Trenching wheel with front-mounted cleaner

Abstract

Provided is an excavating machine, such as for use in digging trenches. The excavating machine includes an earth moving assembly having a wheel, a plurality of teeth mounted on the wheel, a frame retaining a portion of the wheel, and a cleaning assembly for removing spoil from the earth moving assembly prior to the wheel entering the frame. The teeth may include first and second cutting portions. The first cutting portion may include a narrow leading edge, while the second cutting portion includes a wide leading edge. Moreover, the cleaning assembly may include right and left cleaning assemblies which may each include side and front cleaning members, as well as a removable tooth. The machine may include at least one spoil surface for moving spoil removed by the cleaning assembly away from the dug trench.

1 . An excavating machine comprising:
 an earth moving assembly comprising a wheel, a plurality of teeth mounted on said wheel, and a frame retaining a portion of said wheel;   a cleaning assembly; and   said cleaning assembly removing spoil from said earth moving assembly prior to said wheel entering said frame.   
     
     
         2 . The excavating machine of  claim 1  wherein said cleaning assembly is located forward of said wheel. 
     
     
         3 . The excavating machine of  claim 1  wherein said wheel is a center shank T-shaped cutting wheel. 
     
     
         4 . The excavating machine of  claim 1  wherein each of said plurality of teeth includes a first cutting portion and a second cutting portion. 
     
     
         5 . The excavating machine of  claim 4  wherein said first cutting portion includes a narrow leading edge and said second cutting portion includes a wide leading edge. 
     
     
         6 . The excavating machine of  claim 5  wherein the position of said first and second cutting portions alternate among each of the plurality of teeth. 
     
     
         7 . The excavating machine of  claim 1  wherein said cleaning assembly includes at least one side cleaning member. 
     
     
         8 . The excavating machine of  claim 7  wherein said cleaning assembly further includes at least one front cleaning member. 
     
     
         9 . The excavating machine of  claim 8  wherein said cleaning assembly further includes at least one removable tooth. 
     
     
         10 . The excavating machine of  claim 9  wherein said cleaning assembly includes a right side cleaning assembly and a left side cleaning assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The excavating machine of  claim 1  further comprising at least one spoil surface, said spoil surface moving said spoil removed by said cleaning assembly away from a trench being excavated by said excavating machine. 
     
     
         12 . An excavating machine comprising:
 an earth moving assembly comprising a wheel, a plurality of teeth mounted on said wheel, and a frame retaining an upper portion of said wheel;   said teeth traveling through said frame after moving earth;   each of said plurality of teeth including at least one cutting portion;   a cleaning assembly, said cleaning assembly comprising at least one cleaning member, said cleaning member removing spoil from said at least one cutting portion; and   said cleaning assembly removing spoil from said earth moving assembly prior to said wheel entering said frame.   
     
     
         13 . The excavating machine of  claim 12  further comprising a spoil surface to remove spoil that has been cleaned by said cleaning assembly from the top of a trench being excavated by said excavating machine. 
     
     
         14 . The excavating machine of  claim 13  wherein at least one of said plurality of teeth includes first and second cutting portions. 
     
     
         15 . The excavating machine of  claim 14  wherein said first cutting portion includes a narrow leading edge and said second cutting portion includes a wide leading edge. 
     
     
         16 . The excavating machine of  claim 15  wherein said cleaning assembly includes a right cleaning assembly and a left cleaning assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The excavating machine of  claim 16  wherein each of said right and left cleaning assemblies includes a side cleaning member, front cleaning member, and removable tooth. 
     
     
         18 . An excavating machine comprising:
 an earth moving assembly comprising a wheel, a plurality of teeth mounted on said wheel, and a frame retaining an upper portion of said wheel;   each of said plurality of teeth including two cutting portions, the first cutting portion having a narrow leading edge and the second cutting portion having a wide leading edge;   said teeth traveling through said frame after moving earth;   a cleaning assembly located forward of said wheel, said cleaning assembly comprising a right cleaning assembly and a left cleaning assembly;   each of said right and left cleaning assemblies including a side cleaning member, front cleaning member, and a removable tooth;   said cleaning assembly removing spoil from said earth moving assembly prior to said wheel entering said frame; and   two spoil surfaces, said spoil surfaces moving spoil away from the top of a trench being excavated by said excavating machine.