PLOW APPARATUS FOR LAYING UNDERGROUND CABLE
The plow apparatus for laying underground cable includes a heavy plow blade having a laterally slotted metal tube permanently affixed to its trailing edge. The slot allows a wire, cable, etc. to be placed in the tube without need to cut the cable for insertion into the tube from one end thereof. A sleeve is removably installed within the tube, and may have an elongate slot therein. The slotted sleeve is first placed around the cable, and then slid into the tube of the plow blade. The sleeve is rotated to misalign its slot relative to the slot of the blade tube, thereby capturing the cable within the tube and sleeve. The process is reversed for cable removal, thus allowing the cable to be installed in or removed from the tube and blade without cutting the cable. The sleeve may be circumferentially closed, i.e., unslotted, if desired.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/282,075, filed Dec. 11, 2009.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to machinery for laying cable in the ground, and particularly to a plow apparatus for laying underground cable that provides an assembly for forming a narrow slit or cut in the soil and simultaneously laying a cable at the bottom of the cut.
2. Description of the Related Art
The laying and placement of cables, wires, pipes, tubes, and the like in underground installations has become increasingly common over the years. In the case of pipes and tubes this is merely a matter of practicality, as it is generally impractical to install such fluid carrying conduits above ground, particularly in populated areas. However, in many cases such below ground level installation is due to rules and regulations prohibiting or limiting above ground installations, particularly in the case of wires and cables. In other cases it produces a more attractive installation, without the unsightly overhead wires and support structure. As a result, a great many machines and devices have been developed in the past for cutting a trench or slit in the earth and laying the cable or wire therein.
Many, if not most, such machines and equipment are adapted for relatively heavy duty work, comprising hydraulically powered attachments for back hoes, power shovels, and the like. Such equipment is well suited for the laying of large capacity underground pipe and heavy cable, but is not at all suited for the laying of lighter wire, cable, and the like. While some lighter duty equipment for laying underground cable and wiring has been developed, it generally requires at least a fair amount of manual labor to carry out parts of the operation not provided by the relatively simple equipment.
Thus, a plow apparatus for laying underground cable solving the aforementioned problems is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe plow apparatus for laying underground cable is removably attachable to a towing vehicle, and simultaneously cuts a narrow trench, slit, or cut in the ground and guides and deposits a wire or cable at the bottom of the cut. The extremely narrow cut formed, i.e., only slightly wider than the diameter of the cable or wire, causes minimal disturbance to the soil, with the cut closing essentially completely immediately after passage of the plow blade therethrough. While the device may be constructed in any practicable size for laying cable, wire, and the like of various diameters at various depths, it is particularly well-suited for use in laying relatively light signal cable or wire at a relatively shallow depth, as in the case of so-called “electronic fences” or “invisible fences” used to retain pets in an area where no physical aboveground fence is provided.
The plow apparatus incorporates a plow blade comprising a heavy metal plate having sufficient strength and durability to cut through soil, sod, and the like without incurring any significant damage. A plurality of attachment holes is provided through the plate, enabling it to be attached at varying heights to a hitch attachment in order to cut to various depths as desired. The hitch is adapted for removable mounting to the receiver of a receiver-type trailer hitch, or to a pin or bolt installed in place of the conventional hitch ball typically installed in the hitch post adapted for installation in the receiver hitch. While the hitch is immovably affixed to the plate or blade, it is pivotally secured to the receiver hitch to allow the blade to pivot behind the towing vehicle as it turns.
The trailing edge of the plow blade includes a sturdy metal tube welded to the trailing edge, the tube having a slot disposed laterally along the length of one side. The slot allows a wire, cable, or the like to be placed within the tube without any need to cut the wire or cable for placement in the tube from one end thereof. A sleeve is removably installed within the tube. In one embodiment, the sleeve also has a longitudinal slot formed therein. Once the cable has been inserted in the blade tube through the slot in the side of the tube, the sleeve is placed over the cable through the slot in the side of the sleeve, and the sleeve is slid into the tube of the plow blade. The sleeve is then rotated to misalign its slot relative to the slot of the tube, thereby capturing the wire or cable within the tube and sleeve. The process is reversed to remove the cable from the assembly, thus allowing the cable or wire to be installed in or removed from the plow blade assembly without cutting the cable. In an alternative embodiment, the sleeve does not have a longitudinal slot. Instead, a free end of the wire, cable, or the like is inserted through the closed sleeve prior to installing the sleeve in the tube of the plow blade.
These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.
Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTSThe plow apparatus for laying underground cable is a device that is removably attachable to the conventional receiver hitch of a towing vehicle. The apparatus is particularly well adapted for use in laying relatively light cable (e.g., the signal cable for a so-called “electronic or invisible fence,” or similar installations) wherein the cable or wire is not buried deeply and a relatively small and light vehicle may act as the towing vehicle.
The guide tube 28 has a laterally disposed cable insertion slot 38 therein. The slot 38 extends along the entire length of the guide tube 28 from its upper end 30 to its lower end 32. Although the slot 38 is shown along the right side of the guide tube 28, it will be seen that the slot may be oriented to the left side of the tube, if desired. Preferably, the slot 38 is laterally offset to either the left side or right side of the guide tube 28, as shown in
The lateral placement of the cable insertion slot 38 provides some assurance that a cable or wire installed within the tube 28 will not slip outwardly from the tube 28 during the process of installing the cable in the ground. However, additional security is preferred to ensure that the cable or wire is positively retained within the tube 28 at all times until its removal therefrom is desired. This is accomplished by means of a separate sleeve 40 that is removably installable coaxially within the guide tube 28. The sleeve 40 is preferably formed of a flexible material, e.g., a nylon tube or its equivalent, and has an upper end 42 and an opposite lower end 44. A first embodiment of the sleeve 40, shown in
The cable insertion slots 38 and 46 may be aligned with one another as the sleeve 40 is inserted into the guide tube 28, generally as shown in the cross-sectional view of
The hitch member 14 may be formed from a length of rectangular section C-channel, or other suitable material, as desired. The hitch member 14 includes two mutually opposed, parallel and laterally spaced first and second lateral plates 52a and 52b joined by a central tongue 54. The central tongue 54 extends forward of the lateral plates 52a and 52b and has a towing vehicle hitch attachment passage 56 disposed through the forward end thereof for accepting the hitch pin or bolt P (
Each of the lateral plates 52a, 52b includes an upper blade attachment passage 60a and a lower blade attachment passage 60b that can be aligned with a pair of the corresponding vertically aligned hitch attachment passages 48 of the blade 12 when the blade 12 is attached to the hitch member 14. Thus, the height of the blade 12 may be adjusted as desired relative to the hitch member 14 by aligning the blade attachment passages 60a, 60b with the desired two hitch attachment passages 48 of the blade 12. Bolts 62 and corresponding nuts 64 are preferably used to secure the blade 12 within the hitch member 14 in order to preclude any looseness or play between components, but spring-loaded bail detent pins or other suitable fasteners may be used, if desired.
The plow apparatus 10 is used generally as shown in
At this point, the unbroken length of continuous cable or wire C may be installed through the guide tube 28 of the plow apparatus 10, if this has not been done beforehand. The procedure is as described further above, i.e., the cable or wire C is passed laterally into the guide tube 28 through its slot 38, the sleeve 40 is positioned above the guide tube 28 and passed laterally over the cable or wire C through the slot 46, the slot 46 of the sleeve 40 is misaligned with the slot 38 of the guide tube 28, and the sleeve 40 is pushed downwardly into the guide tube 28, with misalignment of the two slots 38 and 40 preventing the wire or cable C from slipping out of the sleeve 40 and tube 28. It will be seen that there may be a certain amount of rearward pull on the cable or wire C during the installation, depending upon the feed of the cable C downwardly through the sleeve 40. This is the reason that the slot 38 is preferably positioned to the side of the sleeve 28, rather than directly to the rear. In this manner, any rearward force produced in the sleeve 28 by the wire or cable C is not applied directly to the slot 38.
When the above setup procedures have been accomplished, the towing vehicle V may be operated to drag the plow blade 12 through the ground. Preferably a second person acting as an assistant feeds the cable or wire through the guide tube 28 as the towing vehicle V is moved along the desired cable installation path. The blade 12 makes a thin furrow F in the ground as the vehicle moves forward, with the cable or wire C being fed from a spool or other supply and downwardly through the guide tube 28 where it is ultimately deposited at the bottom of the furrow F. The swivel or pivot attachment of the hitch member 14 to the towing vehicle V allows the vehicle to make turns as needed, with the plow blade 12 and its guide tube 28 pivoting as necessary to align with the path of the towing vehicle.
The process continues until the cable or wire C has been laid along the desired route or path. The very narrow furrow F (more closely resembling a slit in the ground) closes nearly completely almost immediately after passage of the plow blade 12 through the ground, depending upon the nature of the ground or soil through which the blade 12 is being drawn. Very little, if any, additional work is required to return the surface to its original appearance.
When the underground cable installation has been completed, another small hole is dug to withdraw the plow apparatus 10, and the continuous wire or cable C is removed therefrom by reversing the installation procedure described further above. The wire or cable C may then be cut to the desired length and spliced or otherwise connected to the desired electrical source to complete the task.
In the event that an obstruction is encountered that interrupts the cable or wire laying procedure, the blade 12 may be raised from its furrow and the flexible sleeve 140 (with the cable or wire C remaining therein) pulled upwardly from the guide tube 28. The spool of cable or wire C may also be removed from the vehicle V, if it was previously placed thereon. This removes the cable or wire C from the vehicle V to allow the vehicle V to be repositioned as required, with the cable or wire C remaining completely free of the vehicle V during this part of the operation and without need to cut the cable or wire C. Once the vehicle V has been repositioned as required, the flexible sleeve 140 (with the unbroken cable or wire C still passing therethrough) may be reinstalled in the guide tube 28 of the blade 12 and the blade repositioned in the ground as required to continue the cable laying process.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. A plow apparatus for laying underground cable, comprising:
- a blade having a leading edge, a trailing edge opposite the leading edge, an upper end, and a lower end opposite the upper end;
- a hitch member removably attached to and extending forward from the s blade;
- a rigid guide tube disposed along the trailing edge of the blade, the guide tube having an upper end, a lower end opposite the upper end, and a cable insertion slot extending from the upper end to the lower end thereof; and
- a flexible sleeve removably disposed within the guide tube, the sleeve having an upper end and a lower end opposite the upper end.
2. The plow apparatus for laying underground cable according to claim 1, wherein the flexible sleeve has a cable insertion slot extending from the upper end to the lower end thereof.
3. The plow apparatus for laying underground cable according to claim 1, wherein:
- the blade has a plurality of hitch attachment passages disposed therethrough; and
- the hitch member has mutually opposed, parallel, spaced apart first and second lateral plates and a central tongue connecting the plates to one another and extending forward therefrom, the central tongue having a towing vehicle hitch attachment passage disposed therethrough, the plates having a plurality of blade attachment passages defined therein.
4. The plow apparatus for laying underground cable according to claim 3, wherein:
- the hitch attachment passages of the blade are disposed in a single generally vertical row; and
- the blade attachment passages of the hitch member consist of an upper passage and a lower passage, the upper passage and lower passages in the hitch member being alignable with a corresponding adjacent pair of the passages in the blade.
5. The plow apparatus for laying underground cable according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the leading edge of the blade is sharpened.
6. The plow apparatus for laying underground cable according to claim 1, further including a handle extending from the upper end of the blade.
7. The plow apparatus for laying underground cable according to claim 1, wherein:
- the upper end of the guide tube is flared outwardly; and
- the lower end of the guide tube includes a sleeve stop therein.
8. A plow apparatus for laying underground cable, comprising:
- a blade having a leading edge, a trailing edge opposite the leading edge, an upper end, a lower end opposite the upper end, and a plurality of hitch attachment passages defined therein;
- a hitch member removably attached to and extending forward from the blade, the hitch member having:
- mutually opposed, parallel, spaced apart first and second lateral plates, the plates having a plurality of blade attachment passages defined therein; and
- a central tongue connecting the plates to one another and extending forward therefrom, the central tongue having a towing vehicle hitch attachment passage defined therein; and
- a rigid guide tube disposed along the trailing edge of the blade, the guide tube having an upper end and a lower end opposite the upper end.
9. The plow apparatus for laying underground cable according to claim 8, wherein the guide tube has a laterally disposed cable insertion slot extending from the upper end to the lower end thereof, the apparatus further comprising a flexible sleeve removably disposed within the guide tube, the sleeve having an upper end and a lower end opposite the upper end.
10. The plow apparatus for laying underground cable according to claim 9, wherein the flexible sleeve has a cable insertion slot extending from the upper end to the lower end thereof.
11. The plow apparatus for laying underground cable according to claim 8, wherein:
- the hitch attachment passages of the blade are disposed in a generally vertical row; and
- the blade attachment passages of the hitch member consist of an upper passage and a lower passage, the upper passage and the lower passage in the hitch member being alignable with a corresponding adjacent pair of the passages in the blade.
12. The plow apparatus for laying underground cable according to claim 8, wherein at least a portion of the leading edge of the blade is sharpened.
13. The plow apparatus for laying underground cable according to claim 8, further including a handle extending from the upper end of the blade.
14. The plow apparatus for laying underground cable according to claim 8, wherein:
- the upper end of the guide tube is flared outwardly; and
- the lower end of the guide tube includes a sleeve stop therein.
15. A plow apparatus for laying underground cable, comprising:
- a blade having a leading edge, a trailing edge opposite the leading edge, an upper end, a lower end opposite the upper end, and a plurality of hitch attachment passages defined therein, the hitch attachment passages being disposed in a single generally vertical row;
- a hitch member adjustably attached to and extending forward from the blade, the hitch member having mutually opposed, parallel, spaced apart first and second lateral plates, the plates having a pair of blade attachment passages defined therein, the blade attachment passages of the plates being alignable with a corresponding pair of adjacent passages in the row of hitch attachment passages in the blade; and
- a rigid guide tube disposed along the trailing edge of the blade, the guide tube having an upper end and a lower end opposite the upper end.
16. The plow apparatus for laying underground cable according to claim 15, wherein the guide tube has a laterally disposed cable insertion slot extending from the upper end to the lower end thereof, the apparatus further comprising a flexible sleeve removably disposed within the guide tube, the sleeve having an upper end, a lower end opposite the upper end, and a cable insertion slot extending from the upper end to the lower end thereof.
17. The plow apparatus for laying underground cable according to claim 15, wherein the hitch member has a central tongue connecting the plates to one another and extending forward therefrom, the central tongue having a towing vehicle hitch attachment passage defined therein.
18. The plow apparatus for laying underground cable according to claim 15, wherein at least a portion of the leading edge of the blade is sharpened.
19. The plow apparatus for laying underground cable according to claim 15, further including a handle extending from the upper end of the blade.
20. The plow apparatus for laying underground cable according to claim 15, wherein:
- the upper end of the guide tube is flared outwardly; and
- the lower end of the guide tube includes a sleeve stop therein.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 12, 2010
Publication Date: Jun 16, 2011
Inventor: DAVID M. MICHAELIS (Monticello, MN)
Application Number: 12/902,942
International Classification: E02F 5/10 (20060101);