Patent EA-000192-B1 (EA)
Title: Apparatus and associated method for padding a trench and laying a pipeline
IPC: E02F5/22
Filed: 1996-07-22
Abstract: 1. An apparatus for padding a trench having a berm with excavated material therealong, comprising: a vehicle frame adapted for movement along the berm; means at a front end of said vehicle frame for picking up excavated material from the berm; means on said vehicle frame for pulverizing at least a portion of the excavated material to form a pulverized material; means on said vehicle frame for transporting the excavated material from said means for picking up to said means for pulverizing; and means on said vehicle frame for conveying the pulverized material to the trench. 2. The apparatus defined in Claim 1, farther comprising means for collecting at least a portion of said pulverized material for use as a sandblasting sand. 3. The apparatus defined in Claim 1 wherein said means for pulverizing comprises: means for separating the excavated material into at least two grades of material; a crusher having an inlet and an outlet; and means for delivering one of said grades of material from said means for separating to said inlet of said crusher. 4. The apparatus defined in Claim 3 wherein said means for separating comprises means for separating the excavated material into a coarse, a medium, and a fine grade of material, said one of said grades of material being said medium grade, farther comprising means for returning the coarse grade of material to the berm. 5. The apparatus defined in Claim 3 wherein said means for conveying comprises a conveyor having a first end positioned below said outlet of said crusher for catching pulverized material produced by said crusher and a second end positionable over the trench. 6. The apparatus defined in Claim 5 further comprising an additional conveyor having a first end positioned for receiving said fine grade of material from said means for separating and a second end positionable over the trench for conveying said fine grade of material to the trench. 7. The apparatus defined in Claim 5, further comprising means for directing said fine grade of material from said means for separating to said first end of said conveyor. 8. The apparatus defined in Claim 7 wherein said means for picking up excavated material comprises a spoil guide assembly pivotally mounted at a rear end thereof to said front end of said vehicle frame for collecting excavated material upon a forward movement of said vehicle frame. 9. The apparatus defined in Claim 8 wherein said vehicle frame is mounted on a track assembly, further comprising means for driving said track assembly. 10. The apparatus defined in Claim 8 wherein said vehicle frame is mounted on a tire assembly, further comprising means for driving said tire assembly. 11. The apparatus defined in Claim 3 wherein said means for separating comprises a double screen assembly. 12. The apparatus defined in Claim 11 wherein said means for transporting the excavated material comprises an elevator having a first end at said means for picking up excavated material and a second end positioned above said screen assembly. 13. A method of padding a trench having a berm with excavated material therealong, comprising: gathering at least a portion of the excavated material from the berm: pulverizing at least part of the gathered material to form a pulverized material; and conveying said pulverized material to the trench. further comprising continuously gathering of material from the berm continuously pulverizing of the gathered material to form a pulverized material and conveying continuously said pulverized material to the trench. 14. The method defined in Claim 13, further comprising automatically separating the gathered material into at least two grades of material, only one of said grades of material being pulverized to form said pulverized material. 15. The method defined in Claim 14, further comprising automatically returning another of said grades of material to the berm. 16. The method defined in Claim 13 wherein the gathering of the excavated material comprises continuously gathering the excavated material along the berm of the trench, the conveying comprising continuously conveying said pulverized material to the trench along the bottom thereof. 17. The method defined in Claim 14 wherein the separating comprises automatically sifting the excavated material through a double screen assembly. 18. The method defined in Claim 17 wherein sifting comprises the step of automatically vibrating said double screen assembly. 19. A method of laying a pipeline in a trench having a berm with excavated material therealong. comprising: gathering a portion of the excavated material from the berm; pulverizing at least part of the gathered material to form a pulverized material: conveying said pulverized material to the trench; and laying a pipeline on said pulverized material in the trench. further comprising gathering of material from the berm pulverizing of the gathered material to form a pulverized material and conveying said pulverized material to the trench. 20. The method defined in Claim 19, further comprising: gathering an additional portion of excavated material from the berm; pulverizing at least part of said additional gathered material to form additional pulverized material; and covering the pipeline with said additional pulverized material. 21. The method defined in Claim 20, further comprising: gathering a further portion of excavated material from the benn; pulverizing at least part of said further gathered material to form further pulverized material; and after laying the pipeline and prior to covering the pipeline, sandblasting the pipeline using at least a portion of said further pulverized material.