APPARATUS FOR ENTRENCHING A FLEXIBLE ELONGATE MEMBER, SUCH AS A ROPE, CABLE OR PIPE

Abstract

The present invention provides apparatus (10) and method for entrenching a flexible elongate member (18) in the ground (11). The apparatus comprises a downwardly extending blade (12) having a forward facing edge for parting the ground, the apparatus thereby forming a trench in the ground as the apparatus is moved forwards. It also comprises an aggregate dispenser (14) having an opening (15) located rearwardly of the blade, the apparatus thereby filling the trench with aggregate as the apparatus moves forward. A guide (16, 22) for the flexible elongate member (18) extends through the apparatus such that the member exits the apparatus rearwardly at or near a lower end of the blade. The apparatus thereby embeds the member in the aggregate in the trench as the apparatus is moved forwards along the ground in use.

Claims

1. An apparatus for entrenching a flexible elongate member in the ground, the apparatus comprising: a downwardly extending blade having a forward facing edge for parting the ground, the apparatus thereby forming a trench in the ground as the apparatus is moved forwards along the ground in use; an aggregate dispenser having an opening located rearwardly of the blade, the apparatus thereby filling the trench with aggregate as the apparatus is moved forwards along the ground in use; and a guide for guiding a flexible elongate member through the apparatus such that the member exits the apparatus rearwardly at or near a lower end of the blade, the apparatus thereby embedding the member in the aggregate in the trench as the apparatus is moved forwards along the ground in use.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elongate member is a rope, cable or pipe.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the horizontal cross-section of the blade is substantially V-shaped, with the base of the V-shape being at or towards the forward facing edge of the blade.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for oscillating the blade forwards and rearwards and/or upwards and downwards as the apparatus is moved forwards along the ground in use.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide comprises a blade conduit for guiding the member through the blade, the blade conduit being arranged such that the member exits the blade rearwardly at or near the lower end of the blade.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a hopper for holding the aggregate, the hopper providing aggregate to the aggregate dispenser as the apparatus is moved forwards along the ground in use.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide further comprises an upper conduit for guiding the member downwardly from an upper part of the apparatus.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a member dispenser for proving the member to the guide as the apparatus is moved forwards along the ground in use.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a coupling for attaching the apparatus to a vehicle such that the vehicle can move the apparatus forwards in use.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising one or more wheels on which the apparatus can be moved forwards in use.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a roller for consolidating/compacting the aggregate in the trench as the apparatus is moved forwards along the ground in use.

12. A method of entrenching a flexible elongate member in the ground using an apparatus as claimed in claim 1, the method comprising moving the apparatus forwards such that the member is embedded in the aggregate in the trench as the apparatus is moved forwards along the ground.

Description

[0015] By way of example only, embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail with reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0016] FIGS. 1 and 2 show an entrenching apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] FIGS. 3 and 4 show further details for the entrenching apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2; and

[0018] FIGS. 5 and 6 show alternative further details for the entrenching apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0019] Reference will initially be made to FIGS. 1 and 2, which show an apparatus 10 for entrenching a flexible elongate member in the ground 11. In this embodiment, the member is a rope 18 having a water-draining core, although the following description could equally apply to other types of rope, cables or pipes.

[0020] As is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus 10 comprises a downwardly extending V-shaped blade 12 that has a forward facing edge for parting the ground 11 as the apparatus 10 is moved forwards (i.e. in the direction shown by the arrow). As the apparatus is moved forwards, the blade 12 oscillates forwards/rearwards and upwards/downwards so as to assist in parting the ground 11. In this embodiment, the blade 12 is 25 mm wide and has a working depth of 250 mm. The blade 12 therefore forms a trench 13 that is substantially 25 mm wide and 250 mm deep.

[0021] The apparatus 10 further comprises an aggregate dispenser 14 having an opening 15 located rearwardly of the blade 12. The aggregate dispenser 14 fills the trench 13 with aggregate as the apparatus 10 is moved forwards. The above-mentioned oscillation of the blade 12 can also assist in consolidating/compacting the aggregate as it is deposited. The aggregate dispenser 14 is provided with aggregate from a hopper 20 that is positioned above the aggregate dispenser 14. In this embodiment, the aggregate used is sand, although the description herein could equally apply to other types of aggregate.

[0022] The apparatus 10 further comprises a guide in the form of a blade conduit 16 that guides the rope 18 through the blade 12. The rope 18 exits the blade 10 rearwardly near a lower end of the blade 12 so as to occupy the length of trench 13. In this embodiment, the guide further comprises an upper conduit 22 for guiding the rope 18 from a reel (not shown) on the upper part of the apparatus 10 downwardly to the blade conduit 16.

[0023] Thus, as the apparatus 10 is moved forwards, the blade 12 forms a trench 13 in the ground 11, the rope 18 is fed into the trench 13, and the trench 13 is filled with aggregate thereby embedding the rope 18 in the aggregate in the trench 13.

[0024] Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the apparatus 10 may further comprise a coupling 24 for attaching the apparatus 10 to a vehicle, such as a tractor. This allows the vehicle to pull the apparatus 10 forwards. In the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, the apparatus 10 further comprises two suspension-mounted wheels 26 on which the apparatus 10 can be pulled forwards. The apparatus 10 further comprises a roller 28 for consolidating/compacting the aggregate in the trench 13 as the apparatus 10 is moved forwards along the ground 11.

[0025] Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, the apparatus 10 may again comprise a coupling 24 for attaching the apparatus 10 to a vehicle. However, in the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6, the apparatus 10 comprises a consolidating/compacting roller 28 that also acts as a single wheel for the apparatus 10.