Abstract:
An excavator machine with a side mounted silt fence installing tool mounted below the swivel. The excavator has a swiveling and articulating tool and an operator&#39;s seat above the swivel. An articulating arm is attached above the swivel so the operator may operate swiveling and articulating tool in a coordinated way with the silt fence installer to accomplish a job more efficiently than it could be accomplished using tools separately mounted one at a time.

Description:
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/895,280 filed Sep. 30, 2010 which was a continuation-in-part of PCT/US 2009/038711 filed Mar. 29, 2009. 
    
    
     INTRODUCTION 
     Machines originally designed as front end loaders with tracks or wheels, whether having skid-steering wheels or turnable wheels, such as Bobcat brand machines, have been adapted to become general purpose tool carriers that can receive a variety of controllable tool attachments to be attached to the front or back of the machine and controlled by an operator sitting in the operator&#39;s seat. This tool attachment carrying system can be improved upon by (1) allowing linear acting tools to be attached on the side, (2) placing the operator&#39;s seat and controls on a controllable swivel  10  so that the operator can swivel to an optimum location for viewing the work, and (3) providing the operator with a controllable articulating arm  11  with a bucket, claw, rake or compactor or similar implement which the operator can operate to accomplish a task in a coordinated fashion with the linear acting tool which is attached below the swivel. The engine may also be above the swivel, in which case it drives a hydraulic pump that pumps fluid through the swivel to drive the linear acting tool attached below the swivel. So that the swivel can rotate without limitation, electrical control signals may pass through conductor rings in the swivel or via wireless radio signal to the linear acting tool, or additional hydraulic circuits may be added passing through the swivel. The linear acting tool may be hydraulically adjusted in response to operator controls or location of a string datum line or a curb or gutter or GPS coordinates. The adjustment may move the tool vertically without pivoting to stay plumb or it may pivot the tool about a pivot point. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect, the invention is a tool carrying and controlling system wherein an operator can control a swiveling tool and either a first linear acting controllable tool or a second linear acting controllable tool to operate in coordination with the first tool. The system comprises (a) a set of wheels or tracks on which the machine rides supporting a support structure; (b) coupled to and supported by the support structure, an operator&#39;s seat and operator&#39;s controls; (c) coupled to and supported by the support structure, a vertical swivel  10  such that components coupled to an upper side of the swivel can swivel about a vertical axis relative to the support structure; (d) an articulating arm  11  coupled to the upper side of the vertical swivel, controllable by the controls, with a first tool mounted on a distant end of the arm; (e) coupled to and supported by the support structure and fixed to a lower side of the swivel, a mounting support  66  for mounting to one side of the path of the tracks or wheels a linear acting tool; (f) a first linear acting tool mountable on the mounting base  66 , the first tool or mounting base including moving parts such that an operator can, using controls at the operator&#39;s seat, control the swiveling tool and, also using controls at the operator&#39;s seat, control the moving parts of the first tool or mounting base, which does not swivel with the swiveling tool, so that the two tools perform an operation in coordination with each other; and (g) a second linear acting tool mountable on the mounting base  66 , the second tool or mounting base including moving parts controllable by the controls such that an operator can remove the first tool and replace it with the second tool and then, using controls at the operator&#39;s seat, control the swiveling tool and, also using controls at the operator&#39;s seat, control the moving parts of the second tool or mounting base, which does not swivel with the first tool, so that the two tools perform an operation in coordination with each other. 
     The above elements (a) through (d) may be provided by an excavator, particularly a mini-excavator. So that the swivel  10  can fully swivel any number of rotations without limitation, the system may include an electrical circuit coupling the controls with the moving parts of the mounting support or first or second tool, the electrical circuit passing through the swivel via electrical conductor rings and brushes. Alternatively, the control signals may be communicated with a wireless link that carries radio communications from the controls to the mounting support or first of second tool. In this case, electrical power to operate a wireless communication component coupled to the mounting support or first of second tool may be provided by a hydraulic generator which receives power from flow of hydraulic fluid passing through the swivel from a hydraulic pump on the engine mounted above the swivel. 
     The swiveling tool may be an earth moving bucket  43  or a claw or a rake or vibratory compactor or any similar implement. The first and second linear acting tools may be any of: a curb and gutter grading blade; a curb and gutter extruder; a sidewalk and shoulder grading blade; an asphalt paver; a concrete paver; a fence installer; a trencher; a concrete/asphalt saw; a side roller/compactor; a vibratory roller; a snow plow; and other similar tools. 
     In another aspect, the invention is a side tool carrying and controlling machine in the form of a modified excavator, comprising a common excavator, which is: (a) a set of wheels or tracks on which the machine rides supporting a support structure; (b) coupled to and supported by the support structure, a vertical swivel  10  such that components coupled to an upper side of the swivel can swivel about a vertical axis relative to the support structure; (c) coupled to and supported by the upper side of the swivel, an operator&#39;s seat, operator&#39;s controls, and an articulating arm having a tool on a distant end. The modification consists of: (d) coupled to and supported by the support structure and fixed to a lower side of the swivel, a side tool mounting support  66  adapted for mounting a linear acting tool to one side of a path of the wheels or tracks; (e) a set of source side hydraulic couplers disposed proximate to the mounting support and available for use with mating hydraulic couplers of a hydraulically controlled side tool, each source side coupler coupled to a hydraulic pump disposed above the swivel via hydraulic lines having control valves that control flow through the lines in response to actuation at the operator&#39;s controls. 
     The side tool carrying and controlling machine may be designed to fully swivel any number of rotations without limitation by ensuring that any hydraulic or communication circuits pass through the swivel with slip fittings or use wireless radio. 
     The side tool carrying and controlling machine may further include a hydraulic actuator coupled to the mounting support and configured for adjusting the support or an attached linear acting tool in response to a control, which may be an operator control or an automated control that responds to location relative to a string datum line or that responds to a slope sensor or that responds to position with respect to global positioning system satellites. 
     In yet another aspect, the invention is a curb and gutter extruding machine made by modifying a common excavator, which is a set of wheels or tracks on which the excavator rides supporting a support structure; coupled to and supported by the support structure, a vertical swivel  10  such that components coupled to an upper side of the swivel can swivel about a vertical axis relative to the support structure; coupled to and supported by the upper side of the swivel, an operator&#39;s seat, operator&#39;s controls, and an articulating arm  11  having a tool on a distant end. The modification consists of: coupled to and supported by the support structure and fixed to a lower side of the swivel  10 , a curb and gutter extruder attachment comprising a hopper and a slip form mounted to extrude a curb or gutter to one side of a path of the wheels or tracks. 
     The curb and gutter extruder may further comprise a hydraulic actuator coupled to a hydraulic valve that is automatically controlled by a controller that adjusts height of the extruder relative to one of: location with respect to a datum line string, tilt with respect to gravity, or location with respect to global positioning system satellites. 
     The curb and gutter extruder may be mounted to an attachment base  66  on the excavator which may be a typical front blade of the excavator. It may be braced by a diagonal brace to a track roller chassis of the excavator. 
     In yet another aspect, the invention is a sidewalk paving machine made by modifying a common excavator, the modification comprising: coupled to and supported by the support structure and fixed to a lower side of the swivel, a sidewalk paving attachment comprising lateral material retaining fins, a spreading auger and a smoothing plate with a vibrator mounted to spread and smooth formable paving material to one side of a path of the wheels or tracks. 
     The sidewalk paving machine may include one or more heating elements on the smoothing plate to heat asphalt paving material. It may further include at least one curb follower attached to a side of a material retaining fin to maintain proper height relative to a curb. The paving attachment may be mounted to a blade of the excavator. It may include a diagonal brace to a track roller chassis of the excavator. 
     In yet another aspect, the invention is a sidewalk grading machine with vertical blade adjustment made by modifying a common excavator, the modification comprising: coupled to and supported by the support structure and fixed to a lower side of the swivel, a sidewalk grading blade attachment with a straight vertical adjusting component, the vertical adjusting component comprising: (1) an excavator side attachment fitting, coupled to (2) a set of vertical tracks, which are engaged by (3) a set of vertical sliders, which are attached to the grading blade, and (4) a hydraulic actuator that adjusts vertical sliding of the sliders on the tracks, thereby vertically adjusting the height of the grading blade. 
     The sidewalk grading machine may further comprise a sonar position detector that detects position of a datum line relative to the detector which detected information is used to adjust the vertical adjusting component. The datum line may be a string or a concrete curb or gutter or a laser line or plane, a road surface, or an established grade. 
     In yet another aspect, the invention is a sidewalk or shoulder rolling machine, comprising (a) a common excavator comprising a set of wheels or tracks on which the excavator rides supporting a support structure; coupled to and supported by the support structure, a vertical swivel such that components coupled to an upper side of the swivel can swivel about a vertical axis relative to the support structure; coupled to and supported by the upper side of the swivel, an operator&#39;s seat, operator&#39;s controls, and an articulating arm having a tool on a distant end; and (b) coupled to and supported by the support structure and fixed to a lower side of the swivel, a side roller attachment comprising a frame, which supports at least one axis which holds at least one weighted cylindrical roller located to roll an approximately horizontal surface to one side of a path of the wheels or tracks. The rolling machine may include a vibrator on the frame located to vibrate the at least one roller. 
     In yet another aspect, the invention is a silt fence installing machine, comprising: (a) a common excavator comprising a set of wheels or tracks on which the excavator rides supporting a support structure; coupled to and supported by the support structure, a vertical swivel such that components coupled to an upper side of the swivel can swivel about a vertical axis relative to the support structure; coupled to and supported by the upper side of the swivel, an operator&#39;s seat, operator&#39;s controls, and an articulating arm having a tool on a distant end; and (b) coupled to and supported by the support structure and fixed to a lower side of the swivel, a silt fence installing attachment comprising a frame, which supports a fence roll support bar for holding a roll of fencing, a plowing edge, and following the plowing edge, a diagonal direction changing edge which redirects the fabric from vertical movement to horizontal movement. The silt fence installing machine may include at least one height adjustable wheel or skid that contacts an earth surface and limits a depth of plowing of the plowing edge. 
     In yet another aspect, the invention is a machine for installing rolled-up fencing with attached posts, comprising: (a) an attachment mount adapted to attach to an attachment base on a mobile machine; (b) coupled to the attachment mount, a fence dispenser adapted to hold vertically a roll of fence material with attached fence posts and allow the fence material with posts to feed off the roll; (c) coupled to the attachment mount, a plowing edge adapted to plow a trench as the mobile machine moves forward; (d) a fence material guide adapted to guide fence material with posts coming off the roll into installation position as the mobile machine moves forward; and (e) a fence post pusher adapted to push each fence post from installation position into soil as the mobile machine moves forward. The tool may further comprise soil pushers adapted to push soil against a bottom edge of installed fence as the mobile machine moves forward. 
     In yet another aspect, the invention is a tool for installing rolled-up fencing without attached posts and digging holes for or pounding in fence posts, comprising: (a) at least one attachment mount adapted to attach to an attachment base on a mobile machine; (b) coupled to at least one attachment mount, a vertical sliding guide with a slider disposed with no obstruction on a vertical line from the slider to soil when the tool is mounted on a mobile machine; and (c) coupled to at least one attachment mount, a fence dispenser adapted to hold vertically a roll of fence material and allow the fence material to feed off the roll proximate the vertical line. The tool attachment system may further comprise a powered auger mountable on the slider adapted to drill a hole suitable for a fence post when sliding down the sliding guide. It may also comprise a pounding face mountable on the slider adapted to pound a fence post when sliding down the sliding guide and/or a fence stretcher. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  shows a prior art sidewalk grader. 
         FIG. 2  shows a mounting base  66  and tool&#39;s mating attachment surface  74 , as well as components of a tool that includes automatic leveling components. 
         FIG. 3  shows a quick coupling components for coupling hydraulic lines to a detachable tool. 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  show wireless components for controlling a detachable tool from the cab. 
         FIG. 5  shows an improvement that allows the detachable tool to remain plumb as relevant elevations change. 
         FIG. 6  shows a curb and gutter extruder. 
         FIG. 7  shows an extruder for a second curb. 
         FIG. 8  shows a laterally extendable edge blade. 
         FIG. 9  shows a detachable trencher added to the end of the blade. 
         FIG. 10  shows grading base rock with the sidewalk grading blade. 
         FIG. 11  shows paving with a paver detachable tool. 
         FIGS. 12 and 13  show adjustable tools for paving. 
         FIGS. 14A, 14B, 14C, 15A, 15B, 15C, 15D, 16A, and 16B  show a hydraulic hose reel adapted to carry two hydraulic hoses in the tool mounting base and a side blade which extends horizontally out of an end of the tool mounting base. 
         FIGS. 16C and 17A, 17B and 17C  show a multi-coupling plate and how retainers of the tool mount may be powered with a hydraulic cylinder. 
         FIGS. 18A, 18B and 19  show arms connecting the tool attachment base to the machine that constrain the tool attachment base to move up and down without significant rotation out of plumb. 
         FIGS. 20, 21A, 21B and 22  show a silt fence installer attachments. 
         FIGS. 23, 24, 25, 26A and 26B  show a horizontally extendable low profile side blade attachment. 
         FIG. 27  shows a laterally extendable blade. 
         FIGS. 28 and 29  show a trencher attachment. 
         FIG. 30  shows a materials bin attachment. 
         FIG. 31  shows a roller attachment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The Prior Art 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  of the drawings which shows the prior art sidewalk grading machine, numeral  20  generally designates the sidewalk grading blade and support structure, called the sidewalk grader  20 . The sidewalk grader  20  is used to grade sidewalk base material  22 , which sometimes includes crushed rock  24 , to a predetermined specified grade and elevation to form the base  26  of a designed sidewalk (not illustrated). Typically, the sidewalk grader  20  accommodates grading activity for sidewalks that extend adjacent to and along an existing road structure  30  of the type that incorporates a curb  32  as a border. 
     More specifically, the sidewalk grader  20  comprises a tracking assembly  34  adapted for fixable engagement with a vertically movable accessory  36  extending from below the swivel in a piece of construction excavation equipment  38 . Commonly, a vertically adjustable backfill blade extending from a common compact excavator  42  is effective  36  for this purpose. When a compact excavator  42  is used, the bucket  43  thereof, can be very useful to either remove or add additional sidewalk base material  22  depending on the condition of the site reserved for the sidewalk. In addition, as the sidewalk grader  20  advances along the road structure  30 , the bucket  43  can be used to break-up native hard-pan type soil, and to remove large rocks and the like. 
     The construction equipment  38  is generally positioned to move forward over an existing road structure  30  to advance the sidewalk grader  20  in a direction along the existing road structure  30 , substantially parallel thereto. This forward movement is indicated by arrow  46 . Importantly, the excavation equipment  38  so provided is disposed and operated over an existing road structure  30  thereby minimizing the impact it has on the base  26 . Accordingly, the tracking assembly  34  is configured to extend from the vertically movable accessory  36  in a transverse direction to the course of advancement (indicated by an arrow  46 ), transversely across the road structure  30  and the curb  32  thereof. 
     In addition, the tracking assembly  34  further comprises a vertically adjustable tracking means  48  disposed for engagement with the top surface of the curb  32  portion of the road structure  30 . With this configuration, the top surface  50  of the curb  32  provides a point of reference for operation of the sidewalk grader  20 . 
     A grading assembly  54  is mounted and fixed to the tracking assembly  34  so that the grading assembly  54  extends outward, beyond the curb  32 , positioned over the location of the area reserved for the designed sidewalk and base  26  thereof. More specifically, the grading assembly  54  comprises a frame  56 , and a grading blade  58  rotatingly mounted to the frame  56  to permit adjustment of slope of the grading blade  58  according to the specified sidewalk design grade. In order to lock or fix the rotation of the grading blade  58  in relation to the frame  56 , according to a predetermined grade, a fixing means  60  for fixing the blade rotation is provided. 
     As noted above, the tracking means  48  is vertically adjustable. This feature is provided to enable the tracking means  48  to engage with the top surface  50  of a curb  32  to provide a relative reference, or point of reference, for precise vertical and horizontal adjustment of the sidewalk grader  20 , to position the grading assembly  54 , and for maintaining the grading assembly in the desired position in relation to the curb as the sidewalk grader  20  advances along the existing road structure  30  as indicated by arrow  46 . 
     Because the top surface  50  of the curb  32  is usually rough concrete, the preferred tracking means  48  is constructed for rolling engagement along the top surface  50  of the curb  32 , such as a wheel  94 . 
     In a simplified embodiment of the sidewalk grader  20 , the tracking assembly  34  comprises a pivot joint  64 , disposed adjacent the backfill blade to enable the sidewalk grader  20  to fold from a first unfolded position to a folded position. An additional pivot joint  65  is provided to form an additional folding point to fold the sidewalk grader  20  for storage and transportation. As will be discussed more fully below, a second pivot joint  65  can provide an additional pivot axis for up and down movement of the grading assembly  54  to provide greater flexibility thereof. 
     A cylinder support  82  is fabricated from solid steel for strength and is welded directly to the support tube  76 . At the top of the cylinder support  82  is an upper eye to provide a connection point for the upper portion of a vertical hydraulic cylinder. Similarly, at the opposing end, its ram is connected to a vertically movable wheel carriage having a wheel  94 . With this arrangement, the ram  88  can be operated to vertically adjust the wheel  94  to the proper elevation to rest on the top surface  50  of curb  32  to track the curb  32  as the sidewalk grader  20  advances along the road structure  30 . Adjusting the vertical hydraulic cylinder causes pivoting of the blade  58  rather than vertical movement of the blade. 
     As the sidewalk grader  20  advances along the road structure  30 , the wheel  94  should be adjustable between a first lower limit and a second upper limit, thereby lowering the sidewalk grader  20  to enable the sidewalk grader  20  to follow the curb  32  as it drops to an area reserved for a driveway (not illustrated), i.e., where the curb transitions downward and fades into the driveway. This movement causes pivoting of the blade  58  in an arc, such that its distant end moves more than its nearer end, rather than vertical movement of the blade. 
     To compensate for the pivoting of the blade, as shown in  FIG. 5 , a slope control system including a slope sensor  220 , a pivot  180 , and a hydraulic cylinder  226  (all not shown in  FIG. 1 ) were added to the prior art system. This slope control system compensates for any deviation in slope of the grading blade  58  caused by bumps in the road structure  30 , change in slope of the road structure, and excavator load changes and the like. Accordingly, the slope sensor senses any change in slope and communicates the change to a control box which then signals an electronically controlled valve stack to activate the hydraulic slope control link to compensate for the change. In this way, the grading blade  58  is automatically controlled to provide a smoothly graded base  26  for the sidewalk. 
     Converting the Excavator to a Multi-Attachment Side Tool Carrier 
     As described below, as an improvement over the above described prior art, the present invention encompasses a tool carrying and controlling system wherein an operator can control a swiveling tool and either a first attachable linear acting controllable tool or a second attachable linear acting controllable tool to operate in coordination with the first tool. For use in this system, the excavator is modified to include a side tool mounting base or support  66  affixed below the swivel  10  for attaching any linear acting tool via a mating surface  74 , and a set of hydraulic line quick couplers  494  are mounted proximate to the side mounting base  66  as shown in  FIG. 2 . The couplers may be ganged as shown in  FIG. 3 . The quick coupler hydraulic connections may be color-coded to correspond to the function control buttons on a Suregrip handle  465  in the cab with corresponding colors as shown in  FIG. 4A . Attachment hydraulic hoses may also have corresponding colors. 
     On the excavator, the two hydraulic hoses that operate the stock backfill blade are rerouted to an electronically controlled valve stack with proportional and/or on/off sections for supplying hydraulic pressure to any number of attachment hydraulic circuits. Accordingly, the tool support mount  66  on one end of the backfill blade is now connected to, and controlled by the valve stack. In this way, the operator can electronically control the valve stack from within the cab of the excavator, above the swivel  10 , to control all hydraulic circuits below the swivel that effect any attachment function. The valve stack is located between the lower side of the swivel and the quick couplers, and any number of hoses are routed from the valve stack to the set of hydraulic couplers for the side attachment. 
     Electric control wires from the cab to the valve stack may couple the two together as in the prior art. However, this limits rotation of the swivel  10  and risks damaging the wires. An improvement is to pass the control wires through the swivel with slip rings, an electromechanical device that allows the transmission of power and electrical signals from a stationary to a rotating structure, also called a rotary electrical joint, collector or electric swivel. 
     Alternatively, A transmitter/receiver mounted in the cab can transmit all commands from an installed control handle mounted on the right or left joystick as well as any other switches or any controls in the machine&#39;s cab. A receiver/transmitter capable of driving the hydraulic valve stack decodes the signal and controls the valve stack. A hydraulic generator that is installed in the return hydraulic line generates power to keep a large capacitor charged. This capacitor supplies power to operate the electric control valves and supplies power to the wireless receiver/transmitter module. A battery may be used instead of a capacitor. The battery can be charged as mentioned above or removed each night and charged the conventional way. 
     As another alternative, instead of manifolding one hydraulic circuit into many with a control valve stack placed below the swivel  10  and then routing electric or wireless controls through or around the swivel, the excavator swivel can be modified to add more hydraulic circuits through the swivel, allowing the valve stack to be placed above the swivel. 
     As a further improvement to the prior art side tool system, a vertical slider, shown in  FIG. 5 , may be inserted into the beam structure between the excavator and the tool. This prevents relative vertical movement from inducing a pivoting movement. This slider may be inserted at joint  64  in  FIG. 1 . It retains the hinge feature of prior joint  64  to allow folding of the beam. The slider may be hydraulically actuated, as shown in  FIG. 5 , or it may slide by itself vertically, perhaps using the wheels on the curb or other datum line to force vertical movement. The vertical slider constrains the tool to move straight up and down and not swing in an arc, as in the prior art. 
     For use with this multi-tool carrier, several linear acting attachable side tools are described below. 
     Curb or Curb and Gutter Extruder 
     On a road and sidewalk construction job, the first linear acting tool that is useful when mounted on the side tool carrier described above is a curb and gutter extruder as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     After a first curb is extruded and hardened, the extruder head may be changed to extrude a second curb on the far side of the sidewalk grade as shown in  FIG. 7 . A trimmerhead  430  and auger  435  can be used in conjunction with or ahead of the curb and gutter extruder. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , a sonar sensor  525  may be set up on an arm  520  to actuate controllers that adjust height and lateral location relative to a string  522  set up as a datum line. 
     Sidewalk Grader Improvements 
     The next tool to be used on the job is a sidewalk grader. As an improvement to the prior art grader, the blade width may be made adjustable with a sliding blade extension  304  guided by guide bars  315  and  316  and actuated by a hydraulic cylinder  318  as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     As another improvement, a detachable fin  302  shown in  FIG. 8  may be added to the distant end of the blade. 
     As another improvement, a detachable trencher  382  shown in  FIG. 9  may be added to the distant end of the blade to create a trench for placing sidewalk edging stones. For use in the same pass, a windrow forming attachment  380  may be added to pile displaced material in a windrow  384 . 
     Then a second curb may be extruded as shown in  FIG. 7  or sidewalk edging stones  385  may be placed in the trench as shown as shown in  FIG. 10 . Base rock  387  is then placed in the sidewalk grade, and the base rock is graded with the sidewalk grading blade, as shown in  FIG. 10 . An edging backfill attachment  386  may be added to the end of the blade to pull the windrow  384  against the edging stones  385  or extruded curb. 
     Also, a sonar sensing and guiding system may be added to sense the curb top or the gutter or a guide string. A laser sensor may be added to sense a laser beam for guidance. 
     Paver 
     Now the grade is ready for paving with a paver as shown in  FIGS. 11, 12, and 13  (cross section). The paver components are attached to the grading blade to add an auger  342  and a smoothing plate  351  plus smoothing plate extension  352 . A vibrator  308  helps smooth the material, whether cement or asphalt, and, when used for asphalt, heaters  335 ,  336 , and  337  keep the smoothing plate warm. If electric heaters are used, they may be driven by a generator  301  which may be mounted on the excavator blade  40 . 
     Reel for Auxiliary Hydraulic Hoses 
       FIGS. 14A, 14C, 15A, 15B and 16A  show a hydraulic hose reel  651  adapted to carry two hydraulic hoses in the tool mounting base (which is preferably also an earth moving blade) for connecting any tool that needs hydraulic power. 
     Horizontally Extendable Side Blade 
       FIGS. 14B, 14C, 15B, 15C, 15D, 16A, and 16B  show a side blade which extends horizontally out of an end of the tool mounting base (which is preferably also an earth moving blade). The side blade  861  is also shown in  FIGS. 23, 24, 25   26 A,  26 B, and  27 . 
     Multi-Coupling Plate 
       FIG. 3  shows a fixed hydraulic multi-coupling plate  871  and a mating mobile hydraulic multi-coupling plate  870 . 
       FIGS. 16C, 17B, and 17C  show a multi-coupling plate  871  mounted on the tool mounting base (which is preferably also an earth moving blade). This prevents hydraulic hoses from being incorrectly coupled. As shown in these figures, it also is engaged by the action of engaging a tool mount  872  with a tool multi-coupling plate  870  onto the mounting base. Thus, one action both attaches the tool and couples hydraulic lines for actuating the tool. 
       FIGS. 16C and 17C  show how retainers  873  of the tool mount  66  may be powered with a hydraulic cylinder  874 . The retainers  873  engage and retain steel pins  875  with are part of the tool mount  872 . A third pin  876  may be added beside the multi-coupler to ensure alignment: 
     Tool Attachment Base that Stays Plumb 
     The tool attachment base  66  is preferably a central earth-moving blade on an excavator. However, as shown in  FIG. 18A , the standard blade rotates out of plumb as the blade is raised and lowered. For use of the blade as a tool attachment base, it is preferable to replace the blade with a blade designed to stay plumb as the blade is raised and lowered. 
     There are two ways to achieve this objective. First, the blade may be designed with upper and lower pivot points connected by arms to upper and lower pivot points on the machine, with the blade pivot points located such that the four pivot points always form a parallelogram. A hydraulic cylinder is then coupled to apply forces to opposite corners of the parallelogram to raise and lower the blade. 
     Alternatively, the blade may be designed as shown in  FIGS. 18B and 19 . As shown, a first arm connecting the blade to the machine via couplings  918  and  919  includes an intermediate coupling  901  between a first portion of the arm  912  and a second portion of the arm  913 . The first portion is affixed with a pivot  915  to a second arm  914  which couples the blade to the machine via couplings  920  and  921 , and the first portion  912  includes a lever arm  917  between the intermediate coupling  911  and the pivot  915  wherein the length and angle of the lever arm is determined so as to constrain the tool attachment base  66  to move up and down without significant rotation out of plumb. 
     In either case, the design may be described more generally as follows: at least two arms, each having a first end and a second end, with rotatable couplings at the first ends for attaching to the machine; rotatable couplings on the second ends coupled to a tool attachment base; and the at least four couplings each having a location when the attachment base is mounted on a machine via the couplings wherein geometric relationships between the locations of the couplings constrains the tool attachment base to move up and down without significant rotation out of plumb. 
     Silt Fence Installer 
     Often when a silt fence must be installed it is important not to disturb ground on one side. The bucket  43  of an excavator is useful for preparing the area while the machine moves forward installing the fence  602  as shown in  FIG. 20 . The silt fence installer attachment includes a fence roll support bar  608  that supports a roll of fencing material  602 . The fencing material is fed off the roll, down around a direction changing diagonal edge (not visible). Surrounding the fencing as it goes around the direction changing edge are two sides  604  of a direction changing chamber. The sides join at a plowing edge  618  that cuts into the ground as the machine moves forward. A skid or wheels  606  may be adjusted up or down to change the depth of the cut made by the plowing edge  618 . 
     Silt Fence with Attached Posts Installer 
       FIG. 21A  shows another form of silt fence installer. In this case, the silt fence is supplied on a roll  801  with stiff posts  802  attached to the fence material every 2-4 feet. The posts extend below the fence material at the bottom by 3-12 inches. A plowing edge  803  digs a trench to a preferred depth for the silt fence material. 
     As the fencing with posts unrolls, it is inserted into the trench with the post bottoms at the bottom of the trench and the fence material above the bottom by 3-12 inches. Then a post pusher  804  pushes on the tops of the posts to push them into the soil at the bottom of the trench to a preferred depth, typically until the fence material touches the bottom of the trench. Hydraulic cylinders adjust a height of a leading edge of the post pusher and a height of a trailing edge of the post pusher to push the posts to the desired depth. 
     In a preferred embodiment, a steel U channel with extending fins extends from a trailing edge of the plow  802  to keep the trench open until the fence is seated. A bottom of the U channel supports and guides the post bottoms as they descend to the bottom of the trench. Then the fins hold back soil until the posts are pushed to a desired depth. 
     Finally, rotatable discs  807  push the soil to close the trench against the fence material. 
     The same fence installer side-tool attachment can be used to install fences that do not include buried material by setting tool height so that no trench is dug and using fencing where the posts extend below the material by 8-24 inches. 
     Preferred structure for the fencing material  801  is woven with loose warp and weft parallel and perpendicular to the fence bottom and top so that it will easily skew to parallelogram orientation to allow material coming off the roll to easily descend to installed height and then the material reorients to roughly square as it is seated. 
     Fence and Non-Attached Posts Installer 
       FIG. 22  shows another form of fence installer. In this case, the fence is supplied on a roll  831  without posts. The posts are robust and require an auger  832  mounted on a vertical sliding base  834  mounted on a vertical slide  833  to drill holes, or require a hydraulic post pounding face (not shown) mounted on the sliding base  834  to pound them in. The attachment may include a fence stretcher  835 . 
     Horizontally Extendable Low Profile Side Blade 
       FIG. 23  shows a horizontally extendable low profile side blade attachment  861  that can clear debris under guard rails. As shown in  FIG. 24 , the low profile blade slides horizontally in or out using pipe guides  862 . A similar horizontally extendable blade  864  is also shown in  FIG. 25 . The pipes guides  865  are shown in a side view in  FIG. 26B , and in a top view in  FIG. 26A . 
     Side Roller 
     It is sometimes advantageous to be able to roll a surface to one side of a road grade, such as in a sidewalk grade. A side roller attachment, as shown in  FIG. 31 , mounted on the modified excavator does the job. The roller may include a vibrator  730 . 
     Red Zone Auto Controls 
     A system with a programmable controller in the cab with a custom graphic display can be used to create a “Red Zone” that the excavator components cannot enter, thereby protecting the tool and people near it or using it. Inclinometers, potentiometers, rotation sensors, and cylinder stroke sensors are some of the means to indicate to the controller the position of the cab, arm  11 , boom, and bucket, to enable the machine to stay out of the “Red Zone”. When the machine enters the “Red Zone” the pilot valve cuts the oil supply between the excavator control handles and the excavator control valve. 
     In particular, the controller can be programmed to give specific directions for each attachment using a look-up table for each attachment to specify:
         location of “Red Zone”,   restriction on flow rate and psi of hydraulic oil to each hydraulic actuator, down to zero when appropriate,   allowed characteristics of each function of each hydraulic actuator of the excavator or the tool,   limitations on or specification of track speed and direction (the Leica Sonar system can read a string line and direct the controller to drive the machine&#39;s direction and speed automatically) as with the side grader and the curb and gutter extruder; and   alignment of control handle buttons to correspond with attachment functions.       

     IFM Electronics makes a suitable inclinometer, model EC 2045, and cylinder stroke sensors. They also offer a suitable programmable controller, model CR 1050.