planar portion and adapted to both support the cutter disc and transmit rotational energy from a power supply to the cutter disc to drive rotation of the cutter disc from only one side of the cutter disc.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the ring comprises one or more segments connected to the outer surface of the cutter disc. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the frame is further adapted to cover an above-ground portion of the trenching assembly, the apparatus further comprising a spoils handler supported within the frame and adapted to move spoils laterally away from the trenching assembly through an opening in the frame immediately above the cutter disc. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a spoils handler connected to the frame and adapted to move spoils in a lateral direction away from the trenching assembly. 
   
   
       5 . (canceled) 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the power supply comprises a rotatable drive shaft and wherein the drive assembly comprises:
 a first gear operably connected to the drive shaft for rotation therewith; and   a second gear connected to the cutter disc and adapted to rotate in response to rotation of the first gear and drive shaft.   
   
   
       7 . (canceled) 
   
   
       8 . (canceled) 
   
   
       9 . A trenching assembly for excavating a trench comprising:
 a cutter disc comprising a central planar portion terminating peripherally in a rim extending generally perpendicular to the central planar portion, wherein the rim comprises an outer surface, and wherein the rim and central planar portion delimit an internal space;   a ring connected to the outer surface and circumscribing the cutter disc;   at least one cutting member connected to the ring; and   a drive assembly disposed within the internal space and adapted to both support the cutter disc and transmit rotational energy from a power supply to the cutter disc to drive rotation of the cutter disc from only one side of the cutter disc.   
   
   
       10 . The trenching assembly of  claim 9  wherein the power supply comprises a hydrostatic motor. 
   
   
       11 . The trenching assembly of  claim 10  wherein the drive assembly comprises:
 a first gear connectable to the power supply; and   a second gear supported within the internal space and adapted to rotate in response to rotation of the first gear.   
   
   
       12 . The trenching assembly of  claim 9  comprising a cutting depth and a cutting diameter, wherein the ratio of the cutting depth to the cutting diameter is between 0.5 and 0.8. 
   
   
       13 . (canceled) 
   
   
       14 . The trenching assembly of  claim 9  wherein the cutter disc comprises a center point and wherein the cutter disc is adapted to operate with the center point of the cutter disc below ground. 
   
   
       15 . An apparatus for excavating trenches comprising:
 a frame;   a support assembly connected to the frame;   a trenching assembly connected to the support assembly, wherein the trenching assembly comprises a cutter disc comprising a central planar portion terminating peripherally in a rim extending generally perpendicular to the central planar portion, and an internal space delimited by the rim and the central planar portion;   a drive assembly for mounting the trenching assembly to the support assembly disposed within the internal space and adapted to support the cutter disc from only one side of the cutter disc and to transmit rotational energy from a power supply to the cutter disc to drive rotation of the cutter disc from only one side of the cutter disc.   
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the cutting depth of the trenching assembly is between twenty and forty inches. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the cutting width of the trenching assembly is between 4.75 and 7 inches. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the ratio of cutting depth of the trenching assembly to cutting diameter of the trenching assembly is 0.65. 
   
   
       19 . (canceled) 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 15  further comprising a spoils handler connected to the frame and disposed proximate to the trenching assembly. 
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein the spoils handler is disposed immediately above the trenching assembly. 
   
   
       22 . (canceled) 
   
   
       23 . (canceled) 
   
   
       24 . (canceled) 
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the cutting depth and the cutting diameter comprise a ratio of between 0.5 and 0.8. 
   
   
       26 . (canceled) 
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the trenching assembly has a cutting width of between 4.75 and 7 inches and wherein the cutting depth of the trenching assembly is between twenty and forty inches. 
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the ratio of the cutting width to the cutting depth is approximately 0.16. 
   
   
       29 . An apparatus for excavating a trench comprising:
 a frame comprising a hood;   a trenching assembly supported by the frame, the trenching assembly comprising:
 a cutter disc, the cutter disc comprising a central planar portion terminating peripherally in a rim extending generally perpendicular to the central planar portion wherein the rim comprises an outer surface 
 a ring connected to the outer surface and circumscribing the cutter disc, wherein the ring is adapted to support a plurality of cutting members; 
   wherein the hood of the frame is adapted to cover an above-ground portion of the cutter disc;   wherein the cutter disc is rotatable to excavate the trench;   a spoils handler supported inside the hood immediately above the cutter disc and adapted to laterally displace spoils from immediately above the cutter disc and   a drive assembly disposed within the central planar portion and adapted to both support the cutter disc and transmit rotational energy from a power supply to the cutter disc to drive rotation of the cutter disc from only one side of the cutter disc.   
   
   
       30 . (canceled) 
   
   
       31 . (canceled) 
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 29  further comprising a power supply having a drive shaft adapted to drive rotation of the cutter disc, and wherein the drive assembly comprises:
 a first gear operably connected to the drive shaft for movement therewith; and   a second gear connected to a one side of the cutter disc and adapted to move in response to movement of the drive shaft and the first gear.   
   
   
       33 . The apparatus of  claim 29  wherein the trenching assembly comprises a cutting depth and a cutting diameter and wherein the ratio of the cutting depth to the cutting diameter is between 0.5 and 0.8. 
   
   
       34 . An apparatus for excavating a trench comprising:
 a frame;   a support assembly connected to the frame;   a trenching assembly, the trenching assembly comprising a cutter disc comprising:
 a central planar portion terminating peripherally in a rim extending generally perpendicular to the central planar portion, the peripheral rim having an outer surface; and 
 an internal space delimited by the peripheral rim and central planar portion; 
   a drive assembly for mounting the trenching assembly to the support assembly disposed within the internal space and adapted to support the cutter disc from only one side of the cutter disc and to transmit rotational energy from a power supply to the cutter disc to drive rotation of the cutter disc from only one side of the cutter disc.   
   
   
       35 . The apparatus of  claim 34  wherein the trenching assembly further comprises a ring connected to the outer surface of the rim and circumscribing the rim, and wherein a plurality of cutting members are connected to the ring so that each connection between the ring and the plurality of cutting members is disposed beyond the rim of the cutter disc. 
   
   
       36 . The apparatus of  claim 35  wherein the cutter disc comprises a cutting width of at least 4.75 inches. 
   
   
       37 . The apparatus of  claim 35  wherein the cutter disc comprises a cutting depth of at least thirty inches. 
   
   
       38 . The apparatus of  claim 34  wherein the cutting width of the trenching assembly is between 4.75 and 7 inches and wherein the trenching assembly comprises a cutting depth of between twenty and forty inches. 
   
   
       39 . The apparatus of  claim 34  wherein the ratio of the cutting width to the cutting depth is approximately 0.16. 
   
   
       40 . The apparatus of  claim 34  wherein the ratio of cutting depth to cutting diameter is approximately 0.65. 
   
   
       41 . (canceled) 
   
   
       42 . (canceled)

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