Abstract: An excavating and loading system includes an excavating wheel assembly at the front thereof and a plurality of conveyors for conveying the material from the excavating wheel assembly upward and rearwardly. The excavating wheel assembly includes at least one excavating wheel which is angularly disposed with respect to the direction of travel to form an excavation and has digging surfaces on the forward extending end of the excavating wheel. The wheel forms an excavation wider than the following portion of the system. A supporting and housing apparatus rotatably supports the excavating wheel means from the vehicle. Apparatus is provided for raising, lowering and/or tilting the supporting and housing apparatus to position the excavation wheel assembly to thereby vary the excavation. The excavation wheel is provided with means for positively moving the walls of a plurality of buckets between material receiving and material discharging positions.

Abstract: An excavating and loading system including an excavating wheel assembly at the front thereof and a plurality of conveyors for conveying material from the excavating wheel assembly upwardly and rearwardly. The excavating wheel assembly includes a plurality of excavating wheels having an overall width in excess of that of the following portion of the system. A supporting and housing apparatus rotatably supports the excavating wheel assembly and includes portions which extend between adjacent excavating wheels. Electric motors are connected to drive shafts which extend to the excavating wheel assembly through the portions of the supporting and housing apparatus that extend between adjacent excavating wheels. A right angle gearbox is connected to each drive shaft and powers the excavating wheel through a planetary speed reducer. Apparatus is provided for raising and lowering the excavating height of the excavating wheel assembly to thereby vary the grade of the excavation.

Abstract: A compartmented bucket wheel assembly in which the compartments extend radially inward and angularly opposite the direction of wheel rotation to facilitate emptying of the compartments and thereby increase the capacity of the bucket wheel. In a structurally simple but sturdy preferred form, the buckets are mounted between the extremities of a plurality of plate members, the outer portions of which extend diagonally outward in the direction of wheel rotation at an obtuse angle to the radially directed inner portions thereof. A number of flat, generally triangular plates disposed between the outer portions of adjacent plate members deflect the material toward the discharge edge which extends diagonally inward from the periphery of the wheel adjacent the front of the bucket along one lateral edge of the outer portion of the leading plate member associated with a particular bucket, to the intersection of the inner and outer portions of the associated trailing plate member.

Abstract: Each bucket includes a ground engaging leading portion characterized by roller cutter means alternating with scoop teeth transversely across the bucket. The scoop teeth on alternate buckets follow the path of roller cutter means on intermediate buckets. The scoop teeth on intermediate buckets follow the path of roller cutter means on alternate buckets.

Abstract: A dredging apparatus having an improved dredging head in which the suction pump and drive motors for the same are mounted adjacent the clean-out and cutting augers for increased pumping efficiency. The augers include a cooperating plurality of cutting teeth mounted peripherally on the flighting of the auger and extending spirally along the same to provide for a continual shearing cutting surface in a line parallel to the rotational shaft of the augers for more efficient cutting of the fibrous materials.

Abstract: A sled supports a hydraulic motor drive digging wheel in the bottom of a body of water with a cable guide conduit feeding cable into the trench behind the wheel; hydraulic cylinders adjust the depth of the trench with all means being controlled from a support barge or the like providing hydraulic power and control fluid.

Abstract: A mechanical hole digging machine comprising a rotary cutting tool and a suction tube having an inlet opening adjacent to the cutting tool, a suction device for applying suction to the tube remote from the inlet opening to cause material cut away by the cutting tool to be sucked inwards through the inlet opening, the cutting tool and part at least of the suction tube being carried on a mounting by which they are movable upwards and downwards. An electromagnetic metal detector comprising three coils is mounted near the cutter head and adapted in use to give an indication of the presence of buried metal service pipe during a hole digging operation.