Abstract:
Apparatus and methods are described for modification of a scraper, or similar heavy equipment, for operation in wet or swampy areas including dredge disposal areas. A floatation tire assembly is described which is removably affixable to the scraper to give the scraper the amphibious capability to operate in the wet, swampy environment.

Description:
This application claims benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/018,761 filed May 31, 1996. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to earth-moving vehicles and their use in particularly wet or swampy environments. In particular, aspects of the invention relate to scrapers and similar equipment. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Scrapers are used for removal and transportation of large amounts of earth. They are typically wheeled and may be towed or self-propelled. A scraper includes a pan which may be lowered to be brought into contact with the earth or raised to be brought out of contact with the ground. The scraper pan contains a bin or receptacle for the holding of earth. The pan features an opening located proximate the ground surface which may be selectively opened and closed. A scraper blade is incorporated into the pan near the opening. When the pan is lowered and the opening opened, the blade scrapes earth into the bin of the pan as the scraper is moved along the surface. 
     Although conventional scrapers operate reliably on terra firma, they are not generally suitable in areas which are excessively wet or swampy as their weight, particularly when loaded with earth, causes the scraper to become mired. 
     A particularly difficult operating environment, for scrapers and other vehicles, is the dredge disposal area. In these areas, the spoil from aquatic dredging is placed. Due to the presence of heavy metals and other toxic substances, this spoil is treated as hazardous waste and may be placed in designated disposal sites. Once the spoil is removed from a river bottom or other aquatic site, it tends to expand because it is no longer under pressure. As the spoil expands, it retains significant amounts of water. Due to retained water, the spoil is extremely marshy. Land vehicles are unable to work in a dredge disposal area unaided by placing matting over the spoil or by similar measures. Even with the use of matting, beholds often sink into the spoil and can be recovered only at great cost. 
     Maintaining a dredge disposal area requires cutting of ditches to drain water from the spoil and then removal of dried soil from the pit. Dredge disposal area maintenance procedures and associated equipment are described in greater detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/708,648, entitled &#34;Containment Area Process&#34;, still pending, and &#34;U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/706,614 entitled &#34;Positive Drive Winch&#34;, still pending, each assigned to the assignee of the present invention and incorporated herein by reference. If capable of operating in dredge disposal areas, scrapers would be ideal pieces of equipment to accomplish removal of the dried spoil. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Apparatus and methods are described for modification of a scraper, or similar heavy equipment, for operation in wet or swampy areas including dredge disposal areas. A floatation tire assembly is described which is removably affixable to the scraper to give the scraper the amphibious capability to operate in the wet, swampy environment. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of an exemplary towed amphibious scraper with an affixed flotation tire assembly in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a rear view of the scraper of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a portion of the scraper of FIGS. 1-2. 
     FIG. 4 depicts the scraper of FIGS. 1-3 affixed for towing behind a prime mover. 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded view showing an exemplary support bracket assembly. 
     FIG. 6 is a detail depicting an exemplary bearing mount assembly. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, an exemplary amphibious scraper 10 is shown of the type which is towed behind a prime mover 12 in operation. A suitable prime mover 12 is a Rolligon, available from Rolligon Corporation, 10635 Brighton Lane, Stafford, Tex. 77477, (713) 495-1140. The scraper 10 includes a pan 14 with an interior bin 16 (best seen in FIG. 3) for storage of earth. One type of conventional commercial pan useful for modification in accordance with the present invention is an 11 cubic yard scraper pan manufactured by Rome Mfg. Co. of Cedart Town, Georgia. Hydraulic assemblies 18 can selectively raise or lower the pan 14. The lower opening (not shown) includes a forwardly-directed blade 20 which comes into contact with the ground surface 22 when the pan 14 is lowered. The opening is opened for receipt of earth when the pan 14 is lowered and is moved into a closed position when the pan 14 is raised. Such opening and closing operations are, of course, well known and need not be described in detail here. 
     The scraper 10 features a conventional wheel assembly with land-capable wheels 24. A cross-piece 26 extends across the upper portion of the conventional wheels 24. Use of conventional wheel assemblies with such components is well known. 
     As FIG. 4 illustrates, the scraper 10 also includes a towing hitch 28 by which it can be affixed to the prime mover 12 for towing. Hydraulic lines 30 extend from the prime mover 12 to the scraper 10 to supply hydraulic fluid to assemblies 18. It is noted that the prime mover 12 is preferably equipped with flotation tires 32. 
     A demountable flotation tire assembly 34 is shown in place on the scraper 10. The flotation tire assembly 34 includes a pair of surface engaging flotation tires 36. The flotation tires 36 are of a low pressure, balloon tire variety known in the art. The flotation tires 36 are affixed to the scraper 10 by an axle extension assembly 38 and a support bracket assembly 40. 
     The support bracket assembly 40 helps maintain affixation of the flotation tires 36 to the scraper 10 and is preferably fashioned from a pair of removable L-shaped bracket sections 42, 44, the construction of which is best seen in FIG. 5. Each bracket section 42, 44 includes a horizontal member 46 having a connecting bolt plate 48 welded or otherwise fixedly connected to the inboard end of the support member 46. The horizontal members 46 are also each affixed at their opposite ends to a lateral brace member 50 which extends from the horizontal member 46 to the axle extension assembly 38 for each flotation tires 36. The horizontal members 46 and lateral members 50 are preferably affixed together using are pair of connecting bolt plates 52 which are similar to the bolt plates 48 described previously. At its opposite end, the lateral members 50 have a horizontally disposed shaft 54 disposed therethrough. The two bracket sections 42, 44 are reversably connectable by affixing the bolt plates 48 of each section using connectors such as suitable bolt and nut assemblies 51 (see FIG. 5). When the bracket assembly 40 is fashioned from a number of removable bracket sections, such as bracket halves 42, 44, the entire bracket assembly 40 may be readily removed from the scraper 10 so that the scraper 10 and the components of bracket assembly 40 may be transported on a low boy or other transporter without exceeding the roadway width. The bracket assembly 40 may also be removed when the flotation tire assembly 34 is unnecessary, such as when the scraper is operating in areas which are not swampy or marshy. 
     The horizontal members 46 each include a lateral connection piece 56 through which the support bracket assembly 40 is fixedly connected to the cross-piece 26 of scraper 10. Preferably, another pair of connecting bolt plates 58, 60 are used to affix the connection piece 56 to the cross-piece 26. One plate 58 is welded to the connection piece 56 while the other plate 60 is welded to the cross piece 26. Bolt and nut connectors 62 are used to interconnect the two plates 58, 60. 
     Each of the two flotation tires 36 is maintained in rolling engagement with the surface by an axle extension assembly 38. The axle extension assemblies 38 are each made up of two portions: an inner bearing assembly 64 and an outer bearing assembly 66. The inner and outer bearing assemblies 64, 66 are similar to each other in construction. Each functions to help maintain the flotation tires in alignment with the scraper 10 for rotation and surface engagement. 
     The inner bearing assemblies 64 are affixed to the cross-piece 26 (as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6) by welding or other means of creating a secure connection. Details of the inner bearing assemblies 64 are best understood by reference to the exploded view of FIG. 6. Bearings for use in bearing assemblies of this type may be obtained from numerous commercial bearing vendors including Rexnord Corporation and Motion Industries. The Rex bearing from Rexnord Corporation is an example of a suitable bearing for this application. A pair of connecting bolt plates 68 are used to affix the bearing assembly 64 to the cross-piece 26 in the manner described for previous plate arrangements. An axle bearing 70 is then secured to the outermost bolt plate 68. A collar 74 is used to secure an axle shaft 72 within the bearing 70. In a similar manner, the outer bearing assembly 66 is secured to the outboard shaft 54. 
     In operation, the scraper 10 is suitable for collecting earth or spoil in marshy areas in which a scraper having only conventional tires would sink. The flotation tires 36 permit the scraper 10 to be substantially buoyant so as not to sink into a marshy surface and become mired. 
     While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, modifications thereof can be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the flotation tire assembly might be affixed to portions of the scraper other than the cross-bar 26. Therefore, it is intended that the scope of the invention be limited only to the claims appended hereto and legal equivalents thereof.