Trench shoring machines

Claim 2

A trench shoring machine comprising a first framework; a series of longitudinally extending vertically spaced piles arranged along each side of said first framework; guide means guiding said piles for substantially horizontal sliding movement longitudinally of said first framework; first drive means for longitudinally advancing said piles with said first framework held stationary; and holding means for positively holding said piles in their advanced positions and advancing said first framework relative to said piles.

Claim 3

A trench shoring machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first framework includes first and second forward walings and first and second rearward walings, all said walings being upright and, when seen in plan, being arranged at the corners of a rectangle, and longitudinal tie means between said first forward and first rearward walings and between said second forward and second rearward walings; and said guide means are secured to said walings.

Claim 4

A trench shoring machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said holding means comprises a second framework, said first framework and said second framework being arranged one in front of the other, said guide means being provided on each of said first framework and said second framework; second drive means for driving each of said first framework and said second framework forwardly relative to each other; and means for positively locking one of said first framework and said second framework against movement while the other one of said first framework and said second framework is driven forwardly.

Claim 5

A trench shoring machine as claimed in claim 3 wherein said second framework includes first and second forward walings and first and second rearward walings, all said walings being upright and, when seen in plan, being arranged at the corners of a rectangle, and longitudinal tie means between said first forward and first rearward walings and between said second forward and second rearward walings; and said guide means are secured to said walings.

Claim 6

A trench shoring machine as claimed in claim 3 wherein said second drive means comprise rams acting between said first framework and said second framework.

Claim 7

A trench shoring machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first drive means for longitudinally advancing said piles comprise ram means acting between said first framework and said piles.

Claim 8

A trench shoring machine as claimed in claim 6 wherein said ram means comprises an individual ram for each of said piles.

Claim 9

A trench shoring machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first drive means for longitudinally advancing said piles is such that each of said piles may be advanced independently of the others.

Claim 10

A trench shoring machine as claimed in claim 2 wherein at least some of said walings are provided with levelling feet operable by rams housed in the respective said same of said walings.

Claim 11

A trench shoring machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein a hopper is secured to said first framework at the rear of said machine.

Claim 12

A trench shoring machine comprising a first framework; a second framework arranged in front of said first framework; each of said first framework and said second framework including first and second forward walings and first and second rearward walings, all said walings being upright and when seen in plan, being arranged at the corners of a rectangle, and longitudinal tie means between said first forward and first rearward walings and between said second forward and second rearward walings, said longitudinal tie means of said first framework passing slidably through respective ones of said rearward walings of said second framework and said longitudinal tie means of said second framework passing slidably through respective ones of said forward walings of said first framework; a series of longitudinally extending, vertically spaced piles arranged along each side of said first framework and said second framework; guide means on said walings guiding said piles for substantially horizontal sliding movement longitudinally of said first framework and said second framework; first drive means for longitudinally advancing said piles with said first framework held stationary; second drive means for driving each of said first framework and said second framework forwardly relative to each other; and means for locking one of said first framework and said second framework against movement while the other one of said first framework and said second framework is driven forwardly.

Claim 13

A trench shoring machine comprising a first framework; a second framework arranged in front of said first framework; each of said first framework and said second framework including first and second forward walings and first and second rearward walings, all said walings being upright and when seen in plan, being arranged at the corners of a rectangle, and longitudinal tie means between said first forward and first rearward walings and between said second forward and second rearward walings, said longitudinal tie means of said first framework passing slidably through respective ones of said rearward walings of said second framework and said longitudinal tie means of said second framework passing slidably through respective ones of said forward walings of said first framework; a series of longitudinally extending, vertically spaced piles arranged along each side of said first framework and said second framework; guide means on said walings guiding said piles for substantially horizontal sliding movement longitudinally of said first framework and said second framework; first drive means for longitudinally advancing said piles with said first framework held stationary; second drive means for driving each of said first framework and said second framework forwardly relative to each other; and means for locking one of said first framework and said second framework against movement while the other one of said first framework and said second framework is driven forwardly.

Claim 14

A trench shoring machine as claimed in claim 11 wherein said longitudinal tie means for each framework comprises a series of longitudinal tie rods extending between respective ones of said forward and rearward walings and passing through holes formed on the neutral axis of a respective one of said walings of the other one of said first framework and said second framework.

Claim 15

A trench shoring machine as claimed in claim 11 wherein each of said walings carries a series of vertically spaced guide elements, with guide elements on all of said walings at each side of said machine being arranged in horizontally aligned rows, and each of said piles is mounted on and engages at least one of said rows of said guide elements.

Claim 16

A trench shoring machine as claimed in claim 13 wherein vertically adjacent ones of said piles are spaced apart by one of said rows of said guide elements, and cover plates are secured to said piles to cover the spaces between them.

Claim 17

A trench shoring machine as claimed in claim 11 wherein said rearward walings of said first framework carry plates which fit closely into spaces within said piles and into spaces between said piles.

Claim 18

A trench shoring machine as claimed in claim 11 wherein said rearward walings of said first framework carry side cheeks extending forwardly adjacent to the lowermost one of said piles.

Claim 19

A trench shoring machine as claimed in claim 16 wherein each said side cheek has a front end and an upper surface which are inclined inwardly towards the longitudinal center line of said machine.

Claim 20

A trench shoring machine as claimed in claim 16 wherein each said side cheek carries, close to its front end a series of plates which fit closely into the spaces within said piles.

Claim 21

A trench shoring machine comprising a first framework; a second framework arranged in front of said first framework; a series of longitudinally extending vertically spaced piles arranged along each side of said first framework and said second framework; guide means on each of said first framework and said second framework guiding said piles for substantially horizontal sliding movement longitudinally of said first framework and said second framework; first drive means for longitudinally advancing said piles with said first framework and said second framework held stationary; second drive means for driving each of said first framework and said second framework forwardly relative to the other; and means for positively locking one of said first framework and said second frAmework independently of the other to at least some of the piles while the other one of said first framework and said second framework is driven forwardly.

Claim 22

A trench shoring machine comprising a first framework; a second framework arranged in front of said first framework; a series of longitudinally extending vertically spaced piles arranged along each side of said first framework and said second framework; guide means on each of said first framework and said second framework guiding said piles for substantially horizontal sliding movement longitudinally of said first framework and said second framework; first drive means for longitudinally advancing said piles with said first framework and said second framework held stationary; second drive means for driving each of said first framework and said second framework forwardly relative to the other; and means for positively locking one of said first framework and said second frAmework independently of the other to at least some of the piles while the other one of said first framework and said second framework is driven forwardly.

Claim 23

A trench shoring machine as claimed in claim 19 wherein said second framework includes at its forward end two upright, laterally spaced walings, one at each side of the machine; and said locking means for said second framework comprises cooperating locking means between each of said walings and at least one of said piles on the respective side of said machine, said cooperating locking means holding each of said walings against rearward movement when said at least one pile is stationary and in its most rearward position relative to each of said walings.

Claim 24

A trench shoring machine as claimed in claim 20 wherein each cooperating locking means is releasable by a forward movement of said at least one pile relative to a waling.

Claim 25

A trench shoring machine as claimed in claim 20 wherein each locking means comprises an element extending parallel and adjacent to one of said walings and movable vertically relative to said one of said walings, at least one locking member projecting from said element to lie in front of part of a respective one of said piles, means biasing said element to an upper position wherein said locking member is level with said part of said one of said piles and engageable therewith, and means for moving said element downwardly against said biasing means to move said locking member to a level below, and not engageable with, said part of said one of said piles.

Claim 26

A trench shoring machine as claimed in claim 22 wherein said means for moving said element downwardly comprise a roller journalled on said element, and a cam runner secured to one of said piles and slidable on said roller as said one of said piles is advanced, to move said roller and thus said element downwardly.