Abstract: A boom assembly including a boom with laterally spaced side walls and adapted to have a digging chain and tooth assembly rotatable thereabout. A boom end idler assembly is arranged between the side walls at the free end of the boom for rotatably supporting the digging chain and tooth assembly. The boom end idler assembly includes a boom end idler rotationally supported by an anti-friction bearing. Axially aligned members pass through aligned apertures in the side walls of the boom and at least partially within the inner race of the bearing for defining the rotational axis of the boom end idler and for clamping the side walls of the boom to each other to minimize clearances between the boom and the boom end idler. Seals are provided to close the clearances proximate the bearing and inhibit foreign debris from contaminating the anti-friction bearing.

Abstract: A control system for regulating starting and various operations of a walk behind and self-propelled trencher. The control system conditions the trencher for forward, neutral, and reverse operation through use of a single control lever mounted for sliding movement in a common plane extending between a neutral/start position and a drive position and thence in another plane to forward or reverse positions to control the direction of the trencher. When the control lever is in a neutral/start position, a power assembly on the trencher is ineffective to drive wheels used to propel the trencher across a field. When the control lever is shifted to a drive position, a drive path is established between the power assembly and at least one of the wheels on the trencher. The control system is configured to allow the power assembly to be started only when the control lever is in a neutral/start position and prevents starting of the power assembly when the control lever is in other than a neutral/start position.

Abstract: A cable guiding chute assembly suitable for attachment to a vibratory plow blade to dispense a cable at a selected drop radius. The cable chute assembly includes a pair of generally vertical side wall members joined by a forward wall to define a cable passageway and interchangeable gate members extending the length of the passageway to define cable guiding conduits having different radii. Each gate member is releasably secured to the side walls of the chute to permit expeditious removal and replacement. Further, the chute assembly is constructed with minimal surface area to reduce drag and a leading edge to reduce the build-up of material between the chute and plow blade. Moreoever, the chute assembly includes a downwardly directed bottom opening which permits pulling of the cable when the plow blade is removed from the ground without damaging the cable exterior.

Abstract: A digging chain is provided with a plurality of trencher or digging teeth mounting brackets at spaced intervals around its periphery. Each mounting bracket is secured to the digging chain by spaced apart adaptor links and pin connections. The mounting bracket includes a base having opposed end surfaces, opposed side surfaces, and a top surface for mounting a trencher or digging tooth cutter bit. A one-piece mounting member is attached to the underside of the base for permitting the base to be securely attached to the upper ends of the adaptor links. The mounting member is generally in the shape of a "W" in longitudinal cross-section and includes opposed leg portions that are secured to the end surfaces of the base. The upper terminal end of the mounting member's mid-portion is secured to the underside of the base, and the lower end of the mounting member forms a pair of mounting slots or grooves that fit between the opposed, spaced apart adaptor links for attachment thereto.