Abstract:
A chassis having a main member carries adjustable side members defining an area for the reception of berm forming particulate material conveyed by an air flow from a remote source. The discharged material forms a continuous berm of constant size and shape. Wheel assemblies are adjustably carried enabling the berm cross-sectional shape to best suit the job requirements. Forward travel to the apparatus may be imparted by a steerable tongue assembly.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention concerns an apparatus for the formation of a berm serving to confine a flow of contaminants or other matter from a construction site. 
     Governmental restrictions have been enacted toward preventing the flow of contaminates from a construction or other site which flow can be accomplished by the formation of a temporary berm about the site. 
     Such berms can be formed from particulate matter, preferably absorbent, to both block passage of matter and absorb at least a portion of the contaminates. Heretofore, such berms have been formed from material shoveled by workers into place to form a loosely constructed berm of non-uniform height and width and incurring considerable man hour effort. A berm so constructed often does not provide a reliable barrier. Further, the material used for such a berm must be stockpiled at the construction site, a problem when space is critical 
     In the prior art, U.S. Pat. No. 2,541,547 discloses a machine adapted for travel along a ground surface and having a hopper to receive asphalt or like material which is subsequently deposited onto a roadway. Trailing members of the machine form raised molded structures on the roadway surface to denote lane separation, parking stalls and provide barriers. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed toward a apparatus which receives particulate material and progressively shapes same in a continuous manner to form berm for blocking and/or absorbing ground contaminating material. 
     The apparatus receives airborne material from an adjacent source and shapes same, in a continuous manner, into a berm. Provision may be made for altering the cross-sectional shape of the resulting berm, by adjustment of apparatus sides members with beam height varied by positioning the apparatus relative the ground surface. Important objectives of the present invention include the provision of a berm forming apparatus for travel along a predetermined course adjacent a construction site, or other site generating contaminants, to receive and shape material so as to constitute a barrier to the contaminants; the provision of an apparatus of compact construction which includes adjustable components to vary the cross-sectional shape of a berm being formed and further enabling collapsing of the apparatus into a compact state for transport to another work site; the provision of a berm forming apparatus of light weight construction permitting a worker to manually propel same; the provision of a berm forming apparatus having adjustable wheel assemblies permitting raising and lowering of the apparatus to suit berm requirements; the provision of a system for delivering and shaping particulate material from a source, such as a truck, having a blower and flexible delivery conduit serving the apparatus. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the accompanying drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present apparatus shown in communication via a conduit with a bulk delivery truck; 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus; 
     FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the apparatus taken along line  3 — 3  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of FIG. 3 with the apparatus configured for transport. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With continuing attention to the drawings wherein applied reference numerals indicate parts similarly hereinafter identified, the reference numeral  1  indicates generally the present berm forming apparatus in receiving communication via a conduit  2  with a truck at  3  of the type including a blower for propelling particulate material  4  through conduit  2 . 
     Berm forming apparatus  1  is of a size and weight to permit a worker to pull same along a course C on a ground surface at G. The course would normally define an area within which a contaminant or contaminants must be confined in accordance with governmental requirements. 
     The machine includes a chassis with a main member  6  having a forward end supporting a tow arm  7  which in turn supports a block  8  receiving a steering post  10 . A tongue is at  11  for steering of a front wheel  12 . A post mounted collar  18  is positionable along post  10 . Wheels at  13  support the rearward end of chassis  6  by means of struts  14  both of which are adjustable in an inclined manner in sleeves  15  having set screws as at  16 . The sleeves  15  are secured in place on chassis  6  by a cross arm  17 . The length of chassis  6  is such as to permit the machine to be highly maneuverable as well as easily drawn along a ground surface by a workman. 
     An elbow shaped airflow inlet at  20  on the main member  6  is in upstream communication via an adapter  19  with conduit  2  for the reception of particulate material into an area  9  below chassis  6 . 
     Plates at  22  constitute side members supported by hinges at  23  on chassis  6  with the plates oppositely offset and serving to confine particulate material discharged from elbow  20 . Plate lower edge at  22 A is proximate ground surface G during use of the apparatus. A third plate at  24  serves as a barrier and closes the forward end of the area at  9  below main member  6 . As best seen in FIG. 4, a deflector at  28  is carried by chassis  6  immediately forward of the outlet end of elbow  20  to impart a rearward component to the downward flow of material exiting elbow  20 . Apertures at  22 B in plate  22  vent area  9  receiving the particulate material. 
     To enable varying of the berm cross section plates  22  are positionable about hinges  23  and are retained in place by adjustable supports  25 FIG. 2) carried by a rod member  26  in place crosswise on chassis  6 . As noted earlier, berm height may be varied by linear adjustment of struts  14  in sleeves  15  to raise or lower chassis main member  6 . 
     In the operation of the machine, the adjustable components, i.e., plates  22  and wheels  13 , are adjusted by the operator to provide a berm of adequate cross section to perform the barrier task at hand. Bulk delivery truck  3  is located adjacent the course C and upon operation of the truck mounted blower a continuous flow of particulate is provided to the present apparatus and discharged into area  9  below main member  6  defined by the pair of side members  22  and frontal barrier  24 . Travel of the apparatus along course C will provide a barrier or berm B of absorbent material having a truncated pyramidal shape. 
     One form of particulate that has proved highly satisfactory both costwise and effectiveness is organic material such as bark and other wood by-products mixed with organic compost. Such particulate, at the termination of usefulness, may be readily collected for transfer to a disposal site. The type of particulate material utilized may be varied, of course, to best suit the specific contaminant to be confined. To increase adhesion of the berm particles, water or water and an organic tackifier may be injected into the flow of material in conduit  2 . A suitable product for berm formation is the subject of U.S. Pat. No. 6,585,452 B1. 
     Upon termination of berm construction the present machine may be collapsed by relocating of the pair of side members or plates  22  inwardly and the upward retraction of struts  14  to locate wheels  13  proximate the side members and elbow  20  disconnected from conduit end  2 A permitting the apparatus to be transported on vehicle  3  enabling convenient delivery of both the apparatus and berm material by the same vehicle to a new work site. 
     While I have shown but one embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied still otherwise without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention. 
     Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be secured by a Letters Patent is: