A seabed trenching plow has a chassis, a sled and a towing assembly. The towing assembly has a pair of wings extending laterally from each side of the chassis. The wings are aligned on an axis transverse to the chassis and adapted for connection to a towing line. The transverse axis is forward of the center of gravity of the plow and rearward of the sled, affording an over the stern releasable and retrievable trenching plow of sufficient weight and strength to excavate a three meter trench in a single pass. To assess the protective capabilities of the trench, a threshold signal indicative of a desired composition of seabed-trench soil is compared with a real-time data signal indicative of the actual to produce an alarm signal when the real-time data signal is not protective-capability compliant with the threshold signal.

A support system for an excavator is disclosed as it may include an extended center frame, a trench support, and/or a mat. The extended center frame may be bolted onto a standard excavator to widen the overall footprint of the machine and reduce ground pressure. The trench support relieves any remaining pressure toward the open trench. The extended center frame enables a larger excavator to straddle an open trench, while at the same time a smaller excavator can dig the shallower depths, thereby increasing efficiencies. By implementing the trench support and/or the mat, it might not be necessary to widen the tracks of the excavator as far, thus further reducing time-related costs. In addition, the trench support may also enhance safety of the trenching operations.

A mobile machine includes a load carrying mechanism configured to carry a load of material during operation of the mobile machine at a worksite. The mobile machine includes a position detection system configured to determine a position of the mobile machine and generate a position output indicative of the position of the mobile machine. The mobile machine includes a measuring system configured to determine a measure of the load and generate a measure output indicative of the measure of the load. The mobile machine also includes a material movement tracking system configured to receive the position output from the position detection system and the measure output from the measuring system and, based on both the position and the measure output, generate a material tracking indicator indicative of movement of the load of material around the worksite.

A mobile machine includes a load carrying mechanism configured to carry a load of material during operation of the mobile machine at a worksite. The mobile machine includes a position detection system configured to determine a position of the mobile machine and generate a position output indicative of the position of the mobile machine. The mobile machine includes a measuring system configured to determine a measure of the load and generate a measure output indicative of the measure of the load. The mobile machine also includes a material movement tracking system configured to receive the position output from the position detection system and the measure output from the measuring system and, based on both the position and the measure output, generate a material tracking indicator indicative of movement of the load of material around the worksite.

A handheld trenching apparatus and method of forming a trench in ground using the apparatus. The apparatus has a frame, a cutting head, and a drive. The cutting head has a ground penetrating portion with a plurality of cutting members that are caused to be moved in a controlled path by the drive. The frame has an elongate frame part with the cutting head at one frame part end. The frame further has at least one graspable region spaced lengthwise of the elongate frame part from the first elongate frame part end. The ground penetrating portion is directed into the ground and while engaging the at least one graspable region the ground penetrating portion is moved in a trench forming direction as the drive is operated to thereby form a trench.

A soil spreading scraper device has a cutting blade to cut soil from the ground and a rotating impeller member for spreading the cut soil as the frame is displaced forwardly. The impeller member includes a main disc body and a plurality of impeller blades on the main disc body which are pivotal relative to the body between a working position in which the blade body extends in a direction of the impeller axis away from the main disc body and a deflected position in which the blade body extends in a circumferential direction of the disc body in a trailing relationship relative to the pivot axis of the blade body. An actuating assembly resists displacement of the blade body into the deflected position until pressure on the paddle exceeds a prescribed holding force. A spring biases the body to return to the working position.

To prevent increase/decrease in pump flow rate due to load variation with change in the posture of a work attachment and improve the operability in arm pushing operation. A hydraulic excavator 1 with a front mechanism including an arm 33 driven by a hydraulic actuator 43 through operation of an operating lever 50 includes: first and second angle sensors 37 and 38 which detect the posture of the arm 33; and a controller 49 which, when the posture of the arm 33 is at a remoter side from an upperstructure 20 than a preset position and the position of a bucket 35 is adjusted from a maximum or nearly maximum preset operation amount of the operating lever 50 in arm pushing operation by the operating lever 50, changes the flow rate characteristic of pressure oil in relation to discharge pressure of a hydraulic pump 41 for supplying pressure oil to the hydraulic actuator 43, to characteristic PTS with a higher flow rate than flow rate characteristic PT at the time of operation with an operation amount other than the above operation amount, to drive the hydraulic pump 41.

To prevent increase/decrease in pump flow rate due to load variation with change in the posture of a work attachment and improve the operability in arm pushing operation. A hydraulic excavator 1 with a front mechanism including an arm 33 driven by a hydraulic actuator 43 through operation of an operating lever 50 includes: first and second angle sensors 37 and 38 which detect the posture of the arm 33; and a controller 49 which, when the posture of the arm 33 is at a remoter side from an upperstructure 20 than a preset position and the position of a bucket 35 is adjusted from a maximum or nearly maximum preset operation amount of the operating lever 50 in arm pushing operation by the operating lever 50, changes the flow rate characteristic of pressure oil in relation to discharge pressure of a hydraulic pump 41 for supplying pressure oil to the hydraulic actuator 43, to characteristic PTS with a higher flow rate than flow rate characteristic PT at the time of operation with an operation amount other than the above operation amount, to drive the hydraulic pump 41.

A seabed plow capable of over-the-stern release and retrieval is usable in any of boulder clearing, trench cutting and backfill modes. In its boulder clearing mode, the plow uses its skid in torquing configuration followed by moldboards to push boulders out of the path to be trenched. In the trench cutting mode, the plow uses the skid in the same configuration with its share and moldboards for initial trench depth and the same share and moldboards with moldboard extensions for increasing trench depth in subsequent passes. In the backfill mode, the plow uses its skid in trench-straddling configuration following a blade with a passage designed to discharge fragmented spoil directly onto the pipe being covered. Thus, a single plow can be reconfigured for all modes for release and retrieval to and from a relatively small vessel without use of heavy lifting equipment.

A collector assembly for collecting debris from opposite sides of a member such as an elevated beam. The collector assembly includes a platform extending laterally between a first side edge and a second side edge. A first trough is provided for disposition along one side of the beam for receiving debris. A second trough is provided for disposition along the opposite side of the beam and is adjacent to and parallel with the first trough.