Soil trimming tool and methods of using same

Abstract

Described herein are tools, systems, and methods for trimming a soil face.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A soil trimming tool comprising:
 at least one drum including at least one first cutting tooth;   at least one second cutting tooth associated with at least one chain;   a chain driven axle and sprocket assembly configured to move the at least one chain; and   a motor driven axle and sprocket assembly configured to transmit power via a chain to the driven axle.   at least one attachment mechanism associated with the driven axle and sprocket assembly configured to spin the at least one drum.   
     
     
         2 . The soil face trimming tool of  claim 1 , which includes a mount configured to attach the soil trimming tool to a construction machine. 
     
     
         3 . The soil trimming tool of  claim 1 , which includes an upper drum and a lower drum bisected by the at least one chain. 
     
     
         4 . The soil trimming tool of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one second cutting tooth is associated with at least one chain link. 
     
     
         5 . The soil trimming tool of  claim 4 , wherein a flight includes more than one cutting tooth. 
     
     
         6 . The soil trimming tool of  claim 1 , which includes:
 (a) a first and second chain driven by a first set of sprockets; and   (b) a third chain driven by a second set of sprockets.   
     
     
         7 . The soil trimming tool of  claim 6 , wherein the first drive axle is configured to provide power to the first driven axle and sprocket assembly and the second drive axle is configured to provide power to the second driven axle and sprocket assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The soil trimming tool of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one drum and at least one chain have a total height of about 6 ft. 
     
     
         9 . The soil trimming tool of  claim 1 , wherein the soil trimming tool weighs less than about 20,000 lbs. 
     
     
         10 . The soil trimming tool of  claim 1 , wherein the soil trimming tool and a carrier are guided by a laser, sonic tracer, or global positioning satellite machine control system. 
     
     
         11 . A method of preparing a flat cut wall comprising:
 engaging a trimming tool with a rough excavated soil or rock material,   at least one drum including at least one first cutting tooth; at least one second cutting tooth associated with at least one chain a motor driven axle and sprocket assembly configured to move the at least one chain; and at least one attachment mechanism associated with the motor driven axle and sprocket assembly configured to spin the at least one drum.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , which includes a mount configured to attach the trimming tool to a construction machine. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , which includes an upper drum and a lower drum bisected by the at least one chain. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one second cutting tooth is attached to a flight associated with at least one chain link. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the flight includes more than one cutting tooth. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , which includes:
 (a) a first and second chain driven by a first set of sprockets; and   (b) a third chain driven by a second set of sprockets.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein a first drive axle is configured to provide power to the first driven axle and sprocket assembly and the second drive axle is configured to provide power to the second driven axle and sprocket assembly. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the trimming tool is used to cut a 6 ft. tall wall under an existing concrete ring. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the trimming tool and carrier are guided by a laser, sonic tracer, or global positioning satellite machine control system. 
     
     
         20 . A method of preparing a flat cut wall comprising:
 engaging a trimming tool attached to a carrier with a rough cut wall under an existing concrete ring,   wherein the trimming tool comprises an upper drum and a lower drum both having at least one cutting tooth, wherein the upper drum and the lower drum are bisected by the at least one chain; at least one second cutting tooth is associated with the at least one chain which in combination with the axle and sprockets are configured to spin the upper drum and the lower drum; and a motor driven axle and sprocket system configured to move the chain and drums.