US 12,233,437 B2
Machine, in particular padding machine, to backfill pipelines
Gian Paolo Dondi, Parma (IT)
Assigned to SCAIP S.P.A., Parma (IT)
Filed by SCAIP S.P.A., San Pancrazio (IT)
Filed on Jul. 14, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/352,558.
Application 18/352,558 is a continuation of application No. 17/313,602, filed on May 6, 2021, granted, now 11,717,855.
Application 17/313,602 is a continuation of application No. 16/440,475, filed on Jun. 13, 2019, granted, now 11,072,000.
Claims priority of application No. 102019000007197 (IT), filed on May 24, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0356263 A1, Nov. 9, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. E02F 9/16 (2006.01); B07B 1/00 (2006.01); E02F 5/22 (2006.01); E02F 7/02 (2006.01); E02F 7/06 (2006.01); B07B 13/16 (2006.01)
CPC B07B 1/005 (2013.01) [E02F 5/226 (2013.01); E02F 7/02 (2013.01); E02F 7/06 (2013.01); B07B 13/16 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A padding machine, for burying a pipe and adapted to cover the pipe with a material, comprising:
a main support frame;
a treatment apparatus configured for treating the material including a perforated plate extending from a forward upper portion thereof downward toward a rear of the padding machine;
a lifting apparatus configured for lifting the material above the treatment apparatus, the lifting apparatus including an ascending conveyor belt, extending between a forward lowered part positioned substantially at ground level configured for receiving the material from a collecting apparatus configured for collecting the material, and a rearward raised position higher than the forward upper portion of the treatment apparatus, thereby allowing the material to descend from the lifting apparatus onto the treatment apparatus;
a cabin for housing a driver of the padding machine, the cabin being movable with respect to the main support frame, wherein the cabin is movable to be positionable in a plurality of vertical positions different from each other by vertical movement or movement perpendicular to a ground on which the padding machine sits;
the cabin being centrally positioned with respect to a footprint or transversal extension of said machine to be within a transversal footprint of operating machinery of the padding machine;
wherein the cabin is movable to a lowered transport position, in which the cabin is positioned within a vertical footprint of the padding machine, with an upper wall of the cabin being positioned below an upper end part of a remainder of the padding machine, or of the rearward raised position of the lifting apparatus or of the forward upper portion of the treatment apparatus;
wherein the cabin is movable to a lowered access position for allowing the driver to enter the cabin directly from the ground and to exit the cabin directly to the ground;
wherein the lowered access position is vertically lower than the lowered transport position; and
wherein the lowered access position and the lowered transport position are aligned with respect to each other along a vertical axis.