Vibratory Trench Scoop

Abstract

An apparatus for cutting a trench in the ground. The apparatus has a pair of side watts that cooperate to form a chute having an inlet opening and an outlet opening. Each side wall has a leading edge formed at the inlet opening. A base wall is disposed between the pair of side walls to interconnect the side walls along a curved path between the inlet opening and the outlet opening. A vibrator is connected to the pair of side walls to transmit vibratory motion to the chute. The apparatus is connected to a powered and movable vehicle using an attachment system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for cutting a trench comprising:
 a pair of side walls cooperating to form a chute having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, each side wall having a leading edge formed at the inlet opening;   a base wall disposed between the pair of side walls to interconnect the side walls along a curve between the inlet opening and the outlet opening; and   a vibrator connected to the pair of side walls to transmit vibratory motion to the chute.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising an attachment system to connect the pair of side walls proximate the leading edge of each side wall. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of claim I further comprising a deflection system disposed proximate the outlet opening to deflect spoils in a lateral direction. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the deflection system extends beyond the pair of side walls. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the inlet opening is symmetric about an inlet axis and wherein each side wall diverges from the base wall at the inlet opening relative the inlet axis. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein each side wall diverges from the base wall at the inlet opening at an angle of between two and fifteen degrees relative to the inlet axis. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the leading edge of each side wall comprises a cutting edge. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the leading edge of each side wall is beveled to direct spoils laterally away from the chute. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the leading edge of each side wall is characterized by a positive rake angle. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the positive rake angle is between five and fifteen degrees. 
     
     
         11 . An assembly comprising:
 a powered and movable vehicle;   the apparatus of  claim 1 ; and   an attachment system for connecting the apparatus to the vehicle;   wherein the vibrator is connected to the attachment system.   
     
     
         12 . An assembly comprising:
 a powered and movable vehicle;   a scoop apparatus comprising a pair of side walls cooperating to form a chute having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, each side wall having a leading edge formed at the inlet opening;   an attachment system for connecting the scoop apparatus to the vehicle; and   a vibrator supported on the vehicle and configured to transmit vibratory motion to the scoop apparatus.   
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 12  comprising a base wall to interconnect the pair of side walls and defining a portion of the inlet opening. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 13  wherein the base wall interconnects the pair of side walls along a curved path extending between the inlet opening and the outlet opening. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 13  wherein the inlet opening is symmetric about an inlet axis and wherein each side wall diverges from the base wall at the inlet opening relative to the inlet axis. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 12  wherein the leading edge of each side wall is characterized by a positive rake angle. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 17  wherein the positive rake angle is between 5 and 15 degrees. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 12  wherein the chute is symmetric about a chute axis and each side wall converges from the inlet opening relative to the chute axis. 
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 18  wherein each side wall converges from the inlet opening at an angle of between 0.25 and 2 degrees relative to the chute axis. 
     
     
         20 . The assembly of  claim 12  wherein the chute is symmetric about a chute axis and further comprises a deflection system configured to move spoils exiting the chute at the outlet opening in a lateral direction relative to the chute axis.