Trench shoring apparatuses and methods

Abstract

A self-propelled trench shoring apparatus including a frame having a first lateral member, a second lateral member spaced from the first lateral member, a connecting member extending between the first lateral member and the second lateral member, a first support member projecting from the first lateral member toward the ground, and a second support member projecting from the second lateral member toward the ground, a ram assembly attached to the frame including a telescoping arm including a first end proximate the frame and a second end opposite the first end, the telescoping arm extending between a retracted position and an extended position, and a strut attached to the second end of the telescoping arm and including first end proximate the first lateral trench wall and a second end opposite the first end, the strut including a strut extender configured to selectively extend and retract laterally, a including first plate coupler attached to the first end of the strut, and a second plate coupler attached to the second end of the strut.

1 . A self-propelled trench shoring apparatus for shoring longitudinally extending trenches formed in the ground and defined by a first lateral trench wall and a second lateral trench wall opposite the first lateral trench wall, comprising:
 a frame, including:
 a first lateral member; 
 a second lateral member spaced from the first lateral member; 
 a connecting member extending between the first lateral member and the second lateral member; 
 a first support member projecting from the first lateral member toward the ground to a first support end on a first lateral side of the trench; and 
 a second support member projecting from the second lateral member toward the ground to a second support end on a second lateral side of the trench opposite the first lateral side; 
   a ram assembly attached to the frame, including:
 a telescoping arm including a first end proximate the frame and a second end opposite the first end, the telescoping arm extending between a retracted position and an extended position; 
 a strut attached to the second end of the telescoping are and including a first end proximate the first lateral trench wall and a second end opposite the first end, the strut including a strut extender configured to selectively extend and retract laterally across at least a portion of the longitudinally extending trench; 
 a first plate coupler attached to the first end of the strut and configured to couple with a shoring plate; end 
 a second plate coupler attached to the second end of the strut and configured to couple with a shoring plate. 
   
     
     
         2 . The trench shoring apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the connecting member additionally comprises:
 a nested member;   a sleeve member internally receiving the nested member; and   a connecting member cylinder configured to extend the nested member beyond the sleeve member.   
     
     
         3 . The trench shoring apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first support member additionally comprises:
 a nested member;   a sleeve member internally receiving the nested member;   a support member cylinder configured to extend the nested member beyond the sleeve member.   
     
     
         4 . The trench shoring apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the frame additionally comprises:
 a first track attached to the first support end; and   a second track attached to the second support end and configured to operate independent of the first track.   
     
     
         5 . The trench shoring apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the first track is pivotally attached to the first support end. 
     
     
         6 . The trench shoring apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the first track is rotatably attached to the first support end. 
     
     
         7 . The trench shoring apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the frame further comprises a drive unit drivingly connected to the first track and the second track, the drive unit being configured to independently drive the first track and the second track. 
     
     
         8 . The trench shoring apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising an onboard control unit operationally connected to the drive unit, the onboard control unit configured to control the operation of the drive unit 
     
     
         9 . The trench shoring apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an onboard control unit operationally connected to the ram assembly, the onboard control unit configured to control the frame and the ram assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The trench shoring apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising: 
       a remote control unit including:
 a user interface configured to receive user input data from a user; 
 a communication interface operationally connected to the user interface and the onboard control unit, the communication interface configured to receive the user input data from the user interface and to communicate the user input data to the onboard control unit; 
 
       wherein the onboard control unit is configured to receive and implement the user input data. 
     
     
         11 . The trench shoring apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the strut includes a hydraulic cylinder configured to extend and retract the strut. 
     
     
         12 . A self-propelled trench shoring apparatus for shoring longitudinally extending trenches formed in the ground and defined by a first lateral trench wall and a second lateral trench wall opposite the first lateral trench wall, comprising:
 a frame defining an interior space and movably supported from the ground on each lateral side of the longitudinally extending trench;   a ram assembly attached to the frame in the interior space and including:
 an arm; 
 a strut attached to the arm in a lateral orientation, the strut being configured to extend and retract and including a first lateral end and a second lateral end opposite the first lateral end; 
   a first plate coupler attached to the first lateral end of the strut and configured to selectively couple with a first shoring plate without manual intervention; and   a second plate coupler attached to the second end of the strut and configured to selectively couple with a second shoring plate without manual intervention.   
     
     
         13 . The trench shoring apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a first panel support member extending from the frame on a first lateral side of the frame proximate a first lateral side of the longitudinally extending trench, the first panel support configured to support a shoring plate; and   a second panel support member extending from the frame on a second lateral side opposite the first lateral side, the second panel support member configured to support a shoring plate.   
     
     
         14 . The trench shoring apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the first plate coupler is configured to magnetically couple with the first shoring plate. 
     
     
         15 . The trench shoring apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a second ram assembly attached to the frame, including:
 a second arm; 
 a second strut attached to the second arm in a lateral orientation, the strut being configured to extend and retract and including a third lateral end and a fourth lateral end opposite the third lateral end; 
   a third plate coupler attached to the third lateral end of the second strut and configured to selectively couple with a shoring plate; and   a first shoring plate coupled with the first plate coupler, the first shoring plate including a first intermeshing member at its top;   a second shoring plate coupled with the third plate coupler, the second shoring plate including a second intermeshing member configured to intermesh with the first intermeshing member on its bottom.   
     
     
         16 . The trench shoring apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the first intermeshing member includes a projected surface on a first portion of the top of the first shoring plate and a recessed area on a second portion of the top of the first shoring plate complimentary to the first portion; and
 wherein the second intermeshing member defines a downwardly extending projection on the a portion of the bottom of the second shoring plate substantially aligned with the recessed area.   
     
     
         17 . A self-propelled trench shoring apparatus for shoring longitudinally extending trenches formed in the ground and defined by a first lateral trench wall and a second lateral trench wall opposite the first lateral trench wall, comprising:
 a frame defining an interior space and including:
 a first lateral member; 
 a second lateral member spaced from the first lateral member, the second lateral member extending substantially parallel to the first lateral member; and 
 a connecting member extending between the first lateral member and the second lateral member; 
 a first support member projecting from the first lateral member toward the ground on a first lateral side of the trench; 
 a second support member projecting from the second lateral member toward the ground on a second lateral side of the trench; 
   a ram assembly attached to the frame in the interior space and including:
 a telescoping arm; 
 a strut attached to the telescoping arm in a lateral orientation, the strut being configured to extend and retract and including a first lateral end and a second lateral end opposite the first lateral end; 
   a first plate coupler attached to the first end of the strut configured to couple with a shoring plate; and   a second plate coupler attached to the second end of the strut and configured to couple with a shoring plate;   wherein the ram assembly moves between a stowed position substantially within the frame and an operating position substantially within the longitudinally extending trench.   
     
     
         18 . The trench shoring apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a first panel support member extending from the first support member to the interior of the frame, the first panel support member configured to support a shoring plate; and   a second panel support member attached to the second support a member substantially within the interior of the frame, the second panel support member configured to support shoring plate.   
     
     
         19 . The trench shoring apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the connecting member selectively extends and retracts relative the first lateral member and the second lateral member. 
     
     
         20 . The trench shoring apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a first track attached to an end of the first support member proximate the ground; and   a second track attached to an end of the second support member proximate the ground.