Excavating attachment for earth moving equipment

An excavating attachment for conventional earth moving equipment that is capable of moving a shovel in generally horizontal, linear, non-arcuate, paths to dig and remove soil and other material from underneath a structure such as a series of pipes leading to a chemical facility. The excavating attachment comprises a frame including structure for securing same onto the free end of the longitudinally extending boom of conventional earth moving equipment, flexible hoses for connection to the power plant of the conventional earth moving equipment, a pair of parallel hollow, tubes; a shovel member including a pair of parallel, steel tubes, for reciprocating movement within the hollow tubes of the frame, and a shovel or scoop; and hydraulic cylinders secured to the frame and the shovel member and in communication with the flexible hoses for reciprocating the shovel member relative to the frame in linear, non-arcuate paths.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates generally to an excavating attachment for earth 
moving equipment, and more particularly to a simple, durable, and 
efficient attachment adapted to be operated by the power plant of the 
earth moving equipment and to be controlled by the attendant of the earth 
moving equipment for removing contaminated material, earth or soil from 
underneath a plurality of pipes (pipe alley) lying on the ground or 
slightly elevated thereover, primarily associated with a chemical 
facility. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Conventional earth moving equipment has found wide-spread acceptance for 
diverse purposes within the construction and environment clean-up 
industries. These large pieces of equipment are generally classified as 
backhoes, trackhoes, bobcats, front end loaders, etc. depending on the 
configuration of the machine's hydraulic boom and the earth moving bucket 
attached thereto. The conventional earth moving bucket is primarily a 
digging apparatus that moves generally in an arc towards the earth moving 
equipment when digging and is not capable of moving in a forward, 
generally horizontal, linear, path, away from the earth moving equipment 
during the digging process. 
In view of the size and geometry of the boom and its relationship to the 
body of the earth moving equipment, as well as the digging action achieved 
by the bucket attachment, the conventional bucket attachment has proven 
incapable of digging underneath a structure such as a plurality of pipes 
(pipe alley) lying on the ground, or elevated slightly therefrom, to 
remove material, soil or earth, particularly contaminated material, soil 
or earth, from underneath a structure such as a pipe alley. Due to this 
deficiency in conventional earth moving equipment, the task of removing 
material or soil from underneath a structure such as a pipe alley has been 
accomplished by the use of manual laborers with shovels for prolonged 
periods of time. Thus, in view of the environmental concerns throughout 
the world, there is a need for a simple attachment for earth moving 
equipment which is capable of quickly and easily removing contaminated 
material or soil from underneath pipe alleys primarily associated with 
chemical facilities. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
With the operational deficiencies of conventional earth moving equipment 
clearly in mind, the present invention is directed to a simple, durable 
and efficient attachment to conventional earth moving equipment adapted to 
be operated by the power plant of the earth moving equipment and 
controlled by the attendant of the earth moving equipment for removing 
contaminated soil or material from beneath a plurality of pipes (pipe 
alley). The attachment of the present invention is easily secured to the 
free end of the longitudinally extending boom of a trackhoe, backhoe or 
other similar earth moving equipment in lieu of the conventional bucket to 
enable successful digging operations of the trackhoe, backhoe or the like 
in previously inaccessible areas such as under pipe alleys, or under 
homes, foundations or the like. 
The excavating attachment of the present invention comprises a frame member 
including means for securing same onto the free end of the longitudinally 
extending boom of conventional earth moving equipment, flexible hoses for 
connection to the power plant of the conventional earth moving equipment, 
a pair of parallel hollow, tubes; a shovel member including a pair of 
parallel, steel tubes, for reciprocating movement within the hollow tubes 
of the frame member, and a shovel or scoop; and hydraulic cylinder means 
secured to the frame member and the shovel member and in communication 
with the flexible hoses for moving the shovel member relative to the frame 
member in a generally horizontal, linear, non-arcuate path. 
When the digging operation with the excavation attachment of the present 
invention is completed, the excavating attachment is disconnected from the 
boom of the earth moving equipment and the conventional bucket may be 
secured thereto to enable the earth moving equipment to be used in its 
normal manner. The relatively inexpensive attachment of the present 
invention enhances the operating capability of earth moving equipment, and 
enables the cleaning up of the environment. 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a simple, 
durable, attachment to conventional earth moving equipment for removing 
soil or material from underneath a structure. 
It is a further object of the invention to provide a simple, durable, 
attachment for a trackhoe (or backhoe) adapted to be operated by the power 
plant of the trackhoe (or backhoe) for efficiently removing soil or 
material from underneath a structure such as a pipe alley. 
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a 
relatively simple, inexpensive, durable attachment for a conventional 
trackhoe (or backhoe) adapted to be operated by the power plant of the 
trackhoe (or backhoe) for efficiently removing contaminated soil or 
material from underneath a pipe alley associated with a chemical facility. 
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become 
more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in 
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, specification and claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 depicts a portion of a conventional 
articulated boom 10 pivotally attached to a conventional earth moving 
equipment such as a trackhoe or backhoe. As shown, boom 10 includes an 
elongated arm 12, a hydraulic actuator 14 and generally inverted V-shaped 
linkage mechanisms 15 for removably securing the articulated boom 10 to 
the excavating attachment 20 which constitutes the present invention. 
As best shown in FIGS. 1-5, excavating attachment 20 generally comprises a 
steel frame member 22, a shovel member 50, hydraulic cylinder means 70, 
and first and second flexible hydraulic lines 80 and 82 connected between 
hydraulic cylinder means 70 and the conventional power plant (not shown) 
of the earth moving equipment. 
Frame member 22 includes a pair of hollow, parallel, elongated steel tubes 
24, each having a first end portion 26 and a second end portion 28 (FIG. 
2), three steel plates 30, 32 and 34 (FIG. 4) welded to second end 
portions 28 of steel tubes 24, a pair of upstanding, steel, plates 36 
(FIGS. 4 and 5) welded to the upper surface of steel plate 30 and to 
outside surface of plate 34, and two hollow pipes 38 and 40 (FIG. 3), each 
having a first end (unnumbered) and a second end (unnumbered). As best 
shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, each upstanding steel plate 36 has a pair of 
openings 37 for receiving pins 18 and 19 for respectively pivotally 
connecting a first end (not numbered) of generally inverted V-shaped 
bracket means 15 to the excavating attachment 20 and a second end (not 
numbered) of linkage mechanisms 15 to the free end of elongated arm 12 of 
the articulated boom 10 of the earth moving equipment. As best shown in 
FIGS. 1 and 2, the generally inverted V-shaped linkage mechanisms 15 
includes openings (not numbered) for respectively receiving pins 16 and 17 
for pivotally connecting linkage mechanisms 15 to the free end (not 
numbered) of hydraulic mechanism 14 and the free end of elongated arm 12 
of the articulated boom 10 of the excavating attachment. The generally 
inverted V-shaped linkage mechanisms 15 and the manner of its pivotal 
connections to a digging unit such as excavating attachment 20 and the 
articulated boom 10 is conventional for most earth moving equipment. As 
best shown in FIGS. 3-5, the steel plate 30 includes a pair of openings 31 
for allowing a connection between hollow pipe 40 with flexible hydraulic 
line 80 and hollow pipe 38 with flexible hydraulic line 82, which flexible 
hydraulic lines 80 and 82 are in communication with the power plant of the 
earth moving equipment. The shovel member 50 includes a pair of hollow, 
parallel, elongated, steel tubes 52, each having a first end portion 54 
and a second end portion 56, a wear plate 58 secured to the upper and 
lower surface (unnumbered) of each elongated, steel tube 52, a shovel or 
scoop 60 having an open end 62 with a plurality of teeth 64, a pair of 
side walls 66, and a rear wall 68 welded to the first end portion 54 of 
each elongated, steel, tube 52. As best seen in FIG. 4, hydraulic cylinder 
means 70 includes a first end portion 72 pivotally secured by a pin 74 to 
a bracket 35 welded to the inner surface (not numbered) of steel plate 34 
of frame member 22, a second end portion 76 pivotally secured by a pin 77 
to a bracket 69 welded to one surface (not numbered) of rear wall 68 of 
shovel or scoop 60. As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, a steel member 78 is 
provided to assist in the support of the hydraulic cylinder means 70 with 
one end (not numbered) of steel support member 78 being welded to one 
surface of rear wall 68 of shovel or scoop 60 and its other end (not 
numbered) being welded to the bottom surface (not numbered) of hydraulic 
cylinder means 70. The hydraulic cylinder means 70 can be of almost any 
conventional type. It has been found that a double acting telescopic 
hydraulic cylinder having Model No. DAT 63-182-132 manufactured and 
distributed by Custom Hoists, Inc., P.O. Box 98, Hayesville, Ohio 44538 is 
suitable for use in an environment requiring operating pressure not 
exceeding 2500 P.S.I. This cylinder is of the push-pull type with 
hydraulic fluid being introduced to the hydraulic cylinder means 70 by way 
of flexible hydraulic line 80 and pipe 40 and being removed from hydraulic 
cylinder means 70 by way of flexible hydraulic line 82 and pipe 39. Where 
the required operating pressure might exceed 2500 P.S.I., a double acting 
telescopic hydraulic cylinder providing greater operating pressure could 
be selected for use in the attachment of the present invention. As shown 
in FIG. 6, reference numeral 84 designates contaminated soil with 
reference numeral 86 designating a plurality of pipes which represents a 
pipe alley. 
In operation of the invention, the conventional bucket (not shown) is 
disconnected from the generally inverted V-shaped linkage mechanisms 15 
connected to the boom 10 by removing the pins 18 and 19, after which the 
excavating attachment 20 is secured to the linkage mechanism 20 by 
reinserting the pins 18 and 19 through the appropriate openings (not 
numbered) in the ends of the generally inverted V-shaped linkage 
mechanisms 15 and the openings 37 in steel plate 36 of frame member 22. 
This operation secures excavating attachment 20 to the articulated boom 10 
of the earth moving equipment. Once the excavating attachment 20 is 
secured to the articulated boom 10 of the earth moving equipment, the 
operator of the earth moving equipment will move the earth moving 
equipment with the shovel member 50 being in a generally fully retracted 
position, to a location adjacent to, and generally perpendicular, to the 
structure (e.g. a series of pipes 86) to begin the digging and removing of 
dirt or other material from beneath the structure. 
The operator will then cause the introduction of hydraulic fluid through 
the first hydraulic line 80 and the pipe 40 in communication with the 
power plant of the earth moving equipment to cause the hydraulic cylinder 
means 70 to move the shovel member 50 in a generally horizontal, linear, 
path under the structure to dig soil or other material from beneath the 
structure. Once the shovel member 50 has been moved forward to its fully 
extended position, the operator of the earth moving equipment actuates the 
power plant of the earth moving equipment to expel hydraulic fluid from 
the hydraulic cylinder means 70 through pipe 38 and hydraulic line 82 
which retracts shovel member 50 and its load to its fully retracted 
position, at which time the operator actuates the power plant of the earth 
moving equipment to cause the articulated boom 10 to lift the shovel 
member 50 to empty the soil or other material in the bed of a truck or 
elsewhere. These actions will continue repeatedly until an adequate amount 
of soil or other material has been removed from beneath the structure. 
When the digging operation with the excavation attachment of the present 
invention is completed, the excavating attachment 20 is disconnected from 
the boom of the earth moving equipment and the conventional bucket may be 
secured thereto to enable the earth moving equipment to be used in its 
normal manner. 
While the foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of the invention 
has been set forth with particular reference to a trackhoe or backhoe and 
its boom, the excavating attachment 20 is equally applicable to other 
earth moving equipment that employ a boom. Furthermore, cylinder means 70 
need not be hydraulically operated, but may be electrically or 
pneumatically operated. Still furthermore, other linkage mechanisms may be 
utilized on the boom of the earth moving equipment. Still furthermore, the 
several components of the attachment, particularly components of the frame 
member 22 and the shovel member 50 could be made of material other than 
steel such as a polymer plastic and the configuration of the tubes 24 and 
pipes 52 could be round in lieu of rectangular, or in the configuration of 
I-Beams. Thus, it is to be understood that the present invention is not 
limited to the embodiment described in the specification and drawings, but 
encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following 
claims.