Abstract: A machine and method for producing dimensionally consistent compressed earthen blocks under consistent and uniform pressures is disclosed. The approximately rectangular shaped block is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shaped chamber having given dimensions. A plate forms one wall of this chamber and has the mobility required to compress the earth within the chamber. At the termination of compression, this plate is located at a predetermined location. A dog is forced into the compressed earthen block after the compression plate has ceased which effectively reduces the internal volume of the chamber. The dog is forced in under a known and consistent pressure. When a block is formed of less material, the terminal point for the dog will be further into the block than when the same-size block is made of more material.

Abstract: A trenching machine having a tractor unit and a trenching bar mounted for transverse sliding movement on the rear end portion of the tractor unit to any desired location within the transverse confines of the tractor unit. Spoil generated by the trenching bar is deposited on either of a pair of transverse conveyors which are operable either to transport spoil transversely outwardly to the side of the trenching machine or transversely inwardly to a central hopper. A longitudinal conveyor located on the center line of the trencher extends from a low position at the rear-end portion of the tractor unit at the bottom of the hopper forwardly and upwardly to a high position forwardly of the tractor unit. A swinging conveyor is mounted for pivotal movement about both a vertical and horizontal axis forwardly of the tractor unit and below the output of the longitudinal conveyor.