Abstract:
A utility line guide chute disposed behind a plow for installing multiple utility lines. Divider members disposed between guide chute-side walls are provided for guiding the multiple utility lines in the top of the guide and out a lower rearward portion of the guide whereby utility lines can be laid into the ground at predetermined depths in vertically spaced relationships with respect to each other as the plow and guide chute move forward. A sidewall of the guide chute is composed of separate parts, the shape of respective ones of said separate parts corresponding at least in part to the position of each of more than one respective utility line within the guide whereby the separate parts of the second wall can be selectively removed to facilitate removal of selected ones of the utility lines without removing other ones of the utility lines.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to plows for installing utility lines and more particularly to a plow to maintain vertically spaced relationship in the ground for such utility lines and allow for random extraction thereof. 
     In the past, utility lines which are run to homes and other buildings have been installed by each respective utility company, so these lines often have been laid in different paths and at different depths. In newer subdivisions, it is sometimes required that utility lines all be placed within a certain easement, which maybe quite narrow and make it impossible to have them be laid side by side; instead they must be separated by soil in the ground. 
     Consequently, a common practice was developed to dig a trench and then to lay down a first utility line and backfill it to a desired amount; then lay the second utility line in the trench, backfill to the desired amount, etc., for each utility line until all utility lines have been placed in the trench and backfilled. 
     There are typically several utility lines that need to be installed such as a natural gas line, an electric line, a cable television line and a telephone line. With modern communications, there may also be a fiber optic line which may be a combined line for cable television, internet and telephone. 
     Plows have been used to install utility lines, but it has heretofore not been practical to install all utility lines with one plow because it is time consuming and because it is difficult to remove certain desired ones of the utility lines at each junction box when not all of such lines are to be connected to such junction box. In order for such plowing operation to be practical, either all of the lines would need to come out at each utility box by pulling them out the back of a guide chute, selecting only the ones to be connected to the utility box and then placing them all back into the guide chute one by one in a last-out, first-in order. 
     It is, of course, impractical to plow one or more line in a narrow easement and then try to plow other utility lines in as well, because of the danger of breaking the previously laid utility lines. 
     There is, therefore, a need for a plow which will lay multiple utility lines in a single pass and yet provide adequate separation between the utility lines, while at the same time allowing random extraction of the utility lines at each junction box. 
     Those concerned with these and other problems recognize the need for an improved plow for installing utility lines. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a plowing apparatus for installing multiple utility lines having a plow adapted to be attached to a prime mover for cutting an opening in the ground to a predetermined distance below the surface of the ground as the prime mover moves along the top of the ground. A utility line guide chute is disposed behind of the plow and is operatively attached to the plow. The guide chute includes a forward wall, bottom wall, a first and second side wall operatively attached to the front wall and at least a partially opened top for receiving utility lines to be installed into the ground as the plow moves forwardly. Divider members are disposed between the first and second guide walls for guiding the multiple utility lines in the top of the guide and out a lower rearward portion of the guide whereby utility lines can be laid into the ground at predetermined depths in vertically spaced relationships with respect to each other as the plow and guide chute move forward. 
     In a preferred embodiment the second wall is composed of separate parts, the shape of respective ones of said separate parts corresponding at least in part to the position of each of more than one respective utility line within the guide whereby the separate parts of the second wall can be selectively removed to facilitate removal of selected ones of the utility lines without removing other ones of the utility lines. This permits the user to remove only those utility lines desired to be attached to a particular junction box without removing each and every one of the utility lines, thereby providing a random extraction ability. 
     Also in the preferred embodiment, cutters are attached to the guide and disposed on each side of at least two of the utility lines whereby the ground will be compacted around the first such selected lines and a predetermined distance will be maintained between such respective lines due to the cutters&#39; ability to move soil and fill in such soil between such respective lines. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide an improved plow for installing multiple utility lines in a single pass. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a guide for a plow of the aforementioned type which allows random extraction of utility lines whereby only the utility lines desired to be extracted can be removed without removing all of the utility lines in order to accomplish this desired result. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a plow of the aforementioned type which has the ability to maintain a predetermined separation between utility lines being installed by a plow, and doing this in an automatic fashion. 
     Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention showing the present invention attached to a prime mover and automatically plowing in three utility lines in a single pass; 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of the preferred embodiment shown in FIG.  1  and also showing the top of two houses in a subdivision being built and showing how the present invention installs the utility lines adjacent to utility boxes to be attached to these new structures; 
     FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the present invention showing the plow and the guide chute for guiding the utility lines into the ground; 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the plow of the present invention shown in the ground with the guide chute disposed behind it for laying utility lines; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the guide chute of the present invention and showing cutters thereon for maintaining a predetermined distance between two of the utility lines; 
     FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but showing some of the parts exploded away from one side of the guide chute and showing rollers for separating one utility line from another; 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the cup cutter portion of the present invention which automatically cuts soil from the sides of a slot in the ground formed by the plow and compacts the soil between at least two utility lines to maintain a predetermined separation between such utility lines after they are installed in the ground; 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a utility box having utility lines passing into and out from the utility box; 
     FIG. 9 is an enlarged, partial, exploded view of the guide chute from FIG.  6  and showing how the rollers and pins separate each utility line and also showing how some of the lines can be extracted by removing part of the side plate instead of the entire side plate; and 
     FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line  10 — 10  of FIG.  9 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1 shows an apparatus  10  for installing multiple utility lines in a single pass. The prime mover  11  has tracks  12  thereon for moving it forwardly or rearwardly. It is to be understood, however, that this could be a rubber tire prime mover or any other type of device for moving the plow in a desired direction. 
     A plow  13  is operably attached to the prime mover  11  by a connecting structure  14  which can provide vibration to the plow  13 , but such vibration feature is not a necessary part of this invention. 
     Assembly  16  includes a carriage  17  having spools of utility lines  18 ,  19  and  20  thereon in addition to a spool  21  which has wire  22  for locating the position of a gas line  23 , which is typically made of plastic and is therefore difficult to locate by traditional locating mechanisms which are designed for locating metals. The carriage  17  and spool assembly arrangement forms no part of this invention and could be provided in many other configurations other than the configuration shown. 
     U-shaped guide members  27  and  28  are provided for guiding the wire  22  and the utility lines  23 ,  24  and  26  over the top of the prime mover and into a guide elbow  29  as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. It is not important as to which of the spools  18 ,  19 ,  20  and  21  is on top or on the bottom, but only how they are inserted into the guide elbow  29 , because they can be placed in any desired order depending on which utility lines are desired to be on top or on the bottom or in between. 
     A guide chute  31  is shown in more detail in FIGS. 4,  5 ,  6  and  9 . Referring to FIG. 4 it is noted that the plow  13  is set up with an articulated joint  32  at the top and the bottom and is configured for an vibratory action, the details of which are not shown because they are well known and do not form a part of the present invention. The guide chute  31  has an open top portion  33 , a bottom  34 , a front  36  and a rear  37 . A first side  38  is shown in FIG. 6 and a second side  39  is comprised of portions  39   a,    39   b,    39   c,    39   d,  all of which can be separated from each other part  39   e  is part of the assembly portion. 
     Referring to FIGS. 6 and 9, it is noted that the first side  38  has a plurality of pins  41  which extend into openings  42  in the first side  38  and then are welded in place. These pins  41  have a groove  42  therein for receiving a clip  43 . A roller  44  slides over each one of the pins  41  and a threaded fastener  46  extending through holes  47  in the side plate  39   b  and into the end of a threaded pin  41  serve as a guide for each utility line and also serve to attach first side  38  to the second side  39 . Dividers other than rollers can be used. Pins  51  are just like pins  41  except they do not have female threaded ends, but do have rollers  44  received on the pins  51 . Also rollers  61  are provided for guiding gas line  23  through elbow  29  and guide chute  31  as shown in FIGS. 6,  9  and  10 . Of course there are fasteners  46  (FIG. 9) which extend through each one of the openings  47  in the plate portions  39   b,    39   c  and  39   d.    
     FIG. 3 shows how the wire  22  is guided through loops  52   a  to guide tube  52  and gas line  23  is guided over roller  61  on the guide elbow  29  and ultimately is guided down into the guide chute  31 . The locator wire  22  extends down through the guide conduit  52  operably attached to the front of the guide chute  31  as can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 shows an additional utility line  25 , which is not shown on the other views and is optional. 
     For illustrative purposes the line  23  is a gas line adjacent to the locator wire  22  and the line  26  is an electric line whereas the line  24  can be a telephone or television cable line or the combination thereof. 
     Plate  39   b  as shown in FIG. 6 has a plate  53  welded thereto and top and bottom cutters  54  are bolted thereto. Similarly, referring to FIG. 6, for example, a plate  53  is also welded to the other side plate  38  with cup cutters  54  attached to plate  53  so that, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, there will be cup cutter  54  on each side of the gas line  23  and the electric line  26  if those are the two lines chosen as the most important to be maintained with a required separation therebetween. 
     In operation, the apparatus  10  is shown in FIG. 2 operating along an easement  40  shown in dashed lines. The easement passes beside junction boxes  50  and  60 , which lead to homes  70  and  80  respectively, which are being built in a subdivision, for example. As the prime mover  11  moves forwardly in the direction to the right as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the plow  13  will make a slot  55  in the ground as shown in FIG.  2 . Because the guide, shown in FIGS. 3,  4 ,  5  and  6 , will be guiding utility lines  23 ,  24 ,  25  and locator wire  22  into the ground as the apparatus  10  moves forwardly along the easement  40 , the plow  13  will make the slot  55  and the drag from the utility lines will pull greater lengths of such utility lines  23 ,  24 , and  26  off of spools  18 ,  19 , and  20 . Similarly the locator line  22  will be unreeled from reel  21  at the same rate. At the same time that this is occurring, cutter cups  54  are grabbing soil from each side of the slot  55  and pulling it into the space in between the utility lines  23  and  26  because the rear end of the cutter cups are smaller than and closer to the utility lines. The cutter cups  54  because of their shape, will automatically compact the soil around the lines  23  and  24 . Consequently, if there is a predetermined requirement of separation between the lines  23  and  26 , for example if  23  is a gas line and  26  is an electric line, then this predetermined separation can be maintained with confidence using the cup cutter  54  arrangement. 
     At such time that the guide chute  31  reaches a utility box, such as the utility box  50  shown in FIGS. 2 and 8, the utility lines desired may be pulled from the chute by removing only as many of the plates  39   b ,  39   c  and  39   d  as are required. The plate  39   a  is not removable. It is secured to side plate  38  with pins  41  welded to side plate  38 . Rollers  44  rotate on pins  41  to space plate  39   a  from side plate  38 . One ear  65  is welded to side plate  38  and the other ear  65  is welded to plate  39   a . Ears  65  have aligned holes that a tube welded to the chute gate slides between and is secured by a retaining bolt. The chute gate has a round bar  58  welded at the bottom and slides into slots on side plate  38  and plate  39   a . The chute gate has a U-shaped channel with roller  61  secured in the channel with shafts  51  welded in place. To remove line  23 , the chute gate retaining bolt is removed and pin  57  slides out of slots  56  in plates  38  and  39   a . It will be noted in FIG. 5 that there is also utility line  24  between utility lines  23  and  26 . To remove lines  23 ,  24  and  26  at a junction box  50 , the portion  39   b  could remain in place while portions  39   a ,  39   c  and  39   d  could be removed to selectively remove utility lines  23 ,  24  and  26  regardless of whether there is or is not a utility line in the open space shown in FIG. 5 between lines  23  and  24 . Of course if only the electric line  26  is to be removed then only plate  39   d  would be removed at the junction box  50 . 
     Referring to FIG. 8, the junction box  50  shows a gas line  23  and electric line  26  and another utility line such as a fiber optic line, telephone line, or cable line  24 . The gas line  23  is not shown attached in FIG. 8 because that is done by the natural gas company, whereas the other lines can be attached by other installers. Typically, the easement  40  is to one side of the junction boxes  50  and  60  and then, after the unit  10  passes by the junction box, workers dig a few feet between the slot  55  in the ground and the junction box  52  make the connections shown in FIG.  8 . 
     Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the preferred embodiment shown herein does indeed accomplish the aforementioned objects. Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practice otherwise than as specifically described.