Excavation machine having improved digging elements

Claim 1

An excavation machine, comprising: a. a substantially horizontal frame; b. ground-engaging members secured to the frame for supporting same; c. an excavator assembly disposed substantially vertically and having therewith an endless conveyor of scratcher elements for scratching dirt and the like loose and buckets therewith for removing the loose dirt to form the excavation; d. means mounting said excavator assembly on said frame for movements in the substantially horizontal and substantially vertical directions to form a grave of predetermined dimensions; e. power and control means therewith for moving said endless conveyor in its endless path and for also moving said excavator assembly including said endless conveyor substantially horizontally during the excavation with said scratcher elements; f. said power and control means including an engine mounted on the upper end of said excavator assembly for imparting weight to said excavator assembly to lower same for the initial excavation cut into the ground; and g. said excavator assembly including: 1. a plurality of laterally extending buckets mounted on said endless conveyor and having a base, rear wall and ends; 2. each of said buckets having a plurality of laterally spaced scratcher fingers secured along substantially the entire lower surface of said base and projecting outwardly therefrom beyond the forward edge of said base and substantially perpendicular to said rear wall; and 3. means for disposing said excavator assembly at an angle with the lower portion of the endless conveyor forwardly of the upper portion thereof so that dirt scratched loose by said fingers falls into one of said buckets therebelow as said buckets move upwardly for the excavation.