Patent US3638339A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3638339A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Slit trench digging apparatus
Assignee: INVENTORS ENGINEERING
•
Filing: 1970-08-06
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Granted: 1972-02-01
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Expires: 1990-08-06
Abstract
Abstract An excavating blade projects downwardly from a framework into the earth with an energizing mechanism connected to the blade for intermittently forcing portions of the blade laterally against the sidewalls of the trench to compress the earth adjacent to the blade. The trench is in this way formed by lateral pressure. The blade can be mounted for oscillation through an arc of 20* about a vertical axis. A motor oscillates the blade about this axis at a frequency of about 150-400 cycles per minute.
Inventors
- 👤 Albam M Vik
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 09:50
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02F; E02F5/00; E02F5/02; E02F5/10; E02F5/102; E02F5/103; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S37/00; Y10S37/904
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
A slit trench-digging apparatus comprising: a. a supporting framework adapted to be transported in a direction over the ground to produce a trench which extends in that direction; b. a vertically disposed, elongated, trench-forming blade adapted to extend down into the earth from said framework; c. means supporting said blade on said framework for alternating leftward and rightward lateral oscillation about a generally vertical axis within the blade, said axis being coplanar with the longitudinal axis of the blade, the blade being substantially symmetrical about the plane containing said longitudinal axis and said generally vertical axis; d. drive means for producing said alternating leftward and rightward lateral oscillation of said blade about said generally vertical axis, so that diagonally opposite portions of said blade ahead of and behind said genErally vertical axis alternately compact and retreat from opposite sidewalls of the trench being formed as said framework is transported in said direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
A slit trench-digging apparatus comprising: a. a supporting framework adapted to be transported in a direction over the ground to produce a trench which extends in that direction; b. a vertically disposed, elongated, trench-forming blade adapted to extend down into the earth from said framework; c. means supporting said blade on said framework for alternating leftward and rightward lateral oscillation about a generally vertical axis within the blade, said axis being coplanar with the longitudinal axis of the blade, the blade being substantially symmetrical about the plane containing said longitudinal axis and said generally vertical axis; d. drive means for producing said alternating leftward and rightward lateral oscillation of said blade about said generally vertical axis, so that diagonally opposite portions of said blade ahead of and behind said genErally vertical axis alternately compact and retreat from opposite sidewalls of the trench being formed as said framework is transported in said direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the two recited axes are parallel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said blade has means defining a leading edge and additionally comprises an elongated probe rigidly secured at the lower end of the blade, extending forwardly of said leading edge in said plane at a substantially right angle to the longitudinal axis of the blade.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said drive means comprises motive power means having a rotatable output shaft; a throw on said shaft; a pitman arm mounted between said throw and said blade for imparting said alternating leftward and rightward lateral oscillation to said blade.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said supporting means includes a substantially vertically disposed bearing means between said blade and said framework, said bearing means being configured to allow limited articulation between the blade and the framework about the longitudinal axis of the bearing means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said bearing means comprises a vertically elongated bearing element rigidly secured to the supporting framework; and a plurality of bearing members distributed vertically within the vertically elongated bearing element; and an elongated bearing part connected to the blade and to said bearing members.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the vertically elongated bearing element comprises a tube, said bearing members comprise bushings and the elongated bearing part comprises a pin connected to the upper end of the blade and extending through the bushings.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a rigid yoke is rigidly connected to the upper end of the blade and the bearing means extends from the top of the yoke to the bottom thereof, said framework including portions rigidly connected to the bearing means at points located between the upper and lower edges of the yoke.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the yoke comprises a rigid rectangular framework connected to the top of the blade and the bearing means is connected at its lower end to the bottom of the yoke and at its upper end to the top of the yoke.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-31 | 1975-08-02 | 1976-02-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-31 | 1979-08-02 | 1980-02-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-31 | 1983-08-02 | 1984-02-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |