Rotating Trench Spoils Screening for On-Site Soil Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The conventional process of excavating soil for trenching is labor-intensive and expensive due to the need to relocate soil spoils to a remote site for processing and then backfilling, involving multiple handling steps.
Innovation Solution
A trench spoils screening device that operates in concert with a trenching machine to continuously sift and deposit excavated soil adjacent to the trench, using a rotating drum with adjustable spacing and multiple size openings to create separate pathways for different soil sizes, eliminating the need for relocation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If soil spoils are relocated to a remote site for processing, then soil can be sifted and separated, but the process becomes labor-intensive and expensive with multiple handling steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the trenching operation and soil screening operation into a single integrated system. The screening device is positioned directly at the trench site and receives spoils directly from the excavator, eliminating the need to transport soil to a remote processing facility. This merging of operations maintains soil separation quality while dramatically improving processing efficiency by eliminating multiple handling steps and transportation cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The screening operation is performed preliminarily at the excavation site before soil would otherwise need to be transported and processed later. By screening spoils immediately after excavation and before backfilling, the system performs the separation function in advance, reducing subsequent handling requirements and improving overall workflow efficiency.
2Manufacturing precision
If soil is moved to remote site and back, then processing can occur, but multiple handling steps increase labor and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the trenching and screening operations into a single integrated workflow. The screening device is positioned adjacent to the trench and receives spoils directly from the excavator bucket, performing separation on-site without requiring transport to remote facilities. This integration maintains processing quality while simplifying operations by eliminating multiple transport and handling steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by conducting the screening operation at the excavation site itself, using the excavator's existing positioning and discharge capabilities. The screening device utilizes the natural flow of spoils from the excavator bucket without requiring additional complex material handling equipment or remote processing facilities.
3Manufacturing precision
If screening is done at remote site, then soil can be processed, but time is lost in relocation and return transport
Solution Approach 1:
The screening operation is performed preliminarily at the excavation site immediately after spoils are excavated, before any transport operations would occur. By conducting separation on-site while the excavator is already positioned and operational, the system eliminates the time required for relocation to and from remote processing facilities, significantly reducing total processing time while maintaining separation quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the trenching and screening operations into a single continuous workflow occurring at the same location. Spoils are excavated and immediately screened in sequence without interruption or transport, merging two operations that would otherwise occur at different times and locations, thereby eliminating transportation time and improving overall processing efficiency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device efficiently processes and deposits sifted soil directly adjacent to the trench, reducing labor and costs by integrating soil screening with trenching, ensuring proper soil distribution for easy backfilling and protecting buried infrastructure.
Implementation Method 1
the rotating drum, which rotates to sift the excavated material received in the hopper
Data Source
AI summary
A trench spoils screening device is provided for coupling with a digging machine to sift soil removed from the ground by the digging machine. A rotating hopper on a sliding frame has openings in the sidewall of the hopper for passing soil of different sizes therethrough. The soil passing through the openings forms one or a plurality of soil paths. When employed to sift soil from a trench, the finest soil is positioned closest to the trench and progressively coarser soil and rocks are positioned in pathways further from the trench.