Abstract: A tile installation plow connected to a mechanical arm of a vehicle to install a tile below a ground surface, the tile installation plow including a main body to be inserted at least partially within the ground surface, a boot removably disposed on at least a portion of an inner surface of the main body to direct the tile along a portion of the main body under the ground surface, and a tile cart connected to the vehicle to hold the tile thereon.

Abstract: Apparatus and Method for Burying Elongate Member Apparatus for laying an elongate member in a trench, the apparatus comprises a main body portion; ground-contacting apparatus on which the main body portion is mounted and by which the apparatus may in use move over the ground; an elongate member moving device configured to move the elongate member from an initial position to a elongate member laying position; and a depressor attached to the main body portion and configured to guide the elongate member from its elongate member laying position to its in-trench location, the depressor having an elongate member entry portion and an elongate member exit portion, wherein the depressor is rotatable in use about an axis which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongate member.

Abstract: A hand tool that digs a shallow trench and places drip irrigation tubing, cable, or electrical wire is disclosed. The invention simplifies the process of laying drip irrigation tubing, cable, or wire requires less labor, fewer materials, and is not as costly. The tool has a rubber handle, a steel tube shaft, a hard metal claw for slicing through dirt, and polyethylene flexible tubing for guiding irrigation hose or electrical cable into the dirt. It also has a small cylinder and set screw for holding the tubing, and easy replacement when it wears out.

Abstract: A pitch plow and method of laying flexible pipe in ground includes drawing a pitch plow with respect to the ground, the pitch plow having a frame and a shank pivotally mounted to a frame at a pivot, said shank defining a cutting edge. The shank is oriented relative to earth horizontal causing a change in the elevation of the cutting edge. Flexible pipe is fed through a boot extending generally along the shank. The flexible pipe is fed at an in-feed at an upper portion of the boot and discharged at a discharge at a lower portion thereof. The discharge is generally aligned with a vertical axis passing through the pivot in order to minimize vertical movement of the discharge as the shank pivots about the pivot.

Abstract: A pitch plow and method of laying flexible pipe in ground includes drawing a pitch plow with respect to the ground, the pitch plow having a frame and a shank pivotally mounted to a frame at a pivot, said shank defining a cutting edge. The shank is oriented relative to earth horizontal causing a change in the elevation of the cutting edge. Flexible pipe is fed through a boot extending generally along the shank. The flexible pipe is fed at an in-feed at an upper portion of the boot and discharged at a discharge at a lower portion thereof. The discharge is generally aligned with a vertical axis passing through the pivot in order to minimize vertical movement of the discharge as the shank pivots about the pivot.

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: Method for mounting a pipe (3, 4) into a soil in which case the pipe (3, 4) is intended to be left in a hole drilled in the soil in which method the drilling of the hole is performed by using hollow drill rods (1) attached sequentially to each other the diameter of which hollow drill rods is essentially similar to the diameter of the drilled hole and the hollow drill rods (1) are essentially empty from the drilling equipment during the drilling and the mentioned pipes (1) are adjusted to convey both rotating motion and propulsive force to a drill head (9,10). The pipework (3),(4) staying in the soil is mounted into the hole by pulling the pipework to the drill head with the help of a plunger (7) pushed by a pressurized medium in which case the drill rod pipework (1) functions as a cylinder for the mentioned plunger (7) and that finally the hollow drill rods (1) are pulled out of the hole and the pipework and the plunger (7) are left in the hole.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention is directed to a conduit laying system for laying conduit, including a vehicle, a trench former, a conduit feed system and a base material handling system. The trench former is configured for forming a trench. The conduit feed system includes a conduit feed passage having a conduit feed passage inlet for receiving at least one conduit and a conduit feed passage outlet positioned to deposit the at least one conduit in the trench. The base material handling system includes a base material hopper and at least one base material passage. The at least one base material passage is positioned to receive base material from the base material hopper and to discharge base material in the trench around the at least one conduit. The base material handling system, the conduit feed system and the trench former are driven by the vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention is a silt fence installer of unique design wherein the frame is angular rather than longitudinal and the fabric chute assembly is oriented parallel with the angular frame. This arrangement results in an installer with a generally perpendicular trailing edge, a fabric chute assembly with a closed leading edge and no need for hinged relationship between the sidewalls, and simple fabric threading with a single directional turn of the fabric. Further, the angular frame results in a shorter installer able to be more responsive to turns. In addition, the invention includes a sliding offset hitch wherein a silt fence installer may be adjusted laterally by hand due to strategic placement of rollers.

Abstract: A gooseneck frame is attached to the forward ends of a pair of lift arms which extend forwardly from a vehicle such as a skid steer vehicle with the forward end of the gooseneck frame being secured to the forward end of a silt fence installing machine so that the silt fence installing machine is pulled through the ground in advance of the vehicle. An improved coulter disk includes a cylindrical hub which limits the downward movement of the coulter disc with respect to the ground.

Abstract: A vibratory plow for installing a conduit below a ground surface. A portable vibrating compactor and a series of rollers provide a “seamless” finish to the ground.

Abstract: A tractor attachment for installing tubing beneath the ground includes a frame having a toolbar to which multiple plow assemblies are coupled and spaced apart by rigid spacers. Each plow assembly includes a plow blade and a drop feed tube, mile plow blades extend downwardly in a first direction from the toolbar and the drop feed tubes extend downwardly in a second direction from the toolbar. In operation, the multi-plow attachment is lowered such that the plow blades engage a body of soil at a desired depth. The desired depth at which the plow blades engage the soil is based at least in part on the pitch of the plow blades. The tractor moves forward to cause the plow blades to create trenches in the soil at substantially the desired depth and strands of conduit (e.g., drip irrigation tubing) are fed from the drop feed tubes to the created trenches.

Abstract: A cable handling accessory for use on an earth moving vehicle, such as a back hoe. The accessory replaces the front bucket of a backhoe and has cable rolled thereon.

Abstract: A machine to install the lower edge of silt fence fabric in a seam in the soil includes a frame with a plow member attached. The frame can be mounted to the three point hitch of a tractor so that the machine can be raised, lowered, and tilted while being supported by the tractor. Silt fence fabric from a roll carried on a rod on the machine is fed into a chute formed by two parallel plates of the plow member. The fabric is drawn out the front of the plow member and drawn along the side of the plow member by friction with the soil through which the plow member is drawn.

Abstract: Presented is an underground cable laying apparatus that leaves virtually no visible scar in the turf under which cable, wire, line, hose, etc. is laid. The apparatus utilizes a pair of angularly displaced turf slicing wheels to slice and separate the turf forming a slit into which cable may be laid. A cable guide tube and roller properly place the cable within the slit. A pair of turf closure wheels close the slit in close proximity to the release point of the cable to ensure proper placement of the cable. The slit in the turf is gently and completely closed over the cable, leaving virtually no visible scar within the turf to upset the aesthetic beauty of a lawn. Further, the configuration and rolling action of the turf slicing wheels ensures that other underground cables will not be damaged if inadvertently encountered.

Abstract: A machine to install the lower edge of silt fence fabric in a seam in the soil includes a frame with a plow member attached. The frame can be mounted to the three point hitch of a tractor so that the machine can be raised, lowered, and tilted while being supported by the tractor. Silt fence fabric from a roll carried on a rod on the machine is fed into a chute formed by two parallel plates of the plow member. The fabric is drawn out the front of the plow member and drawn along the side of the plow member by friction with the soil through which the plow member is drawn.

Abstract: A method for burying pipe or tile and, especially, double walled drainage tile. The method comprises the steps of digging a relatively wide trench having a bottom with a desired grade and loosening the soil in a central portion of the trench bottom by pulling a groove cutter which is attached to an excavating bucket along the trench bottom so that the bucket rides on the trench bottom and the groove cutter extends below the bottom surface of the trench. After the groove cutter loosens the soil, a modified trench shield or trench box is advanced along the trench bottom. The trench shield is provided, at its leading end, with a groove shaper which removes loosened soil from the central portion of the trench and forms a relatively narrow groove in the bottom of the trench. The width of the groove, adjacent the floor of the trench, may be a little larger or smaller or equal to the drain tile diameter.

Abstract: A tool for burying a hose, cable, wire, or other elongate, flexible structure in the ground, the tool being attachable to the loader arm of a front-end loader, consisting of a support attachable to the loader arm of a front-end loader; an excavator; a bracket for attaching the excavator to the support; and an attachment connected to the excavator. The excavator penetrates the ground and creates a trench as the front-end loader is driven forward and at the same time the attachment pulls an attached hose or other structure into the trench behind the excavator.

Abstract: A self-propelled, and winch assisted, steerable vibratory plow for laying underground pipe or cable, having a V-shaped blade connected to an oscillator which provides both elliptical and horizontal plow blade motion as needed, and with auxiliary straight blade plows for laying lateral lines on the sides of the main line. The main plow's gasoline engine powers a hydraulic system which powers the winch and a transaxle connected to the forward drive wheels, and powers the oscillator and a steering cylinder, as well as powering a hydraulic cylinder for lowering and raising the plow blade.

Abstract: An anode cable installment system in which the apparatus may comprise a plow for creating a tunnel; a conduit for delivering a linear anode to the tunnel; and a chute disposed proximate the conduit, the chute having a non-metallic inner surface, preferably an epoxy film layer having a lower coefficient of friction than steel. The coke breeze may be delivered to the tunnel by passing it over the non-metallic inner surface of the chute; and to the annular space in the tunnel around the linear anode to provide a horizontal encasement or column for the linear anode with reduced void spaces and increased density.

Abstract: A mobile sod cutting machine has mounting arms that have a central axis of elongation with a cable installer mechanism mounted to the lower end of one of the arms for being reciprocated with the arm. The cable installer mechanism includes a vertical ground slitting blade having a front slitting edge, a bottom edge intersecting the slitting edge and a shank mounting portion mounted to the mounting arm. An upper cable guide is attached to the shank mounting portion to extend rearwardly of the central axis of elongation of the mounting arm while a bottom cable guide is mounted to the blade adjacent to the intersection of the blade bottom edge and slitting edge to have its reversely bent edge forwardly of the central axis of elongation but spaced rearwardly of the blade bottom edge along the guide length by a distance about as least as great as the reciprocal fore and aft movement of the blade.

Abstract: An anode cable installment system in which the apparatus may comprise a plow for creating a tunnel; a conduit for delivering a linear anode to the tunnel; and a chute disposed proximate the conduit, the chute having a non-metallic inner surface, preferably an epoxy film layer having a lower coefficient of friction than steel. The coke breeze may be delivered to the tunnel by passing it over the non-metallic inner surface of the chute; and to the annular space in the tunnel around the linear anode to provide a horizontal encasement or column for the linear anode with reduced void spaces and increased density.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and apparatus for laying a product of great length (40) in the ground. As a furrow is formed by breaking up the ground a tube is laid in the furrow and, at the same time, the product is pulled inside the tube, at one end by means of a magnetic pulling device including a yoke and a core received in the tube and the yoke. The yoke and core produce a radial magnetic field between them capable of axially immobilizing the core in relation to the yoke. The tube is in the air gap between the yoke and the core and the product is fixed to the core. The pulling force applied to the product is produced by displacing the yoke as the tube is laid.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a physical design for an ocean floor trenching tool. The tool consists of a replaceable forward-extending plowguard and detachable hardened plow tips. Surfaces forming the tool's mouth around the plowguard cause the tool to penetrate the ocean bed under normal operation. The surfaces are also effective to "spoil" or break up the compacted bed for easier tool advancement. If an unplowable obstacle is encountered, the plowguard prow rides up and over it, clearing the plow tips away from potential damage. Once past the obstacle, the tool again planes down to operating depth. The tool is useful as a plowability assessment device. With addition of a cable-burying rear chute, the tool can also bury repeatered or repeaterless cable.

Abstract: A vibratory plow assembly 201 incorporates a vertical ground parting blade 202 with a front cutting edge 203 and a ripper tooth 208. The blade 202 is bifurcated rearwardly of the cutting edge 203, the blade 202 being formed by two spaced-apart side plates 214. The upper part of the plates 214 constitute a support frame which is pivotally connected by a pin 205 to a base plate 240. Attached rearwardly of the pivot pin 205 and preferably cantilevered beyond the plates 214 is a vibrator unit 232. The vibrator unit 232 when operational provides a vibratory frequency of between 5 Hz and 17 Hz to the ripper tooth 208 in both a vertical and arcuate path. The pivot pin 205 is preferably located above or forwardly of the cutting edge 203. The base plate 240 and supply frame, by virtue of the vibratory unit 232, experience relative movement in the manner of a pair of jaws the mouth of which extends rearwardly.

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: An apparatus for making tunnels and for laying supply lines in the ground comprises an earth displacing machine which is guided by a sword projecting out of the ground to allow the attachment of a power drive engaging the free end of the sword, and makes it possible to lay the supply lines accurately over long stretches, in particular along walls or the line of roadways or paths or the like.

Abstract: The apparatus of the instant invention includes a surface traversing mobile frame which, in the preferred embodiment, transports the elements of the invention. Means for dispensing a continuous length of hollow sheath and for dispensing a continuous length of signal-transmitting cable are provided. An assembly table for inserting the cable into the interior of the sheath includes a device for dividing a side of the sheath. Devices for forming a subsurface trench and for training the assembly produced by the assembly are mounted on the frame.The method of the invention includes opening the side of a hollow sheath along its length, and directing a cable into the opening to produce an elongate, continuous assembly of sheath having the cable inside of it. The wall of the plastimer sheath is permitted to assume a non-joined, closed condition along the region previously opened.

Abstract: An apparatus for laying and burying wire underground having a cutter unit, a tow bar affixed to the front of the cutter unit and a drag plate affixed to the rear of the cutter unit. The cutter unit includes a blade which cuts a slit in the ground into which the wire is layed as the cutter unit is moved over the ground. The drag plate contains a weight and is utilized to repack earth over the slit made by the cutter unit thereby completely burying the wire underground. Motive power for the wire laying/burying apparatus is provided by any suitable vehicle to which the tow bar is attached.

Abstract: A vibratory plow blade having a tapered leading edge, a trailing edge, and a tapered bottom edge wherein the plow blade is configured such that its longitudinal axis regresses or is arcuately angled away from the towing vehicle. The tapered leading edge of the plow blade includes an upper straight cutting section and a plurality of forward angled serrations along its length which provide for downward and upward cutting and fracturing of the soil with each successive stroke of the blade during vibratory action. The guide chute for the cable is mounted to the trailing edge at a substantial bend radius for reducing the flexing required of the cable and reducing the weight of the guide chute. The construction permits close proximity between the plow blade and guide chute for providing increased chute protection and a reduction in the chute frictional drag thereby leaving more vibrational energy for soil displacement.

Abstract: An improved high-speed cable-laying apparatus of the type which digs a kerf, lays a cable at the kerf bottom, and refills the kerf with spoil in one pass. The kerf digger is a chainline loop having ground-cutting teeth spaced along its length and restricting elements between the teeth. The chainline is preferably in the form of a narrow upright loop. Rearwardly of the chainline loop are an upright chute for directing cable to the bottom of the kerf and a trailing structure supporting a reel, cable guide means, and angled plow blades for directing spoil back into the kerf on top of the cable. The arrangement of elements is compact and maneuverable and avoids damage to fragile cable even while the device operates at high ground speed.

Abstract: An underground cable installing apparatus is disclosed herein along with its method of operation. The apparatus utilizes a power driven land vehicle and an elongated cable laying plow blade supported by and for movement with the vehicle in a way which places a lowermost end portion of the blade in the ground with its cutting edge disposed in the direction of vehicular movement. As the blade moves through the ground it lays cable in its path from a cooperating cable feeding mechanism. In accordance with one operational feature of the apparatus provided herein, its plow blade is supported for movement relative to its vehicle between a number of different operating positions including positions in front of and behind the vehicle as well as various positions on either side thereof. In accordance with another feature, the cable itself is fed from a supply wound about a drum or reel which is supported in an adjustable fashion on the vehicle.

Abstract: A plow arrangement is disclosed for inserting continuous lengths of foldable conduit in the ground. A plow forms a cavity in the ground for receiving the conduit. Folded conduit is conveyed from a reel to an inlet end of a feeder or boot. As the conduit passes through the feeder, it is unfolded. The feeder discharges the unfolded conduit horizontally behind the plow. Soil lifted by the plow falls around the unfolded conduit constraining it to its unfolded configuration. A vehicle advances the plow and feeder through the ground. The feeder includes a surface for engaging the base of the conduit and guides for engaging the top. The surface and guides converge adjacent the outlet of the feeder to unfold the conduit passing inbetween. Further the surface and guides have arcuate portions that bend the conduit about its apex to urge it to its unfolded configuration.

Abstract: A new apparatus for the application of liquid chemicals to soil is disclosed. A hand tool opens a slit in the soil by means of an injector blade and places a chemical-laden filament in the slit. The chemical-laden filament is dispensed from a floating spool in a fluid reservoir, through a conduit and to the soil. A handle provides both support for the reservoir and the injector knife as well as a working means for opening the soil.

Abstract: Improved method and means for laying a strip of film beneath the surface of the soil can include any one or more of the following: (1) method and means for starting the film; (2) method and means for centering the film in a film inlet of a plow; (4) method and means for guiding the film in a feed housing of a plow; (5) method and means for centering the film in a film distribution housing of a plow; and/or (6) method and means for supporting the film while earth is being laid down thereon.

Abstract: A plow-like trench cutter is carried by a slide movable vertically between spaced upright ways rigidly coupled to a tractor. The trench cutter has a passage for supplying a line, such as cable or pipe, generally to the bottom of the cutter so that when the tractor is moved to cut a trench, the line is laid in the trench cut. A jackscrew carrying the slide can adjust the elevation of the trench cutter relative to the tractor to alter the depth of the trench. The angle of attack of the leading edge of the trench cutter can be adjusted by turning a turnbuckle spindle that extends through a nut carried by the cutter and a nut carried by the slide. The leading edge of the trench cutter is composed of a plurality of bars reciprocable transversely of their lengths.