Cabling trench digger using inertia wheel at high digging speeds - uses large diameter high inertia tool carrier wheel with friction coupling to drive motor

摘要

The digger has a large diameter (2.5m) tool carrying wheel (17), weighing around 1,250 kg, which is run up to a peripheral speed of 21m/s before the tool is lowered into the ground. To maintain the speed once the wheel is in the ground, an electric motor (21) drives the rim of the wheel through a friction coupling (22). The wheel is carried on an articulated mechanism (16,18) mounted behind a tractor (1). The mechanism is hydraulically controlled (19) to permit the raising and lowering of the wheel from a control panel (6) inside the drivers cabin. Guards (2) and earth directing guides (34) are fitted to the trailer supporting the wheel.