Patent Publication Number: US-10309080-B2

Title: Trench filling machine

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/537,790 filed on Sep. 22, 2011, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of filling a trench, and in particular to trench filling machines for micro-trenches. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a trench filling machine. The machine comprises a frame, a motive means for moving the frame, a tub supported on the frame, a release assembly, a hopper, and a discharge conduit. The release assembly is disposed on the tub and comprises a spout and a door. The hopper is supported on the frame and is positioned below the release assembly. The discharge conduit is disposed on the hopper to feed material into a trench. 
     The present invention is also directed to a release assembly for use with a trench filling machine. The trench filling machine comprises a tub and a hopper. The release assembly comprises a gate plate attached to a first end of the tub, a horizontal link pivotally connected at a first end to the gate plate, a vertical link connected to a second end of the horizontal link, a door, and a spout. The door is movable up and down via movement of the horizontal and the vertical link. 
     The present invention is further directed to a method for filling a trench using a trench filling machine. The method comprises the steps of mixing a material within a tub using a plurality of blades connected to a shaft, positioning the trench filling machine parallel to the trench, wherein a hopper comprising a discharge conduit connected to the trench filling machine is placed above the trench, and lowering the hopper so a portion of the discharge conduit is placed within the trench. The method also comprises the steps of lifting a door on a release assembly connected to the tub to release the material from the tub into the hopper, and vibrating the hopper so the materials flow from the hopper through the discharge conduit and into the trench. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of the trench filling machine of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective back view of the trench filling machine of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective front view of the trench filling machine. 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the trench filling machine. 
         FIG. 5  is perspective front view of the trench filling machine. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the trench filling machine having a carriage assembly. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Traditionally micro-trenches are filled with grout or any other needed material by hand. The current invention allows the micro-trench to be filled using a machine that moves parallel to the trench as the trench is filled. Turning now to the drawings in general and  FIG. 1  specifically, shown therein is a side view of the trench filling machine of the present invention. The trench filling machine designated generally by reference numeral  10  generally comprises a frame  12 , an operator station  14 , a tub  16 , a release assembly  18 , and a hopper  20 . The trench filling machine  10  is operated and monitored with controls  22  located at the operator station  14 . The frame  12  comprises a motive means  19  that works to transport the machine  10  to a desired location and move the machine  10  in line with the trench to be filled. The motive means  19  may comprise wheels or tracks. 
     The release assembly  18  is positioned on the first side  24  of the tub  16 . The release assembly  18  works to release a material from the tub  16  and into the hopper  20 . The material may comprise any material necessary to fill the trench. Preferably the material comprises a grout mixture. The release assembly  18  comprises a gate plate  26 , a horizontal link  28 , a cylinder  30 , a cylinder mount  32 , a door  34 , a vertical link  36 , a pair of door guides  38 , and a spout  40 . The gate plate  26  is attached to the first side  24  of the tub  16 . The gate plate  26  serves as an anchor for the horizontal link  28  which is pivotally connected at its end to the gate plate  26  at pivot point  42 . 
     The center of the horizontal link  28  is pivotally connected to cylinder  30  via a fastener  46 . Cylinder  30  is in turn connected to cylinder mount  32 . The cylinder mount  32  is attached to the first side  24  of the tub  16 . The cylinder mount  32  serves as an anchor for the cylinder  30  and a piston (not shown) contained within the cylinder  30 . The piston within the cylinder  30  connects to the cylinder mount  32  via a fastener  44 . The cylinder  30  and corresponding piston function to move the horizontal link  28  up and down via extension and retraction of the piston in and out of the cylinder  30 . 
     The opposing end of the horizontal link  28  not connected to the gate plate  26  is pivotally connected to vertical link  36  via a fastener  48 . The movement of the horizontal link  28  up and down by cylinder  30  and the piston serves to move the door  34  and vertical link  36  up and down opening and closing door  34 . The vertical link  36  is connected to the door  34  by a fastener  50 . The vertical link  34  aids in opening and closing of door  34 . 
     The movement of the door  34  up and down is stabilized by guides  38 . The guides  38  attach to the first side  24  of the tub  16  via a plurality of fasteners  52 . The guides  38  serve as a docking slip for the door  34  to slide up and down. The spout  40  is connected to the guides  38  using fasteners  52 . The spout  40  extends out from the first side  24  of the tub  16  and over the hopper  20  forming a slide allowing the material to run out of the tub  16 , down the spout  40 , and into the hopper  20 . 
     Continuing with  FIG. 1 , the hopper  20  is generally funnel shaped having an upper open end for receiving the material from the tub  16 . The lower end of the hopper  20  includes a discharge conduit  21  which is joined to the upper main body portion of the hopper  20  at a relatively downward and forwardly directed angle. This allows the discharge conduit  21  of the hopper  20  to be inserted into the trench to be filled. 
     The hopper  20  is attached to the front portion of the frame  12  via a pivot plate  54  and lift arms  56 A and  56 B. The pivot plate  54  is attached to the front side of the hopper  20  and connects the lift arms  56 A and  56 B to the pivot plate via a pair of fasteners  58 . The lift arms  56  work to move the hopper  20  in and out of the trench. Movement of the lift arms  56  is controlled by a hydraulic cylinder  60  ( FIG. 3 ) and a lever  62  ( FIG. 3 ) located behind the side plate  64  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     On the opposite side of the hopper  20  from the pivot plate  54 , a wheel mount  66  is attached to the hopper  20 . A small wheel  68  is attached to the wheel mount  66  to help guide the hopper  20  along the trench when the hopper  20  is in its lowered position. The wheel  68  runs directly parallel with the open trench when the machine  10  is in operation. 
     The vibrator  70  is used to vibrate the entire hopper  20  to prevent material from being clogged in the discharge conduit  21  while a trench is being filled. The vibrator  70  may be attached to the side of the hopper  20  just above the wheel mount  66 . The vibrator  70  also works to increase the rate of flow of the material through the discharge conduit  21  and into the open trench. 
     A mount plate  72  is also shown in  FIG. 1  attached to the first side  24  of the tub  16  just above the guides  38 . The mount plate  72  supports a bearing  74  which is used to support and allow rotation of the shaft  90  ( FIG. 4 ) within the tub  16 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 2 , a perspective back view of the trench filling machine  10  is shown. The tub  16  is supported and stabilized on the frame  12  via a brace  76 . The brace  76  is contoured to allow the round bottom portion of the tub  16  to sit within it. The sides of the brace  76  are then attached to the sides of the tub  16  and the base of the brace  76  is attached to the motorized frame stabilizing the tub  16  while the machine  10  is in operation. 
     The top of the tub  16  is covered by a grate  78  which allows access to the inside of the tub  16  while at the same time protecting the material from debris. A bag cutter  80  is mounted on the top of the grate  78  for convenience in opening bags of material to pour into the tub  16 . 
     A platform  82  is also shown attached to the front of the frame  12 . The platform  82  aids in preparing and attending to the contents of the tub  16 . A tube  84  is attached to the platform  82  and the side plate  64  to support the frame  12  and platform  82 . A different view of the spout  40  is also shown in  FIG. 2  depicting more clearly how the spout functions as a slide to move the material from the tub  16  to the hopper  20 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 3 , a side view of the machine  10  is shown with the side plate  64  ( FIG. 2 ) removed exposing the cylinder  60  and lever  62 . The cylinder  60  is pivotally connected to the side of the platform  82  via a fastener  86 . The opposite end of the cylinder  60  is pivotally connected to the lever  62  via a fastener  88 . Contained within the cylinder  60  is a piston (not shown) which may be extended and retracted, in turn pushing and pulling on the lever  62 . 
     The forces exerted on the lever  62  by the piston and cylinder.  60  work to manipulate the lift arms  56 A and  56 B up and down through movement of the lever  62 . The lever  62  is pivotally attached to lift arm  56 A using fasteners  58  and lift arm  56 B is also pivotally attached to the side of the platform  82  using fasteners  58 . Movement of the lift arms  56 A and  56 B up and down works to move the hopper  20  in and out of the trench. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 4 , a top view of the trench filling machine is shown with the top grate  78  ( FIG. 2 ) of the tub  16  removed exposing the interior of the tub. The shaft  90  runs lengthwise through the center of the tub  16 . Attached to the shaft  90  are blades  92  which work to stir the material inside the tub  16 . Attached to the blades  92  are rubber paddles  94  which work to scrape material from the insides of the tub  16  while the blades  92  are stirring the mixture. 
     A motor  96  is attached to a second side  98  of the tub  16 . The motor  96  connects to the shaft  90  inside the tub  16  and spins the shaft  90  which in turn spins the blades  92  and paddles  94 . The shaft  90  is connected on its opposite side to the bearing  48  located on the first side  24  of the tub  16 . The motor  96  continually spins the shaft  90  throughout the trench filling process to mix the material and move it toward door  34  ( FIG. 1 ). 
     Turning finally to  FIG. 5 , a front perspective view of the trench filling machine  10  is shown. A hydraulic motor  100  is shown beneath brace  76 . The hydraulic motor  100  works to power the motive means  19  on the frame  12  in operation. An attachment plate  102  is also shown which connects the tub  16  to the frame  12 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a side view of an alternative embodiment of the trench filling machine  10  is shown with additional features. Attached to the front of the machine  10  is a carriage assembly  104 . The carriage assembly  104  comprises a support  106 , a hydraulic forklift  108 , and a pallet  110 . The support  106  is attached to the platform  82 . The hydraulic forklift  108  is attached to the support  106  and is capable of moving up and down carrying a plurality of bags of material  112 . The bags of material  112  rest on pallet  110  which slides on the forks (not shown) of hydraulic lift  108 . Also, shown in  FIG. 6  is a container  114  connected to the top of the tub  16  for holding water or other liquids used to mix with the material. Transporting liquids and additional bags of material with the machine  10  as it moves makes it more convenient to mix additional material. Material can be mixed right at the machine  10  rather than having to transport the machine  10  back to where additional mixing materials are located. 
     In operation, material is poured into the tub  16  with a mixing solution, such as water, and mixed together via the blades  92  spinning on the shaft  90 . The trench filling machine  10  is positioned parallel to the trench to be filled. The hopper  20  is placed over the open trench such that the hopper  20  may be positioned within the trench at a desired depth allowing the wheel  68  to rest on the ground parallel to the trench. 
     The hopper  20  is moved via the lift arms  56 A and  56 B and cylinder  60  as shown in  FIG. 3 . When the cylinder  60  extends the piston (not shown) which pushes against lever  62 , the lift arm  56 A is forced upward moving lift arm  56 B upward and moving the hopper  20  closer to the spout  40 . When the piston is fully retracted inside the cylinder  60 , the lift arms  56  are forced down moving the hopper  20  into the open trench.  FIG. 3  shows the hopper  20  in the lowered position. 
     Once the hopper  20  is positioned in the trench as desired, the release assembly  18  can begin to release material into the hopper  20 . The door  34  is in the closed position sealing off any material from exiting the tub  16  when the piston (not shown) within the cylinder  30  is extended. The piston extends from cylinder mount  32  from which it is connected. To open the door  34  the piston retracts into the cylinder  30  pulling the horizontal link  28  upwards which in turn pulls the door  34  upwards. Once the door  34  begins to open, the material is free to flow out of the door  34 , down the spout  40 , and into the hopper  20 . When the hopper  20  is filled to the desired amount, the piston is extended from the cylinder  30  pushing the horizontal link  28  downwards and in turn pushing the door  34  downwards until it is closed. 
     Upon pouring the material into the hopper  20 , the material begins to flow downward and pass out the discharge conduit  21  of the hopper  20  and into the trench. The vibrator  70  vigorously vibrates the hopper  20  to prevent material from clogging the conduit of the hopper  20  or from being stuck to the sides of the hopper  20 . The vibrator  70  also helps to increase the rate of flow of the material from the hopper  20  into the trench to be filled. 
     The trench filling machine  10  is driven alongside the trench via the operator station  14  and the motive means  19 . The material flows from the hopper  20  in the trench as the machine  10  moves. The trench filling machine  10  allows the operator to place materials in the trenches by operating the controls  22  at the operator station  14 . Keeping the material in the hopper  20  separate from the material contained in the tub  16 , allows the operator to take a break once the hopper  20  has been emptied without worry of the material within the tub  16  hardening. 
     Although the present invention has been described with respect to preferred embodiment, various changes and modifications may be suggested to one skilled in the art, and it is intended that the present invention encompass such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of this disclosure.