Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
A shearing excavator for stripping earth from a horizontally elongated upright face extending elevationally between a longitudinal top edge and a longitudinal bottom edge by removing successive layers of earth along the length of the face, comprising: a longitudinally elongated framework extending along the length of the face in substantial parallel relation thereto: a carriage movably mounted to the framework for longitudinal movement thereon in opposite forward and backward directions along the length of the framework adjacent the face; earth receiving and transporting means mounted on said framework; a blade assembly mounted to the carriage including: a. upright first blade means having an upright blade edge leading downwardly from the top edge of the face to a bottom blade end at an elevation above that of the bottom edge of the face for scraping against the face to make a cut while the carriage is moved in a forward direction, said first blade means including a deflection surface for directing loose earth away from said face and toward said earth receiving and transporting means;
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
A shearing excavator for stripping earth from a horizontally elongated upright face extending elevationally between a longitudinal top edge and a longitudinal bottom edge by removing successive layers of earth along the length of the face, comprising: a longitudinally elongated framework extending along the length of the face in substantial parallel relation thereto: a carriage movably mounted to the framework for longitudinal movement thereon in opposite forward and backward directions along the length of the framework adjacent the face; earth receiving and transporting means mounted on said framework; a blade assembly mounted to the carriage including: a. upright first blade means having an upright blade edge leading downwardly from the top edge of the face to a bottom blade end at an elevation above that of the bottom edge of the face for scraping against the face to make a cut while the carriage is moved in a forward direction, said first blade means including a deflection surface for directing loose earth away from said face and toward said earth receiving and transporting means;
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
99 words
b. inclined second blade means having a horizontal cutting edge leading outward from the framework to the bottom face edge, said horizontal cutting edge being located rearward of the upright blade edge of said first blade means, said second blade means leading rearwardly from the horizontal cutting edge to a rearward blade end adjacent earth receiving and transporting means at an elevation above the cut made by the bottom blade end of said first blade means; and drive means for moving the carriage and blade assembly relative to the framework along the face in the forward and rearward directions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
99 words
b. inclined second blade means having a horizontal cutting edge leading outward from the framework to the bottom face edge, said horizontal cutting edge being located rearward of the upright blade edge of said first blade means, said second blade means leading rearwardly from the horizontal cutting edge to a rearward blade end adjacent earth receiving and transporting means at an elevation above the cut made by the bottom blade end of said first blade means; and drive means for moving the carriage and blade assembly relative to the framework along the face in the forward and rearward directions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The shearing excavator as defined by claim 1 wherein the upright blade edge of said first blade means is inclined laterally with respect to the length of said face, its upper end at the top face edge being spaced horizontally outward from the carriage a distance greater than the bottom end thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
72 words
The shearing excavator as defined by claim 1 wherein the inclined second blade means includes a longitudinal edge inclined relative to the forward direction of movement of the carriage relative to the framework and leading downwardly to the bottom face edge, said longitudinal edge being located in a vertical plane, the bottom end of the longitudinal edge intersecting the horizontal cutting edge of said second plate means at said bottom face edge.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The shearing excavator as defined by claim 1 wherein the earth receiving and transporting means includes a longitudinal elongated powered conveyor assembly mounted to the framework and having an upper working flight extending the full length of the face.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
The shearing excavator as defined by claim 4 wherein the elongated powered conveyor includes a material discharge end adjacent an end of the face; and wherein the earth receiving and transporting means further includes an elongated powered lateral conveyor means for receiving material from the discharge end of the longitudinal conveyor and for moving the received material to the remote location.