Patent ID: 6351900
Filing Date: 2002-03-05
Classification: E02F

Abstract:
A shaft driven trencher comprising:a mobile powered base; a boom assembly including a first boom member pivotally mounted to the base at a first pivot and a second boom member pivotally mounted to the first boom member; a chain digging assembly including a plurality of buckets, the chain digging assembly movably mounted on the second boom member and forming a loop configured to dig during operation; a drive assembly operably interconnecting the mobile base and the chain digging assembly, the drive assembly including a drive shaft connected to the mobile base for powered rotation of the drive shaft, the drive assembly further including a right angle gear unit with input and output shafts forming a right angle therebetween and transferring torque from the input shaft to the output shaft, the right angle gear unit pivotally mounted to the boom assembly for rotation about the output shaft; and a linkage interconnecting the right angle gear unit with the base and pivoting the right angle gear unit during rotation of the first boom member and maintaining the input shaft of the right angle gear unit extending generally toward the first pivot.