Trenching machine attachment for widening trench bottom with dirt removing auger

Claim 2

In an attachment to a trenching machine for widening the bottom of a trench wherein the trenching machine includes a driven endless chain with plates mounted thereon to dig said trench and carry dirt out of said trench, said attachment includes a frame mounted to said machine and having an axle with a plurality of blades mounted thereon, said attachment includes first means on said frame and connected to said blades operable to rotate said blades against said trench and widen the bottom of said trench wherein the improvement comprises: second means mounted to said frame and positioned adjacent said blades with said blades positioned between said trenching machine and said second means which is operable to engage opposite sides of said trench subsequent to widening and to prevent loose dirt from passing by said second means; and, an auger having said blades mounted thereon with said auger mounted on said axle and rotatable simultaneously with said blades; said blades each have a cutting edge positioned a fixed radial distance from said axle; said radial distance of at least some of said blades is different than said radial distance for at least some of the remaining blades; at least some of said cutting edges are located at different axial positions along said axle; said second means includes a pair of walls mounted to said frame and means mounted to said frame and connected to said pair of walls operable to retract and extend said pair of walls against sidewalls of said trench; and, said pair of walls are positioned at an acute angle with respect to vertical, said cutting edges are each positioned at an acute angle identical to said acute angle of said pair of walls.

Claim 3

In an attachment to a trenching machine for widening the bottom of a trench wherein the trenching machine includes a driven endless chain with plates mounted thereon to dig said trench and carry dirt out of said trench, said attachment includes a frame mounted to said machine and having an axle with a plurality of blades mounted thereon, said attachment includes first means on said frame operable to lower said blades to the bottom of said trench and second means on said frame and connected to said blades operable to rotate said blades against said trench and widen the bottom of said trench wherein the improvement comprises: third means mounted to said frame and positioned adjacent said blades with said blades positioned between said trenching machine and said third means which is operable to engage opposite sides of said trench subsequent to widening and to prevent loose dirt from passing by said third means; and, an auger having said blades mounted thereon with said auger mounted on said axle and rotatable simultaneously with said blades to convey dirt from said blades and third means and onto said trenching machine for the removal of dirt from the trench; said blades each have a cutting edge positioned a fixed radial distance from said axle; said radial distance of at least some of said blades is different than said radial distance for at least some of the remaining blades; at least some of said cutting edges are located at different axial positions along said axle; said third means includes a pair of walls slidably mounted to said frame and motor means mounted to said frame and connected to said pair of walls operable to retract and extend said pair of walls against side walls of said trench; said frame includes a first member mounted to said trenching machine, a second member pivotally mounted to said first member with said first means connected between said first member and said second member and operable to cause said second member to pivot on said first member, and a third member pivotally mounted to said second member, said axle and said second means are mounted to said third member; and, said pair of walls are positioned at an acute angle with respect to vertical, said cutting edges are each positioned at an acute angle identical to said acute angle of said pair of walls with respect to vertical.

Claim 4

In an attachment to a trenching machine for widening the bottom of a trench wherein the trenching machine includes a driven endless chain with plates mounted thereon to dig said trench and carry dirt out of said trench, said attachment includes a frame mounted to said machine and having an axle with a plurality of blades mounted thereon, said attachment includes first means on said frame operable to lower said blades to the bottom of said trench and second means on said frame and connected to said blades operable to rotate said blades against said trench and widen the bottom of said trench wherein the improvement comprises: third means mounted to said frame and positioned adjacent said blades with said blades positioned between said trenching machine and said third means which is operable to engage opposite sides of said trench subsequent to widening and to prevent loose dirt from passing by said third means; and, an auger having said blades mounted thereon with said auger mounted on said axle and rotatable simultaneously with said blades to convey dirt from said blades and third means and onto said trenching machine for the removal of dirt from the trench; said blades each have a cutting edge positioned a fixed radial distance from said axle; said radial distance of at least some of said blades is different than said radial distance for at least some of the remaining blades; at least some of said cutting edges are located at different axial positions along said axle; said third means includes a pair of walls slidably mounted to said frame and motor means mounted to said frame and connected to said pair of walls operable to retract and extend said pair of walls against side walls of said trench; said frame includes a first member mounted to said trenching machine, a second member pivotally mounted to said first member with said first means connected between said first member and said second member and operable to cause said second member to pivot on said first member, and a third member pivotally mounted to said second member, said axle and said second means are mounted to said third member; and, said pair of walls are positioned at an acute angle with respect to vertical, said cutting edges are each positioned at an acute angle identical to said acute angle of said pair of walls with respect to vertical.

Claim 5

The attachment of a claim 2 wherein: said frame includes a cylinder motor connected to and between said second member and said third member to set said acute angle of said pair of walls with respect to vertical.