Combination screen/conveyor device removably attachable to a vehicle

Abstract

In combination a screen, a shaker, a conveyor and carbody device which is attachable to a vehicle of choice, such as an hydraulic excavator, a backhoe, etc., and when installed thereon allows the vehicle to perform as a padding machine.

1. A padding machine comprising:
 a frame;  
 a shaker attached to the frame;  
 a screen attached to the shaker;  
 a conveyor attached to the shaker;  
 a vehicle mounted on the frame; and  
 a bucket attached to the vehicle;  
 wherein the bucket is adapted to pick up material and pour the material from the bucket and onto the screen;  
 wherein the shaker is adapted to shake the screen, thereby separating larger material from smaller material and allowing smaller material to pass through the screen; and  
 wherein the screen communicates with the shaker such that material passing through the screen is directed to the conveyor.  
 
     
     
       2. The padding machine of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is pivotally mounted on the frame. 
     
     
       3. The padding machine of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is a hydraulic excavator. 
     
     
       4. The padding machine of  claim 1 , wherein the shaker is attached to the frame by a pair of elongate members extending from the shaker to the frame. 
     
     
       5. The padding machine of  claim 1 , wherein the conveyor is below the screen. 
     
     
       6. The padding machine of  claim 1 , wherein the conveyor comprises a conveyor belt. 
     
     
       7. The padding machine of  claim 1 , wherein the shaker, the conveyor, and the bucket are powered by the power supply of the vehicle. 
     
     
       8. The padding machine of  claim 1 , wherein the bucket is movable independent of the screen, the shaker, and the conveyor. 
     
     
       9. A padding machine comprising:
 a frame;  
 a shaker attached to the frame;  
 a screen attached to the shaker;  
 a conveyor attached to the shaker;  
 a hydraulic excavator pivotally mounted on the frame; and  
 a bucket attached to the excavator, the bucket being movable independent of the shaker, the screen, and the conveyor;  
 wherein the bucket is adapted to pick up material and pour the material from the bucket and onto the screen;  
 wherein the shaker is adapted to shake the screen, thereby separating larger material from smaller material and allowing smaller material to pass through the screen;  
 wherein the screen communicates with the shaker such that material passing through the screen is directed to the conveyor; and  
 wherein the shaker, the conveyor, and the bucket are powered by the power supply of the excavator.  
 
     
     
       10. The padding machine of  claim 9 , wherein the shaker is attached to the frame by a pair of elongate members extending from the shaker to the frame. 
     
     
       11. The padding machine of  claim 10 , wherein the conveyor is below the screen. 
     
     
       12. The padding machine of  claim 11 , wherein the conveyor comprises a conveyor belt. 
     
     
       13. A method of padding a trench comprising:
 picking up excavated material with a bucket that is attached to a vehicle;  
 pouring the excavated material from the bucket onto a screen, the screen being attached to a frame that supports the vehicle;  
 shaking the screen and thereby separating larger excavated material from smaller excavated material;  
 directing the smaller excavated material onto a conveyor that is attached to the frame; and  
 conveying the excavated material to the trench.  
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the method further comprises the step of moving the bucket to a position above the screen after the step of picking up the excavated material. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of moving the bucket comprises pivoting the vehicle. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the steps of picking up, pouring, shaking, and directing are all performed by power supplied from the vehicle. 
     
     
       17. A padding machine comprising:
   a frame;        a screen attached to the frame;        a conveyor attached to the frame;        a vehicle mounted on the frame; and        a bucket attached to the vehicle;        wherein the bucket is adapted to pick up material and pour the material from the bucket onto the screen while the vehicle is mounted on the frame;        wherein the screen is adapted to separate larger material from smaller material and allow smaller material to pass through the screen; and        wherein the screen communicates with the conveyor such that the material passing through the screen is directed to the conveyor.      
     
     
       18. The padding machine of  claim 17 , wherein the vehicle is pivotally mounted on the frame.  
     
     
       19. The padding machine as in  claim 17  wherein the vehicle is one of an excavator, a tractor, a backhoe, a bulldozer, a conventional loader and a truck.  
     
     
       20. A padding machine comprising:
   a frame attached to a vehicle;        a separating mechanism attached to the frame; and,        a conveyor attached to the frame;        wherein the vehicle has a bucket structured and arranged to pick up material and deposit the material into the separating mechanism while the frame is attached to the vehicle;        wherein the separating mechanism is structured and arranged to separate larger material from smaller material and allow smaller material to pass from the separating mechanism onto the conveyor.      
     
     
       21. The padding machine as in  claim 20  wherein the conveyor is structured and arranged to convey the smaller material for deposition in a trench.  
     
     
       22. The padding machine as in  claim 20  wherein the vehicle is one of an excavator, a tractor, a backhoe, a bulldozer, a conventional loader and a truck.  
     
     
       23. The padding machine as in  claim 20  wherein the separating mechanism comprises a shaker.  
     
     
       24. The padding machine as in  claim 20  wherein the separating mechanism comprises a screen.  
     
     
       25. The padding machine as in  claim 20  wherein the separating mechanism comprises an agitator.  
     
     
       26. The padding machine as in  claim 20  wherein the padding machine is actuated by hydraulic power from an auxiliary power output of the vehicle.  
     
     
       27. The padding machine as in  claim 20  wherein the frame is pivotally attached to the vehicle.  
     
     
       28. The padding machine as in  claim 20  wherein the apparatus is structured and arranged to continuously lift and screen material and convey the screened material into a trench.  
     
     
       29. The padding machine as in  claim 20  wherein the smaller material passes through the separating mechanism onto the conveyor.  
     
     
       30. A padding machine comprising:
   a frame;        a vehicle attached to the frame;        a separating mechanism to separate larger material from smaller material attached to the frame;        a conveyor attached to the frame;        wherein the vehicle has a bucket structured and arranged to pick up material and deposit the material into the separating mechanism while the vehicle is attached to the frame;        wherein smaller material passing through the separating mechanism falls onto the conveyor.      
     
     
       31. The padding machine as in  claim 30  wherein the conveyor is structured and arranged to convey the smaller material for deposition in a trench.  
     
     
       32. The padding machine as in  claim 30  wherein the vehcile is one of an excavator, a tractor, a backhoe, a bulldozer, a conventional loader and a truck.  
     
     
       33. The padding machine as in  claim 30  wherein the separating mechanism comprises a shaker.  
     
     
       34. The padding machine as in  claim 30  wherein the separating mechanism comprises a screen.  
     
     
       35. The padding machine as in  claim 30  wherein the separating mechanism comprises an agitator.  
     
     
       36. The padding machine as in  claim 30  wherein the apparatus is actuated by hydraulic power from the auxiliary power output of the vehicle.  
     
     
       37. The padding machine as in  claim 30  wherein the frame is pivotally attached to the vehicle.  
     
     
       38. A method of padding a trench comprising:
   picking up excavated material with a bucket that is attached to a vehicle;        pouring the excavated material from the bucket to a separating mechanism that is attached to a frame that supports the vehicle;        separating larger excavated material from smaller excavated material;        directing the smaller excavated material to a conveyor that is attached to the frame; and        conveying the smaller excavated material to the trench.      
     
     
       39. The method of  claim 38  further comprising discarding larger excavated material.  
     
     
       40. The method of  claim 38  further comprising shaking at least one of the larger and the smaller excavated material.  
     
     
       41. The method of  claim 38  further comprising shaking the separating mechanism.  
     
     
       42. The method of  claim 38  further comprising agitating at least one of the larger and the smaller excavated material.  
     
     
       43. The method of  claim 38  further comprising agitating the separating mechanism.  
     
     
       44. The method of  claim 38  further comprising using hydraulic power from an auxiliary power output of the vehicle.