Earth Tool Company LLC

Dorner Mfg. Corp.

Mclaughlin Group, Inc.

Paul W Hau

Steven W Wentworth

Robert F Crane

Michael A Hosch

Craig Bude

Leroy Hundley

James T Dungan

Ryan Johnson

A wheeled vehicle and core saw system has a chassis, a first sub-frame, a core saw attached to the first sub-frame, and a second sub-frame attached to the chassis frame and attached to the first sub-frame. A selectively engageable bearing may be disposed between the second sub-frame and the chassis frame that facilitates movement between the second sub-frame and the chassis frame. The second sub-frame may be moveable with respect to the chassis frame and a water tank.

Core saw and support frame structure

A conveyor frame assembly for use with a conveyor belt formed from individual links each joined together at pivot points. The conveyor frame assembly includes a drive assembly that pulls the conveyor belt around a drive roller to transition between the upper and lower runs of the conveyor belt. The drive end includes a support block that encloses the side edges of the conveyor belt as the conveyor belt transitions over the drive sprockets. The side frame members each include a continuous retaining channel having a height greater than the thickness of the conveyor belt. The retaining channels formed on opposite sides of the conveyor frame assembly allow the lower run of the conveyor belt to 'tent' by creating an angle between adjacent links of the conveyor belt assembly. The tenting of the lower run of the conveyor belt eliminates catenary sag.

Contained drive system for chain conveyor belt to reduce catenary sag

The present disclosure relates to a conveyor frame assembly that includes a pair of spaced side rails joined by one or more cross supports. Each of the side rails includes a dedicated wire channel and self-contained air flow cavity that enhances the functionality of the conveyor frame assembly. The air flow cavity and the wire channel are formed as part of the side rails separate from typical attachment slots that receive T-shaped connectors. The cross supports utilized with the conveyor frame assembly are attached to the side rails by upper and lower connectors that are each accessible from the top of the conveyor frame assembly. Specifically, the cross support includes a center web and laterally offset attachment webs that allow for easy and convenient construction and field modification of the conveyor frame assembly.

Conveyor frame assembly having side rails including multiple attachment slots and adjustable cross supports

A portable winch suitable for use in underground pipe bursting and replacement includes a mounting frame positionable at a top opening of a hole such as a receiving pit or manhole. A telescoping mast having a series of nested, top and bottom mast sections is mounted on the frame. A powered winch unit, also mounted on the frame, includes a drive unit and a cable. A guide assembly includes a sheave that guides the cable from the drive unit to the bottom mast section. Suitable means are connected to the frame for mechanically raising and lowering the mast into and out of the hole. As such, the mast according to the invention does not require assembly or disassembly at the beginning and end of each job. The mechanical means for raising and lowering the mast is preferably the powered winch unit.

Portable winch

A cable pulling machine of the invention includes a frame, a mechanical linkage including first and second links having first and second cable gripping shoes disposed thereon respectively in opposed positions, a latching cylinder actuable to cause the mechanical linkage to pivot on multiple axes to bring the shoes into engagement with a cable disposed therebetween, a main cylinder having one end mounted on the frame and actuable to move the linkage in a manner effective to pull the cable in a pulling stroke once the latching cylinder has brought the shoes into engagement with the cable, and suitable means for extending and retracting the main and latching cylinders. The machine may also include suitable means for holding the cable in tension between pulling strokes, such as a pivoting wedge mechanism as described hereafter.

Cable pulling machine

A cable pulling machine of the invention includes a frame, a mechanical linkage including first and second links having first and second cable gripping shoes disposed thereon respectively in opposed positions, a latching cylinder actuable to cause the mechanical linkage to pivot on multiple axes to bring the shoes into engagement with a cable disposed therebetween, a main cylinder having one end mounted on the frame and actuable to move the linkage in a manner effective to pull the cable in a pulling stroke once the latching cylinder has brought the shoes into engagement with the cable, and a mechanism for extending and retracting the main and latching cylinders. The machine may also include a mechanism for holding the cable in tension between pulling strokes, such as a pivoting wedge mechanism as described hereafter.

Winch with telescoping mast

An impactor for use with a directional boring machine having a drill string connectable to the impactor for pulling the impactor through an existing pipeline uses rotation of the drill string to drive an internal striker. The internal striker delivers impacts in the pulling direction to an impactor housing as the impactor housing tows a replacement pipe behind it. The impactor housing is free to move axially in response to impacts from the striker over a limited distance in the pulling direction independently of the replacement pipe and drill string.

Pipe replacement method and rotary impact mechanism for pipe bursting

A pipe bursting system of the invention operates by compaction rather than by reaming. The system includes a conventional directional boring machine, a drill string, and a pipe burster attached to the terminal end of the drill string. A pipe burster according to the invention includes a frame having a front connecting portion configured for connection to a drill string that can pull and rotate the frame about an axis of rotation, at least two axles mounted on the frame, and rollers mounted on each axle. Each roller has a curved outer surface forwardly inclined towards the axis of rotation of the frame, whereby rotation of the frame about its axis of rotation results in rotation of the rollers when the curved outer surfaces of the rollers engage a cylindrical inner surface of a pipe being burst.

Growing community of inventors

Watertown, WI, United States of America

Paul W Hau