Dual-Head Rotary Ditching Attachment for Variable Cut Width
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rotary ditching attachments for excavators are limited in the size of ditches they can form or clear, as the diameter of the rotating cutting head restricts the width of the ditch cut.
Innovation Solution
A rotary ditching attachment with two excavating heads supported on a central frame, rotatably coupled to an excavator's arm or boom, allows for varying the width of the ditch cut by rotating the attachment relative to the arm and direction of movement, using offset axes and dual-directional excavating assemblies to increase the cutting width.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a single rotating cutting head is used, then the device structure is simple, but the ditch width is limited by the cutting head diameter
Solution Approach 1:
The single cutting head is divided into two separate excavating heads mounted on opposite sides of the central frame. Each head can rotate independently about its own axis, allowing the ditch width to exceed the diameter of a single head while maintaining structural simplicity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-point rotation (one dimension) to dual-axis rotation (two dimensions). The first excavating head rotates about a first axis and the second excavating head rotates about a second axis, creating a multi-dimensional cutting action that increases effective ditch width without proportionally increasing device complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the excavating heads rotate about a common axis, then the structure is simple, but the ditch width cannot be varied
Solution Approach 1:
The two excavating heads are positioned asymmetrically with offset rotational axes. The first excavating head rotates about a first axis and the second about a second axis that is offset from the first, creating an asymmetric configuration that enables variable ditch widths while maintaining rotational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a fixed common axis to dynamic offset axes that can be adjusted. The rotational axes are positioned to allow the excavating heads to cut at different radial distances from the central frame, enabling the ditch width to be varied by adjusting the relative positions and orientations of the two heads during operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A rotary ditching attachment for an articulated boom of an excavator type machine includes two rotary excavating heads supported in spaced relation on opposite sides of a central support. The heads rotate about a common axis. The rotary ditching attachment is rotatably coupled to the boom by a rotating tool mount. The rotating tool mount is connectable to the central support such that the central support and attached excavating heads are rotatable about an axis extending through the central support and perpendicular to the common axis of the excavator heads. Excavating assemblies are mounted on outwardly facing and inwardly facing surfaces of rotors forming each excavating heads. Rotating the rotary ditching attachment relative to a direction of movement of the rotary ditching tool relative to the ground increases the width of cut of the excavating heads when used to form or rehabilitate a ditch.