Pneumatic Trench Compaction Wheel Attachment for an Excavator

Abstract

A pneumatic wheel attachment for an excavator boom that provides an efficient means for trench compaction. The pneumatic wheel attachment includes a pneumatic compaction wheel, a wheel yoke, and a boom mounting assembly. The pneumatic compaction wheel is a large tire with a large foot print. The wheel yoke holds and supports the pneumatic compaction wheel and includes a first leg, a second leg, and a connecting plate. The first leg and the second leg are positioned opposite to each other. The first leg is connected perpendicular to the connecting plate while the second leg is mounted perpendicular to the connecting plate. The pneumatic compaction wheel is rotatably mounted in between the first leg and the second leg with a rotation axis being oriented perpendicular to the first leg. The boom mounting assembly is adjacently connected to the connecting plate, opposite the first leg and the second leg.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pneumatic trench compaction wheel attachment for an excavator comprises:
 a boom mounting assembly;   a pneumatic compaction wheel;   a wheel yoke;   the wheel yoke comprises a first leg, a second leg, and a connecting plate;   the first leg and the second leg being positioned offset and opposite to each other, across the connecting plate;   the first leg being connected perpendicular to the connecting plate;   the second leg being mounted perpendicular to the connecting plate;   a rotation axis of the pneumatic compaction wheel being oriented perpendicular to the first leg and the second leg;   the pneumatic compaction wheel being positioned in between the first leg and the second leg;   the pneumatic compaction wheel being rotatably mounted to the first leg and the second leg; and   the boom mounting assembly being adjacently connected to the connecting plate, opposite the first leg and the second leg.   
     
     
         2 . The pneumatic trench compaction wheel attachment for an excavator as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 a mounting flange; 
 a plurality of fastening mechanisms; 
 the mounting flange being connected perpendicular to the connecting plate, opposite the first leg; 
 the second leg being positioned parallel and adjacent to the mounting flange, opposite the first leg; 
 the plurality of fastening mechanisms being distributed about the mounting flange; and 
 each of the plurality of fastening mechanisms traversing through the mounting flange and the second leg. 
 
     
     
         3 . The pneumatic trench compaction wheel attachment for an excavator as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of fastening mechanisms is a nut-and-bolt fastener. 
     
     
         4 . The pneumatic trench compaction wheel attachment for an excavator as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 an axle; 
 an at least one wheel hub bearing; 
 the axle being positioned coincident with the rotation axis of the pneumatic compaction wheel; 
 the axle being positioned in between the first leg and the second leg; 
 the axle being connected perpendicular to the first leg; 
 the axle being attached perpendicular to the second leg; 
 the axle traversing through the pneumatic compaction wheel; 
 the wheel hub bearing being positioned concentric with the axle; and 
 the wheel hub bearing being connected in between the pneumatic compaction wheel and the axle. 
 
     
     
         5 . The pneumatic trench compaction wheel attachment for an excavator as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 an excavator boom; 
 the boom mounting assembly comprises a pair of pin-lock mechanisms, a first ear, and a second ear; 
 the first ear and the second ear being positioned adjacent to the connecting plate, opposite the pneumatic compaction wheel; 
 the first ear and the second ear being positioned offset and parallel to each other; 
 the first ear and the second ear being connected perpendicular to the connecting plate; 
 a free end of the excavator boom being positioned in between the first ear and the second ear, opposite the pneumatic compaction wheel; 
 each of the pair of pin-lock mechanisms being mechanically integrated in between the first ear, the second ear, and the excavator boom; and 
 the pair of pin-lock mechanisms being positioned offset to each other. 
 
     
     
         6 . The pneumatic trench compaction wheel attachment for an excavator as claimed in  claim 5  comprises:
 each of the pair of pin-lock mechanisms comprises a first hole, a second hole, and a locking pin; 
 the first hole laterally traversing through the first ear and the second ear; 
 the second hole laterally traversing through the excavator boom, adjacent to the free end of the excavator boom; and 
 the locking pin traversing through the first hole and the second hole. 
 
     
     
         7 . The pneumatic trench compaction wheel attachment for an excavator as claimed in  claim 5  comprises:
 a plurality of first support braces; 
 the plurality of first support braces being distributed along the first ear; and 
 each of the plurality of first support braces being adjacently connected to the first ear and the connecting plate. 
 
     
     
         8 . The pneumatic trench compaction wheel attachment for an excavator as claimed in  claim 5  comprises:
 a plurality of second support braces; 
 the plurality of second support braces being distributed along the second ear; and 
 each of the plurality of second support braces being adjacently connected to the second ear and the connecting plate. 
 
     
     
         9 . A pneumatic trench compaction wheel attachment for an excavator comprises:
 a boom mounting assembly;   a pneumatic compaction wheel;   a wheel yoke;   an excavator boom;   the wheel yoke comprises a first leg, a second leg, and a connecting plate;   the first leg and the second leg being positioned offset and opposite to each other, across the connecting plate;   the first leg being connected perpendicular to the connecting plate;   the second leg being mounted perpendicular to the connecting plate;   a rotation axis of the pneumatic compaction wheel being oriented perpendicular to the first leg and the second leg;   the pneumatic compaction wheel being positioned in between the first leg and the second leg;   the pneumatic compaction wheel being rotatably mounted to the first leg and the second leg;   the boom mounting assembly being adjacently connected to the connecting plate, opposite the first leg and the second leg;   the boom mounting assembly comprises a pair of pin-lock mechanisms, a first ear, and a second ear;   the first ear and the second ear being positioned adjacent to the connecting plate, opposite the pneumatic compaction wheel;   the first ear and the second ear being positioned offset and parallel to each other;   the first ear and the second ear being connected perpendicular to the connecting plate;   a free end of the excavator boom being positioned in between the first ear and the second ear, opposite the pneumatic compaction wheel;   each of the pair of pin-lock mechanisms being mechanically integrated in between the first ear, the second ear, and the excavator boom; and   the pair of pin-lock mechanisms being positioned offset to each other.   
     
     
         10 . The pneumatic trench compaction wheel attachment for an excavator as claimed in  claim 9  comprises:
 a mounting flange; 
 a plurality of fastening mechanisms; 
 the mounting flange being connected perpendicular to the connecting plate, opposite the first leg; 
 the second leg being positioned parallel and adjacent to the mounting flange, opposite the first leg; 
 the plurality of fastening mechanisms being distributed about the mounting flange; and 
 each of the plurality of fastening mechanisms traversing through the mounting flange and the second leg. 
 
     
     
         11 . The pneumatic trench compaction wheel attachment for an excavator as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of fastening mechanisms is a nut-and-bolt fastener. 
     
     
         12 . The pneumatic trench compaction wheel attachment for an excavator as claimed in  claim 9  comprises:
 an axle; 
 an at least one wheel hub bearing; 
 the axle being positioned coincident with the rotation axis of the pneumatic compaction wheel; 
 the axle being positioned in between the first leg and the second leg; 
 the axle being connected perpendicular to the first leg; 
 the axle being attached perpendicular to the second leg; 
 the axle traversing through the pneumatic compaction wheel; 
 the wheel hub bearing being positioned concentric with the axle; and 
 the wheel hub bearing being connected in between the pneumatic compaction wheel and the axle. 
 
     
     
         13 . The pneumatic trench compaction wheel attachment for an excavator as claimed in  claim 9  comprises:
 each of the pair of pin-lock mechanisms comprises a first hole, a second hole, and a locking pin; 
 the first hole laterally traversing through the first ear and the second ear; 
 the second hole laterally traversing through the excavator boom, adjacent to the free end of the excavator boom; and 
 the locking pin traversing through the first hole and the second hole. 
 
     
     
         14 . The pneumatic trench compaction wheel attachment for an excavator as claimed in  claim 9  comprises:
 a plurality of first support braces; 
 the plurality of first support braces being distributed along the first ear; and 
 each of the plurality of first support braces being adjacently connected to the first ear and the connecting plate. 
 
     
     
         15 . The pneumatic trench compaction wheel attachment for an excavator as claimed in  claim 9  comprises:
 a plurality of second support braces; 
 the plurality of second support braces being distributed along the second ear; and 
 each of the plurality of second support braces being adjacently connected to the second ear and the connecting plate.