Trapezoidal irrigation excavator and cleaner
An assembly for use in the digging or cleaning of irrigation laterals (spurs). The resulting lateral (spur) will be in a trapezoidal shape, allowing better lateral (spur) erosion control, better control of lateral (spur) edge collapse, and greater water flow when compared to the more standard rectangular shaped laterals (spurs).
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This invention relates to tools for cutting or cleaning agricultural irrigation systems for orchards, fields, pastures, or the like, in particular to lateral trenches, spurs, and the like for water distribution from the primary canal system.
BACKGROUNDPrior technology has used a variety of implements to dig and/or clean irrigation ditches as evidenced by the list of patents granted over the past 100 years. The patents range from a simple road scraper (U.S. Pat. No. 1,450,815) providing a “U” shaped ditch to more complex machines providing similar shaped ditches (U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,631,639; 1,632,303; 1,721,392; 2,867,046; 3,309,802). Similar trenching systems provide a “V” shaped ditch (U.S. Pat. Nos. 606,987; 2,725,649; 4,819,348; 5,477,931). A rectangular system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 1,301,833, while there are a number of other system described as excavators (U.S. Pat. Nos. 799,753; 1,320,328), harrows (U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,385,637; 2,621,459), irrigation mound forming machines (U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,044,304; 2,455,566), soil working machines (U.S. Pat. No. 4,243,104), and ditch cleaning machines (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,109,336; 4,872,275; 5,003,712). In U.S. Pat. No. 4,896,444 a system providing both vertical ditching in conjunction with a sloping sidewall component is introduced to provide proper packing around an installed pipeline and provide workman safety from collapsing sidewalls. Most of the machines are self propelled, but may also include external power systems to push/pull the apparatus. Many also include a conveyer system to remove the dirt debris from the ditch as the machine moves in the direction of the new ditch.
Dedication of modern construction machines to singular processes can be cost prohibitive. As a result, a method of changing tool end effectors in an efficient manner was implemented (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,125,788; 5,360,313; 5,484,250, 7,246,457). Such changing mechanisms are generally referred to a quick-change systems or quick-coupler systems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn a preferred embodiment, the present invention is the design and implementation of a trapezoidal cutter device which can be used to either dig a new lateral ditch, or can also be used to clean existing lateral ditches. The cutter includes a quick-change industry standard attachment method to accommodate attachment and use with a variety of power devices.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention,
Claims
1. A trapezoidal shaped assembly for use in digging or cleaning irrigation laterals (spurs); the assembly comprising:
- a five sided steel device; and
- with cutting edges on the leading edges of the lower surface and opposing sides.
2. The trapezoidal shaped assembly of claim 1, wherein the assembly further includes a quick-change system for attachment to powered equipment.
3-4. (canceled)
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 2, 2014
Publication Date: Feb 4, 2016
Applicant: (Cody, WY)
Inventors: Merlin Kenneth Hill (Cody, WY), Raymond Edward Floyd (Cody, WY)
Application Number: 14/450,219