Ditch digging and ditch cleaning apparatus

Abstract

A ditch digging and cleaning apparatus comprising a housing adapted for being moved along a longitudinal axis of the ditch. The housing has an inlet opening at a bottom front portion thereof for transmitting therethrough debris disposed in the ditch and an outlet opening at an upper portion thereof. An impeller is disposed in the housing and rotatably movable mounted thereto. The impeller receives the debris from the inlet opening and propels the same through the outlet opening. A drive is connected to the impeller for driving the same, the drive has a power of at least 30 hp.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A ditch digging and cleaning apparatus comprising:
 a housing adapted for being moved along a longitudinal axis of the ditch, the housing having an inlet opening at a bottom front portion thereof for transmitting therethrough debris disposed in the ditch and an outlet opening at an upper portion thereof;   an impeller disposed in the housing and rotatably movable mounted thereto, the impeller for receiving the debris from the inlet opening and propelling the same through the outlet opening; and,   a drive connected to the impeller for driving the same, the drive having a power of at least 30 hp.   
     
     
         2 . The ditch digging and cleaning apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the inlet opening is shaped such that a bottom portion of the impeller is exposed. 
     
     
         3 . The ditch digging and cleaning apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein a bottom portion of the housing forms a forward facing edge of the inlet opening and wherein at least a portion of the forward facing edge is tapered in a substantially forward direction. 
     
     
         4 . The ditch digging and cleaning apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein a front portion of the housing is tapered in a substantially forward direction. 
     
     
         5 . The ditch digging and cleaning apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein a bottom rear portion of the housing is angled upwardly. 
     
     
         6 . The ditch digging and cleaning apparatus according to  claim 1  comprising a marker disposed on the housing, the marker being indicative of a distance therefrom to a bottom end of the housing. 
     
     
         7 . A ditch digging and cleaning apparatus comprising:
 a housing adapted for being moved along a longitudinal axis of the ditch, the housing having an inlet opening at a bottom front portion thereof for transmitting therethrough debris disposed in the ditch and an outlet opening at an upper portion thereof;   an impeller disposed in the housing and rotatably movable mounted thereto via a shaft and at least a bearing, the impeller for receiving the debris from the inlet opening and propelling the same through the outlet opening; and,   a drive disposed in the housing and connected to the shaft for driving the same, wherein the housing is adapted for enclosing the drive, a portion of the shaft, and the at least a bearing in a water sealed fashion.   
     
     
         8 . The ditch digging and cleaning apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein the inlet opening is shaped such that a bottom portion of the impeller is exposed. 
     
     
         9 . The ditch digging and cleaning apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein a bottom portion of the housing forms a forward facing edge of the inlet opening and wherein at least a portion of the forward facing edge is tapered in a substantially forward direction. 
     
     
         10 . The ditch digging and cleaning apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein a front portion of the housing is tapered in a substantially forward direction. 
     
     
         11 . The ditch digging and cleaning apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein a bottom rear portion of the housing is angled upwardly. 
     
     
         12 . The ditch digging and cleaning apparatus according to  claim 7  comprising a marker disposed on the housing, the marker being indicative of a distance therefrom to a bottom end of the housing. 
     
     
         13 . The ditch digging and cleaning apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein the housing is adapted for being operated under water to a depth of approximately 3 feet. 
     
     
         14 . A ditch digging and cleaning apparatus comprising:
 a housing adapted for being moved along the ditch, the housing having a front portion, a middle portion, and a rear portion;   the front portion of the housing having an inlet opening at a bottom front portion thereof for transmitting therethrough debris disposed in the ditch and an outlet opening at an upper portion thereof;   a front structural support plate separating the front portion from the middle portion of the housing and a rear structural support plate separating the middle portion from the rear portion of the housing, the front and the rear structural support plate being adapted for being coupled to a coupling structure of heavy equipment such that the same is accommodated therebetween;   an impeller disposed in the front portion of the housing and rotatably movable mounted to the front structural support plate via a shaft, the impeller for receiving the debris from the inlet opening and propelling the same through the outlet opening; and,   a drive disposed in the rear portion of the housing and connected to the shaft for driving the same, the drive being mounted to the rear structural support plate.   
     
     
         15 . The ditch digging and cleaning apparatus according to  claim 14  comprising a drive coupler interposed between the drive and the shaft, the drive coupler being adapted for removal of the same with the drive and the shaft remaining mounted. 
     
     
         16 . The ditch digging and cleaning apparatus according to  claim 14  wherein the front portion of the housing comprises a front cover plate disposed a predetermined distance to the front structural support plate for accommodating the impeller therebetween and wherein the shaft is rotatably movable mounted to the front structural support plate and the front plate. 
     
     
         17 . The ditch digging and cleaning apparatus according to  claim 16  wherein the front cover plate is removably mounted to the front portion of the housing and wherein the impeller is removably mounted to the shaft. 
     
     
         18 . The ditch digging and cleaning apparatus according to  claim 14  wherein the front structural support plate and the rear structural support plate each comprise coupling elements disposed in a top portion thereof for coupling the same to the coupling structure and extend downwardly to a bottom of the housing.