U.S. patent number 3,701,422 [Application Number 05/039,428] was granted by the patent office on 1972-10-31 for vehicle mounted earth separating and conveying system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Zurn Engineers. Invention is credited to Thomas A. Downey.
United States Patent |
3,701,422 |
Downey |
October 31, 1972 |
VEHICLE MOUNTED EARTH SEPARATING AND CONVEYING SYSTEM
Abstract
An earth moving vehicle including a scraper for collecting rocky
earth and other native material to be carried upwardly by an
endless paddle elevator across a grizzly for separating the
material into fines and larger aggregates or tailings. The fines
drop through the separator onto a continuously moving transverse
conveyor adapted to discharge the fines along a line parallel to
the line of vehicle movement and spaced laterally therefrom, for
example in a partially filled trench for a pipeline or the like.
The tailings are simultaneously discharged onto a second
transversely extending continuously moving conveyor to be
discharged along a longitudinal ridge, preferably on the opposite
side of the vehicle from the trench being filled, and extending
parallel to movement of the vehicle. The conveyors are driven by
suitable motor means, preferably hydraulically actuated by
pressurized fluid from a pump on the vehicle, the fluid being
conducted to and from the hydraulic motors by flexible conduits
wound around a sheave to maintain proper tension in the fluid lines
and to avoid slack or fouling thereof, while permitting the
operator to selectively adjust the discharge ends of the conveyors
at desired distances laterally of the vehicle.
Inventors: |
Downey; Thomas A. (Ontario,
CA) |
Assignee: |
Zurn Engineers (Upland,
CA)
|
Family
ID: |
21905399 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/039,428 |
Filed: |
May 21, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
209/241; 209/381;
37/305; 37/142.5; 209/421 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E02F
3/64 (20130101); E02F 7/06 (20130101); E02F
3/649 (20130101); E02F 3/659 (20130101); E02F
3/7695 (20130101); E02F 5/226 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E02F
5/00 (20060101); E02F 7/06 (20060101); E02F
5/22 (20060101); E02F 7/00 (20060101); E02F
3/76 (20060101); E02F 3/64 (20060101); B07b
001/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;198/139,203
;209/420,421,261,247,393,346,394-396,405,241,381 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Lutter; Frank W.
Assistant Examiner: Cuchlinski, Jr.; William
Claims
I claim:
1. In an earth moving vehicle including a movable open front
container with an earth scraper carried thereby and an endless
elevator for moving native material rearwardly and upwardly from
the scraper into said container, the improvement comprising:
separating means for receiving material from the elevator and
separating it into fines and tailings;
carrying means receiving the fines from the separating means, and
transporting and depositing the fines transversely of the direction
of vehicle movement to a desired location laterally spaced from the
vehicle;
resilient support means for mounting the separating means on the
container, the separating means having a resiliently neutral
position relative to the container;
and jarring means for periodically engaging the separating means by
moving it from its neutral position and thereafter releasing it,
the jarring means being mounted on the endless elevator and
cyclically engaging the separating means during elevator movement.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to earth moving equipment, and more
particularly, to the construction of a separating and conveying
system for an earth moving vehicle which separates material
including rocks and dirt collected by the vehicle into fines and
tailings and deposits them along separate lines parallel to and
spaced laterally from vehicle movement.
In conventional operations involving the burying of conduits,
pipelines and similar longitudinal underground apparatus, a trench
is first dug by well known equipment, which deposits the native
material from the trench along a line extending generally parallel
to the trench. Later, during actual filling of the trench, the
native material, or at least much of it, is used for refilling the
trench, or backfilling. During the backfilling operation,
engineering specifications for the fineness of the dirt and similar
material used are frequently imposed, requiring, for example, the
relatively fine material be applied immediately around the
pipeline, with the larger pieces of material or aggregate used only
after the pipeline itself has been adequately covered with fine
material. Additionally, it is frequently required that the material
be compacted during filling of the trench, either by being sprayed
with water or by mechanical compacting means. It is thus frequently
necessary to make a number of passes along a trench in order to
completely fill it in accordance with specifications laid down,
with material of a prescribed fineness used during each one of the
successive passes. The present invention, as will be understood as
the description progresses, admirably fills this need by providing
an efficient means for continuously picking up from the ground
material, which may be the native material originally extracted
from the trench, separating that material into fines and aggregates
or tailings, and depositing the fines along a selected line
laterally spaced from the vehicle as it moves along adjacent the
trench; and for simultaneously depositing the aggregates or
tailings along another line parallel to the vehicle movement and
spaced therefrom, preferably but not necessarily on the opposite
side of the vehicle from the trench into which the fines are
deposited.
Alternatively, for certain applications it may be unnecessary to
deposit the aggregates or tailings along a line spaced away from
the vehicle, and such tailings may accordingly be merely dropped
under the vehicle as it moves along, the tailings to be
subsequently used in a later trench-filled operation, or merely
left in place. Thus, the system in accordance with the present
invention may include only a single laterally extending conveyor,
for the fines separated by the separator; or two separate
conveyors, each extending laterally of the axis of the movement of
the vehicle, and continuously moving to carry the fines or the
tailings, respectively, to desired locations along the path of
movement of the vehicle and spaced laterally therefrom.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Generally, the vehicle mounted system of the present invention
includes a scraper for collecting native material including rocks
and dirt, and an endless paddle elevator for moving the material
upwardly across a separating means such as a grizzly, to separate
the material into small particles, or fines, and large aggregates
or tailings. The system includes conveyor means for transporting
the separated material, either fines or tailings, to a desired
distance laterally of the travel of the vehicle, thereby forming
two separate ridges of the fines and tailings, desirably on
opposite side of the vehicle as it moves. The separated ridges are
thus available for backfill operations in a trench or similar
excavation being formed. Alternatively, either the fines or the
tailings may be directly deposited in a trench, as during
backfilling.
The conveyors are driven by suitable motor means, herein
illustrated as hydraulic, and means are provided in accordance with
the invention for conducting pressurized fluid from an engine
driven pump on the vehicle to and from the hydraulic motors
actuating the conveyors. Such means provides for maintaining the
hydraulic lines under proper tension, regardless of the position of
each of the conveyors laterally of the vehicle. Thus the ridges of
fines and tailings may be deposited at any desired distances from
the vehicle, within a wide range at the selection of the
operator.
Therefore, it is the primary object of this invention to provide a
novel vehicle mounted system for continuously separating native
earth material and conveying the separated material laterally of
the vehicle. Additional objects and purposes are to provide, in
such a system, laterally extending continuously moving conveyor
means having discharge ends which may be positioned at desired
distances from the vehicle proper; to provide, in such a system, an
earth moving vehicle with a grizzly over which the collected and
elevated native material is passed to continuously separate the
material into fines and tailings; to provide such a system
including conveyor means for carrying fines laterally of the
movement of the vehicle and discharging the fines either into a
trench or on the ground to form a parallel ridge spaced laterally
from the vehicle; to provide in such a system conveyor means for
similarly receiving and depositing the tailings in a second
parallel ridge, desirably on the opposite side of the vehicle from
the fines; to provide in such a system means permitting the
operator to selectively adjust the position of the effective
discharge end of each of the laterally disposed conveyors, on
either side of the vehicle as desired; to provide, in such a
system, lines for conducting pressurized fluid to hydraulic motors
mounted on the laterally adjustable conveyors; to provide a sheave
for maintaining the pressurized hydraulic lines under proper
tension regardless of the lateral position of each of each of the
conveyors relative to the vehicle; and for other and allied objects
as will be understood from a reading of the following description
of a preferred embodiment of the invention, taken in connection
with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a vehicle having a separating and
conveying system according to this invention, said vehicle being
shown moving leftwardly as seen in the drawing along a path of
travel parallel to a pipeline trench for partially fill the trench
with separated fines;
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the vehicle taken along the
stepped plane II--II of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a rear view of the vehicle looking forwardly along the
plane III--III of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the paddle elevator,
grizzly and conveyors, taken along the plane IV--IV of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary top view taken along the broken line V--V
of FIG. 4, and showing the details of the grizzly and
conveyors;
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken
along the plane VI--VI of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view looking forwardly on the plane
VII--VII of FIG. 4, showing the details of construction of one of
the conveyors.
FIG. 8 is a view looking upwardly along the plane VII--VIII of FIG.
7, showing the details of the preferred arrangement of the
hydraulic lines and the sheave therefor;
FIG. 9 is a schematic view, looking downwardly, of part of the
preferred arrangement of the hydraulic system, with one conveyor
shown in solid lines in its central position and in phantom lines
in its position extended fully rightwardly.
FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9, but showing an alternative
arrangement of the hydraulic system, with the conveyor shown in its
left extended position.
FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line XI--XI of FIG. 10
showing the details of the construction of the sheave used in an
alternative arrangement of the hydraulic system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and
3, an improved earth moving vehicle 10 is shown moving along the
ground 11 containing a trench 12 in which a pipeline 13 has been
laid. The vehicle 10 is shown collecting native material 14
previously excavated from the trench 12 and piled in a ridge
parallel to the trench 12, separating the material into small fines
15 to be deposited in the trench 12 over or adjacent the pipeline
13 and into large tailings 16 to be deposited on the ground 11.
Basically, the earth moving vehicle 10 includes a conventional
motor driven tractor 20 pulling a modified scraper body 21 (base
platform) having a scraper blade 22 for collecting native material
14 from the ground 11 to be moved by the paddles 23 of a motor
driven endless elevator 24 into a container 25. As best seen in
FIG. 4, the container has a transverse dividing plate 26 dividing
the container into a fore section 27 and an aft section 28. Each of
the sections 27 and 28 is provided with a bottom opening 29 as well
as being provided with horizontally aligned side openings 30 for a
purpose which will appear later.
Generally, the separating and conveying system 35 receives native
material 14 from scraper blade 22 and elevator 24. The system 35
includes the following major structural components, each indicated
generally by its respective reference character, namely, separating
means 40, transverse carrying means 60, mounting means 75, drive
means 80 and control means 120. The drive means 80 includes a
transverse moving means 85 and a conveyor drive means 95 including
compensating means 105 for tensioning the flexible hydraulic lines
98 running from the pump 82 to the conveyor motors 96.
As best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the separating means 40 serves to
receive the native material 14 from the endless elevator 24 and
separate the native material 14 into fines 15, being smaller than a
predetermined size and into tailings 16, being larger than the
predetermined size. A plate 41 is mounted in the container 25 and
extends upwardly and rearwardly from the scraper blade 22 parallel
to elevator 24 and spaced therefrom by the height of a paddle.
Plate 41 terminates rearwardly at the forward one of a pair of
funnel plate 42 located in the fore section 27 of the container 25.
The funnel plates 42 are inclined downwardly and toward one
another, terminating at a lower opening 43.
Rearwardly and above the juncture of plates 41 and 42 there is
provided a classifying separator which may take any of many forms
well known in the art. Particularly well suited for the purposes of
this invention is a grizzly indicated generally at 44, located
above funnel plates 42. Grizzly 44 includes a series of spaced
parallel front bars 45 rising to an apex from which spaced fanned
rear bars 46 extend downwardly and rearwardly. The front and rear
bars 45 and 46 are braced by interconnecting bars 47.
The forward end of the grizzly is pivotally attached at 48 to
container 25, and its rear end is resiliently supported by a set of
laterally spaced springs 49 on the container. This mounting permits
a shaking motion to be imparted to the grizzly. The spacing between
the bars 45 and 46 determines the maximum size of fines 15. The
mounting is such as to facilitate removal of the grizzly for
periodic replacement or change of gouge.
Normally the motion of the vehicle 10 will be sufficiently rough to
impart a shaking motion to the grizzly 14 on the springs 49.
However, if additional motion is required, jarring means 55 may be
provided. in the preferred embodiment the jarring means 55 are nubs
56 located on the edges of some of the paddles 23 of the endless
elevator 24. As the paddles 23 with the nubs 56 pass over the
grizzly 44, the nubs 56 strike the grizzly 44 to pivot it at 48 and
the springs 49 in returning the grizzly 44 to the neutral position
impart a shaking motion thereto to aid in the separation of the
material 14.
The system 35 in the preferred embodiment is also provided with
transverse carrying means 60 for receiving the native material 14
from the separating means 40 and for transporting the material to a
desired location alongside the vehicle for discharge thereof.
Actually, the transverse carrying means, conveyor, or movable
platform 60 in the preferred embodiment includes a first transverse
carrying means 61 for receiving the fines 15 and a second
transverse carrying means 62 for receiving the tailings 16. As both
the first and second transverse carrying means or conveyors 61 and
62 of the preferred embodiment are of substantially similar
construction, only a general description will be given which
applies equally to both.
Generally the preferred embodiment of the transverse carrying means
or conveyor 60 includes an elongated frame 65 having a U-shaped
cross section. The frame is provided with sets of upper rollers 66
in a flattened V relationship, and with lower rollers 67. A
conveyor belt 68 extends along the upper rollers 66 where it is
formed by the rollers 66 into a generally U-cross section, and
along the lower rollers 57 to form a continuous loop.
The frame 65, and the belt 68 carried thereby, is mounted across
the scraper body 21 through the side openings 30 of the container
25 by mounting means indicated generally at 75. In the preferred
embodiment, the mounting means 75 includes indented horizontal
tracks 76 in the sides of the frame 65. As best seen in FIG. 6, the
mounting means 75 also includes rollers 77 rotatably mounted to the
scraper body 21 and extending into the tracks 76 to movably mount
the frame 65 to the scraper body 21 for transverse movement
relative thereto, along a path of reciprocating 78.
The system 35 also includes drive means 80 to provide auxiliary
power for the vehicle 10. In the preferred embodiment, the drive
means 80 includes a conventional diesel engine 81 drivingly
connected to a pump 82 with a built-in hydraulic fluid reservoir.
Both the pump 82 and the engine 81 are mounted on the scraper body
21 behind the container 25 and over the rear wheels. Of course
other methods of providing the auxiliary power and of transferring
the power could be used, if desired.
The drive means 80 also includes transverse moving means 85 for
moving the transverse carrying means or conveyor 60 transversely of
the scraper body 21 along the path of reciprocation 78 relative the
body 21. In the preferred embodiment, the transverse moving means
80 includes a hydraulically driven drum winch 86 for each
transverse carrying means 61 and 62 mounted to the scraper body 21
adjacent the respective side opening 30 in the container 25. Each
winch 86 is connected by hydraulic lines 87 to the pump 82. A cable
88 has one end thereof anchored at each end of the frame 65 by
suitable cable anchors 89. The cable 88 extends from one end of the
frame 65, around the drum of winch 86 several times before
extending to the opposite end of the frame 65. As hydraulic fluid
is supplied to the winch 76 through the lines 87, the drum thereof
rotates to pull on the cable 88 and to move the frame 65
transversely relative to the modified scraper body 21, as directed
by the control means 120.
When the drum is stationary, the cable 88 maintains the frame 65 in
a stationary position relative the body 21. Again there are other
suitable systems of accomplishing the transverse movement such as a
rack and pinion gears, etc., but the cable winch system is simple,
rugged and therefore well suited for this application.
The drive means 80 also includes conveyor drive means 95 for
rotating the belt 68 on the rollers 66 and 67. In the preferred
embodiment, the conveyor drive means 95 includes a reversible
hydraulic conveyor motor 96 at each end of the frame 65. Each motor
96 is drivingly connected to a drive roller 97 over which the belt
68 passes to be driven thereby. A series of hydraulic lines 98 are
provided to supply hydraulic fluid under pressure from the pump 82
to the motor 96. The lines 98 include a cross line 99 extending
from one conveyor motor 96 to the other conveyor motor 96 along the
frame 65. The lines 98 also include a pair of flexible lines 100,
each with one end connected to one of the conveyor motors 96, and
the other end connected to the pump 82.
As the frame 65 and therefore the conveyor motors 96 thereon move
transversely along the path of reciprocation 78 relative to the
scraper body 21, and therefore the pump 82 mounted thereon,
compensating means 105 must be provided to pay out and take in the
flexible lines 100, during transverse movement of the frame 65.
As best seen in FIG. 8, generally the compensating means 105
includes guide means 106 having line guides 107 located along the
lower surface of the frame 65, pulleys 108 located on the sides of
the scraper body 21 adjacent the side openings 30, and line anchors
109 next to the pulleys 108. Most importantly the compensating
means 105 also includes a sheave 110, 210 located under the frame
65, and containing circumferential grooves 111 for receiving the
flexible lines 100 to be payed out or taken up as required.
There are many arrangements of the line guides 107, pulleys 108,
line 100 and sheaves 110, 210 which will operate satisfactorily as
compensating means 105. A preferred arrangement is shown in FIGS. 1
through 9 and one alternative arrangement is shown in FIGS. 10 and
11. In the two arrangements, many parts are the same and so will
keep the same number while other parts are similar and will have
numbers separated by 100.
In the preferred arrangement, the pulleys 108 are both located on
the scraper body 21 (base platform) on the same side of the path of
reciprocation 78. The motors 96 are both located on the same side
of the frame 65 (movable platform) and are both on opposite sides
of the path of reciprocation 78 from the pulleys 108. The line
guides 107 form a line towards the center line of the body 21 (base
platform). The sheave 110 of the preferred arrangement is a single
wheel 112 preferably made out of rubber or rubber-coated metal. The
single wheel 112 of course will have both grooves 111 in the
circumference thereof.
As best seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, each flexible line 100 extends from
its respective motor 96 inwardly along the bottom of the frame 65
(movable platform) through the line guides 107 to pass oppositely
around the wheel 112 in a respective groove 111. From the wheel
112, the lines 100 pass outwardly on the opposite side of the path
of reciprocation 78 from which the lines were previously located,
around the pulleys 108 where the lines 100 are anchored by anchors
109 before extending to the pump 82. As best seen in FIG. 8, when
the midway line of the frame 65 (movable platform) is at the center
line of the scraper body 21 (base platform), the axis of the wheel
112 is generally at the intersection of the body 21 (base platform)
center line with the path of reciprocation 78. As the frame 65
(movable platform) moves tranversely along the path of
reciprocation 78 as shown by the phantom lines of FIG. 9, the wheel
112 rotates appropriately to pay out one line 100 while taking in
the other line 100, and at the same time the wheel 112 moves with
the frame 65 (movable platform) along the path of reciprocation 78.
The wheel 112 will move exactly one-half of the distance along the
path of reciprocation 78 as the distance the frame 65 (movable
platform) moves.
In the alternative arrangement of FIGS. 10 and 11, the motors 96
are located on the frame 65 (base platform) on opposite sides of
the path of reciprocation 78, with the line guides 107 extending
parallel to the path of reciprocation 78 from each motor. The
pulleys 108 are located on the scraper body 21 (base platform) on
opposite sides of the path of reciprocation 78.
The sheave 210 of the alternative arrangement is slightly more
complicated than that of the preferred embodiment for reasons which
will appear later, and includes as seen in FIG. 11, a pair of
wheels 213 and 214. The wheels 213 and 214 have central bearings
215 through which a shaft 216 passes to rotatably secure the wheels
213 and 214 together. Each wheel 213 and 214 has one of the grooves
111 therein, and when the wheels are rotatably secured together,
the grooves 111 have the same spacing as in the single wheel 112.
The wheels 213 and 214 are constructed similarly to the wheel
112.
As best seen in FIG. 10, each line 100 extends from its respective
motor 96 along the frame 65 (base platform) through the line guides
107 on opposite sides of the path of reciprocation 78 to pass the
same direction around the wheels 213 and 214 respectively, in the
respective grooves 111. From the wheels 213 and 214, the lines 100
pass outwardly along opposite sides of the path of reciprocation 78
from each other, and from where they were previously located,
around the pulleys 108 where the lines 100 are anchored by anchors
109, before extending to the pump 82. Again, the center line of the
wheels 213 and 214 will be located on the intersection of the path
of reciprocation 78 with the scraper body 21 (base platform) center
line when frame 65 (movable platform) extends equally on either
side of the scraper body 21. As the frame 65 (movable platform)
moves transversely along the path of reciprocation 78, as shown in
FIG. 10, the wheels 213 and 214 rotate oppositely but appropriately
to take up one line 100 while paying out the other line 100 to
maintain the proper tension in the lines. Again the same
relationship between the travel distance by the center line of the
wheels 213 and 214 and by the frame 65 (movable platform) is
true.
One important difference to notice between the preferred
arrangement of FIGS. 1 through 9, and the alternative arrangement
of FIGS. 10 and 11, is that the lines 100 extend from opposite
sides of the path of reciprocation, and therefore a two-wheel
sheave 210 is required for the alternative arrangement where a
one-wheel sheave 110 will suffice for the preferred arrangement. Of
course a two-wheel sheave could be used for the preferred
arrangement also but it is not needed.
It will be particularly noted that in both arrangement just
described that the sheave 110 is not attached to the frame 65
(movable platform) or the scraper body 21 (base platform) but must
be free to move transversely along the path of reciprocation 78
during the positioning of the frame 65 (movable platform) relative
the scraper body 21 (base platform). The tension in the lines 100
produces a force couple on the sheave means 110 tending to cock or
cant the sheave 110 from its plane of movement and so restraint
means 117 is provided for opposing the action of the force couple
and maintaining the sheave means 110 in its plane of movement as
the frame 65 (movable platform) is positioned relative the body 21
(base platform).
For the first transverse carrying means 61, the restraint means 117
includes a channel 118 mounted to the scraper body 21 (base
platform) with a bar 119 mounted to the frame 65 (movable platform)
which together form an elongated opening slightly larger than the
sheave 110 for slidably receiving the sheave means 110. The size of
the opening is such that the sheave 110 will slide therein but will
engage either the channel 118 or the bar 119 if the sheave 110
begins to cant while sliding.
For the second transverse carrying means 62, the restraint means
117 includes a channel 218 of substantially vertical tilt to
provide a substantially vertical tilt to the sheave means 110
thereof. The difference in tilt of the sheave means 110 of the
first and second carrying means 61 and 62 is due to clearance
requirements of the preferred embodiment and has no significance to
the general operation of the sheave means 110. However it must be
noted that the alternative arrangement of the lines 100 requires
that the plane of movement of the sheave 110 be parallel to the
frame 65 (movable platform) while the plane of movement of the
sheave 110 of the preferred arrangement of the lines 100 is not so
restricted. Practically then, the second transverse carrying means
62 must have the preferred arrangement of the lines 100 while the
first transverse carrying means 61 may use either arrangement.
The preferred embodiment of the system 35 is provided with a
control means 120 for controlling the position of the transverse
carrying means 60 and the speed and direction of the conveyor drive
means 95. In the preferred embodiment the control means 120
involves suitable electronic and hydraulic controls, manually
operable from a control panel 121 located adjacent the pump 82 on
the scraper body 21.
Ideally, in operation, the vehicle 10 is driven alongside the
trench 12 as shown in FIG. 3 with first transverse carrying means
61 extending out to the left with the end thereof suitably located
over the trench 12 and the second transverse carrier means 62 more
centrally located. As seen in FIG. 2, the scraper blade 22 is
lowered to contact the ground 11 alongside the trench 12 where the
native material 14 from the trench digging operation has been
thrown. As seen in FIG. 4, the scraper blade 22 collects the native
material 14 to be carried by the paddles 23 of the endless elevator
44 upwardly along plate 41 and along the grizzly 44 where the fines
15 drop through the spaced parallel bars 35 and the tailings 16
continue up over the grizzly apex to roll down to the fanned rear
bars 36. Periodically during the time the native material 14 is
passing over the grizzly 44, the nubs 56 jar the grizzly 44
enabling the springs 49 to provide a shaking action.
The fines 15, upon dropping through the grizzly 44, engage the
funnel plates 42 to pass through the opening 43 and onto the belt
68 of the first transverse conveyor means 61. The movement of the
belt 68 driven by the conveyor motors 86 carries the fines 15 to
the left through the respective side opening 30. As the fines 15
reach the end of the frame 65, the fines 15 drop from the belt 68
into the trench 12, to cover the pipe line 13. Remember the belt 68
is concave to catch the fines 15 but should any of the fines 15
miss the belt 68, they will fall into the fore section 27 of the
container 25 and out the bottom opening 29 thereof onto the ground
11 to be scraped up again on a later pass of the vehicle 10.
In the meantime, the tailings 16 from the grizzly 44 fall from the
rear end of the grizzly 44 into the aft section 28 of the container
25 and onto the belt 68 of the second transverse carrying means 62.
The movement of the conveyor belt 68 to the right, carries the
tailings 16 to the right end thereof to be deposited on the ground
on the opposite side of the vehicle 10 from the trench 12. The
earth moving vehicle 10 continues along the trench 12 for a
suitable distance covering part of the pipeline 13 with fines
14.
When the end of a particular run is reached, the earth moving
vehicle 10 is turned around and the positions of the first and
second transverse carrying means 61 and 62 are reversed from the
control panel 121 by actuating the winch 86 to rotate the drums
thereof and pull on cables 88, moving the frame 65 and the sheaves
110, 210 as needed to keep the slack out of the lines 100. Once the
first and second transverse carrying means 61 and 62 are properly
located, the directions of travel of the belts 68 are reversed from
the control panel 120, to again move the fines 15 into the trench
12 while depositing the tailings 16 on the ground 11. The vehicle
10 then moves back along the trench 12 adding more fines 15 to
cover the pipeline 13. Once the pipeline 13 in the trench 12 is
completely covered with the fines 15, the balance of the trench 12
may be conventionally filled by bulldozing the remaining supply of
tailings 14 into the trench 12.
It should be understood that the second transverse conveyor means
62 may be omitted from the earth moving vehicle 10 if only one pass
along the trench is contemplated and the tailings 16 will drop
through bottom opening 24 in the aft section 28 of the container
25, onto the ground 11 or collected in the aft section 28 if
desired merely by plugging the aft bottom opening 28. However, if
more than one pass along the trench is contemplated, the omission
of the second transverse carrying means 62 without plugging aft
opening 28 causes the tailings 16 to be repeatedly picked up by the
scraper blade 22 only to be dropped again from the vehicle 10.
It should also be understood that the conveyor drive means 85 can
be used with any movable platform containing motors which are
driven from a source of energy stationary platform wherein the
energy is transported by a plurality of lines by using the
compensating means 95.
* * * * *