Auger For Use With Trenching Assembly

Abstract

A trenching assembly featuring a novel auger arrangement. The arrangement comprises an auger assembly and a digging chain rotatably connected to a trenching boom. The digging chain rotates, driven by a motor, to dislodge soil and creating a trench. The dislodged soil, or spoil, builds up near a projected path of the digging chain. The auger assembly operates to move the spoil from a projected path of the trench. The auger rotates independently from the digging chain and is positioned such that a projected width of the digging chain intersects a threaded length of the auger assembly. The auger may rotate faster than if driven by the digging chain, allowing the auger to have a smaller diameter than conventional augers. Further, the auger can be used in conjunction with a backfill blade to refill cleaned trenches without operation of the digging chain.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a work machine having a trenching apparatus built in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is side view of an alternative work machine configuration having a trenching apparatus built in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side cut-away of the trenching apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a bottom cut-away of the trenching apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a front cut-away of a trenching apparatus with a trenching blade in a raised position.

Claims

1. A trenching assembly comprising: a frame;a trenching boom connected to the frame;a digging chain rotatably connected to the trenching boom; andan auger rotatably supported on the frame;wherein the rotation of the auger may be operated independent of the rotation of the digging chain.

2. The trenching assembly of claim 1 wherein the auger is adapted to be tilted relative to the ground.

3. The trenching assembly of claim 1 wherein the auger is inclined relative to a horizontal plane.

4. The trenching assembly of claim 1 wherein the auger defines a threaded length such that a portion of the threaded length extends on each side of a projected width defined by the digging chain.

5. The trenching assembly of claim 1 wherein the trenching assembly is attachable to a motorized work vehicle.

6. The trenching assembly of claim 1 wherein the trenching assembly is attachable to a motorized work vehicle at an articulation joint.

7. The trenching assembly of claim 6 wherein an attachment point of the auger to the frame is located between the articulation joint and a pivot point of the trenching boom.

8. The trenching assembly of claim 1 further comprising at least one ground supporting member.

9. The trenching assembly of claim 1 wherein the auger is substantially parallel to the ground.

10. The trenching assembly of claim 1 wherein the vertical distance of the auger relative to the ground is modifiable.

11. The trenching assembly of claim 1 further comprising a backfill blade.

12. The trenching assembly of claim 1 wherein the auger rotates without rotation of the digging chain.

13. The trenching assembly of claim 1 wherein the auger is adapted to rotate in forward or reverse.

14. The trenching assembly of claim 1 wherein a diameter of the auger is dependent upon a mounting location of the auger.

15. The trenching assembly of claim 1 wherein the position of the auger on the frame is adjustable.

16. The trenching assembly of claim 1 wherein the rotation speed of the auger may be varied dynamically.

17. A trenching assembly comprising: a trencher blade comprising a digging chain and a trenching boom, wherein the digging chain is rotatably driven about the trenching boom at a rotation rate; andan auger, rotationally driven such that a rotation rate of the auger is independent of the rotation rate of the digging chain.

18. The trenching assembly of claim 17 wherein the auger is adapted to be tilted relative to the ground.

19. The trenching assembly of claim 17 wherein the auger is inclined relative to a horizontal plane.

20. The trenching assembly of claim 17 wherein the trenching assembly is attachable to a motorized work vehicle at an articulation joint.

21. The trenching assembly of claim 20 wherein an attachment point of the auger to the frame is located between the articulation joint and a pivot point of the trenching boom.

22. The trenching assembly of claim 17 wherein a rate of rotation of the auger may be dynamically changed.

23. The trenching assembly of claim 17 wherein a change in the rate of rotation of the auger does not affect a rate of rotation of the digging chain.

24. The trenching assembly of claim 17 further comprising at least one ground supporting member.

25. The trenching assembly of claim 17 wherein the auger is parallel to the ground.

26. The trenching assembly of claim 17 wherein the orientation of the auger relative to the ground is modifiable.

27. The trenching assembly of claim 17 further comprising a backfill blade.

28. The trenching assembly of claim 17 wherein the auger defines a threaded length such that a portion of the threaded length extends on each side of a projected width defined by the digging chain.

29. The trenching assembly of claim 17 wherein the auger is cantilever mounted.

30. The trenching assembly of claim 17 wherein the auger is adapted be operated in the reverse direction.

31. The trenching assembly of claim 17 wherein the auger position is adjustable relative to the trencher blade.

32. The trenching assembly of claim 31 wherein the auger position is operably adjustable.