The invention relates to a trenching system including a conveyor system for conveying spoil from a trench to a collector. The invention also relates to a method of excavating a trench including the step of conveying spoil from the trench to a collector.

INTRODUCTION

In a typical trenching assembly, a cutting blade is rotated to excavate a trench in the ground for laying services therein. Typically, trenches are excavated near footpaths and the services include fibre optic cables. After providing the services in the trench, the trench is usually backfilled with an appropriate material, such as foamed concrete, to restore the appearance and the surface of the ground.

Traditionally, after excavating such trenches and before laying the services, the trenches are cleaned manually to remove spoil and debris from the trench. Such manually cleaning methods include removing the spoil or debris using a bucket. The bucket is swept through the spoil and debris to collect said spoil and debris, and the collected spoils and debris are then discarded as waste.

Numerous problems are known with traditional manual cleaning methods. Specifically, numerous workers are often required at the trenching site to manually remove and dispose of spoil and debris from the trench after excavation. This can be an expensive task, owing to the number of extra workers required to manually clean the trench, remove the spoil and dispose of the spoil. Moreover, such a trench cleaning method can be laborious and time-consuming.

Trenching assemblies having improved cleaning capabilities are known in the art. For example, an enclosed trenching assembly with a cutting blade has been employed to excavate the trench and remove spoil and debris simultaneously. In such assemblies, the spoil is removed from the trench and transported out of the assembly such that the spoil is continuously discarded in a generally continuous pile at each side of the trench. One or more workers are then required to remove the piles of spoil from each side of the trench for disposal. This removal step typically requires workers to remove the spoil, using shovels or the like, to manually move the spoil to be discarded into a collector, such as a waste container.

Although such trenching assemblies have advantages over the traditional method of trenching, said configuration still requires numerous workers to collect and dispose of the spoils and debris that are discarded at either side of the trench following excavation. This can be a time-consuming task which requires more workers than ideally required, and thus can be expensive for a company.

It is therefore an objective of the present invention to mitigate the problems known in the art of trenching.

SUM MARY OF INVENTION

In a first aspect, there is provided a trenching assembly comprising: a hydraulic blade motor; a blade, wherein the blade is driven by the hydraulic blade motor; a hydraulic conveyor motor; a conveyor for conveying spoil from a trench to a collector, wherein the conveyor is driven by the hydraulic conveyor motor; and a hydraulic control arrangement for controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic pump to the hydraulic blade motor and the hydraulic conveyor motor.

That is to say, there is provided a trenching assembly including a blade driven by a hydraulic blade motor. The conveyor is driven by a separate, independent hydraulic conveyor motor. In other words, the hydraulic blade motor and the hydraulic conveyor motor are separate motors and may be independent in operation.

The conveyor conveys, or transports, spoil from a trench to a collector. In other words, the conveyor aids in moving spoil, or debris, excavated from the trench to a separate collector. Spoil may be regarded as the remnants of the material excavated from the trench. The collector may be part of the trenching assembly or may be a separate component. For example, the collector may be a bucket that may be attached to a separate vehicle.

In use, the blade may excavate the trench and may also propel, or direct, spoil from the trench towards the trenching assembly. In other words, the rotational movement of the blade may propel, or direct, spoil from the trench to the trenching assembly such that said spoil may then by conveyed to the collector by the conveyor.

The conveyor provides the advantage that the number of workers at a trenching site can be reduced. The spoil excavated from the trench and directed towards the trenching assembly is automatically directed to a collector for disposal, via the conveyor, and thus no additional workers are required to collect and dispose of the spoils. This, in turn, reduces the costs associated with excavating a trench.

The trenching assembly also includes a hydraulic control arrangement. The hydraulic control arrangement controls the flow of a hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic pump, or a source of hydraulic fluid, to the hydraulic blade motor and the hydraulic conveyor motor. The hydraulic control arrangement may control and direct hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic blade motor and the hydraulic conveyor motor. The hydraulic control arrangement may control the fluid from a single hydraulic pump to the hydraulic blade motor and the hydraulic conveyor motor.

This provides the advantage that both the hydraulic blade motor and the hydraulic conveyor motor can utilise the same hydraulic pump, or the same hydraulic source. This eliminates the requirement for separate hydraulic pumps, each independently pumping hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic blade motor and the hydraulic conveyor motor. This, in turn, reduces running and maintenance costs for the trenching assembly.

The trench may be any sized trench. For example, the trench may be a narrow trench. In some embodiments, the narrow trench may have a depth of 200 - 300mm, preferably about 300mm, and a width of 30 - 80mm, preferably 50 - 80mm, most preferably about 80mm. However, as will be appreciated by the skilled person, the trench may be of any desirable depth of width. The trench, or the narrow trench, may be excavated in a footpath or a road.

Preferably, the trenching assembly may further comprise a housing, the housing having an opening, and wherein the blade is substantially surrounded by the housing and extends through the opening. That is to say, the blade may be substantially enclosed by the housing, with the blade extending out of, or through, the opening. This provides the advantage that workers are protected from the blade when in use.

More preferably, the trenching assembly may further comprise a spoil chamber including an inlet for the ingress of spoils and an outlet for the egress of spoils; and wherein the conveyor is in communication with the outlet of the spoil chamber.

In other words, the trenching assembly may further include a spoil chamber, where the spoil chamber includes an inlet and an outlet. The spoil excavated from the trench is directed into the inlet of the spoil chamber, through the spoil chamber, and out of the outlet of the spoil chamber. The outlet may be in communication with the conveyor, such that when the spoils are directed out of the outlet, they may be continuously conveyed from the outlet to the collector.

The spoil chamber may be configured to specifically direct spoil in a specific direction. For example, the spoil chamber may include sloped, inclined, or curved, walls to direct the spoil towards the outlet.

This provides the advantage that the spoils are directed appropriately from the trench to the conveyor. This maximises the removal and collection of spoils.

Most preferably, the spoil chamber is located within the housing. That is to say, the housing includes a spoil chamber. The spoil chamber may be integrated within the housing.

This provides the advantage that the trenching assembly is integral with the spoil chamber, such that a single assembly may be brought to, and used at, a trenching site.

Preferably, the housing comprises a ground engaging surface, wherein the opening is defined by the ground engaging surface such that the opening is substantially sealed when engaged with the ground in use.

That is to say, the housing, which includes an opening on its lowermost, or bottom, surface, comes into contact with the ground at said surface. For example, the housing may have a lowermost external face which comes into contact with the ground in use. That is to say, the lowermost, or bottom, surface or face is defined as the surface in which the trenching assembly contacts the ground. This lowermost external face may be regarded as the ground engaging surface. The ground engaging surface may be the surface from which the blade extends through the housing, specifically through an opening in the housing. The opening, through which the blade may extend, is substantially sealed in that the ground engaging surface forms a seal with the ground in use to enclose the trench being excavated, the blade, and the spoil.

This provides the advantage that the maximum amount of spoil removed from the excavated trench is directed into the trenching assembly and onto the conveyor. Additionally, workers at the trenching site are protected from stray spoil or debris escaping from the trench being excavated. By maximising the amount of spoil being removed for collection, there is provided a cleaner trench, that is to say, a trench with minimal to no spoil remaining within the excavated trench.

More preferably, the trenching assembly may further include a trench cleaner blade.

The trench cleaner blade may generally follow the blade to gather any unremoved spoil from the trench. That is to say, the trench cleaner blade may redirect unremoved spoil towards the blade such that it is propelled and directed to the conveyor for removal and collection. The trench cleaner blade may be at the rear of the trenching assembly, that is to say, at the rearmost part of the trenching assembly with respect to the direction in which the trenching assembly is moved when excavating a trench.

This provides the advantage that any remaining uncollected spoil is directed towards the blade such that it can be propelled towards the trenching assembly and conveyed to the collector. Therefore, this maximises the amount of spoil removed for collection, thus providing a trench with minimal to no spoil remaining within the excavated trench.

Preferably, a speed of the hydraulic blade motor, the hydraulic conveyor motor, or both, is adjustable according to user-input parameters. That is to say, a speed of the hydraulic blade motor, the hydraulic conveyor motor, or both the hydraulic blade motor and the hydraulic conveyor motor, may be adjustable according to user-input parameters.

It some embodiments, there may be provided means by which a user can control the speed of the hydraulic blade motor and/or the hydraulic conveyor motor. For example, a user interface, dial or one or more buttons may be provided to allow for input of a desired speed of the hydraulic blade motor and/or the hydraulic conveyor motor. The user-input may be independent for each hydraulic motor. Upon user- input, the hydraulic control arrangement alters the speed of the hydraulic blade motor and/or the hydraulic conveyor motor according to said user-input.

This provides the advantage that the user can control the speed of the blade and/or conveyor to achieve a desired trench. For example, depending upon the material to be excavated, the speed of the blade and/or the speed of the conveyor may need to be altered. In yet another example, a higher blade speed may be required for a harder material to be excavated. In the converse, a lower blade speed may be required for a softer material to be excavated. Higher and lower conveyor speeds may also be required in dependence upon the material excavated.

More preferably, a speed of the hydraulic conveyor motor may be automatically adjustable by the hydraulic control arrangement according to a speed of the hydraulic blade motor.

That is to say, the hydraulic control arrangement may automatically control the speed of the hydraulic conveyor motor in dependence upon the speed of the hydraulic blade motor. In some embodiments, the user may alter the speed of the hydraulic blade motor and, in response, the hydraulic control arrangement may automatically alter the hydraulic conveyor motor.

This provides the advantage that the conveyor has an appropriate speed to efficiently convey spoil from the trenching assembly to the collector. The automatic control of the conveyor speed may also be useful when trenching through different materials. For example, the hydraulic motor speed may be lower when trenching through a softer material, and then increase when trenching through a harder material. As such, the conveyor speed is automatically altered to convey the harder material to the collector at a faster speed than the softer material. This may be desirable, for example, to avoid material falling back down the conveyor into the trenching assembly.

Most preferably, the hydraulic conveyor motor and the hydraulic blade motor share a common hydraulic pump. That is to say, there may be provided a single hydraulic pump which pumps hydraulic fluid to both the hydraulic conveyor motor and the hydraulic blade motor.

The provides the advantage that the trenching assembly can be utilised with a single source of hydraulic fluid, thus saving costs associated with running and maintaining a second, or multiple, hydraulic pumps.

Preferably, the hydraulic control arrangement may comprise a plurality of solenoid valves operated by a controller. That is to say, there may be provided multiple solenoid valves, each being controller by a controller, such that the flow of hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic blade motor and/or hydraulic conveyor motor is controlled.

This provides the advantage that a single source of hydraulic fluid, or a single hydraulic pump, may be utilised, thus saving costs associated with running and maintaining a second, or multiple, hydraulic pumps. Moreover, the plurality of solenoid valves centralises all independent control functions, thus ensuring that on site health and safety provisions are met by removing the user from close proximity to the blade of the trenching assembly when a change in an operation function, for example the speed of the hydraulic blade motor or hydraulic conveyor motor, is required.

Preferably, the conveyor comprises a conveyor belt, wherein the conveyor belt includes a plurality of bars. That is to say, the conveyor includes a substantially flat conveyor belt, the conveyor belt including one or more bars, bands, lands, protrusions or the like, upstanding therefrom. The bars are configured to transport spoil from a lower end of the conveyor to an upper end of the conveyor in use. The bars may be blocks of material, bands, lands or the like, that provide one or more regions, the regions being formed by adjacent bars, to collect spoil in use, for conveying to a collector.

This provides the advantage that spoil is efficiently conveyed from the trenching assembly to the collector. That is to say, the back falling of spoil from an upper portion of the conveyor to a lower portion of the conveyor, or back towards the trenching assembly, is prevented.

Most preferably, a distance between each bar of the plurality of bars is about 180mm. That is to say, each bar is spaced apart by a distance, the distance being about 180mm, measured from the centre of a first bar to the centre of the second adjacent bar.

Preferably, each bar of the plurality of bars has a height of about 15mm. That is to say, a height from the conveyor belt to the uppermost part of each bar is about 15mm. It should also be noted that the bars extend upwards from the conveyor belt, and may be integral therewith.

Preferably, each bar of the plurality of bars has a width of about 15mm. That is to say, a distance from a first end of each bar of the plurality of bars to a second end of each bar of the plurality of bars is about 15mm. Most preferably, each bar spans the width of the conveyor belt. In some embodiments, the width of the conveyor belt may be about 15mm, and the width of each bar of the plurality of bars is about 15mm.

These features provide the advantage that the spoil is reliably retained between bars, such that it can be conveyed from the trenching assembly to the collector. That is to say, the back falling of spoil from an upper portion of the conveyor to a lower portion of the conveyor, or back towards the trenching assembly, is prevented.

More preferably, the trenching assembly may further comprise a vehicle attachment configured to couple the trenching assembly to a vehicle. That is to say, the trenching assembly may further include a component that is suitable to couple the trenching assembly to a vehicle, such that the trenching assembly can be propelled, or otherwise moved, by the vehicle in use. In other words, to create a single continuous trench having a desired length, the vehicle may propel, or move, the trenching assembly in an appropriate direction so as to excavate the continuous trench.

This provides the advantage that the trenching assembly can be easily connected to, or removed from, a propulsion vehicle. This means that the trenching assembly can be fitted onto a selection of vehicles, such that the user can choose the appropriate vehicle for propelling the trenching assembly.

Even more preferably, the vehicle comprises the hydraulic pump. That is to say, the hydraulic pump for pumping hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic blade motor and/or hydraulic conveyor motor is located on the vehicle.

This provides the advantage that the trenching assembly can be fitted to any one of a number of vehicles and make use of the vehicle’s hydraulic pump. This negates the need for a separate hydraulic pump dedicated to the trenching assembly. Thus, costs and space are saved.

Preferably, the vehicle attachment manipulates an orientation of the trenching assembly. That is to say, the vehicle attachment may be moved in any axis to orientate the trenching assembly in use.

This provides the advantage that the trenching assembly can be easily set up prior to excavating a trench. Specifically, the vehicle attachment allows for the user to position and/or align the trenching assembly in accordance with a desired trenching path.

Most preferably, the orientation may be vertical or horizontal with respect to the ground, or the orientation may be manipulated to provide an angle between the blade and the ground. In some examples, the vehicle may include means to manipulate a vertical orientation of the trenching assembly.

That is to say, the vehicle attachment may manipulate the trenching assembly in a vertical manner, in other words to raise or lower the trenching assembly, with respect to the ground. The vehicle attachment may manipulate the trenching assembly in a horizontal manner with respect to the ground, in other words, the trenching assembly can be moved laterally (i.e. left or right when viewed from above) to align the blade with a desired trenching path. The vehicle attachment may also be manipulated at an angle, that is to say it is manipulated to provide an angle between the ground and the blade that is between 0 and 90 degrees, such that the blade may be tilted with respect to an axis that is substantially the same as a desired trenching path.

This provides the advantage that numerous parameters can be taken into account prior to excavating a trench. For example, the trenching assembly may be orientated left or right, in other words in the horizontal direction, to take into account a curb of a footpath. Further, for example, the trenching assembly may be tiled, in other words orientated at an angle with respect to the ground, to achieve a desired trench profile.

In another aspect, there is provided a method of excavating a narrow trench comprising: providing a trenching assembly comprising a blade, wherein the blade is driven by a hydraulic blade motor; activating the hydraulic blade motor to rotate the blade; excavating a trench with the blade; conveying spoil from the trench to a collector by a conveyor, wherein the conveyor is driven by a hydraulic conveyor motor; and controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic pump to the hydraulic blade motor and the hydraulic conveyor motor.

The conveyor provides the advantage that the number of workers at a trenching site can be reduced. The spoil excavated from the trench and directed towards the trenching assembly is automatically directed to a collector for disposal, via the conveyor, and thus no additional workers are required to collect and dispose of the spoils. This, in turn, reduces the costs associated with excavating a trench.

The step of controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid provides the advantage that both the hydraulic blade motor and the hydraulic conveyor motor can utilise the same hydraulic pump, or the same hydraulic source. This eliminates the requirement for separate hydraulic pumps, each independently pumping the hydraulic blade motor and the hydraulic conveyor motor. This, in turn, reduces running and maintenance costs for the trenching assembly.

The trench may be any sized trench. For example, the trench may be a narrow trench. In some embodiments, the narrow trench may have a depth of 200 - 300mm, preferably about 300mm, and a width of 30 - 80mm, preferably 50 - 80mm, most preferably about 80mm. However, as will be appreciated by the skilled person, the trench may be of any desirable depth of width. The trench, or the narrow trench, may be excavated in a footpath or a road.

Preferably, the step of conveying spoil from the trench to a collector comprises the steps of: removing spoils from the trench through a spoil chamber; transporting spoil received from an outlet of the spoil chamber to the conveyor; and conveying spoil to the collector.

That is to say, the spoil may be removed from the trench and directed to a spoil chamber. The spoil may then be transported, or directed, from an outlet of the spoil chamber to the conveyor. The spoil may then be conveyed to the collector for collection and disposal.

This provides the advantage that the spoils are directed appropriately from the trench to the conveyor. This maximises the removal and collection of spoils.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate presently exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the embodiments below, serve to explain, by way of example only, the principles of the disclosure. In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of the trenching apparatus according to one embodiment;

Figure 2 is an isometric view of the trenching assembly of the trenching apparatus as shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is another isometric view of the trenching assembly as shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is another isometric view of the trenching assembly as shown in Figures 1 - 3; Figure 5 is an exploded view of the trenching assembly as shown in Figures 1 - 4, with the conveyor and vehicle attachment omitted for clarity;

Figure 6 is a side cross-sectional view of the trenching assembly as shown in Figures 1 - 5;

Figure 7 is a rear cross-sectional view of the trenching assembly as shown in Figures 1 - 6;

Figure 8 is a front cross-sectional view of the trenching assembly as shown in Figures 1 - 7; and

Figure 9 is a schematic representation of the hydraulic system of the trenching apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to Figure 1 , a trenching apparatus 10 includes a vehicle 100 and a trenching assembly 200. The vehicle 100 drives, or propels, the trenching assembly 200 in a trenching direction T, in use.

The vehicle 100 can be any suitable vehicle to drive the trenching assembly 200 in use. The vehicle 100 may include a hydraulic pump 110 driven by an engine 120. The engine 120 may be the same engine that drives the vehicle 100, or may be another, separate engine. The vehicle 100 may also include one or more arms 140 that are controlled by one or more levers 130 to raise or lower the trenching assembly 200 in a direction perpendicular to the trenching direction T, in use.

With further reference to Figure 1 , the trenching assembly 200 may include a blade 210 and a hydraulic blade motor 220 for rotating the blade 210. The hydraulic blade motor 220 may be in communication with a hydraulic control arrangement 230. The hydraulic control arrangement 230 controls the flow of hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic pump 110 to the hydraulic blade motor 220, thereby controlling the speed of the hydraulic blade motor 220, as described in more detail below. The trenching assembly 200 also includes a conveyor 240, the conveyor 240 including a hydraulic conveyor motor 260 (see Figures 2 and 4) for driving the conveyor 240. The hydraulic conveyor motor 260 may be in communication with the hydraulic control arrangement 230. The hydraulic control arrangement 230 controls the flow of hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic pump 110 to the hydraulic conveyor motor 260 (see Figures 2 and 3), thereby controlling the speed of the hydraulic conveyor motor 260.

The trenching assembly 200 also includes a trench cleaner blade 250 for scraping, or otherwise collecting, spoil from a trench in use, and directing said spoil towards the blade 210. As will become clear from the description below, the spoil is directed towards the blade 210 such that the spoil is propelled out of, and away from, the trench.

As best shown in Figures 2 and 3, the trenching assembly 200 may also include a vehicle attachment 270 for coupling the trenching assembly 200 to the vehicle 100. The vehicle attachment 270 may allow the user to manipulate one or more directions of the trenching assembly 200 with respect to the vehicle 100. For example, the vehicle 100 may raise or lower the trenching assembly 200 via arms 140 (see Figure 1). In other words, the vehicle attachment 270, and thus the trenching assembly 200, may be moved in a vertical direction 270a by the arms 140 of the vehicle 100 (see Figure 1). The raising or lower of the trenching assembly 200 is, as the skilled person appreciates, in relation to the ground G as shown in Figure 1 , as are all relative directions discussed herein. The vehicle attachment may also include a rail 271 to allow the user to manipulate the trenching assembly 200 in a direction 271a to move the trenching assembly 200 laterally. In other words, the user can move the trenching assembly 200 in a horizontal direction 271a, the horizontal direction 271a being perpendicular to the vertical direction 270a (as shown in Figure 1). Additionally, the vehicle attachment 270 may include a pivot 272 to allow for manipulation about an axis 272a to rotate, or tilt, the trenching assembly 200. In other words, the pivot 272 allows the user to manipulate an angle provided between the blade 210 and the ground G (as shown in Figure 1), thereby effecting the angle of the excavated trench. The vehicle attachment 270 may include one or more hydraulic motors (not shown) for orientating the trenching assembly 200 in use. Alternatively, the vehicle attachment 270 may be manually orientated in use.

Figure 5 shows the trenching assembly 200 with the conveyor 240 removed. As can be seen, the trenching assembly 200 includes a housing 205, the housing 205 including a blade groove 215 for insertion of the blade 210 therewithin. It is noted that a small clearance is provided between the walls of the housing 205, formed by the blade groove 215, and the blade 210.

The blade 210 is mounted upon a blade motor 220 by making use of a blade hub 211. One or more spacers 212 may also be present. The blade motor 220 may include threaded bores (not shown). The blade hub 211 may include threaded bores 211a, and the blade 210 may include apertures 210a aligned with said threaded bores 211a. Additionally, a nut 213 is adapted to be screwed onto the blade hub 211 , specifically the threaded bores 211a thereon, by means of bolts 214. The bolts pass through bores 213a of the nut 213, through the apertures 210a of the blade 210, and screwed into the threaded bores 211a of the blade hub 211. In this way, the blade 210, the spacers 212 (if present), the blade hub 211 and the nut 213 are secured to the blade motor 220 in use. In this way, the blade 210 can be rotated when the blade motor 220 is activated in use.

Referring now to Figures 5 - 8, with particular reference to Figure 6, the trenching assembly 200 includes a spoil chamber 280 having an inlet 281 for the ingress of spoil, and an outlet 282 for the egress of spoil. The inlet 281 is in communication with the blade groove 215. In this way, in use, the spoil S from the trench is directed, or propelled via the rotational motion of the blade 210, into the blade groove 215 and through the inlet 281 into the spoil chamber 280. The spoil S is then directed through the spoil chamber 280 and out through the outlet 282. The outlet 282 is in communication with the conveyor 240 (as best seen in Figure 8). In the example shown, the spoil chamber 280 includes a curved side wall 283 to direct spoil S, that is propelled from the trench, towards the outlet 282 and towards the conveyor 240. It is also noted that any spoil S that remains within the trench would be directed, by the trench cleaner blade 250, towards the rotating blade 210 for propulsion towards the conveyor 240 via the spoil chamber 280. As best shown in Figures 4 and 8, the conveyor 240 includes a conveyor belt 241 including bars 242. The bars 242 provide discrete sections in which spoil S can be collected and conveyed towards an outlet 243 of the conveyor 240. The conveyor belt 241 , including the bars 242, is driven by a hydraulic conveyor motor 260. The conveyor 240 includes a lid 244 and a handle 245. The lid 244 is connected, via a hinge, to the main body of the conveyor 240 to allow a user to open or close the lid 244 by use of the handle 245. In use, the lid is closed. In this way, the spoil exiting the outlet 282 of the spoil chamber 280 is directed from a lower portion of the conveyor to an upper portion of the conveyor, and out of the outlet 243 towards a collector (not shown).

With reference to Figures 1 , 3, 4 and 9, the hydraulic control arrangement 230, in the depicted embodiment, is a valve chest which includes a plurality of solenoid valves. Each solenoid valve controls the flow of hydraulic fluid from an inlet 230a to the hydraulic blade motor 220 and/or the hydraulic conveyor motor 260.

With reference to Figure 9, the hydraulic pump 110, typically located on the vehicle 100, provides hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic control arrangement 230 by way of a first inlet pipe 230a. Additionally, hydraulic fluid is provided from the hydraulic pump 110 to the vehicle attachment 270 via a second inlet pipe 270a. This provides hydraulic power to various hydraulic motors (not shown) which allow the user to manipulate the orientation of the trenching assembly 200 via the vehicle attachment 270. In the depicted embodiment, the flow of hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic pump 110 is split by a valve 291 , such that a single hydraulic source powers both the vehicle attachment 270, and the hydraulic blade motor 220 and the hydraulic conveyor motor 260 (as described below). There is also provided a first outlet pipe 230b for the flow of hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic control arrangement 230 to the hydraulic pump 110. Similarly, there is provided a second outlet pipe 270b for the flow of hydraulic fluid from the vehicle attachment 270 to the hydraulic pump 110.

The hydraulic control arrangement 230 includes a plurality of solenoid valves (not shown) which split the flow of hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic blade motor 220 and to the hydraulic conveyor motor 260. The solenoid valves within the hydraulic control arrangement 230 control the flow of hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic pump 110 to the hydraulic blade motor 220 and the hydraulic conveyor motor 260. A user interface 290, located as part of the hydraulic control arrangement 230, is in electrical communication with the plurality of solenoid valves thereby controlling the solenoids valves, and the flow of hydraulic fluid, in response to user input on the user interface 290.

When a user desires to change the speed of the hydraulic blade motor, the user provides user input via the user interface 290. The user input may include increasing or decreasing a speed of the blade 220, or turning the blade 220 on or off. The user interface 290 sends a signal to the plurality of solenoid valves, which open and/or close appropriately to moderate the flow of hydraulic fluid in response to the user input. In this way, the speed of the hydraulic blade motor 220 is altered based on the user input, and the speed of the hydraulic conveyor motor 260 is altered appropriately, via the solenoid valves, in response thereto. Thus, automatic control of the speed of the hydraulic conveyor motor 260 is provided when the user changes a speed of the hydraulic blade motor 220.

In other embodiments, as the skilled person would appreciate, the user interface 290 may include a separate speed control for each of the hydraulic blade motor 220 and the hydraulic conveyor motor 260, thereby allowing the user to independently manipulate the speeds of the hydraulic blade motor 220 and the hydraulic conveyor motor 260. Similar to that discussed above, the solenoid valves moderate the hydraulic fluid flow to provide the desired speeds for each hydraulic motor.

The hydraulic blade motor 220 includes a blade inlet pipe 220a for receiving hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic control arrangement 230 and providing hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic blade motor 220. The hydraulic blade motor 220 also includes a blade outlet pipe 220b for returning hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic control arrangement 230, which, in turn, provides a return to the hydraulic pump 110 via the first outlet pipe 230b. Additionally, the hydraulic blade motor 220 includes a blade motor drain 220c for draining excess hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic blade motor 220. The excess hydraulic fluid is returned from the hydraulic blade motor 220 to the hydraulic pump 110, via the blade motor drain 220c. Similarly, the hydraulic conveyor motor 260 includes a conveyor inlet pipe 260a for receiving hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic control arrangement 230 and providing hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic conveyor motor 260. The hydraulic conveyor motor 260 also includes a conveyor outlet pipe 260b for returning hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic control arrangement 230, which, in turn, provides a return to the hydraulic pump 110 via the first outlet 230b. Additionally, the hydraulic conveyor motor 260 includes a conveyor motor drain 260c for draining excess hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic conveyor motor 260. The excess hydraulic fluid is returned from the hydraulic conveyor motor 260 to the hydraulic pump 110, via the conveyor motor drain 260c.

It will be appreciated for persons skilled in the art that the above embodiments have been described by way of example only, and not in any limiting sense, and that various alterations and modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.