Auger For Use With Trenching Assembly

Abstract

A trenching assembly featuring a novel auger arrangement. The arrangement comprises an auger assembly and a digging chain rotatably connected to a trenching boom. The digging chain rotates, driven by a motor, to dislodge soil and creating a trench. The dislodged soil, or spoil, builds up near a projected path of the digging chain. The auger assembly operates to move the spoil from a projected path of the trench. The auger rotates independently from the digging chain and is positioned such that a projected width of the digging chain intersects a threaded length of the auger assembly. The auger may rotate faster than if driven by the digging chain, allowing the auger to have a smaller diameter than conventional augers. Further, the auger can be used in conjunction with a backfill blade to refill cleaned trenches without operation of the digging chain.

1 . A trenching assembly comprising:
 a frame;   a trenching boom connected to the frame;   a digging chain rotatably connected to the trenching boom; and   an auger rotatably supported on the frame;   wherein the rotation of the auger may be operated independent of the rotation of the digging chain.   
   
   
       2 . The trenching assembly of  claim 1  wherein the auger is adapted to be tilted relative to the ground. 
   
   
       3 . The trenching assembly of  claim 1  wherein the auger is inclined relative to a horizontal plane. 
   
   
       4 . The trenching assembly of  claim 1  wherein the auger defines a threaded length such that a portion of the threaded length extends on each side of a projected width defined by the digging chain. 
   
   
       5 . The trenching assembly of  claim 1  wherein the trenching assembly is attachable to a motorized work vehicle. 
   
   
       6 . The trenching assembly of  claim 1  wherein the trenching assembly is attachable to a motorized work vehicle at an articulation joint. 
   
   
       7 . The trenching assembly of  claim 6  wherein an attachment point of the auger to the frame is located between the articulation joint and a pivot point of the trenching boom. 
   
   
       8 . The trenching assembly of  claim 1  further comprising at least one ground supporting member. 
   
   
       9 . The trenching assembly of  claim 1  wherein the auger is substantially parallel to the ground. 
   
   
       10 . The trenching assembly of  claim 1  wherein the vertical distance of the auger relative to the ground is modifiable. 
   
   
       11 . The trenching assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a backfill blade. 
   
   
       12 . The trenching assembly of  claim 1  wherein the auger rotates without rotation of the digging chain. 
   
   
       13 . The trenching assembly of  claim 1  wherein the auger is adapted to rotate in forward or reverse. 
   
   
       14 . The trenching assembly of  claim 1  wherein a diameter of the auger is dependent upon a mounting location of the auger. 
   
   
       15 . The trenching assembly of  claim 1  wherein the position of the auger on the frame is adjustable. 
   
   
       16 . The trenching assembly of  claim 1  wherein the rotation speed of the auger may be varied dynamically. 
   
   
       17 . A trenching assembly comprising:
 a trencher blade comprising a digging chain and a trenching boom, wherein the digging chain is rotatably driven about the trenching boom at a rotation rate; and   an auger, rotationally driven such that a rotation rate of the auger is independent of the rotation rate of the digging chain.   
   
   
       18 . The trenching assembly of  claim 17  wherein the auger is adapted to be tilted relative to the ground. 
   
   
       19 . The trenching assembly of  claim 17  wherein the auger is inclined relative to a horizontal plane. 
   
   
       20 . The trenching assembly of  claim 17  wherein the trenching assembly is attachable to a motorized work vehicle at an articulation joint. 
   
   
       21 . The trenching assembly of  claim 20  wherein an attachment point of the auger to the frame is located between the articulation joint and a pivot point of the trenching boom. 
   
   
       22 . The trenching assembly of  claim 17  wherein a rate of rotation of the auger may be dynamically changed. 
   
   
       23 . The trenching assembly of  claim 17  wherein a change in the rate of rotation of the auger does not affect a rate of rotation of the digging chain. 
   
   
       24 . The trenching assembly of  claim 17  further comprising at least one ground supporting member. 
   
   
       25 . The trenching assembly of  claim 17  wherein the auger is parallel to the ground. 
   
   
       26 . The trenching assembly of  claim 17  wherein the orientation of the auger relative to the ground is modifiable. 
   
   
       27 . The trenching assembly of  claim 17  further comprising a backfill blade. 
   
   
       28 . The trenching assembly of  claim 17  wherein the auger defines a threaded length such that a portion of the threaded length extends on each side of a projected width defined by the digging chain. 
   
   
       29 . The trenching assembly of  claim 17  wherein the auger is cantilever mounted. 
   
   
       30 . The trenching assembly of  claim 17  wherein the auger is adapted be operated in the reverse direction. 
   
   
       31 . The trenching assembly of  claim 17  wherein the auger position is adjustable relative to the trencher blade. 
   
   
       32 . The trenching assembly of  claim 31  wherein the auger position is operably adjustable.