US3646767A — Ditch building apparatus

Claim 1

Independent Claim 387 words

The combination with a ditch building apparatus adapted to dig a ditch along a selected course and to line the same with concrete, having a. a vehicle having a body mounted upon upright wheel-mounted post means spaced apart sufficiently to straddle a ditch course, a suspension means depending from the body and a pulling means at the leading end of the body; b. a digger means carried by the suspension means and held by the pulling means adapted to dig a trench as the vehicle moves along the ditch course and to discharge earth from the trench excavation laterally therefrom: c. a concrete receiving hopper connected to and trailing the digger means to receive and to hold a charge of concrete and to deposit the same into the aforesaid trench; d. a forming means connected to and trailing the hopper to dispense concrete from the hopper within the trench as a lining to form a finished ditch; e. said suspension means including an extendable and retractable actuator means at each side of the digger means to lower and raise each respective side of the digger means; of: an adjustment means adapted to selectively actuate each actuator means to hold the digger means at a selected grade elevation and transversely level regardless of the position of the vehicle as it moves along the course of the ditch and over uneven ground, wherein said adjustment means includes: a. a guide line means disposed alongside the ditch course paralleling the selected grade elevation of the ditch; b. a control means mounted upon the digger means and having a control arm extending therefrom to contact the aforesaid guide line means to shift vertically and to one side or the other whenever the elevation of the digger changes with respect to the guide line means, said control means being operatively interconnected with one of said actuator means to extend or retract the actuator means responsive to movements of the control arm to render the actuator means inoperative whenever the digger means is at the selected grade elevation and the arm at a neutral position, but to compensatively render the actuator means operative whenever the digger means is not at the selected position and the arm is moved from the neutral position to thereby return the digger means to the selected grade elevation.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 387 words

The combination with a ditch building apparatus adapted to dig a ditch along a selected course and to line the same with concrete, having a. a vehicle having a body mounted upon upright wheel-mounted post means spaced apart sufficiently to straddle a ditch course, a suspension means depending from the body and a pulling means at the leading end of the body; b. a digger means carried by the suspension means and held by the pulling means adapted to dig a trench as the vehicle moves along the ditch course and to discharge earth from the trench excavation laterally therefrom: c. a concrete receiving hopper connected to and trailing the digger means to receive and to hold a charge of concrete and to deposit the same into the aforesaid trench; d. a forming means connected to and trailing the hopper to dispense concrete from the hopper within the trench as a lining to form a finished ditch; e. said suspension means including an extendable and retractable actuator means at each side of the digger means to lower and raise each respective side of the digger means; of: an adjustment means adapted to selectively actuate each actuator means to hold the digger means at a selected grade elevation and transversely level regardless of the position of the vehicle as it moves along the course of the ditch and over uneven ground, wherein said adjustment means includes: a. a guide line means disposed alongside the ditch course paralleling the selected grade elevation of the ditch; b. a control means mounted upon the digger means and having a control arm extending therefrom to contact the aforesaid guide line means to shift vertically and to one side or the other whenever the elevation of the digger changes with respect to the guide line means, said control means being operatively interconnected with one of said actuator means to extend or retract the actuator means responsive to movements of the control arm to render the actuator means inoperative whenever the digger means is at the selected grade elevation and the arm at a neutral position, but to compensatively render the actuator means operative whenever the digger means is not at the selected position and the arm is moved from the neutral position to thereby return the digger means to the selected grade elevation.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 148 words

In the organization set forth in claim 1, wherein the said actuator means is a double acting hydraulic cylinder and: said control means is a four-way control valve mounted upon the digger means operatively connecting with the cylinder and having a control arm extending therefrom to rest upon the aforesaid guide line means to shift vertically to open one side or the other whenever the elevation of the digger changes with respect to the guide line, said valve being operatively interconnected with said cylinder with the arm at a neutral position with the valve being closed whenever the digger means is at the selected grade elevatIon, but with the arm being shifted from the neutral position to open the valve whenever the digger means shifts from the selected grade elevation, said valve opening thereby compensatively actuating the cylinder to return the digger means to the selected grade position.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 102 words

In the combination set forth in claim 2, wherein the other of said actuators is a second double-acting hydraulic cylinder, and said adjustment means includes: a second four-way control valve mounted upon the digger means operatively interconnected and with the said second cylinder arm having a weighted control arm depending therefrom as a pendulum, said valve being at a neutral, closed position when the digger means is transversely level, but swingable from this neutral position responsive to a tilt of the digger means to open and to compensatively actuate the second cylinder to return the digger to the aforesaid transverse level position.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 311 words

In a ditch building apparatus adapted to dig a ditch along a selected course and to line the same with concrete, having a. a vehicle having a body mounted upon upright wheel-mounted post means spaced apart sufficiently to straddle a ditch course, a suspension means depending from the body and a pulling means at the leading end of the body; b. a digger means carried by the suspension means and held by the pulling means adapted to dig a trench as the vehicle moves along the ditch course and to discharge earth from the trench excavation laterally therefrom; c. said suspension means including an extendable and retractable actuator means at each side of the digger means to lower and raise each respective side of the digger means; d. an adjustment means adapted to selectively actuate each actuator means to hold the digger means at a selected grade elevation and transversely level regardless of the position of the vehicle as it moves along the course of the ditch and over uneven ground; e. a concrete receiving hopper connected to and trailing the digger means to receive and to hold a charge of concrete and to deposit the same into the aforesaid trench; and f. a forming means connected to and trailing the hopper to dispense concrete from the hopper within the trench as a lining to form a finished ditch, wherein said pulling means includes: a. a guiding means depending from the forward end of the vehicle; b. a holding member carried in the guide means to shift vertically; and c. a flexible connector at the center of the holding member interconnecting the holding member with the center of the forward end of the digger, said holding member and connector permitting the digger means to be shifted vertically and to swing about the connector with respect to the position of the vehicle.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 311 words

In a ditch building apparatus adapted to dig a ditch along a selected course and to line the same with concrete, having a. a vehicle having a body mounted upon upright wheel-mounted post means spaced apart sufficiently to straddle a ditch course, a suspension means depending from the body and a pulling means at the leading end of the body; b. a digger means carried by the suspension means and held by the pulling means adapted to dig a trench as the vehicle moves along the ditch course and to discharge earth from the trench excavation laterally therefrom; c. said suspension means including an extendable and retractable actuator means at each side of the digger means to lower and raise each respective side of the digger means; d. an adjustment means adapted to selectively actuate each actuator means to hold the digger means at a selected grade elevation and transversely level regardless of the position of the vehicle as it moves along the course of the ditch and over uneven ground; e. a concrete receiving hopper connected to and trailing the digger means to receive and to hold a charge of concrete and to deposit the same into the aforesaid trench; and f. a forming means connected to and trailing the hopper to dispense concrete from the hopper within the trench as a lining to form a finished ditch, wherein said pulling means includes: a. a guiding means depending from the forward end of the vehicle; b. a holding member carried in the guide means to shift vertically; and c. a flexible connector at the center of the holding member interconnecting the holding member with the center of the forward end of the digger, said holding member and connector permitting the digger means to be shifted vertically and to swing about the connector with respect to the position of the vehicle.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 56 words

In the combination set forth in claim 4, wherein: said guide means comprises a pair of upright arms symmetrically spaced from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle having opposing guideways therein; said holding member extends transversely between the arms and into the guideways to shift therein; and said flexible connection includes a ball and socket joint.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 158 words

In a ditch building apparatus adapted to dig a ditch and line the same with concrete, and comprising, in combination: a. a vehicle, including a suspension means adapted to move along the course of the ditch; b. a digger means supported by the suspension means adapted to dig a trench as the vehicle moves along the ditch course and to discharge earth from the trench excavation laterally therefrom; and c. a concrete receiving hopper connected to and trailing the digger to receive and to hold a charge of concrete and to deposit the same into the aforesaid trench; and d. a forming means connected to and trailing the hopper to dispense concrete from the hopper within the trench as a lining to form a finished ditch, wherein said forming means comprises a longitudinally extended, platelike structure shaped to the transverse section of the finished ditch having A leading, closed wall defining the trailing edge of the aforesaid hopper.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 158 words

In a ditch building apparatus adapted to dig a ditch and line the same with concrete, and comprising, in combination: a. a vehicle, including a suspension means adapted to move along the course of the ditch; b. a digger means supported by the suspension means adapted to dig a trench as the vehicle moves along the ditch course and to discharge earth from the trench excavation laterally therefrom; and c. a concrete receiving hopper connected to and trailing the digger to receive and to hold a charge of concrete and to deposit the same into the aforesaid trench; and d. a forming means connected to and trailing the hopper to dispense concrete from the hopper within the trench as a lining to form a finished ditch, wherein said forming means comprises a longitudinally extended, platelike structure shaped to the transverse section of the finished ditch having A leading, closed wall defining the trailing edge of the aforesaid hopper.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 84 words

In the organization set forth in claim 6, wherein said digger means comprises: a transversely axised auger, shaped to define the ditch-trench cross section and having flight means on the auger adapted to shift earth excavated from the ditch laterally therefrom responsive to rotation of the auger; and means to rotate the auger with the leading portion of the under edge of the auger moving forwardly and upwardly against the earth in a direction the same as the direction of movement of the vehicle.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 67 words

In the organization set forth in claim 7, wherein: said auger is formed as two opposing flights, each commencing at the center of the digger and extending laterally toward opposite edge portions of the ditch, with the flight pitch of each being in opposition to that of the other, whereby said digger means is adapted to shift dirt excavated from the ditch trench to each side thereof.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 40 words

In the organization set forth in claim 8, including: deflectors outstanding from each side of the digger means adapted to push a substantial portion of excavated earth away from the trench and out of the path of the vehicle wheels.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 32 words

In the organization set forth in claim 7, including: a hood enclosing approximately three-fourths of the auger circumference and exposing only the aforesaid leading portion of the under edge of the auger.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 59 words

In the organization set forth in claim 7, wherein: said digger section includes a base shoe trailing the auger and conforming to the form of the ditch trench to support the hopper and forming means, said base shoe being adapted to drag against and to smooth the walls of the ditch trench prior to the placement of concrete therein.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 39 words

In the organization set forth in claim 11, including: a peripheral slot about said base shoe; and a sprinkler means within the slot adapted to wet the surface of the ditch trench as the base shoe portion moves therepast.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 298 words

In a ditch building apparatus adapted to dig a ditch and line the same with concrete, which combines: a. a vehicle, including a suspension means adapted to move along the course of the ditch; b. a digger means supported by the suspension means adapted to dig a trench as the vehicle moves along the ditch course and to discharge earth from the trench excavation laterally therefrom; c. a concrete receiving hopper connected to and trailing the digger to receive and to hold a charge of concrete and to deposit the same into the aforesaid trench; and d. a forming means connected to and trailing the hopper to dispense concrete from the hopper within the trench as a lining to form a finished ditch, the improvement comprising: a pocket forming means located behind the digger means, including a transverse guideway means and a ram within the guideway means adapted to be extended laterally therefrom to form a pocket in the earth at the side of the ditch trench; a notch finishing means near the trailing end of the aforesaid forming means including a transverse guideway means and a ram within the guideway means adapted to be extended laterally therefrom to cut a notch into the concrete ditch lining; and an indexing means aligned along the course of the ditch, including indicator means at a uniform spacing along the ditch course which is the same, or a simple fraction of, the spacing between the pocket forming means and notch finishing means, and which initiates the extension of the rams of the aforesaid pocket and notch finishing means substantially simultaneously whereby to cause the notch finishing ram to be extended into a pocket previously formed by the pocket ram and filled with concrete after the pocket has moved past the hopper.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 298 words

In a ditch building apparatus adapted to dig a ditch and line the same with concrete, which combines: a. a vehicle, including a suspension means adapted to move along the course of the ditch; b. a digger means supported by the suspension means adapted to dig a trench as the vehicle moves along the ditch course and to discharge earth from the trench excavation laterally therefrom; c. a concrete receiving hopper connected to and trailing the digger to receive and to hold a charge of concrete and to deposit the same into the aforesaid trench; and d. a forming means connected to and trailing the hopper to dispense concrete from the hopper within the trench as a lining to form a finished ditch, the improvement comprising: a pocket forming means located behind the digger means, including a transverse guideway means and a ram within the guideway means adapted to be extended laterally therefrom to form a pocket in the earth at the side of the ditch trench; a notch finishing means near the trailing end of the aforesaid forming means including a transverse guideway means and a ram within the guideway means adapted to be extended laterally therefrom to cut a notch into the concrete ditch lining; and an indexing means aligned along the course of the ditch, including indicator means at a uniform spacing along the ditch course which is the same, or a simple fraction of, the spacing between the pocket forming means and notch finishing means, and which initiates the extension of the rams of the aforesaid pocket and notch finishing means substantially simultaneously whereby to cause the notch finishing ram to be extended into a pocket previously formed by the pocket ram and filled with concrete after the pocket has moved past the hopper.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 76 words

In the organization set forth in claim 13, wherein: said indexing means includes a line adapted to be extended along the course of the ditch and the indicator means are lugs carried thereon; a switch Carried on the apparatus having an actuator finger normally touching the line and being actuated by contacting a lug as the apparatus moves along the ditch course; and means adapted to extend the aforesaid rams responsive to actuation of the switches.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 255 words

In a ditch building apparatus adapted to dig a ditch and line the same with concrete which combines: a. a vehicle, including a supporting means, a driving means and a steering means having sterrable wheels, adapted to move along the course of the ditch; b. a digger means supported by the supporting means adapted to dig a trench as the vehicle moves along the ditch course and to discharge earth from the trench excavation laterally therefrom; c. a concrete receiving hopper connected to and trailing the digger to receive and to hold a charge of concrete and to deposit the same into the aforesaid trench; and d. a forming means connected to and trailing the hopper to dispense concrete from the hopper within the trench as a lining to form a finished ditch, the improvement comprising: an automatic alignment means adapted to maintain the alignment of the vehicle along the ditch course, including: a guide line extended alongside the course of the ditch to parallel the same; an actuator adapted to shift the steerable wheels to change the direction of the vehicle movement; and a control means adapted to regulate the actuator having a sensor arm depending therefrom to contact the aforesaid line, said control means being in a neutral position when the vehicle is in proper alignment with the sensor arm being substantially at a vertical position, but being shifted from said neutral position whenever the vehicle moves out of alignment, to thereby compensatively energize the actuator to return the vehicle to proper alignment.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 255 words

In a ditch building apparatus adapted to dig a ditch and line the same with concrete which combines: a. a vehicle, including a supporting means, a driving means and a steering means having sterrable wheels, adapted to move along the course of the ditch; b. a digger means supported by the supporting means adapted to dig a trench as the vehicle moves along the ditch course and to discharge earth from the trench excavation laterally therefrom; c. a concrete receiving hopper connected to and trailing the digger to receive and to hold a charge of concrete and to deposit the same into the aforesaid trench; and d. a forming means connected to and trailing the hopper to dispense concrete from the hopper within the trench as a lining to form a finished ditch, the improvement comprising: an automatic alignment means adapted to maintain the alignment of the vehicle along the ditch course, including: a guide line extended alongside the course of the ditch to parallel the same; an actuator adapted to shift the steerable wheels to change the direction of the vehicle movement; and a control means adapted to regulate the actuator having a sensor arm depending therefrom to contact the aforesaid line, said control means being in a neutral position when the vehicle is in proper alignment with the sensor arm being substantially at a vertical position, but being shifted from said neutral position whenever the vehicle moves out of alignment, to thereby compensatively energize the actuator to return the vehicle to proper alignment.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1975-03-07	1975-09-06	1976-03-07	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1979-03-07	1979-09-06	1980-03-07	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1983-03-07	1983-09-06	1984-03-07	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Ditch building apparatus

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