Skid Steer Pipe Jack for Continuous Trenching and Pipe Laying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing trenching equipment is expensive, prone to breakdown, and inefficient for laying flexible pipes or cables in narrow trenches, requiring additional manual labor and increasing the risk of trench collapse due to delayed pipe or cable installation.
Innovation Solution
A modular trench and flexible pipe jack apparatus for skid steer loaders, comprising a metal frame with a ripper blade and pipe feeder, allowing simultaneous trench digging and pipe/cable deposition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If specialized trenching equipment is used to create narrow trenches, then trenching capability is improved, but equipment cost increases and reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines trenching and pipe laying functions into a single apparatus that can be attached to common skid steer loaders. The ripper blade creates trenches while the pipe feeder simultaneously deposits pipe, making the equipment versatile for multiple tasks without requiring specialized trenching machinery.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus is divided into modular components including a ripper blade assembly, pipe feeder assembly, and support frame that can be independently attached to or removed from the skid steer loader, allowing flexibility and ease of maintenance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If specialized trenching equipment is used, then trenching function is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the trenching function (ripper blade) and pipe laying function (pipe feeder) into a single integrated apparatus mounted on a skid steer loader. This combination eliminates the need for separate specialized trenching equipment and subsequent manual pipe installation.
Solution Approach 2:
By utilizing the skid steer loader as the power source and platform, the apparatus becomes a multi-functional system that performs both trenching and pipe deposition, reducing overall equipment complexity compared to dedicated trenching machines.
3Device complexity
If trenching and pipe installation are performed separately, then equipment simplicity is maintained, but productivity decreases and time loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus enables continuous operation where the ripper blade creates the trench and the pipe feeder simultaneously deposits the pipe in one continuous motion. This eliminates idle time between trenching and pipe installation, maximizing productivity while keeping the equipment design relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The pipe is fed through the pipe feeder assembly in advance, positioned and ready for immediate deposition as the trench is being created. This preliminary positioning of the pipe ensures seamless integration with the trenching operation without interruption.
4Device complexity
If pipe installation is delayed after trenching, then equipment simplicity is maintained, but harmful effects increase due to trench collapse risk
Solution Approach 1:
The simultaneous operation of the ripper blade and pipe feeder ensures the pipe is deposited into the trench immediately as it is being created, eliminating the time gap that would expose the trench to collapse from rain, wind, or soil shear.
Solution Approach 2:
The pipe is pre-positioned in the pipe feeder and ready for immediate deposition, ensuring it can be placed in the trench right after creation without delay, thus preventing trench collapse before pipe installation.
Data Source
AI summary
A trench and flexible pipe jack apparatus for a skid steer, including a ripper blade attached to a frame with a back plate and two substantially parallel rib plates. A pipe feeder is attached to the rib plates behind the ripper blade. In operation, the jack apparatus is securably detached to a skid steer and the jack is lowered into the soil. As the skid steer moves forward, a trench is formed by the ripper blade urging soil from the trench and concurrently pipe is fed into a pipe tube assembly which deposits flexible pipe into the resulting trench.