Slit trenching machine and cable layer

Claim 1

In a machine for laying cable in a slit trench, first frame means equipped with wheels for rolling along the ground surface, second frame means carrying a plow assembly comprising a drive arm for forming a slit trench in the ground, a pair of parallel members each of which has one end pivotally connected to said first frame means and its opposite end pivotally connected to said second frame means, said second frame means thus being movable with said parallel members relative to said first frame means between an upper position wherein said plow member is disposed above the ground surface and a lowered position wherein said plow member extends beneath the ground surface to form a slit trench therein, said drive arm being carried by said second frame means in a generally horizontal position and having drive means including an eccentric drive shaft having noneccentric end portions thereof journaled in said second frame means for imparting orbital movement to said drive arm, and said plow member being disposed approximately perpendicular to said drive arm so as to extend downwardly therefrom and being connected to said drive arm adjacent the rearward end thereof the angular orientation of said plow member remaining constant during movement between said upper and lower positions under the control of said parallel members, and power means carried by said first frame means for moving said second frame means between said upper and lower positions.