Vibratory cable laying plow

Claim 2

A vibratory cable laying plow assembly to be towed behind a prime mover, comprising: a trailer pivotally supported for oscillatory motion on a horizontal trailer pivot, said trailer pivot transverse to the longitudinal axis of the prime mover, a double weight vibrator having two rotatable eccentric weights mounted on said trailer with the axes of rotation of said weights parallel to said horizontal trailer pivot with one weight spaced on each side of said trailer pivot to impart a rocking oscillatory motion to said trailer about said trailer pivot, a first plow blade mounted on said trailer forward of said trailer pivot and said first plow blade extending downwardly to cut a slot in the ground, and a cable laying plow blade mounted on said trailer, rearwardly of said trailer pivot in generally the longitudinal path of said first blade, said cable laying plow blade extending downwardly and having a cable guide on the trailing edge of the plow blade to guide a flexible element into the slot cut by the plow blades.

Claim 3

The vibratory cable laying plow assembly defined in claim 1, characterized in that said cable laying plow blade is longer than said first plow blade.

Claim 4

The vibratory cable laying plow assembly defined in claim 2, characterized in that said first plow blade is thicker than said cable laying plow blade.

Claim 5

The vibratory cable laying plow assembly defined in claim 2, characterized in that said cable laying plow blade is about one-third longer than said first plow blade.

Claim 6

The vibratory cable laying plow assembly defined in claim 1, characterized in that said trailer and vibrator are supported on a torsion bushing having a transverse pivot axis, such that said trailer rockingly oscillates about said torsion bushing.

Claim 7

The vibratory cable laying plow assembly defined in claim 1, characterized in that said trailer is supported on two longitudinally spaced wheels, each wheel having an axle transverse to the longitudinal axis of said prime mover, one wheel located at the forward end of said trailer and the other wheel located at the rearward end.

Claim 8

The vibratory cable laying plow assembly defined in claim 6, characterized in that said trailer is pulled by a U-shaped yoke having a central bite portion and a pair of rearwardly extending arms, said bite portion being pivotally attached to the prime mover and said trailer pivotally supported on opposed sides to said arms, said pivotal support defining said trailer pivot

Claim 9

A vibratory cable laying plow assembly to be towed behind a prime mover, comprising: a trailer supported for rocking oscillatory motion on a horizontal pivot, said trailer pivot transverse to the longitudinal axis of the prime mover, a double weight vibrator having two rotatably supported eccentric weights timed to rotate 180 degrees out of phase, a power means rotating said weights, said vibrator mounted on said trailer with the axes of rotation of said weight parallel to said horizontal trailer pivot with said weight equally spaced on opposed sides of said trailer pivot to impart a rocking oscillatory motion to said trailer about said trailer pivot, a first plow blade mounted on said trailer forward of said vibrator generally in the longitudinal axis of said trailer, said first plow blade extending downwardly to cut a slot in the ground, and a cable laying plow blade mounted on said trailer rearward of said vibrator generally in the longitudinal axis of said trailer and spaced from said trailer pivot a distance generally equal to the distance between said first plow blade and said trailer pivot, said cable laying plow blade extending downwardly a distance greater than said first plow blade and said cable laying plow blade having a cable guide on the trailing edge of the blade to guide a flexible element into the slot cut by said plow blades.

Claim 10

A vibratory cable laying plow assembly to be towed behind a prime mover, comprising: a trailer supported for rocking oscillatory motion on a horizontal pivot, said trailer pivot transverse to the longitudinal axis of the prime mover, a double weight vibrator having two rotatably supported eccentric weights timed to rotate 180 degrees out of phase, a power means rotating said weights, said vibrator mounted on said trailer with the axes of rotation of said weight parallel to said horizontal trailer pivot with said weight equally spaced on opposed sides of said trailer pivot to impart a rocking oscillatory motion to said trailer about said trailer pivot, a first plow blade mounted on said trailer forward of said vibrator generally in the longitudinal axis of said trailer, said first plow blade extending downwardly to cut a slot in the ground, and a cable laying plow blade mounted on said trailer rearward of said vibrator generally in the longitudinal axis of said trailer and spaced from said trailer pivot a distance generally equal to the distance between said first plow blade and said trailer pivot, said cable laying plow blade extending downwardly a distance greater than said first plow blade and said cable laying plow blade having a cable guide on the trailing edge of the blade to guide a flexible element into the slot cut by said plow blades.

Claim 11

The vibratory cable laying plow assembly defined in claim 8, characterized in that said trailer is supported on a torsion bushing having a transverse pivot axis.

Claim 12

The vibratory cable laying plow assembly defined in claim 8, characterized in that said first plow blade is thicker than said cable laying plow, the thickness being measured transverse to the longitudinal axis of said prime mover.