GB2082221A

GB2082221A - Fence Erecting Machine

Info

Publication number: GB2082221A
Application number: GB7912297A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1979-04-06
Filing date: 1979-04-06
Publication date: 1982-03-03
Also published as: GB2082221B

Abstract

The machine has been designed to secure a fencing post into the ground by making use of hydraulic, mechanical, or pneumatic power supplied by the prime mover to which it is attached. This is done by transferring the weight of the machine on to the top of a post until there is insufficient weight left to give any further reaction. At this point a hammering device gives a series of rapid blows on the top of the post as a weight is lifted by a powered cam and against a heavy spring which adds to the "hammering" power. The machine has further been designed to place a wire/wires, netting, or sheeting alongside this post; and where more than one wire is used, to apply equal tension to the wire/s through a slip clutch/s which connect the drive shaft/s carrying a reel/s of wire, netting or sheeting to a suitable power source on the prime mover. The spacing between the wires can be predetermined as required by means of spacer rollers which can be pre-set and over which the wires pass. The drive through the slip clutches allows the wires, netting or sheeting to be re-wound. A clamp attached to the frame of the machine allows the posts to be recovered. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fence Erecting Machine This machine has been developed to increase safety in the operation of fence erection mainly, but also to increase the speed of the job or to remove an existing fence perhaps for use elsewhere.

To this end, the machine consists of a main frame (1) designed to be mounted on the hydraulic linkage system of a tractor by 3 mounting points (3) or to be towed behind some prime mover which can supply the required power requirements. On the frame are supported a power transmission unit (6) which receives its power from the prime move through a power take off system (17), also a hydraulic or pneumatic system, which can supply power from the prime mover (tractor) to operate motive power and lift systems (9) (16).

Further the frame carries one or more drive shafts which support and control reels uponwhich are wound any one of the types of wire which are required(6). A further reel is mounted to carry wire netting which may be stock netting, chainiink or ordinary wire netting (5). Each reel rotates under a breaking system which act indirectly upon the wire to give tension so that each wire is appropriately payed out to give equal tension and thus obviate wire straining independently of the machine (1 5).

The fencing posts can if required be pointed by means of a retainer (8) which slides one end of a wooden post into a series of cutting edges so as to give a point at that end (7).

Fencing posts can be placed under a reciprocating weight or hammer (10) which is caused to knock the posts into the ground. This is mounted on a cylindrical post (18) which is fastened to the frame in a fixed position but allowing the actual hammer part to rotate round it so that fence posts can be erected at either side of the wire to be fastened to the stake. Further a hydraulic ram (16) acting between the hammer and frame can cause part of the weight of the machine to be transferred to the post assisting in the post being forced into the ground and held in a firm position whilst the hammer knocks the top of the post downwards. Once the post is firmed the whole unit is moved forwards and the wire on reel 4 left correctly spaced ready for fastening to the posts.

The wire can be recovered by reversing the action and the posts can be attached to the machine by means of a clamp and extracted from the ground by lifting the whole machine on hydraulics.

Addendum I In the accompanying drawings:- Figure 1 is a front view, Figure 2 is a side view, and Figure 3 is another view.

Key to Reference Numerals in the Drawings 1. Main frame 2. Frame Support feet 3. Tractor mounting points 4. Wire carrying reels 5. Wire netting carrier 6. Main drive shaft 7. Post pointing cutter 8. Post retainer cradle s slide (for pointing stakes) 9. Vibrator drive motor 1 0. Vibrator head 11. Vibrator cam 12. Vibrator guides 1 3. Wire guide 8 spacer 14. Netting roller guides 1 5. Beit/Chain drive 8 slip Clutch/Brake 1 6. Double acting hydraulic ram 1 7. Tractor power take off coupling 1 8. Post holder/slide 19. Post retainer Notes a) Safety guards are NOT shown b) on "Side View" only one wire carrying reel is shown.

Claims

1. A fence erecting apparatus which includes a supporting frame, having spaced mountings for detachable connection of said frame to the threepoint linkage of an agricultural tractor, a reciprocatable post rammer operable to drive a fence post into the ground and assisted by a hydraulic ram which transfers much of the gross weight of the machine on to the top of said post, a support or supports for at least one freely rotatable reel of fencing wire and/or a roll of fence netting, hessian or plastic sheeting, at least one wire tensioning device adjustable to apply a predetermined degree of tension to the strand of wire drawn off said reel and a hydraulically powered drive motor which is so connected to the post rammer as to impart reciprocating motion thereto and which is detachably connected to the hydraulic external services extension of the tractor.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wire tensioning device comprises, for each strand of wire to be tensioned, a brake, clutch, or other friction device operable for the purpose of obtaining accurate control of the rate of output (throughput) of wire.

3. An apparatus as claimed in 2, wherein said Brake/clutch acts indirectly on the strand of wire.

4. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which further includes means adapted to be driven off the power-take-off shaft of the tractor for the purpose of rewinding the wire and/or the netting.

5. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and including a sliding element in an aperture on the slide extension and under the reciprocating ram-head and in contact with the fencing post to absorb shock loading to the hydraulic ram when the weight of the machine is being transferred to the post whilst at the same

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Fence Erecting Machine This machine has been developed to increase safety in the operation of fence erection mainly, but also to increase the speed of the job or to remove an existing fence perhaps for use elsewhere. To this end, the machine consists of a main frame (1) designed to be mounted on the hydraulic linkage system of a tractor by 3 mounting points (3) or to be towed behind some prime mover which can supply the required power requirements. On the frame are supported a power transmission unit (6) which receives its power from the prime move through a power take off system (17), also a hydraulic or pneumatic system, which can supply power from the prime mover (tractor) to operate motive power and lift systems (9) (16). Further the frame carries one or more drive shafts which support and control reels uponwhich are wound any one of the types of wire which are required(6). A further reel is mounted to carry wire netting which may be stock netting, chainiink or ordinary wire netting (5). Each reel rotates under a breaking system which act indirectly upon the wire to give tension so that each wire is appropriately payed out to give equal tension and thus obviate wire straining independently of the machine (1 5). The fencing posts can if required be pointed by means of a retainer (8) which slides one end of a wooden post into a series of cutting edges so as to give a point at that end (7). Fencing posts can be placed under a reciprocating weight or hammer (10) which is caused to knock the posts into the ground. This is mounted on a cylindrical post (18) which is fastened to the frame in a fixed position but allowing the actual hammer part to rotate round it so that fence posts can be erected at either side of the wire to be fastened to the stake. Further a hydraulic ram (16) acting between the hammer and frame can cause part of the weight of the machine to be transferred to the post assisting in the post being forced into the ground and held in a firm position whilst the hammer knocks the top of the post downwards. Once the post is firmed the whole unit is moved forwards and the wire on reel 4 left correctly spaced ready for fastening to the posts. The wire can be recovered by reversing the action and the posts can be attached to the machine by means of a clamp and extracted from the ground by lifting the whole machine on hydraulics. Addendum I In the accompanying drawings:- Figure 1 is a front view, Figure 2 is a side view, and Figure 3 is another view. Key to Reference Numerals in the Drawings

1. Main frame

2. Frame Support feet

3. Tractor mounting points

4. Wire carrying reels

5. Wire netting carrier

6. Main drive shaft

7. Post pointing cutter

8. Post retainer cradle s slide (for pointing stakes)

9. Vibrator drive motor

1 0. Vibrator head

11. Vibrator cam

12. A fence-erecting apparatus constructed, arranged and operable substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

12. Vibrator guides

1 3. Wire guide 8 spacer

14. Netting roller guides 1 5. Beit/Chain drive 8 slip Clutch/Brake 1 6. Double acting hydraulic ram 1 7. Tractor power take off coupling 1 8. Post holder/slide

19. Post retainer Notes a) Safety guards are NOT shown b) on "Side View" only one wire carrying reel is shown.

Claims

5. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and including a sliding element in an aperture on the slide extension and under the reciprocating ram-head and in contact with the fencing post to absorb shock loading to the hydraulic ram when the weight of the machine is being transferred to the post whilst at the same time the reciprocating element of the ram head is supplying sharp hammer blows to the post through the element in preference to direct striking to the element which supports the ramhead and motor on the slide which is attached to the hydraulic ram 'X'.

6. An apparatus as described and including an element which will rotate through an arc round the main support pillar and supporting a hydraulically powered motor with drive shaft connected through a slip clutch or other safety device to a reciprocating apparatus which will supply a succession of hammer like blows on to the sliding arm extension or collar insert and through the pressure thus created to one end of the fencing post thus driving the opposite end of the fencing post into the ground.

7. An apparatus including all the preceding claims and including a gripping device which tightens against the fence post as required to remove temporary fence posts or posts which cannot be put into the ground due to adverse conditions. This is partly manually operated and partly powered when the tractor tries to lift the machine on its hydraulic lift system it increases an upwards thrust on the post.

8. An apparatus such as is claimed in any preceding claim and with provision on a supporting extension to the main frame to space the wires being run out at pre-determined spacing.

9. An apparatus as claimed in 7 and with a device which will place the spaced wires adjacent to the fence post when the tractor and said apparatus progress to the point where the next post will be required.

1 0. An apparatus described as above and with pivoting device at one end and carrying post erecting device and controlled by an extending and contracting element 'Y' such as a screwed turnbuckle or 2-way hydraulic ram to allow apparatus to meet undulations and contours in the terrain and still piace the posts in a vertical condition in the ground.

11. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and being adaptable to working as a trailed apparatus or supported on an element such as a front end loader on an agricultural tractor. This may require slight alteration to the method of mounting the said apparatus but otherwise there is no necessity for structural alterations.