embodiment it is found that the wheel speed may be accelerated over that which is known in the art and that the cutting effect of the earth cutting assembly 40 may be improved by rotation of the wheel assembly 50 at a sufficient speed that the speed of travel of any of ripping teeth 138 across the leading trench edge 57 is not less than approximately fifteen feet per second and preferably approximately at least eighteen feet per second the inclusion of the deflecting member 144 and the conveyor assembly 52 in coordination with the novel plate members 132 mounted on the rim structure 130 enables the rapid rotation of the wheel assembly 52 such that the ripping teeth 138 pass the leading trench face 57 at an angular velocity of in excess of fifteen feet per second in some ground conditions however it may be necessary to operate the wheel assembly 50 at a slower speed at which the excavating machine will remain fully functional the conveyor assembly of the present invention is shown in fig1 20 the conveyor assembly 52 is operably attached to the wheel frame assembly 44 in a suspended manner at 186 and 188 this allows the conveyor assembly to be tilted from one side to another depending upon from which side the spoil 140 is to be expelled the conveyor assembly 52 comprises an interior portion 190 bounded by a first end roller 192 and a second end roller 194 opposite to the first end roller 192 an endless conveyor belt 196 about the first end roller 192 and the second end roller 194 a first side assembly 198 and a second side assembly 200 opposite to the first side assembly 198 all to prevent the spoil 140 from entering the interior portion 190.