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A digging system includes a machine having a machine frame, and an implement assembly mounted to the machine frame. The implement assembly includes an elongate boom and a trenching mechanism having a plurality of drawing cutters coupled with an endless drive chain movable about a drive system mounte

A digging system includes a machine having a machine frame, and an implement assembly mounted to the machine frame. The implement assembly includes an elongate boom and a trenching mechanism having a plurality of drawing cutters coupled with an endless drive chain movable about a drive system mounted to an elongate boom. The implement assembly further includes an undercutting mechanism having first and second rotating cutters projecting in opposite axial directions from the distal boom end. The implement assembly defines a compound projection profile in a plane which includes first and second axes of rotation of a drive wheel and guide wheel of the drive system. The compound projection profile includes a relatively narrow proximal stem segment corresponding to the trenching mechanism and a relatively broad distal footing segment corresponding to the undercutting mechanism. Actuating the trenching mechanism and undercutting mechanism enables simultaneously digging a stem segment and footing segment of a compound trench for a foundation system.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A digging system comprising: a machine having a machine frame, ground engaging propulsion elements coupled with the machine frame, and a motor mounted to the machine frame and having a motor output shaft; andan implement assembly including an elongate boom having a proximal boom end pivotably cou

1. A digging system comprising: a machine having a machine frame, ground engaging propulsion elements coupled with the machine frame, and a motor mounted to the machine frame and having a motor output shaft; andan implement assembly including an elongate boom having a proximal boom end pivotably coupled with the machine frame, a distal boom end, and a drive system having a drive wheel coupled with the motor output shaft and being positioned adjacent the proximal boom end, and a guide wheel mounted to the distal boom end, the drive wheel defining a first axis of rotation and the guide wheel defining a second axis of rotation;the implement assembly further including a trenching mechanism having a plurality of drawing cutters coupled with an endless drive chain contacting and movable about each of the drive wheel and the guide wheel, and an undercutting mechanism mounted to the distal boom end and having a first rotating cutter projecting in a first axial direction from the distal boom end, and a second rotating cutter projecting in a second axial direction from the distal boom end;an elongate shaft extending through the guide wheel from a first axial side to a second axial side thereof, the elongate shaft being fixed to rotate with the guide wheel, and each of the first and second rotating cutters being fixed to rotate with the elongate shaft, such that moving the endless drive chain about the drive wheel rotates the first and second rotating cutters;the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation defining a plane, and the implement assembly further defining a compound projection profile in the plane, the compound projection profile including a proximal stem segment corresponding to the trenching mechanism, and a distal footing segment corresponding to the undercutting mechanism and adjoining the proximal stem segment;the proximal stem segment including a relatively narrow segment width defined by outboard edges of the drawing cutters, and the distal footing segment including a relatively broad segment width defined by outboard ends of the first and second rotating cutters; andwherein each of the first and second rotating cutters tapers in diameter from a narrower diameter at axially outward locations to a broader diameter at axially inward locations. 2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a material directing drag mechanism coupled with the implement assembly and defining a drag profile in the plane, and the drag profile being congruous with the distal footing segment. 3. The digging system of claim 2 wherein the first and second rotating cutters include first and second co-rotating augers. 4. The digging system of claim 3 wherein the first and second co-rotating augers includes a left-handed auger and right-handed auger. 5. The digging system of claim 4 wherein the first and second co-rotating augers are fixed to rotate with the guide wheel. 6. The digging system of claim 5 wherein the undercutting mechanism includes a total of two rotating cutters. 7. The digging system of claim 2 wherein the material directing drag mechanism includes a drag plate, a yoke coupled with the drag plate, and a shock absorber coupled between the yoke and the implement assembly. 8. The digging system of claim 1 further comprising a finishing mechanism having first and second rotatable drums swappable with the first and second rotating cutters. 9. A method of preparing a foundation system comprising the steps of: actuating a trenching mechanism of a digging system at least in part by moving a plurality of drawing cutters coupled with an endless drive chain about a proximal drive wheel, and a distal guide wheel defining an axis of rotation and being mounted to an elongate boom of an implement assembly;rotating an elongate shaft extending through the distal guide wheel from a first axial side to a second axial side thereof, in response to actuating the trenching mechanism;actuating an undercutting mechanism of the digging system at least in part by rotating a plurality of rotatable cutters projecting in opposite axial directions from a distal end of the elongate boom, in response to rotating the elongate shaft, each of the rotatable cutters tapering in diameter from a narrower diameter at axially outward locations to a broader diameter at axially inward locations; andsimultaneously digging a narrow proximal stem segment and a broad distal footing segment of a compound trench at least in part by actuating the trenching mechanism and actuating the undercutting mechanism. 10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the steps of displacing material within the distal footing segment in an axially inward direction at least in part via actuating the undercutting mechanism, and displacing material within the proximal stem segment in a vertical direction oriented normal to an axis of rotation of the guide wheel at least in part via actuating the trenching mechanism. 11. The method of claim 10 further comprising a step of displacing material within the distal footing segment in a horizontal direction oriented normal to the axis of rotation at least in part by dragging a material directing drag mechanism along a floor of the distal footing segment. 12. The method of claim 11 further comprising a step of feeding material from a floor of the compound trench to an open ceiling of the compound trench according to a compound tri-directional feed path. 13. The method of claim 12 wherein each of the steps of actuating further includes actuating the trenching mechanism and actuating the undercutting mechanism during a step of performing a material removal pass with the digging system in a first assembly configuration, the method further comprising a step of performing a subsequent material finishing pass with the digging system in a second assembly configuration. 14. The method of claim 13 wherein: the step of performing a material removal pass further includes performing the material removal pass with the material directing drag mechanism coupled with the implement assembly; andthe step of performing a subsequent material finishing pass further includes a step of performing the subsequent material finishing pass with a set of rotatable finishing drums coupled with the implement assembly, and with the material directing drag mechanism and the plurality of rotating cutters decoupled from the implement assembly. 15. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of actuating the undercutting mechanism further includes co-rotating a first auger and a second auger together comprising the plurality of rotatable cutters. 16. The method of claim 13 further comprising a step of forming a building foundation component within the compound trench at least in part by way of the steps of pouring concrete into the compound trench, and intruding the poured concrete into the distal footing segment of the compound trench. 17. A digging system comprising: a machine having a machine frame, ground engaging propulsion elements coupled with the machine frame, and a motor mounted to the machine frame and having a motor output shaft; andan implement assembly including an elongate boom having a proximal boom end pivotably coupled with the machine frame, a distal boom end, and a drive system having a drive wheel coupled with the motor output shaft and being positioned adjacent the proximal boom end, and a guide wheel mounted to the distal boom end, the drive wheel defining a first axis of rotation and the guide wheel defining a second axis of rotation;the implement assembly further including a trenching mechanism having a plurality of drawing cutters coupled with an endless drive chain contacting and movable about each of the drive wheel and the guide wheel, and an undercutting mechanism mounted to the distal boom end and having a first rotating cutter projecting in a first axial direction from the distal boom end, and a second rotating cutter projecting in a second axial direction from the distal boom end;an elongate shaft extending through the guide wheel from a first axial side to a second axial side thereof, the elongate shaft being fixed to rotate with the guide wheel, and each of the first and second rotating cutters being fixed to rotate with the elongate shaft, such that moving the endless drive chain about the drive wheel rotates the first and second rotating cutters;the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation defining a plane, and the implement assembly further defining a compound projection profile in the plane, the compound projection profile including a proximal stem segment corresponding to the trenching mechanism, and a distal footing segment corresponding to the undercutting mechanism and adjoining the proximal stem segment; andthe proximal stem segment including a relatively narrow segment width defined by outboard edges of the drawing cutters, and the distal footing segment including a relatively broad segment width defined by outboard ends of the first and second rotating cutters.