Trench shoring apparatuses and methods

Abstract

Trench shoring apparatuses including an arm connected to a connector and extending to a first end substantially toward the ground, a strut attached to the first end of the arm, the strut including a first strut arm and a second strut arm and configured to drive and retract a first shoring plate connected to a first strut arm proximate a first lateral trench wall and a second shoring plate connected to a second strut arm proximate a second lateral trench wall. In some examples, the trench shoring apparatuses include a connector configured to detachably connect to a coupler of a piece of construction equipment. In other examples, the trench shoring apparatuses include plate extenders that extend and retract along the length of a longitudinally extending trench. In yet other examples, the trench shoring apparatuses may include detachable braces used to provide additional shoring support to the shoring plates.

1 . A trench shoring apparatus configured to detachably connect to a coupler of a piece of construction equipment, the trench shoring apparatus being used to shore 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, the trench shoring apparatus comprising:
 a connector configured to detachably connect to the coupler of the piece of construction equipment;   an arm connected to the connector and extending to a first end substantially toward the ground;   a strut attached to the first end of the arm, the strut including:
 a strut housing; 
 a first strut arm movably supported at least partially within the strut housing proximate the first lateral trench wall; 
 a second strut arm movably supported at least partially within the strut housing proximate the second lateral trench wall; and 
 a strut extender configured to selectively extend and retract one or both of the first strut arm and the second strut arm laterally across the longitudinally extending trench; 
   a first shoring plate connected to the first strut arm proximate the first lateral trench wall; and   a second shoring plate connected to the second strut arm proximate the second lateral trench wall.   
     
     
         2 . The trench shoring apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a plate extender attached to the first shoring plate, the plate extender including a panel configured to extend beyond a leading end of the first shoring plate. 
     
     
         3 . The trench shoring apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the first shoring plate defines a first plate interior face opposite the first lateral trench wall; and   the plate extender includes a retainer connected to the first plate interior face supporting the panel, the panel configured to move along the length of the channel.   
     
     
         4 . The trench shoring apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the retainer defines a channel that extends along the length of the retainer and opens substantially opposite the ground; and   the panel is slidingly engaged within the channel.   
     
     
         5 . The trench shoring apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the retainer defines a first retainer;   the plate extender comprises a second retainer defining a channel that extends across the length of the second retainer and opens substantially towards the ground; and   the panel is slidingly engaged within the channel of the second retainer.   
     
     
         6 . The trench shoring apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a support attached to an interior face of the panel, the first support including spaced and vertically extending rails defining sets of aligned rail openings at a plurality of vertical positions; and   a brace defining a brace end and a bore proximate the brace end, the brace extending towards the second lateral trench wall with the bore aligned with a selected set of aligned rail openings at a selected vertical position.   
     
     
         7 . The trench shoring apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising a retaining bar extending through the bore aligned with the selected set of aligned rail openings. 
     
     
         8 . The trench shoring apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the plate extender defines a first plate extender; and   the panel defines a first panel; and   the trench shoring apparatus further comprises a second plate extender attached to the second shoring plate and including a second panel configured to extend beyond a trailing end of the first shoring plate opposite the leading end.   
     
     
         9 . The trench shoring apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the support defines a first support and further comprising:
 a second support attached to an interior face of the panel, the first support including spaced and vertically extending rails defining sets of aligned rail openings at a plurality of vertical positions;   wherein:
 the brace defines a second brace end opposite the first brace end and a second bore proximate the second brace end; and 
 the second bore of the brace is aligned with a selected set of aligned rail openings at a selected vertical position. 
   
     
     
         10 . The trench shoring apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first shoring plate is detachably connected to the first strut arm. 
     
     
         11 . The trench shoring apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the strut extender includes a hydraulic cylinder configured to extend and retract the first strut arm. 
     
     
         12 . The trench shoring apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first shoring plate is formed primarily from aluminum. 
     
     
         13 . A trench shoring apparatus used to shore 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, the trench shoring apparatus comprising:
 a strut configured to selectively extend and retract a strut arm laterally across the longitudinally extending trench;   a shoring plate connected to the strut arm proximate the first lateral trench wall, the shoring plate defining an interior face opposite the first lateral trench wall; and   a plate extender connected to the interior face of the shoring plate, the plate extender including:
 a retainer extending substantially across the shoring plate, the retainer defining a channel opening substantially opposite the ground; and 
 a panel slidingly supported within the channel and configured to extend beyond a leading end of the plate. 
   
     
     
         14 . The trench shoring apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the shoring plate defines a first shoring plate;   the plate extender defines a first plate extender;   the panel defines a first panel; and   the strut arm defines a first strut arm;   the trench shoring apparatus further comprising:
 a second strut arm; 
 a second shoring plate attached to the second strut arm; and 
 a second plate extender attached to the second shoring plate including a second panel configured to extend beyond a trailing end of the first shoring plate opposite the leading end. 
   
     
     
         15 . The trench shoring apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the retainer defines a first retainer; and   the channel defines a first channel;   the plate extender further comprising a second retainer defining a second channel extending along the length of the retainer and opening substantially toward the ground;   wherein the panel of the extender is configured to slidingly engage within the first channel and the second channel.   
     
     
         16 . The trench shoring apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the panel is configured to be manually adjusted by sliding the panel within the channel of the plate extender. 
     
     
         17 . A trench shoring apparatus configured to shore 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, the trench shoring apparatus comprising:
 a strut configured to selectively extend and retract a first strut arm and a second strut arm laterally across the longitudinally extending trench;   a shoring plate connected to the first strut arm proximate the first lateral trench wall;   a plate extender attached to the shoring plate and including a panel configured to extend beyond a leading end of the shoring plate, the panel defining an interior face opposite the first lateral trench wall;   a support attached to the interior face of the panel, the first support including spaced and vertically extending rails defining sets of aligned rail openings at a plurality of vertical positions;   a brace defining a brace end and a bore proximate the brace end, the brace extending towards the second lateral trench wall with the bore aligned with a selected set of aligned rail openings at a selected vertical position; and   a retaining bar extending through the bore and the selected set of aligned rail openings.   
     
     
         18 . The trench shoring apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the support defines a first support;   the brace end defines a first brace end;   the bore defines a first bore;   the plate extender defines a first plate extender;   the panel defines a first panel; and   the shoring plate defines a first shoring plate;   the trench shoring apparatus further comprising:
 a second shoring plate connected to the second strut arm proximate the second lateral trench wall; 
 a second plate extender attached to the second shoring plate and including a second panel configured to extend beyond a leading end of the second shoring plate, the second panel defining an interior face opposite the second lateral trench wall; and 
 a second support attached to an interior face of the panel, the second support including spaced and vertically extending rails defining sets of aligned rail openings at a plurality of vertical positions; and 
   wherein:
 the brace defines a second brace end opposite the first brace end and defines a second bore proximate the second brace end; and 
 the second bore is aligned with a selected set of aligned openings of the second support. 
   
     
     
         19 . The trench shoring apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the brace defines a first brace and includes a center bore between the first brace end and the second brace end; and
 the trench shoring apparatus further comprises:
 a second brace extending from the first support to the second support, the second brace including a center bore substantially aligned with the center bore of the first brace; and 
 a pin routed through the center bore of the first brace and the center bore of the second brace, the pin configured to retain the first brace proximate the second brace. 
   
     
     
         20 . The trench shoring apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the brace extends diagonally from the first support to the second support.