Construction work involving pipe/cable installation, maintenance or inspection involves excavation and exposure of cable/pipe for replacement or repair and then backfilling the trench. The construction equipment most suited for this purpose is known as trencher or ditchers.
Similar to an excavator, this machine can penetrate soil and break up soil and rock. A trencher is a piece of earth-moving equipment that uses a metal chain with steel teeth to cut into the ground like a chainsaw. Similar to an excavator, a trencher shreds tree roots and soil in a trench.
Digging a trench by hand can take hours to complete. With the help of a trencher, a trencher can reduce the time and labor required to complete the project. Given their basic functions, which are crucial to any construction site, they must take different forms:
The most commonly used types of trenchers
Trenching machines are divided according to their size:
1.Wheel trenching machine
Wheeled trenchers are the most widely used machines and are mounted on rubber tires or tracks to assist in the excavation process. This machine is faster and cheaper than any other form of trenching machine. A wheel trencher has approximately six to eight cutting elements surrounding its wheels. This design enables the grinding wheel to cut grooves of varying depths. It also consists of shims and ejectors that help move excavated material away from the edge of the trench.
A chain trencher looks like a giant chainsaw. This type of trencher is used to pierce hard ground that an excavator cannot cut or penetrate. When driven, the machine pierces the digging chain covering a circular metal frame or boom. Adjust the boom to the correct angle to obtain the desired cut and depth. Its bucket excavators allow operators to dig into hard ground. Chain trenchers can dig deep and narrow trenches for utility companies due to their flexibility.
3.Rock wheel trenching machine
A stone wheel trencher is a toothed metal wheel that is more efficient than a chain trencher. Using this type of trencher, operators can easily penetrate hard stone. Its teeth can be removed and replaced at any time during heavy use.
4.Portable trenching machine
Portable trenchers are used to generate irrigation lines and install landscape edging. This type of trencher weighs approximately 200 pounds and is easy to maneuver. Therefore, it is used to install utility connections including coaxial cables.
Some of the main advantages of trenching machines make them very popular:
1.Shoveling
A trencher helps make the shoveling process easy and fast. Small trenchers can dig soil 3 to 4 feet deep.
2.Create a drainage system
A chain trencher helps excavate several feet of soil to create a drainage system for sewage runoff or water movement purposes. Chain trenchers work quickly and save a lot of time during the excavation process. Additionally, while using a portable trencher to excavate soil, you can lay irrigation pipes or sprinklers underground.
3.Digging for wires
Chain trenchers can be used to dig underground for telecommunications or electrical wires from utility poles to homes. The trencher's conveyor belt carries the excavated material away.
4.Cutting pavement
Wheel trenchers can be used to cut pavement, rock or concrete. Wheeled trenchers can operate in difficult ground conditions and get straight, clean, and flat results. They also perform well on joint and patch replacement projects involving streets, highways and interstates.
5.Cut off the roots
In addition to digging trenches in the soil and cutting concrete, a portable trencher also comes with a blade that doubles as a rotary mower blade and cuts roots. If a worker encounters a root while working on a project, place the trencher's chain blade in the desired position and allow the blade to cut through the root.
Trenching machine technology
Trenchers are powered by gasoline or diesel. Small trenchers use gasoline and large trenchers use diesel.
1.Drive System
All models of trenchers are equipped with transmissions, drive systems and hydraulic systems for forward and reverse movement. These machines also come with mechanical or hydrostatic drives for smoother operation and fewer breakdowns.
2.Tracks and tires
Trenchers rely entirely on tires or tracks to move. Small models consist of three or four wheels. Three-wheel models have two larger tires and one smaller tire under the trenching component. The heavy-duty models consist of tracks, which provide greater traction and easier driving, especially on rough terrain.
3.Wheels and Chains
To dig up the ground, trenchers use wheels or chains, both of which consist of teeth that cut into the ground. The wheels and chain can be controlled using the control panel.
Security Question
Trenchers should not be used in rocky areas. The teeth on the machine cannot cut areas with rocky sediment or hard rock. Broken teeth can cause pieces of metal to get stuck and cause problems with the machine. Additionally, before starting a project it is always a good idea to contact the local authorities and ensure that the site is suitable for excavation.
While trenchers and excavators are considered somewhat similar, trenchers have advantages over excavators in several ways.
- Using a trenching machine can improve the quality of trenches
- Trenchers offer greater efficiency
- The trencher completes multiple steps at once, including cutting the trench and producing suitable backfill soil
- No need to backfill pipes with filler
Choosing the type of trencher that works is important to ensure that the excavation process is efficient and on time.
