Wide-end trencher boom

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016273183-A1
Application number	US-201615071870-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 16, 2016
Priority date	Mar 16, 2015
Publication date	Sep 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A trencher ( 10 ) is described that is convertible between first and second trenching configurations. When the trencher ( 10 ) is in the first trenching configuration, a trencher boom ( 20 ) includes a first trenching portion at the distal end ( 24 ) of the boom ( 20 ) and a second trenching portion that extends along a longitudinal axis from the first trenching portion toward the proximal end ( 22 ). The first trenching portion defines a first trench width, and the second trenching portion defines a second trench width. The first trench width is larger than the second trench width. The second trenching portion has a greater length measured along the longitudinal axis as compared to the first trenching portion.

First claim

1 . A trencher ( 10 ) comprising:
a chassis ( 12 ) having a front end ( 14 ) and a back end ( 16 ); a propulsion system ( 18 ) for moving the chassis ( 12 ) forward and rearward; a trencher boom ( 20 ) mounted to the back end ( 16 ) of the chassis ( 12 ), the trencher boom ( 20 ) being pivotally movable relative to the chassis ( 12 ) between a raised position and a lowered position, the trencher boom ( 20 ) including proximal end ( 22 ) pivotally mounted to the chassis ( 12 ) and a distal end ( 24 ), the trencher boom ( 20 ) defining a longitudinal axis that extends between the proximal and distal ends ( 22 , 24 ) of the boom ( 20 ), the trencher boom ( 20 ) also including a boom frame ( 26 ) that extends longitudinally along the longitudinal axis of the boom ( 20 ), the trencher boom ( 20 ) having a top side ( 28 ) and a bottom side ( 30 ); the trencher boom ( 20 ) including a first trenching portion at the distal end ( 24 ) of the boom ( 20 ) and a second trenching portion that extends along the longitudinal axis from the first trenching portion toward the proximal end ( 22 ), the first trenching portion defining a first trench width and the second trenching portion defining a second trench width, the first trench width being larger than the second trench width, the first trenching portion having a length measured along the longitudinal axis that is less than one half of a total length of the trencher boom ( 20 ); the trencher boom ( 20 ) including a trenching chain ( 34 ) that moves along a continuous path that extends around a length of the boom frame ( 26 ), the trenching chain ( 34 ) defining a chain width that corresponds to the second trench width, the chain ( 34 ) turning about a first axis (L 1 ) at the proximal end ( 22 ) of the boom ( 20 ) and a second axis (L 2 ) at the distal end ( 24 ) of the boom ( 20 ); the trencher boom ( 20 ) including first and second trench wideners ( 32 ) positioned at the distal end ( 24 ) of the trencher boom ( 20 ) on opposite sides of the trenching chain ( 34 ), the first and second trench wideners ( 32 ) being configured to rotate about the second axis (L 2 ) as the chain ( 34 ) is driven along the continuous path, the first and second trench wideners ( 32 ) cooperating to define outer extents of the first trench width, and each of the first and second trench wideners ( 32 ) having a cutting width that is less than 0.75 times as large as the chain width; the trenching chain ( 34 ) including a main chain body and a plurality of chain cutters ( 38 ) carried with the main chain body, wherein the chain cutters ( 38 ) are oriented such that tips of the chain cutters ( 38 ) face at least partially in a rearward direction when the chain cutters ( 38 ) are traveling along the top side ( 28 ) of the trencher boom ( 20 ) and face at least partially in a forward direction when the chain cutters ( 38 ) are traveling along the bottom side ( 30 ) of the trencher boom ( 20 ); and the first and second trench wideners ( 32 ) respectively including first and second drum sections ( 36 ) carrying a plurality of drum cutters ( 41 ), wherein the drum cutters ( 41 ) are oriented such that tips of the drum cutters ( 41 ) face at least partially in the rearward direction when the drum cutters ( 41 ) are directly over their respective first and second drum sections ( 36 ) and face at least partially in the forward direction when the drum cutters ( 41 ) are directly under their respective first and second drum sections ( 36 ); wherein during operation, the trencher ( 10 ) draws the spoils up along the bottom side ( 30 ) of the boom ( 20 ).

2 . The trencher ( 10 ) of claim 1 , further comprising a drive mechanism ( 44 ) for driving the trenching chain ( 34 ) about the continuous path, wherein, during trenching, the trenching chain ( 34 ) is driven in a first direction in which the trenching chain ( 34 ) transitions from the top side ( 28 ) of the trencher boom ( 20 ) to the bottom side ( 30 ) of the trencher boom ( 20 ) at the proximal end ( 22 ) of the trencher boom ( 20 ) and transitions from the bottom side ( 30 ) of the trencher boom ( 20 ) to the top side ( 28 ) of the trencher boom ( 20 ) at the distal end ( 24 ) of the trencher boom ( 20 ).

3 . The trencher ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein the propulsion system ( 18 ) includes tracks or tires.

4 . The trencher ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein the main body of the trenching chain ( 34 ) rides on a sprocket ( 46 ) at the distal end ( 24 ) of the trencher boom ( 20 ), wherein the sprocket ( 46 ) rotates about the second axis (L 2 ), wherein the second axis (L 2 ) is defined by a shaft ( 48 ) that is fixed relative to the boom frame ( 26 ), wherein the sprocket ( 46 ) is mounted to the shaft ( 48 ) by at least one bearing ( 54 ) that allows the sprocket ( 46 ) to rotate about the shaft ( 48 ), and wherein the first and second drum sections ( 36 ) rotate in unison with the sprocket ( 46 ) about the second axis (L 2 ).

5 . The trencher ( 10 ) of claim 4 , wherein the first and second drum sections ( 36 ) are mechanically coupled to the sprocket ( 46 ).

6 . The trencher ( 10 ) of claim 4 , wherein the first and second drum sections ( 36 ) are each releasably coupled to a hub ( 50 ) that rotates in unison with the sprocket ( 46 ).

7 . (canceled)

8 . The trencher ( 10 ) of claim 6 , wherein each hub ( 50 ) is secured to the sprocket ( 46 ).

9 . (canceled)

10 . The trencher ( 10 ) of claim 4 , wherein the shaft ( 48 ) is fixed relative to the boom frame ( 26 ) by a fitting ( 52 ).

11 . The trencher ( 10 ) of claim 4 , wherein the shaft ( 48 ) width is narrower than the second trench width.

12 . The trencher ( 10 ) of claim 4 , wherein the sprocket ( 46 ) includes a plurality of teeth ( 47 ) that engage the chain ( 34 ).

13 . The trencher ( 10 ) of claim 4 , wherein the chain ( 34 ) rotates about the shaft ( 48 ) around the boom distal end ( 24 ) from the top side ( 28 ) to the bottom side ( 30 ).

14 . The trencher ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein, during operation, the boom ( 20 ) is raised upward and away from a front end face ( 65 ) of a trench ( 60 ).

15 . The trencher ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein, during operation, the first and second drum sections ( 36 ) create an undercut ( 71 ) into a front end face ( 65 ) of a trench ( 60 ).

16 . The trencher ( 10 ) of claim 15 , wherein the chain ( 34 ) does not create an undercut ( 71 ) into the front end face ( 65 ) of the trench ( 60 ).

17 . The trencher ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein, during operation, the boom ( 20 ) cuts downwardly and rearwardly from the chassis ( 12 ).

18 . The trencher ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein the cutting widths of the first and second trench wideners ( 32 ) are each less than 0.50 times as large as the chain width.

19 . A convertible trencher ( 10 ) comprising:
a chassis ( 12 ) having a front end ( 14 ) and a back end ( 16 ); a propulsion system ( 18 ) for moving the chassis ( 12 ) forward and rearward; a trencher boom ( 20 ) mounted to the back end ( 16 ) of the chassis ( 12 ), the trencher boom ( 20 ) being pivotally movable relative to the chassis ( 12 ) between a raised position and a lowered position, the trencher boom ( 20 ) including proximal end ( 22 ) pivotally mounted to the chassis ( 12 ) and a distal end ( 24 ), the trencher boom ( 20 ) defining a longitudinal axis that extends between the proximal and distal ends ( 22 , 24 ) of the boom ( 20 ), the trencher boom ( 20 ) also including a boom frame ( 26 ) that extends longitudinally along the longitudinal axis of the boom ( 20 ), the trencher

Assignees

• Vermeer Mfg Co

Inventors

• Cutler Edward
• Seibert Joshua

Classifications

• E02F3/148

  wheels, sprokets · CPC title

• E02F3/143

  chains; chain links; scraper chains (chains or chain guides E21C25/28) · CPC title

• E02F5/08

  with digging wheels turning round an axis {(E02F5/109 takes precedence; with digging wheels per se E02F3/18)} · CPC title

• E02F5/06 Primary

  with digging elements mounted on an endless chain {(E02F5/109 takes precedence; with digging elements mounted on an endless chain per se E02F3/08)} · CPC title

• E02F3/085 Primary

  with auxiliary or additional digging elements other than digging elements on an endless chain · CPC title