Spoils collection transition assemblies with sacrifical liners

Abstract

Systems and apparatus for improved spoils collection and extended machine life for ground cutting machinery. In some embodiments, a housing for ground cutting machinery, such as a microtrencher, has a collection port formed therein. The bore of the collection port may be aligned with the direction that spoils are ejected from the ground cutting blade. The collection port may have a lower portion formed by the housing and a removable upper transition assembly formed as a tube and including an upper coupling for connection to the vacuum collection system. A replaceable sacrificial plate is disposed within the upper transition tube. The sacrificial plate bears the impact of spoils exiting the housing into the vacuum system. As wear occurs, the sacrificial plate may be removed and replaced.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A transition assembly for spoils collection from ground cutting machinery, comprising
 a lower interface for attachment to a spoils removal opening in a housing of a ground cutting machine, the lower interface including a lower opening;   an upper interface for connecting to a spoils collection system, the upper interface including an upper collection port;   a tube assembly including a bore defined by a surrounding sidewall extending between the lower interface and the upper interface, wherein the lower opening, the bore, and the upper collection port are aligned with a direction that spoils are ejected from a ground cutting blade of the ground cutting machine through the spoils removal opening of the housing during use; and   a replaceable sacrificial plate disposed within the transition assembly at a position where a significant portion of abrasive force generated by the spoils ejected from the housing occurs at the surface of the sacrificial plate.   
     
     
         2 . The transition assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the lower interface includes a plate portion that is removably attachable to the housing of a ground cutting machine. 
     
     
         3 . The transition assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tube assembly is generally formed as a rounded tube. 
     
     
         4 . The transition assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the tube assembly is formed of two opposite arcuate members. 
     
     
         5 . The transition assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tube assembly is generally shaped like a funnel with a rounded end at the upper collection port and a rectangular lower end. 
     
     
         6 . The transition assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the upper interface comprises a coupling for connection to vacuum collection system. 
     
     
         7 . The transition assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the replaceable sacrificial plate resides near, and covers, a portion of an interior wall of the bore of the tube assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The transition assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the replaceable sacrificial plate flares outwards as it extends upwards from the lower interface to the upper interface, covering a majority of the interior wall of the bore near the upper interface. 
     
     
         9 . A housing for ground cutting machinery, comprising
 a body with walls forming a partially enclosed cavity around a ground cutting blade with an open bottom through which at least a portion of the ground cutting blade is extended for use, the body having a lower spoils collection portion extending behind the ground cutting blade; and   a transition assembly comprising
 an upper interface for connecting to a spoils collection system, the upper interface including an upper collection port, 
 a tube assembly including a bore defined by a surrounding sidewall extending from the towards a lower opening at the lower spoils collection portion, wherein the bore is aligned with a direction that spoils are ejected from the ground cutting blade during operation of the ground cutting machine; and 
   a replaceable sacrificial plate disposed within the transition assembly at a position where a significant portion of abrasive force on the housing generated by the spoils ejected by the blade occurs at the surface of the sacrificial plate.   
     
     
         10 . The housing of  claim 9 , wherein the transition assembly further comprises a lower interface for releasable attachment to the lower a spoils collection portion. 
     
     
         11 . The housing of  claim 10 , wherein the lower interface includes a plate portion that is removably attachable to the body. 
     
     
         12 . The housing of  claim 9 , wherein the tube assembly is generally formed as a rounded tube. 
     
     
         13 . The housing of  claim 12 , wherein the tube assembly is formed of two opposite arcuate members. 
     
     
         14 . The housing of  claim 9 , wherein the tube assembly is generally shaped like a funnel with a rounded end at the upper collection port and a rectangular lower end. 
     
     
         15 . The housing of  claim 9 , wherein the upper interface comprises a coupling for connection to a vacuum collection system. 
     
     
         16 . The housing of  claim 9 , wherein the replaceable sacrificial plate resides near, and covers, a portion of an interior wall of the bore of the tube assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The housing of  claim 16 , wherein the replaceable sacrificial plate flares outwards as it extends upwards in the tube assembly, covering a majority of the interior wall of the bore near the upper interface. 
     
     
         18 . The housing of  claim 16 , wherein the replaceable sacrificial plate extends into the lower spoils collection portion. 
     
     
         19 . The housing of  claim 9 , wherein the ground cutting machine is a microtrencher with a rotatory blade.