Abstract: A hydraulic connector for hydraulic circuits includes a female coupling and a male coupling which are configured to directly couple with and decouple from each other. The female and male couplings do not include inner spaces to accommodate a first sensor. A mutual connection of the female and male couplings facilitates flow of a fluid between the female and male couplings. At least either the male or female coupling includes a first hollow element which is applied directly to an external surface of the male or female coupling to define an inner space. Either the male or female coupling includes the first sensor positioned in the inner space formed by the first hollow element. The first sensor is configured to detect and transmit electronic signals corresponding to working and/or operating parameters and/or values of the connector to a receiver.

Abstract: A system for trench and drain installation. The system utilizes an implement driven trenching assembly and a backfill pipe installation assembly. The implement driven trenching assembly digs a trench utilizing a circular trenching blade which is hydraulically operated and is mounted onto a front loader plate. The backfill pipe installation assembly uses a backfill hopper to simultaneously install drainage pipe above the trench floor and envelop the drainage pipe in backfill material to maintain the drainage pipe at a constant height above the trench floor.

Abstract: An earth mover for continuously excavating a trench and simultaneously clearing the excavated trench of spoils and depositing the spoils alongside the excavated trench. The earth mover including a cutter supported by a chassis in a rotatably drivable fashion about a cutter axis of rotation that is fixed relative to the chassis. A stripping blade having a stripping edge is disposed at a following position relative to the cutter and includes transport surface contiguous with a spoils collector. A spoils transfer assembly removes spoils from the spoils collector and deposits them alongside the excavated trench as the earth mover is propelled along a trenching path. Further included is a wheel support assembly secured to the chassis and including a pair of laterally spaced wheels providing ground support to the chassis. The wheels are rotatable about an axis relative to the chassis to position the chassis between ground engaging and transport positions.

Abstract: A linear compressor driving device for linear compressor driving a piston in a cylinder by means of a linear motor to generate a compressed gas, has an inverter for outputting an alternating current to be supplied to the linear motor; current detecting means for detecting an output current from the inverter; voltage detecting means for detecting an output voltage from the inverter; current amplitude value determining means for determining a current amplitude value of the output current; output power calculating means for calculating an output power from the inverter based on the detected output current and the detected output voltage; frequency determining means for determining a frequency of the output current such that the output power is maximum; and inverter controller for controlling the inverter based on the determined current amplitude value and the determined frequency.

Abstract: A continuous excavating and loading machine having a front mounted rotary digging element divided into sections to allow cantilevered support, digs a width greater than that of any other part of the machine so that the machine may advance on the surface it has cut. The digging element is driven by digging chains which also break up material in their path so that the full digging face is excavated. Excavated material is discharged outwardly from the digging element by both centrifugal force and gravity after rotation past top center. The excavated material falls onto a conveyor system to be elevated and transported to the rear of the machine for transfer to appropriate carriers. A moldboard blade trims surface irregularities and pushes passed material forward into the bucket wheel. A movable skid plate, held against the cut surface by a constant force, supports digging torque reaction loads and damping is provided for shock conditions.

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.

Abstract: A continuous-operation extraction apparatus for strip mining that is self propelled on continuous track treads. A cylindrically-shaped cutting extractor has cutting tools arranged on its peripheral surface. Recesses are provided in this peripheral surface for the transfer of extracted material through a chute to a first conveyor that is located axially within the cylinder of the cutting extractor. A second conveyor having loading carts connects with the first conveyor and receives the loosened material from the first conveyor. The first conveyor has an inside section which emerges from a front side of the cylinder and merges outside into a sloping conveyance section which extends vertically to substantially an upper edge of a chassis. An overhead ascending section is connected to the inside section and terminates in a transfer region where the extracted material is transferred to the second conveyor.

Abstract: A continuous track-mounted, self-propelled continuously operating open-cast mining machine having a drum-shaped mining device with cutting tools arranged around the circumference of the drum. The cutting drum is equipped with cutting teeth which can cut in both directions and the mined material is guided into the interior of the cutting drum, with the cutter bars being arranged in a substantially axial pattern on the circumference of the drum. The teeth holders are arranged on the cutter bars and carry teeth and the teeth holders with the teeth are pivotable about an axis in such a way that the teeth pointing in the directin of rotation of the drum pivot automatically into the cutting position as they engage in the material to be extracted, while the teeth pointing in the opposite direction are simultaneously pivoted out of the clearance angle zone of the teeth doing the actual cutting.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for bench mining employs a rotating wheel excavator with excavator wheel positioned outwardly to one side of a tractor unit for the excavator so that the tractor unit draws the excavation wheel along a bench line or cut line between different layers of the bench mine. The cutting wheel can either be moved to opposite sides of the tractor unit or a second wheel can be positioned at the other side so that the excavator can operate in both directions of movement.

Abstract: A vehicular ditching apparatus in which an oil-cooled mechanism having rotating friction discs and plates, and further having a fluid controlled piston for increasing the friction between the discs and plates, is incorporated into the ditcher, aft of the transmission, as a torsional limiting device to protect the components of the drive chain in the event the cutting wheel of the ditcher is subjected to unexpected increased load, such as when it hits an unseen obstruction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing ballast from beneath railroad tracks utilizes a horizontal undercutter disposed beneath the track to remove the ballast therefrom into a trench excavated by a cooperatively mounted trencher wheel. A horizontally disposed conveyor is located in the trench rearwardly of and adjacent the trench wheel to receive the ballast from the undercutter and to transport the ballast to the trencher wheel for removal thereby.

Abstract: A stockpile drum reclaiming machine is operable in either direction has a twelve faced drum carried on a gantry provided with wheeled bogies running on rails over the length of the stockpile. The faces are arranged in pairs each pair with an interior angle of 165.degree. and a T-section member positioned externally along the arris to form opposed blind pockets during reclaiming, the drum may be rotated and moved in either direction and alternative transfer conveyors carried on an arcuate beam rotatable through a restricted arc are positionable to receive reclaimed material thrown clear of the drum after having been carried over in the appropriate pockets. Oscillatable luffable harrows are provided to each side of the drum and are positionable to engage the stockpile being reclaimed.

Abstract: A trench digging apparatus comprising a cutter wheel with picks projecting from the outer periphery thereof. An electric drive motor is provided to rotate the cutter wheel about a substantially horizontal axis. The cutter wheel is supported by a support frame which is pivoted to a basic framework of the apparatus by spherical and eccentric hinge bearings. These hinge bearings allow a limited amount of movement about a vertical axis as well as pivotal movement about a horizontal axis. The movement about a vertical axis allows the cutter wheel to turn or be oscillated to free the apparatus, correct for crabbing or enhance cutting, and the movement about the horizontal axis enables the trench depth to be varied.

Abstract: The trenching machine of the present invention comprises a support frame, a continuous member either of the wheel or chain type having a plurality of excavating members mounted thereon, mounting means retentively movably mounting the continuous member to the frame, for movement of the excavating members in a continuous path, the mounting means comprising at least two rotatable wheels mounted to said frame for rotation and positioned as to engage the continuous member for rotatable retentive engagement therewith, at least one of the wheels being movable toward and away from the other of the wheels, and power means for moving the movable wheel away from the other wheel so that the wheels may be adjusted to take up the slack between them and the continuous member. The excavating members are of semi-circular construction, some of the members facing in one direction and the other of the members facing in the opposite direction so that each excavating member excavates approximately half of the trench.

Abstract: The trenching machine of the present invention comprises a support frame, a continuous member either of the wheel or chain type having a plurality of excavating members mounted thereon, mounting means retentively movably mounting the continuous member to the frame, for movement of the excavating members in a continuous path, the mounting means comprising at least two rotatable wheels mounted to said frame for rotation and positioned as to engage the continuous member for rotatable retentive engagement therewith, at least one of the wheels being movable toward and away from the other of the wheels, and power means for moving the movable wheel away from the other wheel so that the wheels may be adjusted to take up the slack between them and the continuous member. The excavating members are of semi-circular construction, some of the members facing in one direction and the other of the members facing in the opposite direction so that each excavating member excavates approximately half of the trench.

Abstract: A bucket-wheel trench excavator comprising a prime mover and an excavating unit arranged to bear on a wheeled support. The frame of the excavating unit is connected to the frame of the prime mover by means of an intermediate frame and horizontal-pivoted joints. Displacement of the excavating unit between the working position and the transport position is effected by two hydraulic cylinders which, in conjunction with the frames, form at least one four-element linkage wherein the intermediate frame and the excavating unit frame are rigid members and the hydraulic cylinders are connected end-to-end. The effect kinematic connection between the two frames and the hydraulic cylinders, provision is made for a strut connecting the four-element linkage joints provided between the rigid frames and between the hydraulic cylinders.

Abstract: A slack takeup apparatus for a circular excavating rim includes a support frame and first and second rim engaging wheels mounted on the support frame in spaced-apart relation for rotation about stationary axes. A third rim engaging wheel is rotatably mounted at the free end of a pivot member connected to the support frame. An extensible power member is pivotally connected to and extended between the third wheel and support frame for pivotally moving the third wheel and pivot arm to take up slack between the wheels and circular rim.

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 upwardly and rearwardly. The excavating wheel assembly includes at least one excavating wheel which is positioned on the front of the vehicle with respect to the direction of travel to form an excavation. The wheel has side mounted cutting teeth which pivot outwardly to form an excavation wider than the following portion of the system. A supporting and housing apparatus rotatably supports the excavating wheel means from the vehicle and engages the wheel means on the ends thereof. Apparatus is provided for raising and lowering the excavation wheel assembly to raise and lower the excavation height and thereby vary the grade of 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 undercutting apparatus and a method for removing material from beneath railroad track. The apparatus comprises a rotary trench digging means and horizontal chain means to transport the material from beneath the railroad track to the trench digging means at an underground location. In operation the trench digging means digs a trench alongside of the track while at the same time transporting the material delivered by the horizontal chain means to a suitable location above the ground. Preferably the rotary trench digging means comprises a large hollow wheel and one end of the chain means is disposed inside of and near the bottom of the wheel during normal operation of the chain means. Means are provided to pivot the chain means about a vertical axis whereby the chain means can be pivoted from a first position wherein the chain means extends parallel to the track to a second position wherein the chain means extends perpendicular to the track.