Trencher assembly and associated accessories

Abstract

A trencher assembly for use in association with an excavator and the like, including: a body, wherein the body is configured for releasable securement with a boom, a crumber bar, and a bracket; a boom, wherein the boom is associated with an endless chain having a plurality of teeth and/or blades; a crumber bar, wherein the crumber bar extends contiguously from the body, and further wherein the crumber bar is positioned generally above the boom; and a bracket, wherein the bracket is configured for releasable securement to both the body of the trencher assembly, as well as an excavator. Accessory items releasably securable to the brackets of the present invention are also provided.

1 . A trencher assembly for use in association with an excavator, comprising:
 a body, wherein the body is configured for releasable securement with a boom, a crumber bar, and a bracket;   wherein the boom is releasably secured to the body, and further wherein the boom comprises an endless chain having a plurality of displaceable teeth;   wherein the crumber bar is releasably secured to the body, and further wherein the crumber bar is positioned above the boom; and   wherein the bracket is releasably secured to the body, and further wherein the bracket is adapted for releasable securement to the excavator, the tractor, and the like.   
     
     
         2 . The trencher assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a first side wall, a second side wall, and a top wall which collectively form a drive assembly containment region. 
     
     
         3 . The trencher assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a guard plate for shielding a hydraulic motor during operation of the trencher assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The trencher assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the top wall of the body is associated with a spray guard for limiting displacement of debris during operation of the trencher assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The trencher assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a crumber bar mounting bracket having a flopper plate positioned on a top wall of the same. 
     
     
         6 . The trencher assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the boom comprises a tensioner bolt sleeve positioned on a sidewall of the same. 
     
     
         7 . The trencher assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the boom comprises a tensioner bolt access aperture. 
     
     
         8 . The trencher assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the crumber bar comprises an inwardly angled tip which extends from a bottom wall to a top wall of the crumber bar. 
     
     
         9 . The trencher assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the bracket comprises a first side wall, a second side wall, and a bottom wall which collectively form a substantially U-shaped containment region adapted for receipt of at least a portion of a boom of the excavator, the tractor, and the like. 
     
     
         10 . The trencher assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the bracket comprises a connecting sleeve having a pair of aligned apertures for receipt of a securement member. 
     
     
         11 . The trencher assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the bracket comprises a plurality of support members which are secured to a connecting sleeve and a bottom wall of the bracket. 
     
     
         12 . A trencher assembly for use in association with an excavator, consisting of:
 a body, wherein the body is configured for releasable securement with a boom, a crumber bar, and a bracket;   wherein the boom is releasably secured to the body, and further wherein the boom comprises an endless chain having a plurality of displaceable teeth;   wherein the crumber bar is releasably secured to the body, and further wherein the crumber bar is positioned above the boom; and   wherein the bracket is releasably secured to the body, and further wherein the bracket is adapted for releasable securement to the excavator, the tractor, and the like.   
     
     
         13 . A trencher assembly for use in combination with a primary boom of an excavator, the combination comprising:
 an excavator, a tractor, and the like having a primary boom; and   a trencher assembly comprising a body, wherein the body is configured for releasable securement with a secondary boom, a crumber bar, and a bracket;   wherein the secondary boom is releasably secured to the body, and further wherein the secondary boom comprises an endless chain having a plurality of displaceable teeth;   wherein the crumber bar is releasably secured to the body, and further wherein the crumber bar is positioned above the secondary boom; and   wherein the bracket is releasably secured to the body, and further wherein the bracket is secured to the primary boom of the excavator.   
     
     
         14 . The trencher assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the bracket comprises a connecting sleeve having a pair of aligned apertures for receipt of a securement member. 
     
     
         15 . The trencher assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the bracket comprises a plurality of support members which are secured to a connecting sleeve and a bottom wall of the bracket.