Cutting element supported on a chain

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Patent issued

08/12/2008

Inventor(s):	Whitten, Dean Hawks, Dan Cooper, Mark
Assignee	Vermeer Manufacturing Company (Pella, IA)
Application	No. 11/430,804 filed on 05/09/2006
Current US Class	37/465, 172/554, 37/189, 37/352, 37/387, 37/388, 37/455
Field of search	37/208-210, 37/244, 37/326-328, 37/332, 37/392, 37/189, 37/352-365, 37/386-388, 37/450-459, 37/462-465, 37/190, 172/518, 172/540, 172/554, 172/550, 299/39.1-41.1, 404/90
International Classes:	E21C 35/18 (20060101), E02F 3/24 (20060101)
Examiners
Primary	Christopher J. Novosad
Attorney, agent or firm:	Sturm & Fix LLP
Foreign patents	1214979 (06/01/2002, EP), WO 00/70149 (11/01/2000, WO)

In a chain excavator including an excavation chain with links routed around a drive sprocket and an end idler with a base plate mounted to a link for supporting excavation implements, a stabilizing element extends rearwardly from directly behind the excavation implement in order to contact and be supported by its trailing base plate.

We claim:

1. In a chain excavator including a chain driven in a first direction and having a leading link operatively pivotally attached to a following link with outer surface of the leading link for supporting excavation implements removably mounted in holders positioned at a radial distance from the outer surface of the leading link of the chain the improvement comprising a stabilizing element operatively attached to the leading link, that extends rearwardly from directly behind the excavation implement holder and radially to a diameter equal to or greater than the radial position of a portion of the holder and wherein said stabilizer element is narrower than said holder in a dimension perpendicular to said first direction whereby said stabilizer element will be protected from wear by said holder.

2. The chain excavator of claim 1 wherein a rear portion of the stabilizing element extends over the following link at certain times and not over the following link at other times.

3. The chain excavator of claim 2 wherein the rear portion of the stabilizing element is operatively attached to structure in abutment with the following link at said certain times.

4. The chain excavator of claim 1 wherein the stabilizing element is operatively rigidly attached to the leading link.

5. The chain excavator of claim 1 wherein the holder is operatively rigidly attached to the leading link.

6. The chain excavator of claim 1 wherein the stabilizing element and the holder are operatively rigidly attached to the leading link.

7. The chain excavator of claim 1 wherein the stabilizing element is operatively rigidly attached to the holder.

8. The chain excavator of claim 1 wherein the holder has an opening through it, the excavation implement has a front end and a rear end and the excavation implement extends completely through the opening in the holder; and whereby the rear end of the excavation implement is spaced from the stabilizing element to provide access to the rear end of the excavation implement.

9. The chain excavator of claim 1 wherein the holder has an opening through it the excavation implement has a front end and a rear end and the excavation implement extends completely through the opening in the holder; and whereby the holder is spaced from the stabilizing element to provide access to the rear end of the excavation implement.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a mounting arrangement for mounting a cylindrical cutting element to a chain to provide support necessary for cutting difficult materials such as rock formations, and road surfaces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cylindrical cutting elements are often mounted to a variety of driven elements to perform excavations of various difficult type of ground, including compacted sands, clay, gravel and rock. The driven elements include drums and chains. FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a prior art trencher 100 with a typical roller chain assembly 10. FIG. 1 illustrates the trencher 100 with a boom 102 in a raised position, and a lowered position. In the lowered position, the boom 102 forces the roller chain assembly 10 into engagement with the ground. The chain is powered by a drive sprocket, not shown, such that end idler 104 will rotate clockwise, and the bottom strand of the roller chain assembly 10 will move from right to left. When in engagement with the ground the chain assembly 10 will excavate and transport cuttings to a discharge conveyor 106, thus forming a trench as the trencher 100 moves from right to left. FIG. 2 illustrates a typical roller chain assembly 10 comprising attachment links 12, side links 14, and rollers 16.The chain assembly 10 further comprises base plates 18, conical cutters 20, tool holders 22 and back bend bars 24, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 illustrates a double chain assembly where the base plates are each attached to 2 chains. The conical cutters 20 are positioned on the base plates at an angle such that they contact the ground at the required orientation. The chain assembly 10 will move from left to right as illustrated in FIG. 4, with the conical cutter 20 contacting the ground. This contact will generate an excavation force F1 on the tip of the conical cutter 20A. Conical cutter 20A is mounted to baseplate 18A which is mounted to attachment links 12A. The force F1 will generate a moment, substantially around axis 13. The chain assembly 10 will flex until backbend bars 24A contact side links 14A. In this manner the back bend bars 24 stiffen the chain assembly 10.

When utilized in extreme conditions this type of drive and mounting arrangement is has been found to be insufficient. There are times that the tool holders 22 are not sufficiently attached to the base plates and that the overall chain assembly includes sufficient flexibility to induce unwanted vibrations.

An improved mounting arrangement is needed for application of this type of excavation assmbly in extreme conditions.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided an improved mounting arrangement for a conical cutter to a chain assembly

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side plan view of a prior art trencher with a boom in 2 positions with a prior art chain assembly;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a prior art roller chain;

FIG. 3 is a top view of a prior art chain assembly;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a prior art chain assembly;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the chain assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the chain assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a side view of a boom assembly utilizing a chain assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a side plan view of a trencher including a chain boom and excavating drums; and

FIG. 9 is a side view of an excavating drum configured according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views. The included drawings reflect the current preferred embodiment. There are many additional embodiments that may utilize the present invention. The drawings are not meant to include all such possible embodiments.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate the tool holder 22 supported on a bottom plate 30 and a support gusset 32. Support gusset 32 is attached on a first end to bottom plate 30 and on its opposite end to the tool holder 22. Bottom plate 30 is secured to the base plate 34A and also supported by contact with base plate 34B, when in the configuration illustrated in FIG. 6. In this manner the resulting chain assembly provides improved stiffness, and a more robust mounting arrangement for tool holder 22. The bottom plate 30 and the support gusset 32 can be made in one piece or several pieces connected together. Even the tool holder 22 for holding tooth 20 can be make in one piece with the bottom plate 30 and the support gusset 32 if desired. The supporting gusset 32 extends from directly behind the cutter or tooth 20, and it contacts the base plate 32 and not the chain link 14 when forces are applied to the tooth 20 while in operation of the chain trencher.

The resulting chain is illustrated in an assembly between a drive sprocket 110 and an end idler 112 in FIG. 7. As the chain assembly travels around the drive sprocket 110 and end idler 112 the bottom plate 30 will separate from the trailing base plate such that the extra rigidity resulting from the contact between the bottom plate 30 and its trailing base plate 34. Gusset 32, however, provides additional support of the tool holder 22 such that, even in the position where the chain is travelling over the end idler 112, the connection of the tool holder to the base plate 34 is enhanced.

Gusset 32 sweeps back in a configuration such that it is always positioned at an effective radius that is less than the effective radius swept out by the point of the conical cutter 20.

FIG. 8 illustrates a trencher 200 with a boom assembly including a center excavating chain 202 and 2 excavating drums 204 as described in pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/227,838 filed Aug. 27, 2002, filed by assignee entitled excavation apparatus, which application is incorporated herein by reference. The excavating chain 202 of trencher 200 is configured to include the gusset 32 and bottom plate 30 supporting tool holder 22. The tool holders 22 that are attached to the excavating drums are similarly supported by gussets 34, and bottom plate 36 as illustrated in FIG. 9.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings, including variations in the shape of the knife mount pin and cooperating apertures in the knife adapter. It is known to use various configurations of these components, other than the herein specified cylindrical shapes. These would include conical sections, and could include pins with various cross-sections such as square or hexagonal. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

Claims 5-8 are duplicative of claims 1-4 except for the reference numerals. It is believed that leaving the reference numerals in claims 1-4 will help the Examiner examine these all of these claims. Accordingly, applicants will authorize cancellation of claims 1-4 after the first Office Action, as well as authorization to cancel this paragraph.

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