Abstract: The present invention comprises an adjustable wear plate which is attached adjacent the outer peripheral edge of an auger flighting. The plate includes an outer circumferential edge and an inner circumferential edge. A pair of slots extend inwardly from the inner circumferential edge, and each of these slots is provided with a plurality of notches for receiving a bolt therein. Bolts extend through the flighting of the auger and engage the notches in the slots of the adjustable wear plates. The wear plates may be adjusted by loosening the bolts and fitting them into different notches within the slots.

Abstract: A backfilling machine having an auger with two spaced apart flighting segments thereon. One of the flighting segments has right hand flighting and the other of the segments has left hand flighting. The segments are rotated in unison so as to propel material from the side of the trench inwardly toward the space between the two flightings which space is aligned over the trench so that the filling material falls into the trench by gravity. The flightings are adjustably mounted on a central shaft for movement toward and away from one another to accommodate trenches of varying widths.

Abstract: The trenching machine of the present invention comprises a support frame, a continuous member either of the wheel or chain type having a plurality of excavating members mounted thereon, mounting means retentively movably mounting the continuous member to the frame, for movement of the excavating members in a continuous path, the mounting means comprising at least two rotatable wheels mounted to said frame for rotation and positioned as to engage the continuous member for rotatable retentive engagement therewith, at least one of the wheels being movable toward and away from the other of the wheels, and power means for moving the movable wheel away from the other wheel so that the wheels may be adjusted to take up the slack between them and the continuous member. The excavating members are of semi-circular construction, some of the members facing in one direction and the other of the members facing in the opposite direction so that each excavating member excavates approximately half of the trench.

Abstract: The trenching machine of the present invention comprises a support frame, a continuous member either of the wheel or chain type having a plurality of excavating members mounted thereon, mounting means retentively movably mounting the continuous member to the frame, for movement of the excavating members in a continuous path, the mounting means comprising at least two rotatable wheels mounted to said frame for rotation and positioned as to engage the continuous member for rotatable retentive engagement therewith, at least one of the wheels being movable toward and away from the other of the wheels, and power means for moving the movable wheel away from the other wheel so that the wheels may be adjusted to take up the slack between them and the continuous member. The excavating members are of semi-circular construction, some of the members facing in one direction and the other of the members facing in the opposite direction so that each excavating member excavates approximately half of the trench.

Abstract: A slack takeup apparatus for a circular excavating rim includes a support frame and first and second rim engaging wheels mounted on the support frame in spaced-apart relation for rotation about stationary axes. A third rim engaging wheel is rotatably mounted at the free end of a pivot member connected to the support frame. An extensible power member is pivotally connected to and extended between the third wheel and support frame for pivotally moving the third wheel and pivot arm to take up slack between the wheels and circular rim.