Abstract: A machine for extinguishing fires, using materials that are excavated and thrown directly from the ground includes a brush cutting module with knives and lateral panels, an excavating module comprising a cutter with spikes, and a throwing module formed by a flywheel mounted on a rotary shaft and provided with radial blades, allowing the excavated material to be thrown through openings in the throwing module. The position of the openings can be adjusted and the excavated materials can be thrown in one direction or another.

Abstract: A boring machine for producing a trench in the ground including a chassis that extends in a longitudinal direction, the chassis having a lower end, the machine including a boring device mounted at the lower end of the chassis, the boring device including a first boring member which is rotary about a first axis of rotation, and a second boring member which is rotary about a second axis of rotation, the second axis of rotation and the first axis of rotation extending in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, wherein the first axis of rotation is inclined with respect to the second axis of rotation.

Abstract: The invention provides a boring machine (10) for making a trench (T) in soil (S), the machine comprising a frame (12) that extends along a longitudinal direction (A), said frame (12) carrying a boring device (20) provided with four rotary boring members driven by four motors about axes of rotation that are stationary relative to one another.

Abstract: An edge protection system for use with concrete flooring, including an initial edge unit having a first part and a second part, the first part for coupling to an edge portion of a first concrete flooring panel and the second part for coupling to an opposed edge portion of a second, neighbouring, concrete flooring panel, the system also including an angled edge unit having a first part and a second part, the first part for coupling to another edge portion of the second concrete flooring panel and the second part for coupling to an opposed edge portion of a third, neighbouring, concrete flooring panel, and a modular intersection part at an intersection of the first to third panels, wherein the modular intersection part is adapted to be coupled to the initial edge unit with the initial edge unit extending radially from the modular intersection part in a first direction, and wherein the modular intersection part is adapted to be coupled to the angled edge unit with the angled edge unit extending radially from the

Abstract: The invention relates to a trench cutter and a method for producing a cut trench in the soil having a cutter frame, at least one pair of cutting wheels which are supported and driven in a rotatable manner on a lower end of the cutter frame, wherein each cutting wheel has a plurality of cutting teeth along its outer circumference, and a supply and/or discharge means for supplying or discharging a cutting liquid to or from the cut trench in the region of the cutting wheels. According to the invention provision is made in that spaced from the supply and/or discharge means a cleaning device is provided for cleaning the cutting wheels during the cutting operation with a cleaning fluid and in that the cleaning device has a plurality of cleaning nozzles which are directed onto the outer circumference of at least one cutting wheel and designed to inject the cleaning fluid to loosen adhering soil material.

Abstract: A trench cutting machine for making a cut in a surface. The trench cutting machine comprises a frame comprising at least one rear axle and at least one front axle and a rotatable circular blade mounted to the frame. The front axle is vertically adjustable relative to the frame between a first position where the circular blade is lifted clear of the surface, and a second position where the circular blade is arranged to extend downwards from the frame to cut a predetermined distance into the surface. The frame comprises an auxiliary front axle located in front of the axis of rotation of the circular blade, wherein the auxiliary front axle and the rear axle are arranged to support the frame on the surface during a cutting operation and to maintain a selected depth of cut.

Abstract: A sensor connection structure is disposed in a manifold including a main pipe, a plurality of branch pipes connected to each of left and right of the main pipe, and a plurality of steam traps (valves) disposed in the branch pipes. The sensor connection structure includes: a plurality of sensors respectively disposed on the steam traps; a plurality of connection boxes arranged along an axis of the main pipe, connected to each other in series through electric wire pipes, and connected to the plurality of sensors through electric wire pipes; and a terminal unit connected to one of the plurality of connection boxes through an electric wire pipe.

Abstract: A ditch forming implement includes a frame supported for movement across the ground in a forward working direction when connected to a towing vehicle. A rotating member, for example a tire having a resilient main body and integral resilient paddles formed thereon, is rotatably supported on the frame within an upright plane oriented transversely to the forward working direction. The frame may also support a shovel on an implement shank spaced forwardly of the rotating member, an adjustable guide wheel supported rearwardly of the rotating member for controlling depth of the rotating member, and a grader blade supported forwardly and laterally offset to one side of the rotating member for widening a ditch to be formed by the implement.

Abstract: Provided is an excavating machine, such as for use in digging trenches. The excavating machine includes an earth moving assembly having a wheel, a plurality of teeth mounted on the wheel, a frame retaining a portion of the wheel, and a cleaning assembly for removing spoil from the earth moving assembly prior to the wheel entering the frame. The teeth may include first and second cutting portions. The first cutting portion may include a narrow leading edge, while the second cutting portion includes a wide leading edge. Moreover, the cleaning assembly may include right and left cleaning assemblies which may each include side and front cleaning members, as well as a removable tooth. The machine may include at least one spoil surface for moving spoil removed by the cleaning assembly away from the dug trench.

Abstract: A cutting blade includes a blade body with one or more cutting elements positioned along its periphery. The elements preferably are keyed to the blade, to help provide secure mounting onto the blade, and include a poly-chrystalized diamond cutting surface.

Abstract: A system for providing suspension to a cab of an excavation machine such as a trencher or a surface mining machine. The system includes air cushions and elastomeric dampeners positioned between a platform and the cab. The air cushions allow for a larger displacement than the elastomeric dampeners. The air cushions have a lower natural frequency than the elastomeric dampeners. The elastomeric dampeners stabilize and support the cab in various degrees of freedom that are not supported by the air cushions.

Abstract: A system for modifying a boundary of operation of a machine has a change in terrain sensor system. A controller determines a change in terrain based at least in part upon a change in terrain signal. If the change in terrain exceeds a threshold, the controller modifies the boundary of operation of the machine. A method is also provided.

Abstract: A tractor mounted three-point-hitch implement for the excavation of square shaped foundation footings with a large rotational cutting wheel powered by the tractor power-take-off. The cutting wheel, made in sections, is surfaced with claws and rotates opposite the direction of movement, placing spoils on the banks. Cutting wheel is also removable for installing different size and shapes of cutting wheels. Included is a round-ditcher cutting wheel of spherical shape, and a shallow-ditcher cutting wheel that forms a shallow, easily mowed ditch. The depth of cut is adjustable by the hydrolic lift on tractor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cutting wheel for a trench cutter with a drum-like base body, on the outer periphery of which stationary holders are arranged in at least one peripheral row, in which cutting tools for removing ground are received. In the at least one peripheral row chisels with a substantially pointed removal tip and also cutting teeth with a substantially linear cutting edge are arranged as cutting tools. The invention also relates to a method for making a trench in the ground.

Abstract: A system for uncovering and sealing a narrow trench. The system comprises several subsystems, including a work machine, a frame for providing a seal with the surface to be trenched, a saw blade, a vacuum system, a system for placing product, and a resealer. The blade includes rotatable tooth bits, which may be rotated and secured to create a blade for narrower or a wider trench. A removable cover and the blade are easily changeable. A surface engaging member on the frame is manipulated to maintain a seal with changing ground surfaces. Additionally, the vertical location of the blade within the frame is adjustable to create a deeper or shallower trench.

Abstract: A ditch forming implement includes a frame supported for movement across the ground in a forward working direction when connected to a towing vehicle. A rotating member, for example a tire having a resilient main body and integral resilient paddles formed thereon, is rotatably supported on the frame within an upright plane oriented transversely to the forward working direction. The frame may also support a shovel on an implement shank spaced forwardly of the rotating member, an adjustable guide wheel supported rearwardly of the rotating member for controlling depth of the rotating member, and a grader blade supported forwardly and laterally offset to one side of the rotating member for widening a ditch to be formed by the implement.

Abstract: A mine safety system having at least a substantial portion of a mine conduit buried within a trench that is formed in the mine floor is provided. The mine safety system can be sturdy and durable in construction and in operation because a substantial pressure from a mine collapse is transferred to the surrounding earth or soil when the mine conduit is partially or fully buried in the mine floor. The mine safety system can be simply and inexpensively installed in newly constructed mines or retrofitted in existing mines. The mine conduit can be made of a lightweight plastic which can make handling of the conduit easier. Moreover, installation of the trench and the mine safety system is quicker and easier with use of a cutter drum that can form a curved trench bottom when the conduit is circular.

Abstract: A system for uncovering and sealing a narrow trench. The system comprises several subsystems, including a work machine, a frame for providing a seal with the surface to be trenched, a saw blade, a vacuum system, a system for placing product, and a resealer. The blade includes rotatable tooth bits, which may be rotated and secured to create a blade for narrower or a wider trench. A removable cover and the blade are easily changeable. A ground engaging surface on the frame is manipulated to maintain a seal with changing ground surfaces. Additionally, the vertical location of the blade within the frame is adjustable to create a deeper or shallower trench.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cutter head for an excavator machine including at least one cutter motor, each cutter motor comprising: a fastener plate; a mounting structure secured to the fastener plate and presenting a central portion and two mounting assemblies disposed on either side of the fastener plate; two hydraulic motors mounted in said mounting assemblies; a shaft common to both hydraulic motors; a plurality of conduits formed in the thickness of said fastener plate for passing the flow of the liquid used by the hydraulic motors; and a plurality of ducts formed in said central portion of the mounting structure, said ducts being connected to said conduits and to said hydraulic motors to connect each of the two motors to each of said conduits.

Abstract: The invention relates to a ground-working machine (11) equipped with a drive and with advancement members (21). Its advancement members (21) serve inter alia to carry a supporting structure (23) set apart from the positioning plane of the machine, on which supporting structure (23) there is arranged, in the region of a central axis (Z), a kirving tool (25) with at least one transverse kirving roller (13) for working a substrate on which the ground-working machine is standing. The kirving roller (13) is rotatable about its roller axis (V). The roller axis (V) is pivotable about a steering axis (W), which steering axis (W) is arranged in the direction of the central axis (Z) set apart from the advancement members (21).

Abstract: A soil spreading scraper device comprises a cutting blade for cutting a top layer of soil from the ground, a kicker for throwing the cut soil rearward from the cutting blade, and an impeller member rotatable within a plane of rotation extending upward and rearward from the cutting blade for capturing the soil thrown by the kicker and spreading the cut soil generally radially outward relative to an axis of rotation of the impeller. A gearbox which receives power from a power takeoff of a towing vehicle directly drives the rotation of the impeller member in the preferred embodiment. The blades of the impeller members may include recessed portions adjacent the impeller axis in some embodiments to encourage soil being received in the impeller member even at higher rates of rotation, for example in the range of 250 to 320 RPM.

Abstract: The machine for making a continuous wall in the ground comprises a rear portion having means for filling the portion of trench located behind the machine with concrete; a front portion having cutter means for making a portion of trench in front of the machine; and means for modifying the distance between said front and rear portions in a horizontal direction. The machine is characterized in that said cutter means include vertical guide means, at least one rotary cutter having an axis of rotation that is horizontal and parallel to the width of the trench, and means for moving said cutter along the guide means between a bottom position corresponding to the bottom of the trench and a top position disposed above the trench, said cutter being suitable both for cutting the ground of the trench and for kneading it in order to obtain a material in the pasty state.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for making a trench wall in the soil, in which a trench wall cutter having at least one rotatably driven cutting wheel is lowered into the soil, whereby soil material located below the cutting wheel is stripped and a cut trench is made and a settable liquid is supplied into the cut trench. For this purpose it is intended that a gas is supplied into the cut trench. The invention further relates to a trench wall cutting device for making a trench wall.

Abstract: An apparatus used to excavate trenches. In a preferred embodiment the trenching machine has a cutting disc supported on a frame and adapted to operate with the center point of the cutting disc below ground. A spoils handler supported above the cutting disc and forward of the center point is used to move spoils away from the cutting disc. The ratio of cutting depth to weight of the trenching assembly and the cutting depth to wheel diameter is improved through the use of a cutting disc that is concave. The outer rim of the concave disc may support a plurality of replaceable cutting member. The cutting disc is rotated using a drive assembly that is contained within the cutting width of the cutting disc.

Abstract: Excavator drum for the production of vertical trenches, including a cylindrical shell (22) mounted so sa to rotate about its axis of revolution and a plurality of excavating tools (28, 30) mounted on the external face of the shell. The tools include a plurality of first rollers (36) equipped with cutting elements (38) mounted so as to rotate about axes, the mid-plane of the rollers substantially merging with the mid-plane (P-P?) of the shell, and the length of which is less the an the length of the shell; and a plurality of pairs of second rollers (50, 52) equipped with cutting elements, the rollers of the same pair being mounted so as to rotate about cantilever axles (54, 56) each roller having a length at least equal to the distance that separates one end a first roller from the corresponding end of the shell, the casing of the external end of the second rollers being at least in the plane containing one end (32, 34) of the shell.

Abstract: An apparatus for drilling trenches in the ground comprising a main frame having two vertical main faces, a drilling assembly comprising a support disposed at the bottom of said frame, means for causing said drilling assembly to move in vertical translation relative to said main frame by applying a predetermined force to said drilling assembly relative to said main frame, and anchoring means mounted on said main faces for anchoring the main frame to the walls of said trench. The anchoring means comprise a plurality of deformable elements secured to said main faces of the top frame, means for injecting a fluid under pressure into said inflatable elements thereby applying a force between said main frame and the walls of the trench, and means enabling said fluid under pressure to escape from said inflatable elements whereby no force is transmitted between said main frame and the walls of the trench.

Abstract: The invention provides apparatus for drilling trenches in the ground, the apparatus comprising a frame and a drilling assembly having a horizontal support plate connected to the bottom end of the frame, said plate supporting drilling tools disposed beneath said plate, said trench being filled with a drilling mud. The periphery of said plate has resilient sealing means for co-operating with the walls of the trench so as to provide at least partial sealing between said plate and the walls of the trench, and means for adjusting drilling mud flow rates from the portion of the trench situated above said plate to the portion of the trench situated beneath said plate, and also in the opposite direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting a layer of soil and spreading the cut soil over adjacent ground comprises a disc having a rotational plane sloping backward and upward from a lower portion of the apparatus at an angle between 45 and 75 degrees above a horizontal plane. The disc surface includes an annular outer portion adjacent to the outer edge, and an inner portion. Spreading members are oriented upright on the disc surface. A blade is mounted ahead of and below the outer edge of the disc and is operative to cut a layer of soil. A pan extends from the blade rearward and over the outer portion of the disc surface. Soil flows over the pan onto the inner portion, but is prevented from flowing onto the outer portion of the disc. A kicker propels soil rearward and toward the center of the disc.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting a layer of soil and spreading the cut soil over adjacent ground comprises a disc having a rotational plane sloping backward and upward from a lower portion of the apparatus at an angle between 45 and 75 degrees above a horizontal plane. The disc surface includes an annular outer portion adjacent to the outer edge, and an inner portion. Spreading members are oriented upright on the disc surface. A blade is mounted ahead of and below the outer edge of the disc and is operative to cut a layer of soil. A pan extends from the blade rearward and over the outer portion of the disc surface. Soil flows over the pan onto the inner portion, but is prevented from flowing onto the outer portion of the disc. A kicker propels soil rearward and toward the center of the disc.

Abstract: A trencher mountable on a vehicle such as a tractor, includes a substantially horizontal hollow stationary member positioned substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the vehicle, an extension member which is slidably receivable within the stationary member and a member for extending and retracting the extension member with respect to the stationary member. The trencher further includes a swiveling member pivotably attached to one end of the extension member with the swiveling member being horizontally pivotable with respect to the extension member. The trencher further includes a trenching head attached to the other end of the swiveling member, the trenching head including a trenching wheel and a device for pivotably raising and lowering the trenching head with respect to the swiveling member, and a frame for mounting the trencher to the vehicle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a trench wall cutter with a cutting frame and a gear shield attached thereto. There is at least one cutting wheel positioned to turn on the opposite shield sides, and on it roller-shaped excavation tools distributed over the periphery are pivotally mounted. When the cutting wheel is rotating the tools form a cutting wheel cutting surface which runs essentially axially parallel to the axis of rotation of the cutting wheel. To accommodate horizontal forces, at least one additional roller is pivotally mounted on each cutting wheel, the axis of the additional roller being directed substantially radially with respect to the axis of rotation of the cutting wheel. One jacket surface of the roller on the radial face side of the cutting wheel away from the gear shield projects in the direction of the axis of rotation of the-cutting wheel.

Abstract: An excavating machine is provided having a cleaning member for cleaning spoil out of an earth cutting device having a digging wheel assembly. The digging wheel assembly has a rim structure and a series of circumferentially spaced peripherally extended bucket members, the rim structure and the bucket members in combination having an interior profile. The cleaning member has a cleaning face corresponding substantially in size and shape to the interior profile of the rim structure and the bucket member in order to remove any spoil which has accumulated in the rim structure and the bucket member when the rim structure and the bucket member come into contact with the cleaning face of the cleaning member.

Abstract: An earth excavating apparatus is disclosed as operable to loosen earthen material and expel the loosened earthen material away from the apparatus. One embodiment of the apparatus includes a rotatable drum partially disposed within a housing and having a plurality teeth thereon adapted to loosen earth and direct the loosened earth into the housing as the drum rotates. A discharge fan is further disposed within the housing and is operable to expel the loosened earthen material from within the housing away from the apparatus. The apparatus may be towed by a vehicle and the rotatable drum is adjustable between a vertical transport position and an excavating position of approximately 45 degrees below horizontal. An alternate embodiment of the apparatus includes the drum/fan arrangement of the first embodiment adjustably mounted to a boom arrangement. The drum/fan arrangement may be adjustably positioned on the boom between a transport position and a variety of excavating positions.

Abstract: An excavating machine is provided having an adjustable grooving device for forming a groove in the bottom of a trench. The excavating machine has a power unit, a supporting frame assembly operably attached to the power unit, an earth cutting device to form a trench behind the excavating machine, and a shoe assembly operably attached to the supporting frame assembly to prevent a cave-in of the sidewalls of the trench. The adjustable grooving device is attached to the bottom of and extends below the shoe assembly and is comprised by two arcuate groove plates which pivot relative to one another to form an arc of varying radius. A hand crank is operably attached to a linear actuator for pivoting the arcuate groove plates relative to one another to adjust the radius of the groove to be formed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a center-line trenching system for use at the earth's surface such as on a paved street, road, highway or the like. The system includes a rubber tired drive machine movable over the earth's surface for advancing a side-by-side tandem of a earth saw and a conveyor attached to a rear surface of the drive machine. The conveyor includes a subframe and an elongated main frame. The subframe comprises a pair of longitudinally extending truss members pivotly attached to the drive machine at a first pivot axis of rotation that is fixed in elevation relative to the earth's surface. The main frame includes a pair of rail members pivotally mounted at near end regions to the truss members at a second axis of rotation, and has trailing end regions that define the remote termini of the conveyor. A hydrostatic actuator is pivotally mounted between the subframe and the main frame.

Abstract: A pavement cutting and excavating tool comprising an excavation bucket and a cutting disc. The tool is mountable to a construction vehicle such as a backhoe. A disc housing is disposed in the backhoe bucket, and the cutting disc is disposed in the housing. Accordingly, the cutting disc of the present invention is substantially more narrow than the backhoe bucket in which it is partially disposed.

Abstract: A rotary rockwheel assembly (1) is provided for cutting a narrow trench in the ground when driven along the ground by a vehicle. The assembly (1) comprising a support frame (14), ground-engaging skids (17) on the support frame (14) permitting the support frame to be moved in the direction in which the trench is to be cut, and a rotary cutting wheel (2) carried by the support frame (14). A hydraulic drive motor (8) rotates the cutting wheel (2) about a substantially horizontal axis, and pivot rams (18) serve to lower the cutting wheel (2) relative to the support frame (14) from a raised position in which substantially the whole of the cutting wheel (2) is above the surface (5) of the ground to a lowered position in which a substantial part of the cutting wheel (2) is sunk into the ground in a trench (33) cut by the cutting wheel (2). Such an assembly is capable of cutting a trench in a particularly efficient manner.

Abstract: A bucket wheel has a conical supporting body constructed as an inner shell rotatably mounted on the bucket wheel axis and a device which co-operates with the supporting body to accommodate the buckets on the outer rim of the bucket wheel. The supporting body is prolonged radially by a prismatic-type outer shell arranged on the supporting body parallel to the device, which has cell-forming dividing walls on its radially outward peripheral region. The prismatic shell, viewed in the radial direction, is shaped from a plurality of approximately trapezoidal steel plates which are welded to one another, making a plurality of bends, to form a polygonal conical envelope.

Abstract: A device for digging a trench having a vertical face and a sloping face. The device includes a rotor configured to rotate about an axis of rotation and means for moving the device in a direction of travel substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The rotor includes a longitudinal rotor member and angled end portions coupled to the longitudinal rotor member. The rotor may also include a plurality of teeth-like elements coupled to the angled end portions.

Abstract: A digging wheel assembly includes a supporting wheel having a peripheral zone and a plurality of receiving elements affixed to the supporting wheel in the peripheral zone in a spaced, circumferential distribution. Each receiving element has a receiving pocket and a receiving slot. Digging tool components are disposed along the peripheral zone of the supporting wheel in a circumferential distribution. Each digging tool component is disposed between two circumferentially adjoining receiving elements; one being a leading receiving element and one being a trailing receiving element as viewed in the rotary working direction of the assembly. Each digging tool component has a leading part extending from a front end of the digging tool component in the rotary working direction and being accommodated in the receiving pocket of the leading receiving element.

Abstract: A self propelled apparatus for digging a shallow trench along one side of a roadway is disclosed, and which is useful as part of a roadway widening operation. The apparatus comprises a cutter drum mounted to one side of the chassis of the apparatus, and a conveyor belt is mounted to the same side of the chassis with an inlet end positioned immediately adjacent the cutter drum and an elevated outlet end positioned beyond the forward end of the chassis. An enclosure surrounds the cutter drum so that the drum may be rotated in a downwardly cutting direction, and the loosened soil or other material may be lifted and guided around the drum and deposited onto the conveyor. The cutter drum includes one or more extensions which may be coaxially mounted thereto, so as to permit the width of the cutter drum and thus the width of the resulting trench to be selectively varied.

Abstract: An improved bracket clamps a cutting tool to the wheel of a stump cutting apparatus and includes a channel defined between a leading bracket half and a trailing bracket half. The trailing bracket half includes an extension extending outwardly beyond an outermost edge of the leading bracket half. The channel encloses at least two-thirds of the cutting tool, and the extension has a planar surface in engagement with the surface of the cutting tool proximate to the cutting tip when the other end of the cutting tool is aligned with the opposing end of the channel. The extension provides rearward support for the cutting tip.

Abstract: An apparatus for preparing and refurbishing trenches having two cutters supported on a frame. During operation of the apparatus, the cutters rotate about an axis to prepare the trench. The distance between the cutters as well as the angle of the cutters are adjustable to change the size and shape of the trench. A cover is placed over the cutters and has a remotely adjustable orientation which can be varied to select the direction of earth being projected over the side of the trench during operation. The cutters are preferably powered by dedicated motors, and include a multiplicity of blades mounted on dual levels to increase efficiency of cutting the trench.

Abstract: A trencher for digging a trench having a vertical face and a sloping face. The trencher includes a frame and means for moving the trencher over the surface of the ground. A rotor is connected to drive means which rotate the rotor, thereby digging the trench. The rotor includes a longitudinal rotor member coupled to a transverse rotor member. The rotor may also include a plurality of teeth-like elements coupled to the transverse rotor member.

Abstract: Towed apparatus for excavating, pulverizing, and throwing soil to halt the spread of a forest fire. The apparatus comprises two series of rotating disks mounted to a first frame, each series driven by a hydraulic motor, for loosening the soil and pulverizing it into soil particles, followed by plowshares for funneling the resulting soil particles into a mound directly in the path of a spinner rotatably secured within a housing and having a plurality of fins attached thereto that scoop portions of the soil particles from the mound and throw them through a hole in the housing. Each disk in the series of disks has teeth secured about its peripheral edge for loosening the soil, pulverizing it and cutting and grinding roots, stumps and friable rock. The first frame is connected to a wheeled second frame by hydraulic cylinders to raise and lower the first frame with respect to the soil so that the series of disks can engage and be disengaged the soil to the depth desired.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for laying an underground member such as a service wire, tubing or the like. The apparatus includes a frame having a plurality of wheels with a rotatable cutting blade and a fixed cutting blade mounted to the frame for extending below the surface of the ground. The underground member is secured to the fixed cutting blade. An operating handle is pivotably mounted to the frame for rotating the rotatable cutting blade upon a pivoting of the operating handle. A propelling arm is pivotably mounted relative to the operating handle for moving the apparatus over the surface of the ground concomitantly with the rotatable cutting blade and the fixed cutting blade cutting a trench and laying the underground member therein.

Abstract: The digging apparatus support boom of a continuous excavating machine is vibrated in a directional mode so as to enhance digging efficiency. Directionally compliant mounting of the boom isolates this vibration from the machine proper while allowing unimpaired application of digging torque and crowd forces.

Abstract: An excavating device for scraping away the high shoulder material on the road sides. The device includes a rotating drum on which are permanently attached tooth-supports arranged in a helix. On the supports are fastened spikes and teeth, different types for different terrain. Scraped earthen material can be dispersed or windrowed and by arranging the supports on opposite helixes or by reversing rotation, the material can be dispersed or windrowed right or left of the rotating drum. A frame is employed to support the rotating drum, and the drum can be articulated to various working positions by hydraulic cylinders. A retractable hood is located above the rotor and movable deflectors are provided for material flow control. Tracer wheels facilitate control of the desirable digging depth.

Abstract: A trencher comprises a ground running, powered vehicle which travels in a forward direction carrying a trenching wheel driven by power to rotate in a vertical plane containing the forward direction so that cutting tips on the wheel's periphery excavate spoil from the ground leaving a trench therebehind. A plough just behind the front end of the trenching wheel pushes the spoil aside from the trench. The plough comprises two blades in V-shaped disposition, each blade being at a respective opposite side of the trenching wheel with leading ends of the plough blades being nearer sides of the wheel then their trailing ends. The plough blades, which are vibrated by vibrators driven by hydraulic motors, are mounted by elastically deformable anti-vibration mountings on respective supporting plates alongside the plough blades. The plough blades and these plates are raisable and lowerable hydraulically, and can be held braced in any desired V-shape by hydraulic struts.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in which a laser controllable ditcher drawn by a tractor to which it is attached for forming ditches, furrows and the like incorporates a cutting disk which is adjustably inclined downwardly toward the rear of its direction of travel such that its under face forms an acute angle with the ground beneath so that its leading edge cuts into the ground. The disk is driven rotationally through a speed reducer by a driveshaft extending to the ditcher from the tractor. The disk has spaced cutters at its edge which dig into the soil and cause the soil to be lifted into the path of movement of paddles or scoops on the back side of the disk which in effect throw the soil particles a considerable distance to one side of the tractor path.